Help needed, C & C please

[QUASIPHOTO]

Here are some wedding reception shots that I took for a couple. I had absoultley no idea what the heck I was doing. Since shooting these I have read tons on this forum and have gotten the books that Tim reccomends.
but I still need critic and comments on how to make these much better. I've been asked to shoot a wedding and reception in a couple of weeks. It will be outside and a bit different setting, especially since it will be in the late afternoon to nighttime. So any help that you can give, I dont care how brutal, I need to get better at this. Thanks for all your help.

#1. The bride before tossing her bouqet
http://static.flickr.com/80/208249554_bc7864d546_o.jpg

#2. Same shot just B & W version
http://static.flickr.com/76/208249556_ab3a45a651_o.jpg

#3. The bride, her sis, and her niece

http://static.flickr.com/68/208249560_d00811d579_o.jpg

#4. Dancing the night away
http://static.flickr.com/67/208249559_a2c6a4fec2_o.jpg

#5. The bride and her father enjoy their dance.

http://static.flickr.com/68/208249558_86c3295c14_o.jpg

#6. Cutting the cake.
http://static.flickr.com/78/208249564_860c08b02e_o.jpg

#7. The bride and groom dance.

http://static.flickr.com/82/208251665_2bd8dbaa0e_o.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to look at these and commenting.

[jillybean]

I personally love them, #5 the crop is a smidge tight.

[islandphoto]

really nice work. Were you hired for these?

[QUASIPHOTO]

Thanks for the kind remarks, ummm, I was sort of hired to do these. These were taken for a family member. I was going to take the engagement photos and wedding as well, but the reception center that they picked took care off all that. Anyway, I worked out a trade with the bride and groom for my pay, since I don't have any experience in this area. The bride said that she would pose for some formals and the such. We've just been waiting for the weather to cool down a bit..........lol. 100+ temps aren't too inviting to pose in. These just seem a bit "snapshotish" to me.

[Tiffany]

I like them - they are cute! The cutting the cake shot is cute, but not obvious that they are cutting the cake since there is no cake in the picture, though :)

[woffles]

#3 could use some flash fill. Case of raccoon eyes. Skin tones are off in the color pics. Proably white balance issue. I'm no pro. Just learning myself. I'd spend some time looking at pro wedding sites and see how they shoot. That first one could have shown the whole dress. As much as they spend on it they want to see it. I've read other comments like don't cut off feet. Real easy to do. Get a flash bracket. It will help with the shadow in #6. I've seen some people's postings where everything is too far away with lots of unused space in their pictures. All your's here are real close. Don't forget to show some of the atmosphere also. Looks like a good start though.

[Su-Hannie]

I also think the colour is a bit off, maybe that's why so many B&W? Your pictures looks good, You probably have some with the surroundings as well?

As said above look at other wedding photographers websites and hang around here, you'll learn a lot

[ninab]

#3 could use some flash fill. Case of raccoon eyes. Skin tones are off in the color pics. Proably white balance issue. I'm no pro. Just learning myself. I'd spend some time looking at pro wedding sites and see how they shoot. That first one could have shown the whole dress. As much as they spend on it they want to see it. I've read other comments like don't cut off feet. Real easy to do. Get a flash bracket. It will help with the shadow in #6. I've seen some people's postings where everything is too far away with lots of unused space in their pictures. All your's here are real close. Don't forget to show some of the atmosphere also. Looks like a good start though.

agree on 3, but the pose is cute! LOVE #4!! As for the dances, personally I like to capture impressions of them actually dancing, not looking at me posing (like #7). Or maybe looking at me over a shoulder, but this one looks a little too posed for my taste, though well captured.

As for the feet, just don't cut them off right above the ankle. Mid-thigh is ok, you can't do full-length all the time!

And including the cake in the cake-cutting-shot does help, though I'm sure this wasn't the only one you took.

Make sure you get all the details, cake, cake top, center pieces, flowers, arch, favors, place cards, shoes, veil, hair........ the bride spends money and a lot of thought on all these things, she wants them recorded.

[jamiewexler]

#4 is AMAZING!

[monter]

Nice shots! Agree on number 3 though... next time use fill flash. :)

[QUASIPHOTO]

Thanks for all the comments everyone, they will really help in the furture.