I don’t need experienced subjects to make great photographs, I need individuals who like to have fun and not be shy in front of a camera. I’ve had couples who don’t like public displays of affection, some who don’t like to smile, or some who don’t even seem to like each other. I ask myself “why did they hire me?” When the subjects and the photographer share chemistry and just try to have fun, it no longer feels like work.

Here are some tips for couples:

• The photographer can only give as much as you put in. Either do some research beforehand, practice, or give ideas and suggestions during the shoot. The photographer can’t read your mind or know your past history of your personality. You need to show him why you’re attracted to each other so he can capture it.
• There needs to be a little bit of acting when taking photos, or rather exaggeration of gestures and movements. Sometimes the camera is 20 feet away and you need to express yourself for an audience far away. Pretend you are both little kids on a play date, show some puppy love, flirt with each other, make love.
• The last thing on your mind should be how the photos look in the camera. That’s not your job. A good photographer will not waste time taking photos of a bad pose, and will never release an unflattering photo – that would only make him look bad.
• Try your hardest not to be shy! You don’t always need to look “cool” for a photo, the sillier you are, the more personal the photos become, and the more people will love it. You want people to love your photos don’t you? Some photographers rely on advanced lighting, crazy angles to make the photo look interesting, but it doesn’t tell your story. I say run away with your loved one hand in hand and play in some secret hideout, and have the photographer run after you.
• Don’t just wait for the photographer’s exact directions. The photographer will direct your general movements, but it’s up to you to fill in the gaps. That’s where the “natural” comes in. Your movements should feel like a movie, not a stiff photo.
• When you talk to each other in a photo, talk about cute puppies, not your mortgage payment. If your partner is making a dirty face when talking to you, change the subject.
• Do things in public as if nobody else were there. No photographer, no pedestrians.
• The guys have the easier role, they can usually be the prop and the girls have to work around them. The girls should always get the attention right?
• Get your nails did, bring lots of breath mints.

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Every photographer loves a fun and goofy couple. If you don’t know what to do in front of a camera, just be silly and the photos will create itself, the personalities will reveal naturally. As Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction, “personality goes a long way.”

I just realized I haven’t blogged any engagement sessions for the entire 2009 year. Here are some old photos. I never had the motive to quit wedding photography, I just took down my website to relieve some stress. You don’t just give up something you have a passion for, it’s in your blood.

If you’re not from the New York area, you might think I was making fun of the couple. DUMBO is an extremely popular location for engagement photos, a few spots are instantly recognizable by other photographers or locals. Though the locations are similar, I think each couple can bring a new taste to the photos based on their style and personality. My next lens will most likely be a tilt-shift lens.

You never know what you’re results will come from photo shoots even though you go to the same locations throughout the course of a year. Flowers will blossom and fade, the rain may visit, the colors of the scenery can dramatically change, and construction sites may even decide to find a new territory. Sometimes, just sometimes, you may even spot a celebrity.

These were taken at Central Park, with the girl wearing an lilac vintage dress. Though I usually frown upon soft filter effects, I felt the need to add some to this old fashioned styled shoot to complete the effect. The glow from the water sparkles are layers of white paintbrushing in Photoshop.