I shot product phots for the leather working company Tonē Bekka in a way that is unconventional compared to how I usually shoot. Let’s see how it turned out.
Engagements: Hernan & Shaneka
Out of my Comfort Zone
I've turned down ALOT of requests for weddings since I've become a "seeeerious photographeeeerrrr" a few years ago. I just wasn't into it. I've never advertised weddings, engagements, or senior photos. I tended to only do them by specific requests for my friends and family. A while ago, Hernan (pronounced AirNon), who is one of my good friends, asked me if I shoot weddings or would consider it. Immediately I told him that I don't but I would consider it for him and his future fiancé. Hernan has been clutch for me when I need high-level props for shoots, so who am I to say no? I recall that conversation happened toward the end of 2016. During this time I was at a crossroad with photography. I wasn't loving the business side and I was in a creative rut. I wasn't getting the type of clients that I wanted and shooting with "models" in my city had become extremely unfulfilling.
In 2017 I fell in love with portraiture. That's what moves me to create and that is where I plan to concentrate my efforts in 2018 professionally. So when Hernan came to me again and said he wanted to do his engagement photos, in my mind I decided that it's portraiture that I'm diggin' and I wanted to give he and Shaneka some great images.
About the Couple and the Session
Hernan and Shaneka showed up to the session looking so dashing. Shaneka's flowy red dress was just perfect for the location that Hernan selected. She truly couldn't have picked a better dress to pop with the brick at the first location. She looked like royalty. Hernan decided to wear my favorite color: blue. He looked stately and they accented each other in every way. We had a fun time shooting. We all were loose, and I got to tell my corny jokes. The vibe was good but romantic for the couple at the same time.
When I got to the editing table with these images I was taken with the love I saw in the images. The way Shaneka looks at Hernan in the shots have meaning. The way he admires her and his posture and position shows me security. She holds him down like a real queen should. But all-in-all there is a genuine friendship there. These two have made me rethink my automatic shunning of shooting engagement photos and possibly even weddings. Check out the pics and let me know what you think.
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