My first! (as a second...)

[Refemall]

Well This past Sunday I got the opportunity to photograph my first wedding ever. I was a second photographer to my cousin, who's done a few weddings already. I think I got some alright shots. What do you guys think?

1.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5653.jpg

2.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5725.jpg

3.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5747.jpg

4.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5751.jpg

5.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5777.jpg

6.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5814.jpg

7.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5935.jpg

8.
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l67/MarkShannonPhoto/09-17-06%20-%20Sarah%20and%20Nigel/IMG_5994.jpg



Cheers.

[Jettin]

Well done, very good job!

A little bit of pp would give the pictures more effect imho.

[Refemall]

Thanks. I did do adjustments to the RAW images, but I think you mean something different, no?

I was considering some things like that, like for instance in the last image, a faux vignette, so the B&G are very clearly the focus of the image.

Cheers.

[REIGNftSOLDIER]

#5 is my favorite, altho it seems they are posing for a photo-op to the left of you & not looking at your camera...

[jessiper]

Great job for your first time. For a second version of #2 I think you should crop out the top parts of the adults to focus on the flower girl. This was done super fast, but maybe you could play with it, try different crops, I just didn't have a lot of time.

[JadeL]

I really like #3. It is fun and flirty and the way they are all paying attention to the other camera it really works for me. With #8 you might try something like this. I put a slight blur around the couple and then used the levels to bring out some of the true black and white tones. Just a suggestion from some one who knows very little;) .

[suspectim]

Nice work. I did my first as a second last wkend.

[Refemall]

#5 is my favorite, altho it seems they are posing for a photo-op to the left of you & not looking at your camera...

Heh, that's the thing I liked about that one, was that they were both looking in the same place, but not at my camera. I think it worked better for me that way.

Great job for your first time. For a second version of #2 I think you should crop out the top parts of the adults to focus on the flower girl. This was done super fast, but maybe you could play with it, try different crops, I just didn't have a lot of time.

That's an interesting play on the image. I never really thought about doing that, but I must admit, I wish I had. Thanks for the suggestion.

I really like #3. It is fun and flirty and the way they are all paying attention to the other camera it really works for me. With #8 you might try something like this. I put a slight blur around the couple and then used the levels to bring out some of the true black and white tones. Just a suggestion from some one who knows very little;) .

What you did with me last one looks very good. I see exactly what you mean. That was my main concern in PP with that one, that the surroundings drew attention away from the bride and groom. That looks like an easy way to solve that. Perhaps I'll try fooling around with it a bit later, and see what I get.

Cheers.

[JMHPhotography]

You did very well. Even if this was your 10th time you got some really decent stuff here. #3 is my favorite by far. Very fun shot.

My only real critique is going to be about #2. When doing the formal poses, I know as a second(I've been here myself) I think that it should either be done all the way or not at all. What I mean is that when the people are clearly posed up for the shot and looking elsewhere maybe just before or just after the primary tog has taken their shot, it tends to look like a somewhat disorganized group photo, rather than the nicely composed candid. You have a bridesmaid looking off into the distance, the groom and a groomsman or two looking at the primary photographer and I think maybe we have one bridesmaid and one or two groomsman looking at you, and the flower girl. Now it's not a horrible photo by any stretch, but it couldn't be used as a formal group portrait. Maybe you could use it as a candid, "getting ready for our portrait" type of shot. I'm guessing that since you're pretty much in front of them, the primary photographer had already taken his shot and then you stepped in to get one as well. I know that this causes the wedding party to be confused sometimes in, "who do I look at?" especially when they are used to the idea of the one photographer. I think that's what happened here anyway. Don't fret about it too much. Like I said, I've been here before myself and I have plenty of shots like this and actually much worse in my own collection. :)

The other photos you posted are GREAT!!!! In addition to #3 which I've already dubbed my favorite, I also think you did a wonderful job with #4. That CLEARLY can be used as a formal group portrait... while non-traditional, I think the perspective is great, and provides something a bit outside the box. I like it. The last one looks good too. You captured a wonderful moment, and I think you made a VERY wise choice to go B/W with it. I also think that the process Jade applied to it makes it that much better as well.

[jkdphoto]

YOUR FIRST TRY AT A WEDDING WAS PERFECT! I thought I would put my two cents in too

[Refemall]

Thanks all, I really apprecaite the praise.

forkball, with what you said regarding number 2, that was pretty much exactly what happened. The primary photog organised the group, and got the shot worth keeping. I unfortunately didn't have the time to have them hold still and look at me for much longer, so we had to move on. Nonetheless, although there's a couple imperfections, I think it came out somewhat alright.

Cheers.

[JMHPhotography]

Thanks all, I really apprecaite the praise.

forkball, with what you said regarding number 2, that was pretty much exactly what happened. The primary photog organised the group, and got the shot worth keeping. I unfortunately didn't have the time to have them hold still and look at me for much longer, so we had to move on. Nonetheless, although there's a couple imperfections, I think it came out somewhat alright.

Cheers.


Yes it did come out nice. I do understand your situation.. believe me. I've been there sooo many times. I have shots like that and they didn't work out as well sometimes. But as I said, you did a very nice job and please take my critique as only a minor thing. Your photos beat the heck out of my first and even second attempts..lol.

I see a place in the album for this shot #2... it can go along with the actual group portrait as a sort of "setting up" candid shot. Technically, it's pretty darn good.

OT: that bridesmaid just beside the bride looks like an ex-girlfriend of mine.

[MagicallyDelicious]

great images!

[Jettin]

Thanks. I did do adjustments to the RAW images, but I think you mean something different, no?

I was considering some things like that, like for instance in the last image, a faux vignette, so the B&G are very clearly the focus of the image.

Cheers.

What i mean is that..

I think no.2 is the best shot (except that they are looking all over the place), its got more impact due to contrast, so i think that the other pictures need just a little bit more if that.

Thats just my humle opinion, though im just a noobist;)

[mrfourcows]

very good work, especially so as a first timer!