Lexi Critiques – Mickael

Here we are again, back for another round of Lexi Critiques! Are you ready to pick up a few more tips and tricks to make your sessions stronger?

In case this is your first time here, Lexi Critiques is a little series where I will be looking at a real session from a real photographer in our industry and pointing out strengths and leaving tips that would have made the session stronger. Over the last 8 years I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of sessions from being a publisher and running my own photography business. I have learned a lot about what makes a session stand out among the rest. And I am here to help you achieve that!

Today we have the talented Mickael Mahabot who has shared this in home couple shoot with us.

So with out further ado go grab a pen and paper (for notes) and dive on in below.

* Keep in mind this is a little series and I will not be showing the full gallery that was provided. Each post will include a handful of tips and tricks but know there is a lot more that goes into perfecting a session. I hope these posts help you reach this goal and you are more then welcome (encouraged even) to leave questions in the comments below.

The very first thing I noticed when looking through these images was the fact that the gentleman was only included in three of them. One by himself, not in the room, and two with the girl. With this information the first thing I want to say is the gentleman should not have been included at all or included in more of the images. Having only a few images where he is present breaks up the flow of all the images as well as makes the viewer unsure of what the session or story is about. Are they bridal portraits? Or is this a couples shoot? The first thing you want your images to do is paint a very clear picture of the story they are telling from the beginning.

Next I want to say I love the range Mickael captured of the portraits. It can be hard to achieve a good range (headshots, full body, 3/4th body, etc) when shooting indoors due to you limited space. But Mickael did a great job. Even if you are limited on your space you still want to try and capture a wide range of portraits. Remember your story needs depth, and one way to achieve that is with variation in your portraits and expressions.

The next thing that came to mind is that I would have liked to see a few more detail shots included. Again, those add depth to your story. I love the up close detail shot of the lace on the girls shoulder and the bouquet, even though it feels like it doesn’t go with the story due to the colors or flowers not being shown in any other images at this location. Maybe another shot of the ring, the mirror, or the bed. Details are shots that I see missed all the time and they can really make or break a session. So write down a reminder to capture them on a sticky note next time you have a shoot and stick it on your camera.

And lastly I’m going to leave you with this.

All the tips I give are ways to elevate your session and create a stronger story. Will they work for every session … no. Mickael’s session was stunning and I know this couple will have beautiful heirlooms from it to enjoy for generations to come. But does that mean we shouldn’t stop striving to perfect our craft more? Of course not.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks Lexi Critiques and If you are looking to dive more into perfecting your sessions and telling a cohesive story with your images that grab the attention of editors as well as your clients, then check out our guide Shooting With Intention. And use code LEXICRITIQUES to save 30% off for visiting this post!

You can also submit a session for consideration for future Lexi Critiques HERE. Until next time … happy shooting!