Another wedding as a guest. C & C welcome

[Yeoer]

June seems tobe all go this year. Had the pleasure being a guest at another wedding at weekend. Totally different to the previous week.

They had a traditional wedding photographer for the day shooting medium format. He was superb. Actively encouraged me and others to take pictures... he even asked if he was going too fast for me...! a real eye opener in people management you could tell he had been doing it for years.

He didn't do any of the evening which is where i came in. Matt (the groom and a good friend) asked if i could take a few for them.

As always Honest C & C welcome.

http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK001.JPG

http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK002.JPG

Yes it did start to rain :(

http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK003.JPG

First Dance

http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK005.JPG

http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK009.jpg




http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK007.JPG


In your opinion... what are couples expectations with regards to the evening shots..?

[sblais]

I feel that these are more snapshots than photographs. I wish you didn't cut out their feet in the first one and you have some motion blur in the second, which can't really work as a special effect...

For reception coverage, the couple usually wants you to capture the fun of the evening. It's the less formal part of the day and they want to remember how much fun it was. Capture funny moments, action shots, important events (throw of bouquet/garter, cake cutting, first dance, etc), but generally, the couple, their family and guests having a good time.

[inkulio]

Can you explain the difference between a "snapshot" and a "photograph?" I don't want to make the mistake of taking "snapshots" at an upcoming wedding. Thanks.

I feel that these are more snapshots than photographs. I wish you didn't cut out their feet in the first one and you have some motion blur in the second, which can't really work as a special effect...

For reception coverage, the couple usually wants you to capture the fun of the evening. It's the less formal part of the day and they want to remember how much fun it was. Capture funny moments, action shots, important events (throw of bouquet/garter, cake cutting, first dance, etc), but generally, the couple, their family and guests having a good time.

[sblais]

A photograph is when you carefully control the elements of a shot. It includes lighting, composition, background (depth of field), framing, action freezing (or shutter dragging as a special effect), angle of the picture, etc etc. A snapshot is a picture taken quickly without much thought involved other than to have the main subjects in photo.

I also do take some pictures that I would call snapshots... but I really try to put a lot of thought in every shot or refrain from pushing the shutter button at all. For some, it's better to get a shot THAN no shot; for me, I'd rather get the perfect shot OR no shot at all. It's a question of conditioning oneself.

[Yeoer]

One more snap shots, this time with the feet included...


http://www.nyphotographic.co.uk/share/MK011.JPG

[inkulio]

Ah, I see... So, how do photographers take candids? Do they normally take the time to compose, etc...? Or do they just take selective snapshots?

I also don't like to take pictures unless the situation/subject warrants it.

A photograph is when you carefully control the elements of a shot. It includes lighting, composition, background (depth of field), framing, action freezing (or shutter dragging as a special effect), angle of the picture, etc etc. A snapshot is a picture taken quickly without much thought involved other than to have the main subjects in photo.

I also do take some pictures that I would call snapshots... but I really try to put a lot of thought in every shot or refrain from pushing the shutter button at all. For some, it's better to get a shot THAN no shot; for me, I'd rather get the perfect shot OR no shot at all. It's a question of conditioning oneself.

[jt168]

Not bad at all!

Really like the 2nd photo.

For the dancing shot, try bouncing flash off ceiling, in the one you just posted, clearly we see the shadow of groom's head on the ceiling.

For dancing, suggest either a wider focal length to give it perspective, or narrow to capture the people/reaction/emotion. Right now, it does look a bit like snap shots...

[jt168]

With regard to "snapshot", I consider it as when subject is in the center, lighting is not ideal (direct flash, sometimes leading to different color light showing through in the photos)...

I really like the first one, good frame! Suggest using shadow/Highlight to bring the subjects brighter...

[sblais]

Ok, now I'm officially confused! :confused: I never saw the first 4 images the first time I made the comments... I only saw the two last reception shots.

The first four pictures, I like! I just wish the first one was taken a bit wider to include all of the bride's dress and the whole arch. It also seems a bit tilted, but that can be easily fixed.

I really like the first dance picture... I like the way it is cropped. The groom looks a lot taller than the bride! ;)

[sblais]

Ah, I see... So, how do photographers take candids? Do they normally take the time to compose, etc...? Or do they just take selective snapshots?

I also don't like to take pictures unless the situation/subject warrants it.

For candids, you can control the lighting (It usually doesn`t vary that much for receptions, so you can keep it constant), the DOF (Set the aperture to a given value and use it most of the evening, for candids) and the focal length. These parameters can be quickly adjusted for a good candid photo.

[kato1]

There must be a lot who profess to be pros who really only take snap shots then based on the rules given above? Hmmm!

IMHO these photos, whilst maybe not perfectly composed, do capture some of the emotion of the wedding and I think most would agree that is more important than being technically perfect.

[sblais]

There must be a lot who profess to be pros who really only take snap shots then based on the rules given above? Hmmm!

You got that right! I personally don't consider myself a "pro"... But I aspire to become one.

[howzitboy]

id rather have "snapshots" then posed, boring, controlled, perfectly exposed shots w/out no flaws.

snapshots capture the mood/feel of the wedding more then any posed shot imho.

i really like all the shots! really great ones that would look perfect in any album. I wonder if the "pro" caught as many because its hard to take snapshots using medium format (ive shot hasselblads for long time).