Hired, but also a guest...

[sageone]

Had the pleasure of shooting a friend's wedding last weekend. My wife and I were invited as guests, but I also got paid to shoot it. I had fun with this wedding. Good looking people. Great setting for the ceremony, etc. Here are some. CC welcome. Slide show can be found here (http://www.demphotography.com/lenora_paul).

http://www.demphotography.com/Blog/uploaded_images/dever_0414_CR-744658.jpg

http://www.demphotography.com/Blog/uploaded_images/dever_0825_CRb-713565.jpg

http://www.demphotography.com/Blog/uploaded_images/dever_0666_CR-737772.jpg

http://www.demphotography.com/Blog/uploaded_images/dever_0820_CR-780528.jpg

[pos]

I LIKE # 1 & 2. The groom in color was nice with the bride in focus is neat. I think # 4 would have been nice if the groom was in focus. I am by no means a pro, but i like what i see. Nice job. pos

[liza]

I LIKE # 1 & 2. The groom in color was nice with the bride in focus is neat. I think # 4 would have been nice if the groom was in focus. I am by no means a pro, but i like what i see. Nice job. pos

Actually, 2 & 4 are standard poses. The groom wasn't supposed to be in focus in number four.

And I really like what you've done with posing, but I'm not a fan of selective color. Do you have examples of them that aren't altered?

[*Mike*]

Nice shots - wish #2 and #4 had similar DOF and were shot portrait, rather than landscape.

[dsze]

...not a big fan of selective coloring. I like #3 a lot, except that her dress is completely blown out. Not sure about her expression in that last one.

[Tish]

I actually like the selective color in #1, though it needs a tighter crop. I assuming this would ultimately be a square for the album?

#2 & #4, the selective coloring doesn't work for me. It's already obvious who the subject is by the focus & these will be stronger shots without it. Also, your BW conversions are fairly flat--I'd remove the coloring & bump the contrast a bit so his suit is properly dark & her dress is closer to white than grey.

#3 is my favorite. :) Did you use Kubota's LOTR action?

Overall, looks like you did a pretty good job!

[sageone]

no one likes selective coloring huh? That came across clear. Client loves those shots, but I know on this forum we are particular about things...that's why I like the feedback. It all helps.

I really like 3 the best out of all of them. And no, I didn't use Kubota's LOTR for that. I actually used the Virtualphotographer plugin with some minor mods by me.

Another one I like...

[turbo212003]

I think selective color, used to make an object stand out, is ok. When you use it to make a person stand out, the other person looks like a ghost. Just my advice tho.

[mizuno]

I have a personal hatred of selective coloring.

I've seen it done thousands of time and can count on one hand the amount of time it's actually added to an image in a positive way.

I tend to think it's a poor trick used in an attempt to deflect focus off an image's existing terminal weaknesses.

[howzitboy]

I have a personal hatred of selective coloring.

I've seen it done thousands of time and can count on one hand the amount of time it's actually added to an image in a positive way.

I tend to think it's a poor trick used in an attempt to deflect focus off an image's existing terminal weaknesses.

think that a bit harsh, like his images have flaws. I think he knows what his customer liked or wanted and tried to please them.

my personal preference? id never use one in an album but they are fun to do.

[mizuno]

my personal preference? id never use one in an album but they are fun to do.

I didn't think you did albums. You said you don't even look at the images you shoot.

You seem to be having trouble keeping on top of your tall stories. :cool:

[howzitboy]

hehe omg i meant doing selective color are fun to do. I hate making albums, thats why I dont do them. I only ps stuff i shoot outside of weddings.

please mizuno, dont go flaming me w/out knowing how we shoot weddings in Hawaii.

[sageone]

client likes this stuff...and I don't mind harsh comments. It's the collective CC that's valuable...almost like a poll. In the end though, if the client likes it, then I guess I'm good. If not, it won't make the book, prints, cds, etc.

[dsze]

Don, honestly, selective coloring is very gimicky and actually adds something to the image MAYBE 1/1000 photos I see it in. Its just way over used and has become an quick & dirty way for someone to try and add something to photos that are lacking in some other department. MOST of the time, imo, a truly outstanding photograph doesn't gain anything from making a B&W layer and erasing through parts of it.

On #3, I really like that one. I agree, its the best of the lot, but the action or the Virtualphotographer plugin you used on that photo caused the whites in her dress to blow out and the blacks in his suit to get lost as well... Anytime you apply an action that does this to a photo, it kills it imo. Back off on that action enough to get your black and white detail back and you've got a much stronger image...I think.

[sageone]

Don, honestly, selective coloring is very gimicky and actually adds something to the image MAYBE 1/1000 photos I see it in. Its just way over used and has become an quick & dirty way for someone to try and add something to photos that are lacking in some other department. MOST of the time, imo, a truly outstanding photograph doesn't gain anything from making a B&W layer and erasing through parts of it.

On #3, I really like that one. I agree, its the best of the lot, but the action or the Virtualphotographer plugin you used on that photo caused the whites in her dress to blow out and the blacks in his suit to get lost as well... Anytime you apply an action that does this to a photo, it kills it imo. Back off on that action enough to get your black and white detail back and you've got a much stronger image...I think.

Cool, thanks. After looking at it a million times, it does need to be tweaked. I'll give it a shot. Thanks again.