Ace Wedding Photographer Luke Walker talks couple Portraits.

May 14, 2010 Wedding Photographers

“This is so much Fun”.
Ace Wedding Photographer Luke Walker on how he gets great couple Portraits.

Before Sunset is the best
All my engagement shoots start around an hour and a half before sunset.  The light during that time is amazing, that soft buttery end of the day light is like nothing else.  The temperature makes you comfortable as well.  If we shoot at noon then it’s hot, we sweat and the lighting is extremely bright.

Finding new Inspiration
For most engagement shoots I send the bride and groom a list of ideas, themes, and locations.  I’m always trying to find new inspiration.  When an idea hits me for something different and unique I jot it down, I share them with the couples and if they like it, we use it.

Encourage them to have a conversation
Most people come into our shoots with at least a little bit of intimidation.  It’s completely normal to be a bit on edge about getting professionally photographed, especially because most of us relate professional pictures with getting our senior portraits in high school and that’s really it until we get married.  I usually start my shoots off with suggestions for poses, or places to stand and sit.  The suggestions and guiding so to speak change from couple to couple.  But the overall approach is to put people in beautiful light, suggest a way for them to either walk, sit, stand, and then encourage them to simply look at each other and have a conversation. I tell them to just chat with each other about the wedding plans or about something funny that happened at work.  I emphasise: “Don’t look at me.  You’re on a date and we’re taking an hour to enjoy ourselves in a beautiful night.”  Everyone takes time to let that barrier down but by the end of the shoot it’s always the same “I was really nervous about this, but honestly this was a lot of fun!”

LUKE WALKER | photographer
866.559.6437
clarkwalkerstudio.com
clarkwalkerblog.com

Tags: Couples Portraits, Luke Walker