June 30 07 Wedding... bride left the photoshoot!

[picturecrazy]

ok, I have to say this has never happened to me before.

Things were moving a little slower, it rained and ruined a couple plans, and then it stopped and the sun came out and things started drying up a bit. GREAT! So let's go outside and get the photos done!!

With 25 minutes to spare, we go outside, I set up one shot of the entire bridal party. Then I quickly arrange the guys for the groomsmen shot. During that time the bride decided she was hungry so she took off with one bridesmaid, her mom, and her mother in law to walk quite a ways away so she could buy a hot dog. I was like... HUH??? So she pretty much spent 20 of the 25 minutes out buying and eating a hot dog, and apparently talking to a baseball team that was having a game by the hot dog stand. She got back and I got a couple shots of her with her girls, her family, his family, and a couple quick shots of her and her groom, and then we had to leave for the reception. She said we could take some more after the dance started.

Finally around 10:20 pm she agreed to pull away from the party and take a couple pictures.

Managed to get a couple shots and then she sat on the ground and had sore feet so she didn't want to get up. So I was like... ok, we'll work with that. So for the rest of the 10 minutes they were either sitting or laying down.

I was a little baffled. She is such a sweetheart and I was a little surprised, but it sure made it difficult to get some good non pj shots.

1. The wedding cars were old Chevys. He's an auto mechanic and car nut!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/a.jpg

2. First dance
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/b.jpg

3. Got a little teary dancing with dad
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/c.jpg

4. Thank goodness in our part of the world there is still some light at 10:20PM
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/d.jpg

5.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/e.jpg

6. Used flash to try and make this shot look like they were out enjoying the sun. (Even though the sun was gone)
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/f.jpg

Whew! Needed a good nights sleep after this one! C&C appreciated.

[tim]

The shots are up to your usual high standard, which is a great achievement given how the day sounds!

[IODebbie]

I love the way your shots turned out - especially the sunset ones. They are beautiful!

I can sympathize with you - I had a bride who didn't want any shots with the groom before the ceremony and would only give me 15 minutes between the ceremony and the reception and about 15 minutes after the reception. I've never shot so fast in my life.

It was really an interesting situation - it was her second wedding so she wasn't all that concerned about the photos, but his first wedding and he wanted everything documented. I told them to work it out and let me know what they decided because I didn't want to get in the middle of it.

So, because she was sort of disinterested in the photos, I ended up taking more photos of the groom with all of the wedding party than I did of the bride with the wedding party (not a lot more, but a few). Of course, after they talk about the pictures later, the bride says to me - I know you took one of my husband alone with the entire bridal party but I don't remember you taking one of me with the entire bridal party - did you get that shot? I really like that. Of course, I hadn't - I didn't even remember taking that one of him.

So, the moral of my story is that even though they seem disinterested in the photos at the time, they sure want all the photos after the fact. Grrr.

[islandphoto]

Wow! Why pay a photographer if you don't really care about the pictures? That's kind of weird! Well, I think you did an excellent job and I'm sure she will be just thrilled with them. I had a bride last month do sort of the same thing. Well, we took all the group shots no problem, then I had about 10-15 min with the bride and groom. She was irritable and wanted a drink. The sun wasn't really setting nicely like we expected so he basically said she's done with the photos :( I think I still did an alright job given the circumstances.

[islandphoto]

BTW- I really like the first dance photo. Did you use a slave flash in back of them?

[italianfemmy]

The ones with the clouds in the background look dreamy.. like they're in heaven or something. Nice work as always. Your lighting and exposures are phenomenal.

[Silverwool]

I can't understand the differences between Canada, the US and here. (Australia) We get a minimum of 1 hour, often 2 or 3 with the bridal party between the ceremony and the reception.

Just attended a great seminar with Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell where the same issue came up. From memory was seen as a cultural thing.

Great shots incidently!

[Padawan Dad]

#2 is fabulous! I have had similar situations with Brides. For me, formals are always the most frustrating aspect of the wedding day; you seem to always have time going against you... and when the Bride goes against you too... well, what can you do? You just have to work with it... and as usual, I'm sure you pulled it off wonderfully.

[Scott_Quier]

I can't understand the differences between Canada, the US and here. (Australia) We get a minimum of 1 hour, often 2 or 3 with the bridal party between the ceremony and the reception.

Just attended a great seminar with Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell where the same issue came up. From memory was seen as a cultural thing.

Great shots incidently!Cutural - yeah, I think so. For me, so far, about 1/2 of the B&G couples are more interested in getting to the reception and partying with their friends and guest - worried that they are getting bored and that they are wondering, "what's taking them so long to get here..." In one case, however, I've been able to convince the bride that her guests were having a good time as I was involved, to some degree, in the planning of the "pre-arrival" entertainment of the guests. Calmed her down a bit and I was able to get an additional 1/2 hour out of them.

[Grace]

great shots again! I can't imagine how you felt when she walked off- I've had grooms leave, groomsmen leave- but not the bride... I do love the shots you got of them later- just think, you wouldn't have gotten the great sky pics had you been any earlier!


Which I can't imagine light at 10:20!! Crazy!

[CateUK]

I think the photos are wonderful. I wish I could get images like that!

[Toogy]

Wow, lloyd, those are some really great shots considering what you had to deal with. Loving the late night shots. Must be because you are further north, I don't have light like that at 10:20 at night here.

[*Mike*]

Did you get a photo of her with the hotdog?

[liza]

Excellent work, as always. I'm envious of those skies! :)

[MrsOpie]

beautiful! Need a 2nd shooter?

[joshbehan]

i love #2, did you have a slave set up behind them, or was it someone else's (well timed) flash?

[picturecrazy]

Thanks for the nice words y'all. I was starting to feel like I didn't have anything really good to deliver. whew!

BTW- I really like the first dance photo. Did you use a slave flash in back of them?

Yup, a 430EX triggered with pocketwizard for rimlight. The couple was lit with on-camera bounce flash.

I can't understand the differences between Canada, the US and here. (Australia) We get a minimum of 1 hour, often 2 or 3 with the bridal party between the ceremony and the reception.


Sometimes I get an hour, rarely two. Sometimes 15 minutes (including all the family group photos) It all depends on the couple. Some want to get to the party, some say, "I can take as long as I want, they're not gonna start without me!"

great shots again! I can't imagine how you felt when she walked off- I've had grooms leave, groomsmen leave- but not the bride... I do love the shots you got of them later- just think, you wouldn't have gotten the great sky pics had you been any earlier!

Which I can't imagine light at 10:20!! Crazy!

Yup, everything is a blessing in disguise I guess. We just gotta roll with the flow of the day.

Edmonton is the most northern MAJOR canadian city (i.e. over 500,000 population) so we get crazy daylight. Right now it gets dark around 11:15PM, and is bright again by 5AM. But in winter, it gets dark at 5:30pm which sucks.

Did you get a photo of her with the hotdog?

Yeah, here is she coming back from the trip. I'm also baffled that both her mom and mother in law thought there was no problem leaving the shoot and tagged along with her...

http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/h.jpg


..and here is a shot of her showing off her last bite to the rest of the bridal party... LOL!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/heatherChrisW/g.jpg

[jamiewexler]

Love 'em Lloyd. Great job simulating daylight with your flash!

[Geo]

Great shot and interesting history.

[tmonatr]

Great shots, Lloyd. Especially the ones with that awesome sky. One question, how much do you use your 24-70L now that you have the 17-55 IS? I love my 17-70 Sigma, but sometimes it is not fast enough. I'd appreciate your thoughts on your 2 lenses. Congrats on making the best of a difficult situation.

[litwinphotography]

We are also in Alberta! Down in Lethbridge so we shoot evertything from Calgary south and I have to say, my brides ALL give me 2-3 hours for the 'formals'!! I have never had a bride try to rush our sessions!

I have to say though, you got beautiful shots with what you had to work with :) We were down in Waterton National Park shooting a couple from Sylvan Lake this weekend shooting, Ill post some pics soon!

PS- Happy canada day weekend!

[forkball]

I totally buy the simulated sunlight shot... it looks about as natural as it gets. Awesome work Lloyd. I have to agree that number 2 is just STUNNING! It belongs in a "guide to wedding photography" book as an example of creative backlighting techniques.

You handle yourself very professionally which is something that is becoming harder and harder to find these days. I know lots of photographers that would have chased her down and dragged her back, or at least thrown a hissy fit over it.

[MarkAnthonyPhotography]

Just think how awesome of a story you'll have to go with these pictures! You can bring them up when your doing seminars like Gary Fong! lol. They turned out awesome in my opinion. The simulated sun shot is great. I might not have noticed if you didn't say anything.:)

[Franko515]

Good shots sir.

For #s 4 & 5, are these long exposures or was the sky done in post?

If it was a long exposure, how long? And if it was done in post, how did you get that detail in the sky?

If this was a bad shoot for you, I'd be happy to be you on a bad day ;)

[picturecrazy]

you all are too nice! :oops:

One question, how much do you use your 24-70L now that you have the 17-55 IS?

I got rid of a 24-70 shortly after I got my 17-55 because it sat on the shelf. Then I got a 1D III and had to get another 24-70. I miss IS.


PS- Happy canada day weekend!

And right back to you!! Happy Canada day weekend!

I totally buy the simulated sunlight shot... it looks about as natural as it gets.

I know lots of photographers that would have chased her down and dragged her back, or at least thrown a hissy fit over it.

You can tell it's not daytime by the blue shadows on his shirt. That is the steely blue/grey sky providing fill light. I could have used a faster shutter to cut out the blue fill but as I said, I didn't have the luxury of time. I was even considering doing everything with on-camera flash but then I thought... "what am I thinking? That totally wouldn't be me!" hahaha

Good shots sir.

For #s 4 & 5, are these long exposures or was the sky done in post?

If it was a long exposure, how long? And if it was done in post, how did you get that detail in the sky?


They weren't long exposures. There was still enough light for good shutter speeds. What I do is meter for a really dramatic sky and then flash the crap out of the subjects so you can see them. The sky shots were about ISO200 F/2.8 1/100.

[islandphoto]

So where is your flash if it's off camera? And do you bump your fec up? I'm just in total awe of your lighting techniques!!!

[SuzyView]

Congrats on another brilliant shoot. I cannot believe how emotional that Dad and Bride shot is. Beautiful feel to your pictures. Your angles are inspiring.

[sblais]

Inspiring! (once again ;)) Love the sky in 4 and 5! #2 is perfect!

[Jawjabill]

The Wedding montra is always, "Follow the Bride and if she leaves...Follow the Bride" then you would have hot dogs and bb players....and fun shots...

[cosworth]

10:20 pm. I'm Canadian and even that wowed me.

[picturecrazy]

So where is your flash if it's off camera? And do you bump your fec up? I'm just in total awe of your lighting techniques!!!

The sky shots used what I like to call 'dynamic lighting'. It was taken just outside the hall where many people were hanging out. I fired the flash right into all the people milling around and it came back at the couple in a huge diffused, multidirectional light.

I also have a few shots where the flash is direct fired off camera right at the couple. If you get the angle right the light doesn't look very hard.

The Wedding montra is always, "Follow the Bride and if she leaves...Follow the Bride" then you would have hot dogs and bb players....and fun shots...

15 minutes of walking photos to get a shot of her stuffing a hotdog in her mouth and talking to random people who she has no emotional connection with? No thanks. I did a bunch of fun stuff with the guys instead and they're totally amped about what we did. I would think they'd value that more than a hotdog shot... which I ended up getting anyhow... partially digested.

[bcap]

Wow Lloyd. Just stumbled upon this thread! Amazing shots I'm totally impressed!!

[jjmucker]

picturecrazy, see on the "first dance" shot, i realise you use pocketwizards but do you think i could get away with having my 430ex on a tripod and triggereing it with my 580EX. do you think this would fire it ok?

This is a shot i will be definetly trying to do at my next wedding.
could you share your basic setting for a shot like this thanks.

Ive seen other ones from your previous weddings were its almost like a silhouette. i think i would be going for something along these lines, providing my 580ex can trigger it of course :D

thanks.
john

[nchphoto]

nice shots, but I would have followed her and got her eating a hot dog with all the
fixins in her dress. MIght have made for some interesting shots. group shots can always be done later.

[Tee Why]

Maybe she was having an off day, but the shots look good, so I'll suspect she'll be happy with your shots, posed or candid.

[picturecrazy]

picturecrazy, see on the "first dance" shot, i realise you use pocketwizards but do you think i could get away with having my 430ex on a tripod and triggereing it with my 580EX. do you think this would fire it ok?


I tried this with wireless ettl. The lack of line-of-sight gave it about a 20% triggering reliability. It really sucked. It works much better indoors, but still not good enough.

[jjmucker]

yeah i thought as much. thanks though. :D

[picturecrazy]

Don't get me wrong. It still works well enough indoors for most use. But backlighting the way I do... it just fails at that. If you want to light them up from the side then it works well. Just not if they are RIGHT IN the line of sight.

[jjmucker]

yeah, well that type of shot is something that i want to try but i dont really want to spend the money on pocketwizards at the moment.
do you know of an alternative (cheaper :D ) way.

If i thought i would use them often enough i would spend the cash on them but right now i cant see it happening.

thanks

[picturecrazy]

Well, there are the ebay triggers.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180136027678

I would use that over the canon system. I've heard they can be finicky at times and that sync speeds vary depending on your environment. But the price is right. Just don't plan on using your max 1/250 sync speed. And if it does work, then you're lucky! I've heard the reliability drops a lot when outside though.

[jjmucker]

OK, cheers mate :D

[EmiMain]

beautiful. I'm really enjoying your work.