Engagement Photography - Behind The Scenes 

Gotta show the whole process. Seeing how things flow from one section to the next is super important. I have a 40 minute wedding day behind the scenes going live tomorrow.

I will certainly keep making these types of videos! Thanks again Erica!

Made my day with this comment! Thanks!

I really appreciate that, Simon! Thankfully the channel is growing everyday. Just happy my content is connecting with people and being helpful. Thanks again for the compliment and comment!

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks Arianna! I started tossing a GoPro on my camera at weddings and engagements so there's a few more on my channel. It's a bit easier than finding someone to follow you around all shoot, but the concept is the same. Thanks for the comment!

Dogs and kids are sooo difficult! Posing is a whole other monster. Just takes practice, but the more you do it, the better you get. I find even now after not shooting most of winter that I’m a bit rusty my first session back. Thanks for commenting. Lots more content like this on my channel and more coming!

I know im asking randomly but does anybody know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow forgot my login password. I love any tricks you can offer me!

Scott J thanks for the love, Scott! So glad this was helpful!

Thanks bro! It was a ton of fun! Thankful to have such awesome couples!

Thanks so much, Mike! I really appreciate that!

You’re gonna crush it mate! Glad this was helpful!

One of the my favorites! Always makes for some great laughter!

Much love, Hayk! I appreciate that! Thanks for the comment!

I appreciate the love Martin! Thanks for commenting!

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the support!

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

Got keep that energy up! Thanks for watching & Commenting!

Thank you!

Glad you liked it!

Thanks 🙏🏼 the channel is growing everyday. Your comments are incredibly helpful, so thanks again!

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much, Tiffany! Glad you’re finding them helpful!

Thanks MR! Glad you’re here!

Thanks AJ!

Thanks!

Haha! This session definitely was easier than some. I love all of our couples but when you get a couple who is super fun and photogenic, plus amazing light and location, it just makes the creativity and the session flow so easy. Thanks for the love!

Thank you! I shoot around 2-2.8. I find the lens is kinda soft any wider than that

Thanks Francis! I shoot everything in full manual mode. Every shot is open to I think between 2.0 and 2.8. The 50mm 1.4 from Canon gets soft anywhere from 1.4-2 so I try and stay there. Recently switched to Canon and got the Sigma 50 1.4 and it. is. incredible!

Thank you, Mohanad!

Those first 20 minutes can be super awkward. Definitely a people person, especially when I’m photographing. Feels like I have an extra boost of energy or stage presence, if you know what I mean. Thanks for commenting! Means a lot!

🙏🏼 thanks for the comment!

@@JosiahBlizzard you're welcome

Thanks for the comment! Good question too! They came out of the camera pretty much good on exposure and white balance. In editing, I brought up the shadows and blacks and I brought the highlights down. I played with tone curve a bit. I did a bit of split toning to add some bluish tones to the shadows and I added a bit of warmth to the highlights. I adjusted the luminance and saturation in the yellows. I believe I adjusted the yellow luminance since that affected the sand and thankfully the sand acted as a bounce. I most often shoot towards the sun. In the case the sun was a 20-45 degree angle from where I was shooting to avoid flair but the sand bounced a lot of light back onto my couple’s face. I hope that makes sense! There is a raw image from one of these shots on my preset page - presets.josiahandsteph.com - hope all that helps a little!

Keep practicing! It takes a little bit before it becomes second nature to knowing what settings you should be using. Thanks for commenting!

So glad it was helpful! Go to settings are shooting wide open (f/1.4-f/2.8) and keeping ISO as low as I need to while also keeping shutter speed as quick as needed to avoid motion blur. Obviously is going to change based on the lighting.

@@JosiahBlizzard Ok! Thank you so much! 🙏🏼That makes total sense!

You got this!! I shot this entire session roughly around f/2.8 - I try and keep my couple on the same plane of focus if I’m shooting straight on. If I’m shoot from one side of the couple or the other, I don’t worry about one of them being out of focus. Just make sure your lens is sharp at 1.8. Sometimes wide open doesn’t create the sharpest images.

Glad you found it helpful!!

stunning images dude

Mainly shoot at f/2.8

Hey Kevin! I don't believe these will work in Luminar unless they now allow for .xmp files to be imported.

You're welcome and ultimately, my settings don’t matter. All anyone needs to know is that I shoot with my aperture as wide open as possible (1.4-2.8) and then make sure my shutter speed is as fast as it needs to be to avoid blurring and then my ISO is set to make sure the exposure is correct. My images are exposed as close to perfect in camera and then my Lightroom edits completely change the final look of the photo.

Thanks Jade! I often find settings not very helpful. Instead, I can tell you my process. Wait until it’s nearly sundown, expose for the sky and the rest will follow. I most likely kept my ISO low (400), my shutter speed around 1/250 and my aperture close to f/2.8. A lot of the look also comes in editing when I can pull more details in the sky by adjusting the highlights, and I can darken the subjects by decreasing the shadows and blacks. Go practice some silhouette shots on a friend or even trees or other objects and you’ll get the hang of it. The trick is to just expose for the sky. Forget about the people.

@@JosiahBlizzard got it, will try again. Appreciate your help...been binging on all the videos lol... keep up the awesome work

You got it! My original camera settings are always altered by my Lightroom edits. Would love to see it when you nail the photo. Feel free to DM it to me on Instagram, @josiahblizzard - would love to see!

It will take years lol, just followed you on IG

Damn! What an odd approach! Surely will try and share the results with you! Awesome work!

When I shot on Canon I was using back button focusing paired with One Shot

Thanks for the comment! I do use back button focusing at all times when I shoot Canon. Normally I try and move at the same speed as them so that my focus distance doesn't change too drastically making it easier to grab sharp focus.

@@JosiahBlizzard Many thanks for the info!!!!!

Thanks so much! I was using a Canon 5DIII & Canon 50 1.4 - I’ve recently switched to the Sony a7iii however.

No ND filter for photos. I only use it for video. Keep your shutter speed fast (1/800, 1/1000 and +) and keep your ISO low and aperture open.

I pretty much only use natural light. I move quickly and having a flash slows me down, plus I like the natural look. If I can, I try and find natural fill light from sidewalks, sand, buildings, etc.

Pecan 4 I deliver roughly 200-350. Depends on the season. They were on the higher end

@@JosiahBlizzard Thank you.

Pretty much exposing for their skin so overexposing by a stop or so, yeah.

Gonna depend on the light and location and your desired effect. Do you want to shoot wide open or will you be shooting with deep focus at f/16? I can’t say what your settings will be without being in that space. For an interracial couple, I’d recommend exposing for the darker skin tone.

How I Edit Engagement + Wedding Photos ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XaA9KrlAc8Q.html

Ultimately it doesn’t matter because I’m changing so much in editing. I do shoot with a wide open aperture between f/1.4 and f/2.8 with the a shutter speed between 1/160-1/500 and then I adjust my iso from there. Relying on me to tell you my settings won’t help you become a better photographer. Get out there and practice.

Thanks! Yeah, used a 50mm the entire session.

Thanks! Using a 50mm 1.4 from canon. Now I’m using a 50mm 1.4 from Sigma

I don’t care about blowing out the sky. If I used flash then I wouldn’t be able to flow and move as quickly and easily with the couple. I would constantly need to check my lighting and all that and that just isn’t fun for me. It really comes down to how you want your photos to look. If you want the sky to be exposed in every shot while have soft light on your couples faces then you’ll likely need to use off camera flash, but if you want a brighter or light and airy look then you do t need flash.

Jennifer Skye Thanks Jen. I appreciate your advice, however, I prefer to acknowledge the elephant in the room and tell them it’s okay to feel awkward or nervous. It’s a completely normal feeling to have and I don’t want them to think they need to suppress those feelings. This also allows me to tell them that those feelings will only last for 20 minutes, that we are gonna have a lot of fun and there’s 0 pressure. It’s not a negative to bring it up. Thanks for the comment.

Yes sir, love the nifty fifty. Recently switched from Canon to Sony and got the Sigma 50 1.4 ART and it is hands down my favorite lens I've ever used.

White balance filter called the expo disc. Helps for white balance and exposure

Josiah Blizzard thanqqq so much ❤️❤️

I move around the in camera auto focus points and it takes practice to make it feel second nature. So that’s it. Practice and use the multiple AF points.

Kaitlyn is the sweetest! Got to have dinner with her a fews years back at a conference and she's so kind!

It does have a good bit of chromatic aberration, but for the price it's really a bargain lens.

I shot on the 50mm 1.4 from Canon the entire time. Love this lens especially for the price, however, I find that it gets soft and has inaccurate focus between f/1.4 and f/2.5 which I was I almost exclusively stay at f/2.8 on this lens. Thanks for the comment, Maria!

A A used an Expo Disc white balance filter. I have another video on how to use it called 1 Photography Accessory That Will Change Your Life

My aperture was at f/2.8 the entire session. ISO was fairly low. Somewhere around 100-400 for the majority of the shoot until it got a bit darker. Shutter speed then to properly expose based on my previous two settings. Most likely around 1/400-800

Josiah Blizzard thanks for responding!!

Josiah Blizzard do you also us AI servo?

@@justmetammib Normally using One Shot, but have since switched to Sony so in a way I'm now always using AI Servo.

Josiah Blizzard ok...I’m just trying to understand more about candid shots verses posed shots. Wondering how to get consistent focus when they are moving and/or your walking. Besides shutter speed. Was wondering if ai servo and more Fock points was the trick. I mostly shoot single subjects and use single shot and focus on an eye.....

I’m in PA in the suburbs of Philly

arszenik23 I have no idea and I don’t remember

Yeah he was using a gimbal for the first time and wasn’t quite used to the motion. Better than a Jason Bourne style shaky cam. That’s what gets me dizzy.

We all have our own way of shooting. Nose to nose is just a way to show intimacy without making out the entire time.

I loved nose to nose and saw plenty of variety 😊

I get what you're saying, but this isn't my first rodeo. All of this comes from experience. Of course I could have omitted the "pictures that'll be around forever" part. Sure. What I am pointing out is THE OBVIOUS and that it is completely natural to feel nervous. I'm allowing them to feel nervous and I'm letting them know that I understand how they feel and that it's going to take 20 minutes for that to wear off. I'm telling them it won't be like this for the entire session. It took them the same amount of time to get loosened up as most couples do. Not necessarily because they were nervous, but it takes time to get into a rhythm and for them to fully understand how the photographer works, directs, interacts and responds to their needs. Setting up expectations is one of the most important parts of this job. For me, asking if they're nervous and having people respond with "Super nervous" or "Not nervous, but excited" means that I'll even start the session differently based on the response they give me. I very much care how the couple is feeling because the way they will feel about this photos isn't directly related to how nice the photos turn out, but is more a response to how they actually felt during their session. If they felt uncomfortable, awkward, and nervous for the entire session then they'll likely not love their photos because it'll remind them of how they felt during the session. If they felt comfortable, cared for, and like they had so much fun then they're going to love their photos. This is the approach I have been using for over 5 years and by the end of every session I have clients telling me how much fun they had, how at ease and comfortable they were, and sometimes even the groom saying he would 100% do that again. Being "captain obvious" is something that I find necessary to give them permission to feel how they're feeling, that everyone also feels this way (i.e. they're no alone in that feeling) and to give them the expectation of what this session will be like. Let me ask, how do you start your sessions? What do you say to your couples? How do you set expectations for what your couple will experience with you during the engagement session?

Thanks for your opinion, Charlie

@@JosiahBlizzard also Josiah, you really gotta get better camera work. if you watch some of the greats, their camera work is smooth and cinematic. when the frame stays locked the viewer can concentrate on the content. I worked in video production and post for 25 years.

Yeah, it's a little bumpy because I grabbed a friend, paid him $50 to make a behind the scenes video so I could help photographers. Not making a feature film here or trying to be "one of the greats" - It's literally a behind the scenes video. I'm going to keep adding a music beds and doing what I think is right regardless of if you've worked in video production for 25 years. To me, that means nothing.

I'm not even sure how to respond to this...

chelle read thanks for your opinion.