Saturday's Sunny wedding

[dragnfly1996]

Here are 3 of my favs (of the fromals) from Saturdays wedding. These were taken on a fort on the coast of Maine. Amazing day and BRIGHT sun. Please c&C I am trying work on posing and fill light. Feel free to take a crack at PP. I just did a little tweek at levels and dodging. Did try a soft look on one of them.

#1
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Lovingeyesweddings/Heather%20%20Garrett/IMG_2924E.jpg

#2
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Lovingeyesweddings/Heather%20%20Garrett/IMG_2977soft.jpg

#3
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Lovingeyesweddings/Heather%20%20Garrett/IMG_2985E.jpg

[dragnfly1996]

one more

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i221/Lovingeyesweddings/Heather%20%20Garrett/IMG_2995E.jpg

[Teachflute]

Were these at Fort Knox or the Fort in Stockton Springs (I can't remember the name) I'm shooting a wedding in the Frankfort area in August. I met with the bride today and thought Fort Knox would be an awesome place to do some formals if there is time.

[Teachflute]

The pictures are great, by the way. Gorgeous backdrops!

[Tragerman]

Overall, a good effort. Number one needs a stronger balance of flash to sun. Number 3 is some kind of suggestive.... but that's not a bad thing ;-). 4 is a great place, but his legs look a bit awkward. I wouldn't use the omni bounce outdoors. Direct fill flash is the way to go. You definitely had great weather. I am sure the couple will like them.
-Mickey

[dragnfly1996]

Overall, a good effort. Number one needs a stronger balance of flash to sun. Number 3 is some kind of suggestive.... but that's not a bad thing ;-). 4 is a great place, but his legs look a bit awkward. I wouldn't use the omni bounce outdoors. Direct fill flash is the way to go. You definitely had great weather. I am sure the couple will like them.
-Mickey

Thank you. I didn't use the diffuser outside. I actually found my current flash had some limitations at certain distances and I am a bit frusterated with it after shooting this wedding. I definitely used direct flash on this day plus I had an assistant with a reflector!! The sun was just so bright and I have not had much experience with full sun. I did learn alot here though. I will certainly be putting much more practice into it because I can see how these could be stunning with a bit more practice. Plus once I fee more confident with working the sun I will be able to put more effort into posing.

Thank you SO much for the comments. I learn so much every time and posing is always fun, especially in new places.

[dragnfly1996]

Were these at Fort Knox or the Fort in Stockton Springs (I can't remember the name) I'm shooting a wedding in the Frankfort area in August. I met with the bride today and thought Fort Knox would be an awesome place to do some formals if there is time.

This was actually at a fort in Castine. about 20 miles from fort KNox. Very secluded penicila. Amazing view! even better than Ft. Knox because there are no built up areas across the bay. There are several of these forts along the way. Good luck on your wedding. I can't wait to see pics!!

[picturecrazy]

You did pretty decent for filling in full sun. It's not easy as the 580EX is pretty limited in power, but it can be done. Be sure you are not in High Speed Sync mode, you lose a LOT of power, and therefore, usable distance. So keep your shutter at or below your camera's max sync speed. (Ranges from 1/200 to 1/300)

In photos like number 1, you are competing with the sun. The sun is sidelighting the subjects and your flash is filling in the rest. It's tough to do and the sun is overexposing the sides of their faces and the bridesmaid's chest. If you turned them to face more towards the left so the sun is more behind them, you get a beautiful rimlight in their hair, and your flash can evenly expose their whole faces.

2 and 3 are pretty much frontlit by the sun so all you gotta do is point your flash right at them and let it fill in some shadows. Easy to do but tough to get relaxed facial muscles due to squinting.

4 has the groom partly lit by the sun but the bride is totally in his shadow so the lighting is very uneven on them. He is being lit by the sun, she is being 'monster lit' by her dress. Again you could put the sun behind them or front light them with the sun, or stop down your aperture and crank up your flash power to evenly expose them.

The easiest thing to do is to plunk them down in open shade. Not that it looks like there was much there, but if you have the opportunity then that is always the easiest option. Overall a good effort.

[dragnfly1996]

Thank you Lloyd. The 4th one I had someone witha reflector trying to fill in the bride plus my 420 pointed at them but I can only get so much power out of that flash. I really wanted to not blow out the sky so this was the alternative. I think I need a flash upgrade and more practice working with (fighting) the sun. I also think a wider lens could get me closer to the couple in order to light them more easily. Does anyone have a suggestion on which to upgrade first? Get the 580 or the 17-55?? My plan is to get both but only one at a time.

[picturecrazy]

I would get a 580. That way you can use the 420 as a slave to get the flash closer to them, and at a better angle to fill in nicer with the sun. It's tricky using the canon wireless system outdoors in the sun, but it can be done with some technique. The best way is to get a set of pocketwizards and a manual controlled flash like a 430EX (a little weak), 550, 580, sunpak 383, Nikon SB-24/25/26/28.

[allant]

I would get a 580. That way you can use the 420 as a slave to get the flash closer to them, and at a better angle to fill in nicer with the sun. It's tricky using the canon wireless system outdoors in the sun, but it can be done with some technique. The best way is to get a set of pocketwizards and a manual controlled flash like a 430EX (a little weak), 550, 580, sunpak 383, Nikon SB-24/25/26/28.

Lloyd makes great suggestions. I picked up the Vivitar 285HV and trigger off of a Pocket Wizard. The 285 is under a 100 bucks.

[Hangerhead]

i'd suggest #2 looks a little like the horizon line is bi-secting her neck.

[Kamra 1]

Double lighting is certainly key on a day like this. Camera fill light set to match ap and fill light 1 stop hotter. As someone commented, you made a great effort. Just a couple hints: #1 Brides head tilted towards maid of honor just slightly would make it seem like they were better friends or more intimately related. #2 Tilt doesn't work 'cause it makes it look like she's falling out of the photograph. #3 Turn groom's head to face you. This one would work if the intention was to have him sneak a peak at her. As always, I hope that wasn't too picky. #4 is great! Nice job: Tony