Photos from my first wedding!

[CanonLaw]

Sooo, here it goes...I keep looking at my pictures, thinking I like them, then I look at others from this forum then I don't like mine......let me know what you think. I was under very harsh and contrasty light. It was under trees, yet very sunny, so there were shadows everywhere....this was the best I could do with my skill level and knowledge at this moment. Thanks for looking.

The full gallery is here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor19.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW68.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW64.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW59.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW34.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/SarahandColbyBW57.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/AmishThug/Colby%20and%20Sarah/ColbyandSarahColor21.jpg

[MagicallyDelicious]

real nice pics!!

[CanonLaw]

I would like to add that I was only paid $70 for this wedding.

[AKRover]

There are a few really good ones there although I'm not a fan of the overly tilted ones. Did they really get a carburetor as a gift?

[CanonLaw]

There are a few really good ones there although I'm not a fan of the overly tilted ones. Did they really get a carburetor as a gift?

Thanks for the input. I wasn't sure what I thought of the tilted ones either, but I just thought I would try something different.
They did really get a carburator as a gift. It was sort of an inside family joke, because of the crappy car they got as a wedding present, it needed a carb, so they got one to go with the truck.

[AKRover]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally against the tilted image it's just that it only works on some and it is possible to over tilt.

[CanonLaw]

Thanks AKRover....I agree about the tilting. I deleted alot of pictures that were tilted because they don't look that great.

[PIXI_666]

I only looked at the shots that came up on my screen im not a huge fan of going into links but thats just me :)

Personally...and if you want my brutal honest opinion.....they look quite amateurish - and yes i know you are probably an amateur trying to break it into the business and we ALL have to start somewhere...but they do lack a fair bit of pizazz and they really don't pop for me.

The tilted images are really over the top, to the point where it just doesn't look like a "Different" image anymore, because you have used it too much.

Tha family shot is aboslutely beautiful...BUT....you tilted the image, cut their feet off and you actually have to tilt your head to view it properly because its way too tilted...do you have a level shot of this - because that is a beautiful capture with her head on his shoulder....

Keep at it i am sure that with lots of constructive ctiricism you will only get beter and better with every wedding trust me on that one!!!

Del

[PIXI_666]

i thought id add an extra comment because i really do think that you used too much B&W, she has this beautiful aulburn hair that needs to be emphasised and gorgeous green in the bridal party...use the colours to your advantage and maybe use a bit of sepia in some of them too....

[CanonLaw]

I only looked at the shots that came up on my screen im not a huge fan of going into links but thats just me :)

Personally...and if you want my brutal honest opinion.....they look quite amateurish - and yes i know you are probably an amateur trying to break it into the business and we ALL have to start somewhere...but they do lack a fair bit of pizazz and they really don't pop for me.

The tilted images are really over the top, to the point where it just doesn't look like a "Different" image anymore, because you have used it too much.

Tha family shot is aboslutely beautiful...BUT....you tilted the image, cut their feet off and you actually have to tilt your head to view it properly because its way too tilted...do you have a level shot of this - because that is a beautiful capture with her head on his shoulder....

Keep at it i am sure that with lots of constructive ctiricism you will only get beter and better with every wedding trust me on that one!!!

Del

The links, I am not sure where those came from. I posted them as pictures, and they worked for a while, then became links? Im not sure why. I was also concerned about the pizazz and the pop of the pictures. What can I do differently? I see many pictures that stand out as kind of dreamy and having a soft glow to them, but the people say the pictures are straight out of camera, with only some minor color correction. I don't know how to achieve this. I have ordered a diffuser/reflector fot my flash, so hopefully that will help give me better light. The light at the wedding was aweful, really contrasty and bright. Do I also need a faster lens, like a 1.4 or 1.8 or something to get those nice soft results? I am using a 10D.

[Eoseni]

Del said it well. Too much tilt makes tilted pics the norm, which is not helpful for making an impact. If you use it once in a while it makes a stronger positive impression. This rule of thumb applies to all special-effect type shots whether done in-camera or in post. The best application IMHO of the tilt is the glasses shot. I like that one.

That said, You do have talent. You had a relatively unattractive time of day to shoot. But you captured good expressions - which often sells photos more than good lighting imho. You skillfully did not blow-out the dress with your flash - good job. For $70 they really got it good! Congratulations.

Dreamy pictures and other effects are often done in PhotoShop or similar programs. Some use filters on lenses.

Other rules (that may be broken) are : if you're going for full body shots, make sure you don't cut off ankles. Formals shots, like the family shot, usually are taken level, not tilted.

Some of the pics can be improved simply by cropping tighter, such as No. 2

Was your flash off-camera? On a bracket? They make better pictures. when the background is so bright and the guests are under a tent, I might underexpose the background and increase the flash output so that the subjects pop instead of the background...as in No. 3

As for lenses, wedding photographers generally "need" fast lenses, or IS lenses. Fast lenses like 2.8 or 1.4 gives you the ability to blur the backgrounds, and that helps...esp. in pics like No.3. where the background is unattractive.

Links are there because there's a limit on how many pics you can post. Read the stickies on that.

That's my two cents. Good shooting!

[karl_burns]

I like the emotion in th third one.
The one of the couple would look great if you really processed it to make the colors vibrant and almost over saturated, instead of making it B&W (IMHO).
Good job!
Karl

[Wazza]

"Last edited by Kevin : 20 Hours Ago at 12:07 PM. Reason: Attachments exceed new posting rules" - From the bottom of your first post. (max 8 images per post, or 2 per thread if you're using POTN attachments).

I do love the mood you've captured here, and guess everything we do is a learning curve. As mentioned, there's too many angled shots, 1 or 2 thrown in works well. Tim seems to be good at throwing a good one in every so often. The last one I did, I completely forgot to do a couple of my own unique style shots. Was quite disappointed in myself, next time may tattoo it on my hand so I don't forget! :lol:

As for giving the dreamy look, Tim Wee has already mentioned it, as having a faster lens to isolate the subject, and make the background go into blur.

http://wazza.nfscity.com/glasswell/images/60.jpg
This one was with the 85mm F1.8, shot at F2.2... There is a distracting person in the background, the young girls only held the pose for 1 second, so can't control the background, but can edit it out after the final proof. - Depends how fussy the client is, and whether you've been paid a normal rate or not. Still, I prefer to give the client the best of my work, and then they'll tell their friends....

[CanonLaw]

Thanks for all the input.

I did take quite a few non-tilted pictures, so I can show them those too. I didn't really think about overdoing it, but I will definitly keep it to a minimum next time. I will also not cut off anyones feet during family shots like that. This is excactly what I needed. I am doning one more in late august and I will see how it goes...if I can nail that one, I will start doing more, if not, I may hold off for a while.

I am going to get a faster lens (50mm f1.4) and a flip-it for my flash, because those seem to work really well. Also, I think I need more practice with my flash. It was attached to the shoe of the camera. I think I need to slow down a little and do more analyzing of the shot before I take it, if I can of course.

[bigfredtn]

Nice pictures. But one picture made me laugh. The picture with the wedding presents. Someone gave a carburetor for a wedding present. Now that is a wedding present that is useful. I wonder if it was for the bride or the groom.