how are engagement photos different than wedding photos?

A couple wants me to take their engagement photos. I am fine with doing just that, to gain experience. However what is the difference between engagement photos and wedding photos?

Engagement photos are kind of a warm up to the wedding in my books. I get to know the couple, the couple gets to know me. I learn their 'flaws' when taking the photos and can do an even better job on the wedding day and hopefully they will be more comfortable then. Engagements are way more slack, typically in way more casual clothes, different location. They can be used for invites, save the dates etc. etc.

no wedding dress or ceremony. Seriously it's not all that different you want to capture how happy the couple are to be engaged.

They are just photos of the happy couple.

b0caj wrote: Engagement photos are kind of a warm up to the wedding in my books. I get to know the couple, the couple gets to know me. I learn their 'flaws' when taking the photos and can do an even better job on the wedding day and hopefully they will be more comfortable then. Engagements are way more slack, typically in way more casual clothes, different location. They can be used for invites, save the dates etc. etc.

Sounds like you done a few engagement sessions. Thanks for your input.

butterflygirl921 wrote: no wedding dress or ceremony. Seriously it's not all that different you want to capture how happy the couple are to be engaged.

Thanks, I think i can handle that.

Now anyone here ever done engagement photos and not photograph the wedding? I'm afraid during the engagement shoot the couple may ask me to shoot their wedding. And I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet. So how do I politely tell them no?

CD DVD wrote: Now anyone here ever done engagement photos and not photograph the wedding? I'm afraid during the engagement shoot the couple may ask me to shoot their wedding. And I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet. So how do I politely tell them no?

Just tell them you have never photographed a wedding before, and as must as you would love to continue the relationship with them, you think it would be best if they hire another photographer. If they insist that you would be their photographer, compromise with them. Tell them you will be the back up photographer, to gain experience for yourself and you could burn a couple of photos to CD for them.

CD DVD wrote: Now anyone here ever done engagement photos and not photograph the wedding? I'm afraid during the engagement shoot the couple may ask me to shoot their wedding. And I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet. So how do I politely tell them no?

Just say "I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet."

There is a big difference between a portrait session and covering a wedding. In a portrait session the entire time is dedicated to the creation of the photographs. You have the subjects' attention and full cooperation. On the wedding day there are a lot of other things going on that you have to coordinate with or work around. You won't always have full control over what's happening in front of the camera. Portions of the day might be very similar to a portrait session, but much of it will be event coverage.

Beyond the schedule and time differences the photographer has to deal with a lot more people on the wedding day. The emotional state of your subjects is often quite different than during a portrait session. During a portrait session it is usually acceptable to keep working on an idea until you get it right. On the wedding day you will be presented with a number of situations where you will be expected to get the shot right the first time with no opportunity for a second try.

b0caj wrote:

CD DVD wrote: Now anyone here ever done engagement photos and not photograph the wedding? I'm afraid during the engagement shoot the couple may ask me to shoot their wedding. And I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet. So how do I politely tell them no?

Just tell them you have never photographed a wedding before, and as must as you would love to continue the relationship with them, you think it would be best if they hire another photographer. If they insist that you would be their photographer, compromise with them. Tell them you will be the back up photographer, to gain experience for yourself and you could burn a couple of photos to CD for them.

Thanks, offering to be the back up photographer isn't a bad idea, but still not sure if I am ready yet for even that.

Henry Peach wrote:

CD DVD wrote: Now anyone here ever done engagement photos and not photograph the wedding? I'm afraid during the engagement shoot the couple may ask me to shoot their wedding. And I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet. So how do I politely tell them no?

Just say "I know I am not ready to photograph a wedding yet."

There is a big difference between a portrait session and covering a wedding. In a portrait session the entire time is dedicated to the creation of the photographs. You have the subjects' attention and full cooperation. On the wedding day there are a lot of other things going on that you have to coordinate with or work around. You won't always have full control over what's happening in front of the camera. Portions of the day might be very similar to a portrait session, but much of it will be event coverage.

Thanks. I never been to a wedding as a guest, so I'm not sure what actually goes on...to even guess as to what to shoot on the wedding day.

My typical couple's portrait session takes 1.5 to 2 hours. We go to several different locations, and take a variety of posed and not-so-posed photos. We are all concentrating on the creation of the portraits. There is usually nothing else going on. The time has been scheduled for photography only.

My typical wedding coverage is more like 8 hours. It may start with candids of the couple getting ready. At some point we do concentrate on creating some portraits, but in most cases the time I am given is limited by everything else that needs to be achieved that day. My subjects aren't just the couple; good photos need to be made of all their friends and family, and the events and details of the day also. 9 times out of 10 other things run late, and it's almost always the scheduled portrait time that gets cut short to make up for it. It's a completely different situation for me. A couple's portrait session is a walk in the park. Photographing a wedding is a full day workout.

Henry Peach wrote: My typical couple's portrait session takes 1.5 to 2 hours. We go to several different locations, and take a variety of posed and not-so-posed photos. We are all concentrating on the creation of the portraits. There is usually nothing else going on. The time has been scheduled for photography only.

My typical wedding coverage is more like 8 hours. It may start with candids of the couple getting ready. At some point we do concentrate on creating some portraits, but in most cases the time I am given is limited by everything else that needs to be achieved that day. My subjects aren't just the couple; good photos need to be made of all their friends and family, and the events and details of the day also. 9 times out of 10 other things run late, and it's almost always the scheduled portrait time that gets cut short to make up for it. It's a completely different situation for me. A couple's portrait session is a walk in the park. Photographing a wedding is a full day workout.

Everything HP said here is true, but I had to accentuate that last sentence a little bit. That is one thing I hadn't counted on until the first time I actually shot a wedding. I was actually inspired to get in better shape after all the running, squatting, etc. that is required to capture the important events of the day.

Also, a piece of advice to the OP - even if you're not confident as a backup photographer you should take the opportunity if it's available. The only way you're going to learn what goes on at a wedding is by being there. And the only way you'll learn what the must-have wedding shots are is by being there as a photographer

Let the couple know about your level of experience (that you don't have any when it comes to weddings) and don't charge for it unless they insist on paying you something. That way if you aren't able to get a lot of good photos, there are no expectations that you're falling short on. And if you do, it's a nice bonus for the couple, and for you.

Another idea, if the couple say that they really want to pay you, is to work out an agreement to do the shooting for free, but later give the option for them to purchase prints or a CD of any images that they particularly like.

HP, you left out the other days you spend working out what pictures to take (including the style they like -- more formal or more PJ style, or both), and the time it takes to edit and pull all the pieces together into a book or DVD (or both).

It's a three day job, at least.

Henry Peach wrote: My typical couple's portrait session takes 1.5 to 2 hours. We go to several different locations, and take a variety of posed and not-so-posed photos. We are all concentrating on the creation of the portraits. There is usually nothing else going on. The time has been scheduled for photography only.

My typical wedding coverage is more like 8 hours. It may start with candids of the couple getting ready. At some point we do concentrate on creating some portraits, but in most cases the time I am given is limited by everything else that needs to be achieved that day. My subjects aren't just the couple; good photos need to be made of all their friends and family, and the events and details of the day also. 9 times out of 10 other things run late, and it's almost always the scheduled portrait time that gets cut short to make up for it. It's a completely different situation for me. A couple's portrait session is a walk in the park. Photographing a wedding is a full day workout.

Thanks. I love how you worded that... photographing a wedding is a full day work out. lol I can believe that.