First wedding, need opinions on whether this can be a career....

[picturecrazy]

well, I went to my friend's wedding in mexico. they had hired a photographer but the asked me to take photos too, since they knew I was a photo nut. New to photography? No.. I was trained initially 14 years ago. New to weddings? uhh, yes. ever professional? NO!!!

anyhow, her sisters saw the pictures and now they want to book me to do THEIR weddings. they all liked them better than their pro's photos. I have to say that photography for a living sounds very enticing, but there is a certain skill level and 'EYE' that you need to do it well.

This is my very first wedding attempt. I need your opinion as to whether I'd be wasting my time, effort, and money pursuing this as a career or if I actually have a shot at it. And I know I have MUCH to learn.... please take a look and help me out. THANKS.

BTW, my friend requested photos with a softer touch to them... and she also has a thing for BW and sepia...
1.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_1405.JPG

2.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_2912.JPG

3.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3001.JPG

4.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3093.JPG

5.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3301.JPG

6.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3181.JPG

7.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3497.JPG

8.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3584.JPG

9.
http://yoonl.brinkster.net/nd/gallery/Photo%20Gallery/full/IMG_3394.JPG

thanks for your help.. ;)

[supplier]

Excellent!

[TSEE]

FWIW - I like them. #1 is my favorite probably, the B&W and soft focus works well with that picture IMO. I like the sunset, just not the pose. And the last one with the bride in the edge of the water is nice too.
I think anyone can become good at anything with enough practice. Keep it up, looks like you've done well to me. But I'm not a pro so take my words with a grain of salt. ;o)

[carl1645]

Really nice pictures, you've got an eye for it, my only suggestion at this time is don't use the same effect on every photo.

Other tha that keep it up.

Carl

[tim]

Nice photos, but lose the soft filter/blur effect on most of them, it's easy to overuse it. It's tough to make a living as a wedding photographer, there's a lot of competition, but with a supplimentry job it can be great :)

[mizuno]

They look fantastic, but I agree that softening every picture is a bit much.

[queenbee288]

They look fantastic! Th poses are great.

[kampphoto]

I'd have to agree with the soft filter comments... but otherwise great work!!! =)

[picturecrazy]

Yeah, I'm not much of a soft guy either (i usually shoot architecture), but she was pretty insistant on using it. I guess I can still tone it down though. I am glad that the response has been otherwise positive... ;) thanks, maybe I will take the jump and try it as a career, but start it out as a weekend thing....

[BLINN]

I sure can be, and by the looks of it you can make a killing with photos like this.

[JeffJensen]

Nice pix. But to answer your question... Yes, if:
1. If you can consistantly produce images like this (obviously more than nine per wedding)
2. You LOVE weddings, because when you're the primary the pressure's on
3. You have people skills
There's more, but this is a start.
I've been shooting weddings for 17 years, wouldn't trade it for anything. Attitude gets you a long way.

[PineCone]

go for it :)

[CyberPet]

There's only one difference to do it as "the" photographer and being the guy with the camera on the side. You are not stressed when it's not your gig. So if you have the guts to know that *you* will be the one screwing up their wedding photos, you're their man! There's lots of stress, but it's a lot of fun too... so you won't know if this is your thing until you've gotten your feet wet. :D

As for your posted images... I like them, even if some are too soft... yes it's romantic, but you need a good mix, both "photoshopped" stuff as well as the real deal. On some images the soft looks works, on some not. So if I look past the over-use of the soft filter, I think you have some great images there and you do have the eye.

So... conclusion from the Swedish jury is: Go for it! :D

[PIXI_666]

These are brilliant...go for it...why not? Look into business aspects (Im in the process of this!) and advertise a bit, you will find word of mouth ets around VERY quickly...so i doubt u will even need to advertise, your photos are rgeat so people will be booking you left right n centre if you go through the necessary business things...liability insurance, camera insurance, abn number etc. (I dunno if u have abn numbers there? Its a business number anyway im sure they are called something else in Canada!)
But you did a wicked job for a fist time wedding.....if i take photos liek that today at my 2nd wedding, ill be VERY VERY HAPPY!

Del

[bpuppy]

I would agree with Tim ... these shots are good enough to stand on their own without effects ... I like my shots straight up with a bit of a contrast and saturation tweak and that's it.

[Phil V]

The composition's great, you have a good eye.

However all that PS softness is a bit much. I'm slightly suspicious it's been used here instead of selective DoF. I could be wrong, but the waves in the first pic got me thinking.