A few months ago, I was introduced to a couple. They were getting married in late July, and were looking for a wedding photographer to take some photos of their wedding day. Funnily enough, the groom and I go to the same barber. That's how I got to meet Lucy & Marc. They agreed to take a flier on me, even though my portfolio at the time didn't feature any portraiture work - let alone a full-blown wedding! I thought an engagement shoot would be a good opportunity for a trial run - both for the couple and for me. I'd definitely recommend this to any budding photographer shooting their first wedding, as it allows you to become familiar with the couple and create a little rapport. This can go a long way on the wedding day!

Vancouver has no shortage of incredible, outdoor backdrops for photos, and the three of us covered some serious ground over a late Saturday afternoon. Here's a rundown of some of the most important things I learned:

1. Don't Be Afraid To Direct

You're the one with the camera! It's crucial to remember that you're the only person that can see what the couple looks like through the lens. Every couple is going to have poses that they're comfortable with, but it's up to you to work with that to find what is most aesthetically pleasing for the photo.

Sony A7II + 55mm f/1.8 | Settings: f/2.0, 1/2000s, ISO 160

In the above sequence, I wanted to capture the flow of Lucy's dress. I asked her to hold the end of the dress outward. I thought it would give the photo a little added personality and magic. Both shots are good in their own way, but I like how the one on the right showcases more of the detail in the dress.

2. Change Up Your Shots

Although it's dependent on time and location (more on that under #3), a variety of photos are important. Try to capture a variety of poses, angles, and expressions throughout your engagement shoot. Nobody wants to receive 100+ photos of the exact same pose -- it's boring! Trust me, it'll be more fun to edit when you have different shots as well.

I think these four photos each showcase a different side of the couple's relationship, which is important!

3. Set A Time Constraint

I made the mistake of disregarding this rule (lesson learned for next time!) I went into the shoot thinking that I just wanted to get as many shots as possible. However, 600 photos and almost 6 hours later, I was DEAD tired. Once you factor in the editing time, this shoot became a lot more time-consuming than I had initially expected. A time constraint helps you keep the shoot on track and make sure there isn't any time wasted. Although I'm happy with the final product, I think I could've captured a similar calibre of shots in a more condensed time frame. We ended up shooting in six(!) different locations across the city.

With that being said, we were all really happy with so many of the shots that came out of that day. Here are a few of my favourites.

Equipment Used: Sony A7II: http://amzn.to/2ygonjf; Zeiss 55mm f1.8: http://amzn.to/2x8fEzz