First digital wedding, slideshow

[Tragerman]

Hello All,

As a newbie here, I haven't felt confident to offer any comments as yet. But to break the ice, I'll post an example of my work so you can see and comment if you wish. This Photodex slideshow is long, but I guess many of you have broadband, since I first saw it used here and many have commented.

This wedding was taken July 2005 on a sweltering 90 degree day. I used one body (20D) a Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash on a rotating bracket, and the Canon 28-135 IS, Canon 75-300 USM III and Canon 10-22 lenses. Prior to this I had done one film wedding 2 years before with Olympus OM equipment.

Any comments you have about the photogrpahy in the slideshow, or the show itself are most welcome! I know I missed a few focus points and the lighting in the church was hideous, with the green stained glass. During the ceremony, I was remanded to the back of the church. So telephoto was the game. I did pose a few after the ceremony.

You'll see me at the reception dancing with the 'big guy's' wife, no- not the bride, but another guest. He took my camere and commanded that I dance with his wife! He took a few shots while I followed instructions.... I'm the guy with the grey shirt dancing with his wife in the blue dress... He had snatched the DJ's mic earlier. Talk about an ice-breaker....

I'm doing a wedding in August that will be outdoors with the Chesapeake Bay in the background. The ceremony and reception will be in one place and I worry about having control of the photo shoot, as there is no way to sequester the bridal party from the guests. By reading here, I am reminded of so many things to consider. One thing I've taken care of is to have a backup camera and flash. The 20D and Sigma flash will be the backups to a rented 30D and 580 flash.

Thanks very much in advance!

-Mickey

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2612969&alb=0

[tim]

Found music sharp and annoying.
Don't particularly like the background (or any background). I like white backgrounds myself.
If you're going to have a background put a border around the main photo.
The movement is too much IMHO. I don't use movement any more.
Don't put the out of focus pictures in.
Fix the white ballance issues, keep it consistent.
I see places where you have essentially the same photo from different angles or crops right after each other. That's unnecessary IMHO. Put the best one in. You don't need to show every photo you took, just the best. I usually take 800 photos at a wedding and put about 100 in the show.
The same photos keep coming back later in the show, or at least very similar photos.
The 2nd music is as bad as the first, if not worse.
I don't like zooming out.
Be careful not to get your tripod in shots.
Shots of nothing in particular shouldn't be included.
The group shots aren't posed well. Guys hands are all over the place, including the dreaded "fig leaf" pose (hands in front of the crotch), and hanging limply by their sides. Also their weight needs to be on one foot.
Cake photos don't have to be taken while you're standing at your usual height. I alwys take a shot from above, from below, a shot showing half the cake only and leaving some space, etc. Put the couple in one if you can.
Again, there are lots of shots of nothing in particular.
Be careful of backgrounds. Make sure you're square with them, and make sure the background behind people is consistent.
Look at lots of examples of lighting for dance shots, yours are all quite similar. Use the natural light, or get your flash off the camera (if you have the confidence to do that).

That's all for now :)

[Tragerman]

Wow Tim, Thanks for the extensive review.

I admit the music is only filler. The rest of your comments, eye opening. I really do appreciate it. I couldn't afford to pay someone to give me the same enlightenment.

Honing down to the final 100 must be a real chore, after you get past the ones with obvious issues. I had trouble with the posing. Everyone was hot. The one gentleman would not do anything with his loose tie. The father of the bride looked at me like I killed his dog everytime. Clearly, I was intimidated. The big guy who commandeered my camera didn't help much... ;-)

Thanks again!
-Mickey

[tim]

Glad it helped :) I tend to joke around with or make fun of someone who looks like they can take it, and do whatever it takes to lighten the mood. Posing is tough, try this book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584281340/002-3047575-5896047?v=glance&n=283155).

[Sharyn1983]

I tossed this together for free for my brother, but it gives some good ideas of how to use picture backgrounds and some photoshop layouts.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2602232&alb=0

[Sharyn1983]

by the way, it is a graduation from a bible college (so you aren't expecting a bride or anything).

[indpndnt]

Great job, Sharyn. I love the composites.

[Tragerman]

Sharyn, thanks for posting this. I like it very much. The stacking up of images is creative- I assume used save several versions of the pictures in PS and when presented in the show they appeared as if individual photos were being layered when actually the whole image was changed. The BW treatment is very effective. Coupled with the traditional conservative dress of those on stage, these same images could have been taken in 1950. I also peeked at your wedding post on Photodex. Nice presentations and music. So many expressive images. Of the music, I recognize Etta James, but I'm not sure they are all her?

Thanks for taking the time to post this.
-Mickey

[Sharyn1983]

not all. Billy Holiday, Jimi Hendrix and Red Garland

[Sharyn1983]

I usually stack layers in PP and save the psd files. then I make separate pictures and it looks like part of them fade. So I can fade picture from color to BW or opaque to translucent, etc. You can do some nifty things in proshow.

[Tragerman]

I was impressed with the way you managed some of the coordinated fades while panning out. I have used the PSD files as source before, but never thought about making progressive layers and using ProShow to present them. Thanks again!

Billy Holiday was the voice I was thinking of. Nice selections!
-Mickey

[Sharyn1983]

if you do coordinated fades, the key is to pan or zoom at the exact same rate for each picture. So if you have 6 pictures and you want to go from 100 zoom to 130, each picture must zoom by 5% for a total of 30%. (and you have to use smooth or linear transition) that way it is constant motion that appears seamless.

[Tragerman]

Great tips! You can really create a complex collage with your technique. Well done!
Thanks.
-Mickey