Here are some of my wedding photos. Can you help me to improve please!!

[Shekinah]

Well against ALL odds and everyone telling me NOT to take this wedding I did it anyway, there is NO way I would tell someone that I would do their wedding and not go through with it, I am not that sort of person. REMEMBER this is my FIRST wedding and I really, really enjoyed it. I know there is heaps of room for improvement, but I would like anyone to tell me or show me what needs improving, so that I can learn, I do not mind constructive criticism please. My husband and I spend days picking out the photos processing them and putting them into a beautiful album, I now see the hours/days of work that goes into wedding photography and albums and I don't think I would do it FREE again only this once. Now I see why getting a photographer to do a wedding it cost thousands of dollars.

[Shekinah]

more photos

[Shekinah]

One more photo!

[Maureen Souza]

I think you did an excellent job, Sharon. Only one question... did you get any close-ups of the B&G?

[Shekinah]

I think you did an excellent job, Sharon. Only one question... did you get any close-ups of the B&G?

NO, I used a 200mm lens for 99% of my shots. I totally realize this is NOT the norm for wedding photography, but this lens is sooooooooo wonderful, and I did not spend thousands of dollars on it not to use it, I am fully aware that this lens is for low light sports shots etc. I worked on the principle that I could crop if I needed a close up shot.

[F. Stop Fitzgerald]

Nice work for a first wedding. Nice work for a 50th wedding. The racoon eyes are a little disturbing, but unless you could have put the flash way to the left or right, you'd have had flash glare in the gride and broom's eyeglasses.

I like the composition a lot. In the pics of the whole wedding party, after you take the shots with the groomsmen to the left and the bridesmaids to the right, rearrange them so that it's boy-girl-boy-girl. It helps to break up the colors.

The shot with some seated and some standing is fabulous. My only criticism is that you need to be sure that EVERYONE leads with his shoulder. The seated at the bottom of the group is a bit distracting largely because she is the bustiest. (Not that it's not a nice physical characteristic). Had she been leading with her shoulder, that attribute might not have been so noticeable. Same with the bridesmaid standing next to the bride. Nevertheless, it's still a nice shot.

200mm lens... hmmm... that could have resulted in some problems, but since you were a good distance from them, and since everyone was (more or less) in the same focal plane, problems seem to be minimized. The resulting compression worked very well, especially in the background.

Kudos to you. You done good.

[Shekinah]

Nice work for a first wedding. Nice work for a 50th wedding. The racoon eyes are a little disturbing, but unless you could have put the flash way to the left or right, you'd have had flash glare in the gride and broom's eyeglasses.

I like the composition a lot. In the pics of the whole wedding party, after you take the shots with the groomsmen to the left and the bridesmaids to the right, rearrange them so that it's boy-girl-boy-girl. It helps to break up the colors.

The shot with some seated and some standing is fabulous. My only criticism is that you need to be sure that EVERYONE leads with his shoulder. The seated at the bottom of the group is a bit distracting largely because she is the bustiest. (Not that it's not a nice physical characteristic). Had she been leading with her shoulder, that attribute might not have been so noticeable. Same with the bridesmaid standing next to the bride. Nevertheless, it's still a nice shot.

200mm lens... hmmm... that could have resulted in some problems, but since you were a good distance from them, and since everyone was (more or less) in the same focal plane, problems seem to be minimized. The resulting compression worked very well, especially in the background.

Kudos to you. You done good.

I was not sure what you mean by racoon eyes, I did not use a flash at all. I will do that next time boy/girl/boy/girl. I see what you mean by the group shot with the girl that she should be leading by the shoulder. I got it.

[Wazza]

Nice shots, and now I've just realised you're in NZ.

Oh how excited I would get if I saw your lens. I can see the distance from the subject. You did a fine job there.

Where abouts was this shot?

I've photographed a couple of weddings myself, mostly using the 50mm 1.8, due to the DOF and low light capabilities. And a few outside shots, I used the 70-200 2.8 IS (Tim's from the forum)

[Shekinah]

Nice shots, and now I've just realised you're in NZ.

Oh how excited I would get if I saw your lens. I can see the distance from the subject. You did a fine job there.

Where abouts was this shot?

I've photographed a couple of weddings myself, mostly using the 50mm 1.8, due to the DOF and low light capabilities. And a few outside shots, I used the 70-200 2.8 IS (Tim's from the forum)

The shots were taken at Pukekura Park up by the New Plymouth Zoo. I did use my 50mm 1.4 inside the church, but I much prefer to use the 200mm 1.8 every time I can, where there is distance. Thanks for your comments.

[waldograce]

The only thing I could see is that on some of the shots you could have filled the frame a bit more.
That's more work with a prime (gotta use the old foot zoom.)

[NGrinerPhoto]

they look really good. here are a few of my suggestions. you don't have to take any to heart.

have the guys stick their thumbs out when their hands are in their pockets. it keeps them from looking like they are digging for something.

mix up the girls and guys. have them with the person they walked with.

make sure the bride and groom are on the correct sides in the photos (not a big deal).

when arms are around the backs of other people, make sure their hands are not showing. it can look like a creepy hand about to attack.

[Shekinah]

they look really good. here are a few of my suggestions. you don't have to take any to heart.

have the guys stick their thumbs out when their hands are in their pockets. it keeps them from looking like they are digging for something.

mix up the girls and guys. have them with the person they walked with.

make sure the bride and groom are on the correct sides in the photos (not a big deal).

when arms are around the backs of other people, make sure their hands are not showing. it can look like a creepy hand about to attack.

Yes, I have learn't now by someone else that I should mix up the boys and girls having them together, I got that now.

What is the correct side for the Bride and Groom please tell me that one????

[lostdoggy]

Very nice work!!!

And its the otherside!!!

Just kidding!!!

I like to know too!!!

Groom on left and Bride on right, just guessing!!!

[Shekinah]

Very nice work!!!

And its the otherside!!!

Just kidding!!!

I like to know too!!!

Groom on left and Bride on right, just guessing!!!

I put the groom on the left side because I am left handed. Haha!!

[tim]

A very good first wedding, I like the 3rd photo :)

Some of the posing is a bit stiff and straight, have a look at this book for great posing advice.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584281340/002-3047575-5896047?v=glance&n=283155

[Huckaback Photo]

Hi Sharon
You did it, got your first wedding then, well done.
I always think its all to easy to critique other peoples work, when the main thing with a wedding shoot is to please the Bride & Groom, if they are happy with results that fine,

You need to study each image and decide if you can improve it next time, make some notes,
there are so many variables, and each wedding is different.

the lighting on that day looked reasonably flat with no strong shadows cast from the sun, this has done you a favour, as I note some whites may have been a bit to bright ( not easy to see on here, originals could be good).
I note a very heavy (black) background on some.

all skin tones and colours look good.
I would concentrate on setting up groups, pay particular attention to little details that can often detract in the finished shot (as mentioned above Bridesmaids ,shoulder leading in ) also the man kneeling, his leg & foot at a unusual angle sticking out from the group, the grooms leg looks unconfortable
in the seated shot, also looks as if he is wearing 1 boot and 1 shoe.

OK, I realise I'm being a bit hard on you. but the main thing with any wedding is to organise the people and set up the shots as you require.

Seriously the camera technique, exposure, fill flash, focus, depth of field etc. should become second nature and is all down to practice and experience.

To sum up...as others have already mentioned above,
you have done well.

Best wishes & have a great new year.
Martin (Huckaback Photo)


PS. If you intend to shoot some more weddings, please do yourself a favour.
there will be a time when you can not get what you want with either of your lenses, the way around this is get yourself a 24 to 70 f2.8 L or similar, and leave it on the second body. and if the weddings you shoot are for money, always carry that second body.

[Shekinah]

Hi Sharon
You did it, got your first wedding then, well done.
I always think its all to easy to critique other peoples work, when the main thing with a wedding shoot is to please the Bride & Groom, if they are happy with results that fine,

You need to study each image and decide if you can improve it next time, make some notes,
there are so many variables, and each wedding is different.

the lighting on that day looked reasonably flat with no strong shadows cast from the sun, this has done you a favour, as I note some whites may have been a bit to bright ( not easy to see on here, originals could be good).
I note a very heavy (black) background on some.

all skin tones and colours look good.
I would concentrate on setting up groups, pay particular attention to little details that can often detract in the finished shot (as mentioned above Bridesmaids ,shoulder leading in ) also the man kneeling, his leg & foot at a unusual angle sticking out from the group, the grooms leg looks unconfortable
in the seated shot, also looks as if he is wearing 1 boot and 1 shoe.

OK, I realise I'm being a bit hard on you. but the main thing with any wedding is to organise the people and set up the shots as you require.

Seriously the camera technique, exposure, fill flash, focus, depth of field etc. should become second nature and is all down to practice and experience.

To sum up...as others have already mentioned above,
you have done well.

Best wishes & have a great new year.
Martin (Huckaback Photo)


PS. If you intend to shoot some more weddings, please do yourself a favour.
there will be a time when you can not get what you want with either of your lenses, the way around this is get yourself a 24 to 70 f2.8 L or similar, and leave it on the second body. and if the weddings you shoot are for money, always carry that second body.

Thanks once again for your help, I did realize after about the foot and bridesmaid in the front, but I appreciate all of your help again. I will keep practicing and practicing, the bride and groom were extremely happy with the photos. I supose you get what you pay for.

[PIXI_666]

You did really well for your first wedding!
The photo's are nice and clear, but i do think you need to get a bit more up close and personal with some, use your zoom but get your standard lens out too because it also work's well :)
One word of advice, get some casual shots, bring out some champers and beer, get the bridal party to just relax and talk and have fun with it, it's the best thing about the wedding i think (Just having my wedding 6 weeks ago, the best part was the photography for me - i wonder WHY? haha so i rolled with it and got very creative in myself for the photographer!)

Maybe get all the boys to jump in the air, get the girls to do a twirl, a kiss might be nice? Best thing i did before i shot my 1st wedding, i looked at a lot of photographer's web pages and studied different aspects of their photo's...i didn't necessarily STEAL their work, but i sure as hell used some of their knowledge with the champers, the casual shots, get them all to talk about somethign then snap away with them knowing etc.

But honestly...i love the very first photo! Im sure the B&G were very pleased with the results!

But yes...next time definately charge your time, these thigns take a lot of effort and time! :)

Del

[CyberPet]

Looking great for your first!!! An advice too... you have a great 200 mm lens there with some awesome speed and possibility to make some cool short DOF portraits. Takes a bit of walking since it's not a zoom lens, but oh boy, you could start with the formals, then walk closer and get some great portraits close up!

My mentor keeps telling me - "give them full length, half length and close-up". So that's my advice to you too. :)

[Thornfield]

Well done on your first wedding.
I think the second shot would have been great had you gone in close and framed just the bride and groom kissing. (headshots only) all in all well done though.

[buffalophotographer]

One more photo!

You should actually have the groom on your right when looking at them as this way you can see the flower on his jacket and that goes for all the guys.

[Shekinah]

You should actually have the groom on your right when looking at them as this way you can see the flower on his jacket and that goes for all the guys.

Thank you for clearing that up, it makes a lot of sense. I can see many things I did wrong, but I am learning fast so I don't make the same mistakes again.