Engagement photo shoot: is a 50mm f/1.8 enough?

Hi, I'm gonna be doing my first engagement photo shoot. I don't have pro equipment I just have an APS-C 24MP DSLR with the kit lens (18-55mm) and I bought a Nikon 50mm f/1.8.

Do you think that would be sufficient? Any good advice? They wanna be shooting at sunrise, outdoor.

Note that I'm gonna be charging $20/hr so they are obviously not expecting award winning pictures even if I'll try my best!

I don't think you should be charging yet. Take time to learn your craft. We all paid our dues this way.

That being said, sunrise is good light. Bring a very large white card to bounce some light. Bring an assistant to hold the card. The 50 is fine, maybe you don't want to go quite to make sure you have enough depth of field for both subjects to be in focus, especially if one is behind the other. You might also want to use that large white card to do a custom white balance as sunrise light is often quite yellow. On skin, it can be too much of a good thing.

Such a professional attitude…"I know my pictures aren't going to be great, but what the hey, I'll charge money anyway".

I'm amazed that photography is still financially viable for anyone as a source of income.

This would be a better deal for the couple if they were actually charging YOU…

If you can't answer your own question, you're wasting their time and yours. You MOST CERTAINLY should NOT be taking their money for your practice session.

I will just add that if you do use the kit lens at any time, be sure you do no close up portrait shots with it at the wide angle focal length or you will create distortion of their face. The 50mm lens will most likely give you the best results and keep you out of distortion problems. The extra "speed" of the larger aperture in the 50mm could also be helpful if light is rather dim. As jeannie said, don't let a large aperture cause you to have photos with only one face in focus.

I also agree, I do not feel you should be charging ANYTHING at this point.

steve

ADD: Looking at your question again. "I'm gonna". "They wanna". GONNA? WANNA? Yessiree, you really sound like a qualified individual. <---- sarcasm in case it escapes you. Yes, you definitely should be paying THEM.

Don't charge the couple and tell them they should probably have a date set with an actual professional photographer if they want pictures worth having.

I shoot professionally with mainly a 50mm f/1.4. But all the glass in the world won't do if you go in to a shoot believing you will do a bad job.

"The most important piece of gear is your attitude"- Joe McNally