Wedding - DPChallenge Forums

07/15/2008 10:55:06 PM · #1

I got an request today regarding an upcoming wedding in October. I just did my first "real" wedding in June, and finally have enough to put online to ask what you all think. I've posted a few of the bridal stuff before, but now have about 80 shots in the gallery. I told the lady I spoke with today that I would put a selection of this wedding online so she could view them. It's obviously only a portion of the ones that I took at this wedding, but probably enough to gauge competency.

Please take a look and let me know what you think. First impressions? Favorites? Major drawbacks? Be kind, but honest...and keep in mind that these are event photos, not DPC front page stuff for the most part :) One other thing I will say is that I did not get the opportunity to really take many couple shots of just the bride and groom, for a variety of reasons.

PASSWORD: wedding

My first wedding

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 22:55:19.

gwe21

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

07/15/2008 10:58:29 PM · #2

I think you do a VERY good job for your first wedding! I love the b/w photos, esp the one on the dance floor.

Sugarpie

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM

07/15/2008 10:59:14 PM · #3

I think you did a fantastic job and I would hire you (but im already married)

ps I LOVE the b/w pic of the bride walkin down the aisle

Message edited by author 2008-07-15 22:59:54.

FocusPoint

XIAOMI Redmi Note 8 Pro

07/15/2008 10:59:30 PM · #4

Nice.. you did have a second shooter, right?

07/15/2008 11:02:17 PM · #5

Originally posted by FocusPoint:

Nice.. you did have a second shooter, right?

I did have a second shooter as you can see by the balcony pics and the cake pics (different angles). I did the procession photos and floor shots, and she did the balcony. Certainly was well worth the money spent to have the second shooter there! Actually I ended up with 2-4-1 because her husband also shot with us.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/15/2008 11:03:10 PM · #6

Originally posted by Sugarpie:

I think you did a fantastic job and I would hire you (but im already married)

ps I LOVE the b/w pic of the bride walkin down the aisle

Thanks. Bride and groom have both said they like b/w so there are several mixed in when I thought it suited the photo.

FocusPoint

XIAOMI Redmi Note 8 Pro

07/15/2008 11:05:21 PM · #7

I strongly believe in second shooter in weddings. The main shooter, like yourself, keep it close, and other shooter use zoom lens, and other angles, definitely much better outcome when you go through the pages after it's done :)

Good job on posing too :)

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/15/2008 11:12:52 PM · #8

Good job, Judy, particularly some of the B&Ws and the detail shots of the cake & fabric.

The two issues I see are iffy white balance on certain interior photos (RAW is your friend), and some harsh flash shadows. You either need to aim the flash at a wall or ceiling, or use a good diffuser. Also, quite a few images don't show enough of the face to really appreciate the moment. Try to capture those all-important expressions!

Oh, and take a look at the guy in the white shirt on the left side of f2 proof.jpg. You might wanna fix that nose. ;-)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/15/2008 11:24:46 PM · #9

Originally posted by scalvert:

I agree with your comments. I did bounce the flash when I could (the entire time at the reception), and had a diffuser on it as well. I bought both a light sphere and a flash bracket, but didn't find either of them particularly helpful, so I didn't use them or take them with me. Lighting is - by FAR - the toughest thing to learn and get right! It was my biggest concern all day.

Both of the other shooters and I were having trouble getting a good white balance setting for the church, even with a custom set. I've never shot in raw, but will be learning. I was therefore, not yet comfortable shooting raw for the event. I can certainly understand the benefits!

Am I missing something about that nose? I pulled it up in full res and it appears okay to me. Not the prettiest nose, mind you...

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/15/2008 11:26:40 PM · #10

Originally posted by jpochard:

Am I missing something about that nose?

Other than it being glow-in-the-dark red? No.

gwe21

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

07/15/2008 11:33:57 PM · #11

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by jpochard:
Am I missing something about that nose?

Other than it being glow-in-the-dark red? No.

:)

The guy in the back row, with the white shirt has a red spot light or something shining on his nose.

07/15/2008 11:36:13 PM · #12

I replaced the file. Is it better?

07/15/2008 11:37:42 PM · #13

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by jpochard:
Am I missing something about that nose?

Other than it being glow-in-the-dark red? No.

gwe21

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

07/15/2008 11:40:43 PM · #14

Originally posted by jpochard:

I replaced the file. Is it better?

thumbs up.

07/16/2008 01:09:28 AM · #15

Originally posted by gwe21:

Originally posted by jpochard:
I replaced the file. Is it better?

thumbs up.

Thanks

07/16/2008 10:41:44 AM · #16

bump

Prof_Fate

07/16/2008 10:47:16 AM · #17

Overall very nice. Some feeback... you need to learn some about posing - you have quite a few shoulder/arm shots of the bride from the side - makes her arm look bigger than it is (or needs to be).
t3 8x10 group shot - shot at 18mm..the end folks are leaning in due to the wide angle you used (it may have been unavoidable). You could have also turned everyone a bit - particularly the girls are facing dead on to the camera and that adds 10 pound to everyone of them. The bridesmaid on the far right should be in the back row to diminish her size a bit. The guys are all in a fig leaf pose - the #1 Red Flag that the photog doesn't know posing, or didn't give any input to the pose. The brides dress is all twisted - the back belongs in the back or else the dressmaker would have put it on the side or in the front. Again, you're accentuating her upper arm - next time have her move the flowers to just under her hip and lets see some daylight between the inner elbow and waist - and we'll also be able to see the bodice of the dress. On a good note you can see everyone's face, the BG is decent, etc. You might want to play with PS in the grass to improve it's look - it's ragged, brown, weedy-ness distracts from an otherwise pleasant photo.
35 proof, one of the ceremony shots - WB is way off.
F2 proof, altar return - Good shot of a large group. Nit pick is there are two guys in the back row (center, and far right) that are behind other people. Overall light distribution is good. A bit grainy/ low on detail which isn't good for a large group shot - one that needs to be printed large to be able to see everyone's face. I don't like the WB a lot either but perhaps the back wall is really yellowish (the skin tones look pretty good so it might just be me). Pose critique - there's not a lot one can do on a large group, but you have a dis-embodied hand growing out of the groom's shoulder - something to keep an eye out for on all shots. Guys like to put their arms around the girl's waist for instance, and all you see is fingers on her waist.
G3 proof - cake cutting - very nice - the people in the BG are a nice touch.
You dance shots are all very nice. Next time try for some variety - not all full length shots with you standing - kneel down, zoom in, step back to take in the whole room with the couple alone on the dance floor, etc.
One more WB critique - H6proof, a detail of the dress. It's not white. The dress is white in all the other shots. Both can't be correct.
Overall not bad for a first wedding. You used a variety of apertures, got everything in focus and I don't see any camera shake/motion blur issues so the technical part looks pretty good. Suggestions would be work on posing, get a tele lens for some variety of focal lenghts and some close ups and portraiture.
What you've got is good enough to show a photog to see if you can second shoot (even if it's for free) and learn. Yeah, that's an offer even though you're not next door i'm not that far way..well, OK, at $4 a gallon maybe I am LOL

07/16/2008 11:45:30 AM · #18

I won't quote the whole thing, but thank you very much for the detailed feedback.

I certainly learned a lot by doing this wedding. One of the main things was probably posing. I had the bride turned for most everything to minimize the waist/hips - but can see how that affects the arm. I need something a little more in between with the arm back and elbow a little away from the body I think?

Thanks again for the input. It's greatly appreciated!

Prof_Fate

07/16/2008 11:57:18 AM · #19

Posing is tough - you can learn by studying images only to a point- actually doing it makes a WORLD of difference. I learned this at a seminar - you sit and watch the demo and think you got it - then teh teacher has you take a partner and try do actually do it...and that's a willing partner that has a clue what you want, with no pressure or time issues.

It's a matter of learning to 'see' to be able to correct what's wrong quickly. And I still have issues - you have 5 bridesmaids and by the time you get #5 posed #1 has moved and you can't keep this up all day so you live with it. Or you find out that there's some odd shadow on the guy in the backrow from an altar spot, etc.

You also will learn 3 or 4 poses you use over and over - and that tends to make you lazy as you know they'll be happy with one of the 4 so you quit trying new things.

Yesterday I had a large couple and the could get into poses that my skinny couples can't do so it's not size or suppleness it's willingness as much as anything else. And not everything needs be posed 'perfect' - allowing some of their personality to come thru is important too.

Knowing the basic rules, and remembering them under pressure on the wedding day, and then being able to get the people to do it willingly takes time and practice. I've not looked at my pics from yesterday, but B&G, mom, grandma and an aunt are in one shot and together, no lie, gotta weigh 1500 pounds - their just ain't no pose to minimize everyone's size.
The cermony was the darkest i ever shot -and it was mid day, sunny day, and the lights were on...1/20 at 2.8 at ISO 3200 was the ambient reading! So I know how sometimes you do the best you can under the cirsumstances - and that IS lenses are a make or break deal on weddings.

07/16/2008 12:06:28 PM · #20

btw...I went back and looked at h6. That dress shot was given a sepia look on purpose, but I guess it didn't work :)

taterbug

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

07/16/2008 12:54:05 PM · #21

Hey Judy! I think you did a very nice job, especially for the first one! I really like the shot of the newlyweds dancing, with motion blur on everyone else, really cool shot!

Some good points on the critique, prof. This a very informative and inspiring thread.

I'm sure the couple loves these. Nice work Judy :-)