City girl meets Country boy...A Bridal Session

[Mike Fulton]

Fun and beautiful bride who is a city girl marrying a very country boy so we did both traditional and country sessions with her.
Hope you enjoy them!

#1 - Natural light coming through the church window with small fill flash to even out the shadows
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/003.jpg

#2 - Outside - the sky was blue I blew out the sky on purpose to capture the more highkey look
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/004.jpg

#3 - Dark to the human eye but the camera was able to capture amazing light in the sky still - subject lit by wireless flash.
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/005.jpg

#4 - In complete visual darkness, lit by wireless flash unit on location - the bride is sitting on top of a hay bail which is on a tractor. If you look close that is a star to the right of her, yes it was that dark!
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/006.jpg

#5 - Using the fence line again as the one image above
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/002.jpg

#6 - Orig blue sky but lighten up the face with post work and fill flash
http://www.tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/001.jpg

[jessiper]

I don't see any pics. :(

[Mike Fulton]

My server rebooted, they should be viewable now, let me know if they are not! Sorry about that!

[CyberPet]

No images yet, Mike.

[Phil Light]

I see them. Wow!

[rmax1919]

Absolutely amazing!!! Great job!

~Robin

[CyberPet]

Now I see them... rocking and rolling Mike... love the light in especially #3 and #5. Very beautiful girl!

[strmrdr]

wow
some of the best pics iv seen on here.
Great job!

What wireless flash setup did you use?

[joayne]

These are really top notch, but....where is the country boy?

[lil_miss]

Those are absolutely beautiful :) Awesome

[LeesaB]

Wonderful pics...I want to see the country boy...

and she really sat on the mound of hay? or straw? WOW

[jessiper]

Now I see them. Wow, they're great! Thanks for sharing how they were lit, too. :D

[Philco]

Really, Really nice! I'm wondering if you went w/ the ST-E2, or the P.W.'s?

[Mike Fulton]

Really, Really nice! I'm wondering if you went w/ the ST-E2, or the P.W.'s?

Thanks again everyone for the nice words it was a fun event.

To answer this question we used none of the above.

I feel the ST-E2 is a waste of money when I can turn my 580ex flash off yet still send the information to a wireless flash so I get the ST-E2 plus the option of a flash unit. We have P.W's but we were out in a field of mud and they were in the car and since 95% of our shots are done with Canon built in system we simply did not see any reason to go back through the mud to get them when we were loosing light. So with that all said we captured all of these images using wireless Canon built in system inside the 580ex's.

Most were one light set ups, but we also have up to 4 wireless flash units in some shots during the session, for fill light, main light and a couple hair lights.

Its what I teach in our workshops around the United States and again is one of my greatest passions in life!

[JaertX]

wow...very nice work. Great use of the sky in these!

I'm just starting to really play with the 580's wireless and so far it seems to work great.

[Philco]

Oh, of course, option #3!

I'm waiting to add another 580 when the 580III comes out...but gosh, it's pricey. Thanks for the description.

[Wedding Shooter]

Mike - they are all beautiful - but number 6 is my favourite. A lovely softness about it.

[cosworth]

Where's the country boy?

[Mike Fulton]

Where's the country boy?
This was just a bridal session, taken BEFORE the wedding, in fact this couple's wedding is not until July. So he was not in the area so he would not see his bride in her dress, or in this case, pety coat, shot gun, boots and on the hay bail :)

They are an amazing looking couple with a sad story, their orig. photographer after taking some FREAKING AMAZING engagement photos, seriously some of the best I have ever seen, faked out on them and something like 18 other couples. Lucky this couple only lost their engagement photos while the other couples lost EVERYTHING from their wedding and other sessions. The guys house has been taken by the bank and well no one knows where he is. So they booked us out of needing another photographer ASAP and lucky for us we were open. Well somewhat open, we were heading out to Kenya the day of their wedding to photograph the Vice President of Kenya daughter's wedding, and delayed the flight for one day to assist this couple which already has had a rough time in the area of photography for their special day!

[cosworth]

I've heard this or a similar story. Guy just evaporated.

[SBCmetroguy]

Wow! These are amazing!

[Franko515]

Shots like these is why I have grown to love photography. To create not only memories, but to capture the feeling of that moment in time. She can look at these shots for years to come and remember how sexy she looked and felt.

Good job!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Carzee]

Top Shots! Great locations.

[tim]

Mike, you're obviously a master of photographer, I always enjoy looking at your work. #1 is fantastic, but they're all outstanding.

[mizuno]

Wow, Mike. Your work is consistently amazing. What you guys manage to pull off with speedlights is pure class.

I'd love to attend a workshop if you ever decide to bring it on over to Australia! ;)

[ofdphoto]

Ditto to Mizuno ... when will you be down under?

Really amazingly nice work.

:-)

[david lee]

No No No Come to England first Mike. I wanna take photos like that.
Stunning!... Its what I became a photographer for.... To produce that kind of work.

[Mike Fulton]

Wow, Mike. Your work is consistently amazing. What you guys manage to pull off with speedlights is pure class.

I'd love to attend a workshop if you ever decide to bring it on over to Australia! ;)
Thank you all you guys REALLY humble me cause honestly Cody and I are just two local kids having a good time with our cameras and our passion for photography. So again it truly humbles me when other people who share this amazing art enjoy our work. I say this all the time but I truly mean it!

On the workshops you figure out a way to get me and Cody over there we will do it. Heck set up shop in one of your houses and have a good time cause to learn you need to get personal and very hands on. Photography is more than just a book you need to live it and enjoy every step of the way!

Besides my girlfriend would kill me if I went to you part of the world and did not bring her so I am sure we would loose money coming over there but it would be fun in the process!!!!!

[Mike Fulton]

No No No Come to England first Mike. I wanna take photos like that.
Stunning!... Its what I became a photographer for.... To produce that kind of work.
Was over in your world last year and might be coming back in Aug. I did not get to see much but London sadly so i would love to spend sometime in the country and enjoy what the history has to offer someday!

[fotojen]

Mike! U rock as allways! I wish I could go to the states for a workshop with u!

[Mike Fulton]

Mike, you're obviously a master of photographer, I always enjoy looking at your work. #1 is fantastic, but they're all outstanding.
Thanks Tim, and I am not a master at anything (well one thing but I cant say it since this is a family forum) :lol: but honestly we are just two people who enjoy this artwork and capture what WE feel is right and not what anyone else says is right.

[fotojen]

oh and by the way! U inspire me to try to find weird places to take photoes in. Love the one u did on the colourfull bride with the purple dress.

I want to do a shoot in a car tunnel... I hope I will some day.... there is one were I live that u can walk through...

[tim]

Mike, you'd have to be up there with the best in the world, no need to be modest.

If you did a hands-on seminar in Australia i'd fly over for it, if it was in winter and pref on a weekend. I'm considering your mentoring program.

[Mike Fulton]

Mike, you'd have to be up there with the best in the world, no need to be modest.

If you did a hands-on seminar in Australia i'd fly over for it, if it was in winter and pref on a weekend. I'm considering your mentoring program.
Thanks Tim for the kind words but again I look at some of the greats work and well I feel we fall short. However I think it is also my passion to be the very best WE can be is what continues us to push the limits to find new and exciting images and clients. And once again as far as the workshops go Im serious if we can find a place to have it and get us over there we could do it pretty cheap and have 2-3 days of very hands ons stuff for wireless flash, pocket wizards, Larson Reflectors and push yourself in different lighting to learn and make mistakes then so when the real session comes you will understand more how to capture the shot.

Our work is a complete thought process not just lighting, not just posing but also processing. When I click the shutter I already know how I am going to process many of the images. This allows me to shoot completely different than if I did not think this way. For exaomple if I know I am going to turn the image to a B/W or Sepia tone the light does not need to be perfect cause the tones fix alot of that, but if I know I want to pop the colors and have a full color image I know the light needs to be stronger and more perfect.

Also in my action set I sell (Finding Color) many when used darken the image which is by design cause when I apply the TriCoast Glow it lightens up everything and evens out the exposue.

These are some of the things I try and get across in the workshops, to think outside the normal steps, and to remember those steps can be mixed up and blended together to create a better and more complete session.

[tim]

Thanks for sharing Mike. Let's get Mizuno to try to set something up... Sydney sounds good to me, I can go shopping too :)

[picturecrazy]

damn. again mike, you rock. Don't forget to contact me if you come to western canada so I can 3rd or 10th shoot for you! :)

[Rachellebee27]

These are incredible! Can I PLEASE second for you?!?!?! Please! (my prettiest batty lashes) Hahaha! OK I know I'd just be in your way for at least a year yet, so I won't bother you. Really VERY nice!

[R_Metzel]

Excellent images! Which I had half your skills! Very beautiful and I am sure the bride was very pleased.

[Philco]

I'm going to jump on the praising Mike bandwagon to say that I have a very heavily inked bride booked for next month, and the first thing I did when I got this wedding was to search out the bridal portraits from his unusual bride right away. They were inspiring to me because they are shots that are so obviously creative and one step apart from standard issue bridals because of it. My bride is going 50's vintage with black and red, so my challenge ape Mike to the best of my ability!

[kenwood33]

Also in my action set I sell (Finding Color) many when used darken the image which is by design cause when I apply the TriCoast Glow it lightens up everything and evens out the exposue.

What is the 'TriCoast Glow'?

[jessiper]

damn. again mike, you rock. Don't forget to contact me if you come to western canada so I can 3rd or 10th shoot for you! :)

lol, or me in Portland! ;)

[Mike Fulton]

What is the 'TriCoast Glow'?
HA! Sorry I guess I should explain more. If you look at our work you notice on many of the images, the vast majority of images there is a softness to the images. This softness or glow is an action I created over the years which I call the TriCoast Glow. Developed from trail and error of using other glow actions on the market and not liking everything they have to offer I created one which is more the look and feel which I liked and enjoyed.

Its just one of the actions in my action set which I use in everyday processing of our images. Hope that helps :D

[Mike Fulton]

damn. again mike, you rock. Don't forget to contact me if you come to western canada so I can 3rd or 10th shoot for you!

lol, or me in Portland! ;)
We are in Seattle in June :)

[Phil Light]

HA! Sorry I guess I should explain more. If you look at our work you notice on many of the images, the vast majority of images there is a softness to the images. This softness or glow is an action I created over the years which I call the TriCoast Glow. Developed from trail and error of using other glow actions on the market and not liking everything they have to offer I created one which is more the look and feel which I liked and enjoyed.

Its just one of the actions in my action set which I use in everyday processing of our images. Hope that helps :D

Mike, do you mind if I ask how much time you typically spend post processing a wedding?

[Mike Fulton]

Mike, do you mind if I ask how much time you typically spend post processing a wedding?
Not at all Phil, thats what this forum and others are or should be about others helping others!


I spend around an avg. of 8-12 hours in post work on a wedding AT MOST.

I can get a complete wedding done in around 8 hours if I want to work at it but I usually like to spend more time on it and watch some TV and eat in the process :)

My images you see me post have no more than 5 mins on them each and I only process a handfull this detailed, the rest are batched and more letting the computer process many of the step which I have developed over the years.

[jamesdean007]

BE U t-ful - Awesome shots Mike.

[Tish]

We are in Seattle in June :)


WHAT?!?! Where? How did I miss this????????

If it's a wedding, I'll gladly carry bags just to see how you work! If it's a workshop, I need details! :lol: Seriously though, if you're not already hosting a workshop up here & you'll have the time when you're here, I'm sure we can find someone between here & OSP that has the facilities to host one. Heck, I'd even consider renting a conference facility to make it happen.

[Mike Fulton]

WHAT?!?! Where? How did I miss this????????

If it's a wedding, I'll gladly carry bags just to see how you work! If it's a workshop, I need details! :lol: Seriously though, if you're not already hosting a workshop up here & you'll have the time when you're here, I'm sure we can find someone between here & OSP that has the facilities to host one. Heck, I'd even consider renting a conference facility to make it happen.
We will be in Seattle for a small wedding of a good friend of mine to photograph it in mid June. To be honest I do not even know where it is at this time. Like I said the groom is a good friend so it could be a little justice of the peace wedding or it could be some big fansy wedding (the first being more likely though). Eitherway it will be a good time with old friends!

We will also be in San Fran in Aug. with a couple for a post wedding week of shooting including bridals in the Red Wood forest and engagements out on the Rock! That should be pretty cool!

[jbstudios]

when are you doing a seminar in MN? remember me i REALLY want you to!!

mrs jb

[Banbert]

Beautiful shots Mike, you are definitely the Yoda of lighting !

Any chance your could share your setup and thougts for one or two of the shots above, I am sure it would be very enlightening to a lot of us.

Would definitely be interested in a workshop if you did make it across to England.

[PRoebuck]

WOw! very nice Mike & thanks for explaining.

[dragnfly1996]

.... in my action set I sell (Finding Color) many when used darken the image which is by design cause when I apply the TriCoast Glow it lightens up everything and evens out the exposue.

Mike, You guys do have an amazing style and talent that is very inspiring. I love these photo's. You mentioned that you sell an action set. Where would one find them?

[1kerry]

excellent pics as usual, very well post process, and excellent lightning control!!!

WELL DONE!

[Mike Fulton]

I have the action set ready to sell and have already been selling it along with a DVD which has over 2 hours of screen capture video of me processing images TriCoast Style, this video shows all of my "Secrets" to processing, using layers masks, my actions and other tricks of the trade, all very simple and very fast.

Rule #1 States:
Direct selling of any product and/or service on the Forums, in any other area than Marketplace forum, is strictly prohibited and the rules enforced. In Marketplace forum, anyone (even vendors) can sell merchandise or services related to Canon cameras and accessories. Please do not spam the Marketplace - one ad per item is enough.
Message bumping is prohibited.

So I do not want to violate them by "plugging" my products cause that is not what I wanted to do when I posted these thread. I know of several other photographers which do this and honestly I do not want to get into that unethical business acts. So with that said let me find out the rules on the forum first before I talk anymore on my products and then we can go from there. I hope you understnad and thank you for asking about them though.

[dragnfly1996]

I completely understand. ;)

[Davy-Kelly]

these are great, well done

[m.j.]

WOW! Beautiful...

[photosbyjuan]

mike your my sensei, I love your work!

[cccp145]

Very Nice

[cdifoto]

I have the action set ready to sell and have already been selling it along with a DVD which has over 2 hours of screen capture video of me processing images TriCoast Style, this video shows all of my "Secrets" to processing, using layers masks, my actions and other tricks of the trade, all very simple and very fast.

Rule #1 States:
Direct selling of any product and/or service on the Forums, in any other area than Marketplace forum, is strictly prohibited and the rules enforced. In Marketplace forum, anyone (even vendors) can sell merchandise or services related to Canon cameras and accessories. Please do not spam the Marketplace - one ad per item is enough.
Message bumping is prohibited.

So I do not want to violate them by "plugging" my products cause that is not what I wanted to do when I posted these thread. I know of several other photographers which do this and honestly I do not want to get into that unethical business acts. So with that said let me find out the rules on the forum first before I talk anymore on my products and then we can go from there. I hope you understnad and thank you for asking about them though.

You can start a thread in Marketplace then link to it in your signature. Or if you already have a website you sell through, put a link to that in your signature. If you don't already have a website, PM me. ;)

[Mike Fulton]

WOW this thread came back up!

THANK YOU ALL for the kind words!

Really means alot!

On my Product Line (http://www.tricoastphoto.com/blog/2007/04/covered-in-color-bridal-session.html)I will be posting a group discount very soon once the site is up and running. I am at the final stages of development and it should be up within a week!

[sumozebra]

The product line that mike has is incredible, first hand experience. anyway, just my 2 cents =) great photos, now that i got the tools, gotta work the skills to get mine to look 1/2 like mike's and i'll be happy!

[rwong2k]

I'm not too sure why but out of all these amazing photos the first one really stands out for me

thank-you for sharing

Raymond

[JMHPhotography]

amazing work... Let me know when your site is situated. I'd love to check out some of your DVD's... THIS is the type of work I want to be doing.

[Mike Fulton]

amazing work... Let me know when your site is situated. I'd love to check out some of your DVD's... THIS is the type of work I want to be doing.
Check out our blog right now for information on the current three products I am selling them directly through me right now with PayPal until the site is up and running.

MY BLOG (http://www.tricoastphoto.com/blog)

There are two entries on the finding color products on three different products.


Thank you by the way!!

[gheesom]

Wow Wow and wow again

[razyl]

I got the pics: they're really good. Amazing to get those shots at that time of night....makes me wonder if I need / should learn up on using an external flash! Anyone have any starting tips?

[JWright]

Absolutely amazing!!! Great job!

~Robin

No kidding!

[song4themoon]

they are beautiful

[agent47]

those are amazing shots. they should be in a magazine

[mckc]

wow..the lighting is great as everyone else said..can i ask what settings you had your 580 at?

I am shooting my first wedding very soon and it will be in very very poor light.

I will probably be using a 24-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L as my main lenses so what settings do you thiink I should shoot my 580ex to get the most balanced and consistant lighting?

[ofdphoto]

wow..the lighting is great as everyone else said..can i ask what settings you had your 580 at?

I am shooting my first wedding very soon and it will be in very very poor light.

I will probably be using a 24-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L as my main lenses so what settings do you thiink I should shoot my 580ex to get the most balanced and consistant lighting?

Maybe you should ask this one in a new thread to get the most help.

The best advice I can offer is to understand your flash really well, and from experience the only way to do that is to practice -- a LOT. You'll soon realise that E-TTL is both a blessing and a curse :-D

Check out the lighting forum here (there are some good stickies) for plenty of tips.

[Bob Charnier]

Just curious.....do you ever get less than beautiful brides???? All your posts are beautiful women. I'm beginning to think all the women in Texas are gorgeous!!

[Grace]

I'm beginning to think all the women in Texas are gorgeous!!


Duh!:lol:

[Bob Charnier]

Sorry Kathy. we already knew you were!!!!

[Grace]

I totally didn't mean it that way!!!! I have had my share of beautiful brides to is all I meant!!!!! :)

but thank you!:oops:

[Mike Fulton]

Just curious.....do you ever get less than beautiful brides???? All your posts are beautiful women. I'm beginning to think all the women in Texas are gorgeous!!
This is an Ohio Bride :) living in Texas

While I live in Texas we photograph All Around the World.

There is beauty in everyone, its our job as photographers to bring it out.

But with that said Texas women sure are nice :lol: of course I am dating a Korean who was raised in Nevada so I guess that throws my thought process on Texas women out the window right :)

[downhillnews]

Those pictures are awsome. It doesn't hurt that she is easy on the eyes either. So the 580's threw enough light up, interesting. We had a rather well know wedding photog do our wedding. I wanted to get an outside experts opinion. Could you look at his site that has 2-3 different events on it and let us know?
http://www.dellabitta.com/
Thanks
ps that purple sky is crazy........

[Mike Fulton]

I will check the site out tomorrow and yes the 580ex is VERY powerful its just how you use it.

I just noticed I did not post many from the session here are a few more which I hope you all enjoy as much as the first ones on this thread. Just a few from different looks throughout the session

Thank you all again for the kind words!

http://tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/009.jpg

http://tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/016-2.jpg

http://tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/018.jpg

http://tricoastphoto.com/Post_Pics/kyla/020.jpg

[gheesom]

Mike that last shot has a timeless feel to it., stunning!
I'm not 100% sure about the shoe and pink sock in the first one though, or is that done to mix glamour and farm girl in one shot? Your shots are amazing.

[PineCone]

Thanks again everyone for the nice words it was a fun event.

To answer this question we used none of the above.

I feel the ST-E2 is a waste of money when I can turn my 580ex flash off yet still send the information to a wireless flash so I get the ST-E2 plus the option of a flash unit. We have P.W's but we were out in a field of mud and they were in the car and since 95% of our shots are done with Canon built in system we simply did not see any reason to go back through the mud to get them when we were loosing light. So with that all said we captured all of these images using wireless Canon built in system inside the 580ex's.

Most were one light set ups, but we also have up to 4 wireless flash units in some shots during the session, for fill light, main light and a couple hair lights.

Its what I teach in our workshops around the United States and again is one of my greatest passions in life!

thank you for sharing... i'd love to see more of your inspiring work

[gheesom]

I've just realised that they're not socks....doh, it just looks a little odd in that pic

[AcuraFan]

wow, these pics are awesome! i'm just back from Paris for my bro's wedding, hoping i have some good shots like yours. great work.