Civil Union

[forsaken]

I was asked by a long time friend of mine to shoot her civil union as she liked some of the photos I had taken of her and her partner. I initally didn't really think that I should do it but they insisted that if I didn't then they would just get a friend to use their point and shoot.

The location of the ceremony was a bit of a nightmare, clifftop in the afternoon with very litte room to manouver. For the wedding party shots we drove down onto the beach and had a play with different locations and styles.

here are some of the images from the day.

clifftop ceremony
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1601/944371/1745642/244087864.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1601/944371/1745642/244340975.jpg

beach shots
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1601/944371/1745642/244089009.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1601/944371/1745642/244343294.jpg

the combined wedding and 2 birthday cakes
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1601/944371/1745642/244343296.jpg

[tlc]

i looove no. 2

too bad you couldnt have found a 'trackless' place on the beach.

[iKirst]

Superb first attempt :)
2 & 3 are my favs
Never doubt your ability, Si - yay for you :D

[forsaken]

i looove no. 2

too bad you couldnt have found a 'trackless' place on the beach.


I joked with the drivers that they should sweep the beach for me :)
Looking at the shots I think that the tracks actually add rather than detract from the image (but others will disagree) and as one is heavily into the car scene it seems fitting.

[lil_miss]

They're awesome.. well done :) I'm sure they will love them.. which beach was this at?

[forsaken]

They're awesome.. well done :) I'm sure they will love them.. which beach was this at?

It was at Glinks Gully just out of Dargaville, awesome area

[klippe]

That selective colour shot is really groovy. Nice work Simon.

I saw your earlier shot that you posted in the Kiwi thread but didn't let you know that I thought it was great (along with the rest of us).

More power to you!

Cliff

[S-S]

i looove no. 2

too bad you couldnt have found a 'trackless' place on the beach.

actually i disagree, the tracks really contrast with the smooth dresses and add a lot of visual interest and dynamism to the picture

just need a little more light on the subjects and would be perfect (or a little less to create side-lit silhouettes)

[forsaken]

That selective colour shot is really groovy. Nice work Simon.

Cheers. I normally don't like selective colour shots but thought I would give it a shot and see how it came out

[TKRFAN]

Add another vote for number 2 - looks great - as do the rest :) I like the tyre tracks (but then againm maybe thats cos I like motorsport too hehe).

[dgcorner]

Well done Si! 2 & 3 are really good.

[italianfemmy]

Coming from a lesbian, I love number 2. It really demonstrates the soft love between two women.

As for the tracks... I am in love with these as well and I see them as very fitting. They easily represent the journeys that the couple will take on together and the many paths that seperate them yet join them together in unity for life.

Then again, I am a poet so I see the beauty in things. lol.

[Benandbobbi]

Coming from a lesbian, I love number 2. It really demonstrates the soft love between two women.

As for the tracks... I am in love with these as well and I see them as very fitting. They easily represent the journeys that the couple will take on together and the many paths that seperate them yet join them together in unity for life.

Then again, I am a poet so I see the beauty in things. lol.

Not sure what being a lesbian adds to one's ability to apreciate "soft love between two women". Us guys have been appreciating it for a long time... ;-) I like them all.

[joshbehan]

i also like the tire tracks. also, i usually don't like selective coloring, but it works really well in #2, which i also think is the strongest image.

[robpgreer]

I like #3 but I'm not very fond of your other examples. In #1 they look angry (although I like the composition and content otherwise). For #2, I think the use of selective color is trite and overused -- I also don't like the fact that the flowers hide the bride's face, for #4, I don't dislike the tire tracks as much as I dislike the lack of fill flash, and for #5, I simply didn't find it very interesting. But hey, I did really liked #3! ;)

[forsaken]

I like #3 but I'm not very fond of your other examples. In #1 they look angry (although I like the composition and content otherwise). For #2, I think the use of selective color is trite and overused -- I also don't like the fact that the flowers hide the bride's face, for #4, I don't dislike the tire tracks as much as I dislike the lack of fill flash, and for #5, I simply didn't find it very interesting. But hey, I did really liked #3! ;)


All very valid points. Thanks for the input.

I agree with your comment on selective colour but I believe that they will like it so thats why I did it like that. I was intending to use fill flash on #4 but it looks like I made the rookie mistake of forgetting to turn the flash on :(

[verty]

i dont like the expression on no.1 but the rest of them are great!

really great pictures.. hope the girls are happy with them

[forsaken]

They love the photos :)

I found out why she had that expression in #1, there were dirt bikes racing up and down the beach causing a racket.

[ElenaV5]

Just thought I'd share the truth, but I really do like the tracks

[ElenaV5]

http://vi5ion.com/lenas/editpic.jpg

You like?

[forsaken]

I did try brightening that up but it just added alot of noise to the photos which didn't really look good.

They loved what I have submitted to them and they are happy with the results. That is all I can really ask for, but will take on all comments so as to improve my photography

[R_Metzel]

Sorry if I went off but I feel the right to defend them as I feel the comments are unfair.. I wont say anymore about it though
Thanks for the snap. It would have gotten really ugly if you hadn't said something before me. ;):D

OP, Great job on these. I also think #2 turned out great. Glad you posted these. More people need to!

[edik]

Simon, u did a great job capturing moments, especially knowing you didn't have that much room to mess with.
sorry for the extra comments that were not about your photography nor about the couple, but about the fact of same gender marriages.

verty: read the whole message ;) (you can take phrases out of a kids book and make it sound really scarry) further questions, comments please PM.

[tommykjensen]

Thread have been cleaned up.

Keep religious talk out of this forum.

[forsaken]

thanks for that Tommy

[Wazza]

Hey Simon, sorry didn't respond earlier. Had saw the images when first posted, made my comments to Kirst, but didn't post. :o

Anyway, you want my opinions so here goes.. (has been mentioned before)

#1 - to be honest, bad expressions on their behalf, but well exposed by you.

#2 - good editing there with the selective colours, smooth. As others have said, yes it's over-used, but if it's what the customer wants (yes, all of mine wanted it used!), then Do it. After all, they're the ones paying us. :) - in future try some variations. Desaturing the flowers 50%, or making the b&w part, into sepia. Just try different variations.
- Also was just a shame her eyes were cut off. - That's why sometimes it is useful to shoot a couple of each scene, for any obstructions, or blinking eyes. :)

#3 - fantastic - already said I've like it. Well exposed. Nice and rich in colour - I only would have framed them on the other side, just how my eye sees it.

#4 - Nice composition, nice pose - just needed a tad of processing, with Elena's edit looking great. Try different angles, or even coming down to their mid height level. (just making sure their heads aren't being intercepted by horizons or tree branches)

#5 - Very cute

Overall, great first attempt mate. :)

My own images no doubt have the small faults, but with the fast pace of a wedding, it's very easy to go wrong. Just relax. Do your natural thing, and don't stress. It's what I do.

[forsaken]

so for #3 you would frame it with the larger open area to where they are looking?

[tim]

#2 is good. I would suggest you encourage people to be themselves and express their emotions towards each other, and try to capture how they feel.

[iKirst]

#2 is good. I would suggest you encourage people to be themselves and express their emotions towards each other, and try to capture how they feel.
My sentiments, exactly. That's why #2, to me, even though their faces are partially changed, is great. It's showing true happiness. And the angle is very creative.
I'm no wedding photog, but I am a painter and I love the style of that pic. The selective colouring works.
And if I was one of the lassies, I'd be very happy with all the pics you've shown thus far, Si :)

[Wazza]

No wedding photographer? You've done more than a few people here posting comments. :p
You've done 3 or 4 already with me. ;)