July 21 2007 wedding! :)

[picturecrazy]

Man, this wedding started out a little disastrous (see blog for details if you care) but it turned out awesome. Some weddings are just so full of love you can feel it, and this was one of them. I don't mean just B&G love, but friends and family that are so tight it amazes you. wow.

C&C greatly appreciated.

1.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/a.jpg

2.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/b.jpg

3.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/c.jpg

4.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/d.jpg

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

[picturecrazy]

6.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/f.jpg

7.
His brother gave a crazy touching speech. The whole room was in tears.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/g.jpg

8. Yes, this was a picture of a pole when an emotional mother of the groom got in the way... ;)
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/h.jpg

9. The first dance was this CRAZY good rumba!
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/i.jpg

10.
http://www.nightanddayphoto.ca/misc/forumpics/CherylManu/j.jpg

[brenno]

These are fantastic Lloyd. 3, 4, 5 and 10 would be my favourites.

I'm not sure about the processing (lomo??) on the first pic though. Just something about it i'm not keen on. Each to their own though.

I've always admired your work, and these are top notch.

[italianfemmy]

Lloyd, I love them all except for the 1st one. It is so blue. I just don't care for it. Great job otherwise. :-) Hope you can make it to the meet in Nov. so I can pick your brain.

[Raphael V]

Awesome as always except the first one. I like your PP on some of them too.

[morlia]

weird. I like the first one...I think the bride may as well she looks like she would enjoy something creative a funky.
Fantastic job, you make my mouth gape and make my heart proud to be a fellow Albertan!

[tim]

To me #3 is the standout shot in this set, just fantastic. Overall it's a great set, one of your best. I really like #2 and #4 as well.

Would you mind explaining how you set up #3 (lighting, and just the thought processes, and how you lit 9/10?

[italianfemmy]

By the way 3 (done as good as the toogiepoo himself) and 5 are my favorites!

[gheesom]

Love your 2 group shots, number 2 is great.
number 1 is a good shot. Cross Processed?

[howzitboy]

what great shots! again proving you are one of the best!!

[sblais]

Love #4, 9 and 10!

#6 seems a bit green to me (on my uncalibrated work monitor).

Otherwise, stellar work once again!

[CateUK]

Beautiful dance shots! 3,4,5 are fantastic

Not sure about 1, for some reason the brush position makes her face look droopy (probably my bad eyes!) but I like the colour treatments :)

[Toogy]

Lloyd, awesome man.

I really like #2, #3, #5 & #10

#1 looks a little weird, Not digging the PP on that one. Same with #6, too green.
But an awesome overall job.

[jamesdean007]

Nice Job Lloyd - great capture of emotion!

[Grace]

I LOVE 5!!!!!!!!!

[Grace]

ok...now..

I really like the xprocess look on 1 :)
You can tell they are all very emotional...I love it. What an awesome opportunity to shoot a wedding like that.


I love the last dance shot. :) very fun!
and the

[mackb]

Great job,,....AGAIN!...I like 3 and 5.

[liza]

I love 3,4,& 5! Lovely shots. I'm not a fan of the cross processing in some of them, but the posing is great.

[GlennSter]

i honestly like number 1..maybe because sometimes i like "weird" color casts that comes out like using a lomo.

number 5 and 9 are awsome too!

[Kai]

Great work. My favorite is 2. Great dance shots. I was hoping to see some of your work again soon.

[sam0329]

#4,5,6 are super beatiful, good job Lloyd. You are the "lighting God!"

[xtravaluemeal1]

great pics! I like #5 for the clouds...I wonder what the shot would've looked like if they were spread out more but closer...I also love the color in #10. You seem to have made the most of the location because from some of the other pictures, it seems to be a difficult place to shoot! I love the colors too in the shot...I'm assuming RAW and a small bump in saturation? Great job!

[csm328]

Lloyd, #5 is seriously impressive.

[Ted S]

Wow. Great stuff... I really like #3 & 4!

[drogos]

Defenetly the best from You I have seen so far ...amazing selection ...they will cry their #$%es off when they see these ... 5th looks like you have put some serious work into ..did you meter for the sun or the whole sky?? ..also was flash off the camera ???

[drogos]

also there is an opinion that you shouldn't shoot straight into the sun since you might damage the sensor..i did it couple times but the sun was setting already so no biggy i guess...have you boys anf girls heard about it??

[drogos]

Lloyd, awesome man.

I really like #2, #3, #5 & #10

#1 looks a little weird, Not digging the PP on that one. Same with #6, too green.
But an awesome overall job.

i like the pp on #1 ..but i would love to see it with pp from #2 . by the way. Did You use a warming photo filter from ps on that one ?? come out very nice

[ToddziLLa]

Amazing! Very well done!

[jayspec]

I don't know what it is about number 1, but it really speaks to me. Everyone's saying "too blue!" but to me, the consistency of the blueness makes it seem like artistic intent, as if this were a shot for a make-up advertisement. It might be a shot that the client might not like, but that you can keep for personal artistic value.

I wish the guys were closer, and more spread out along the frame in number 3. I can't really see their faces. Of course, it may be clearer in a larger image or print.

I'll agree with everyone and say 5 is a-may-zing. EXIF says no flash was used... was there a reflector involved?

I like 9. Would love 10 if the flash were a little more behind the groom. But hey, whatcha' gonna do?

[picturecrazy]

wow, wasn't expecting this many comments. you all are so nice!


Would you mind explaining how you set up #3 (lighting, and just the thought processes, and how you lit 9/10?

3? ok. Well first of all, don't read the exif on this file, it's wrong. I have a colour and sepia version of this file so I copied and pasted it into a different image (so the two versions wouldn't overwrite each other on export) and therefore, it inherited the exif of the overwritten file.

I metered for a half decent sky. I left it a little blown out in order to preserve the grasses and trees and relied on Lightroom's highlight recovery slider to get it back. I believe it was ISO100 f/8 1/200. This is when I put the bridal party to work. Hid people in the tall grasses holding pocketwizards and flashes. 5 lights. Cloned out some hands holding flashes out of the pics. I placed the people staggered and told them to be serious... which was difficult because they're all a bunch of GOOFBALLS! hahaha, they were great, I loved them.

By the way 3 (done as good as the toogiepoo himself) and 5 are my favorites!

Wow, thats quite an honour! I'm sure toogiepoo would have done it differently but it's still flattering!

Love your 2 group shots, number 2 is great.
number 1 is a good shot. Cross Processed?

Love #4, 9 and 10!

#6 seems a bit green to me (on my uncalibrated work monitor).

Otherwise, stellar work once again!

Yes, both 1 and 6 are cross processed. Seems like you either love it or hate it. I hope they love it. 1 is a more standard blue cross, and 6 is a greenish cross. Both are David Jay actions that come with ShowitEffects.

ok...now..

I really like the xprocess look on 1 :)
You can tell they are all very emotional...I love it. What an awesome opportunity to shoot a wedding like that.


I love the last dance shot. :) very fun!
and the

and the?????? you're leaving me hanging in suspense here Kathy!! ;)

You seem to have made the most of the location because from some of the other pictures, it seems to be a difficult place to shoot! I love the colors too in the shot...I'm assuming RAW and a small bump in saturation? Great job!

Actually, the location was beautiful. The bride is a competitive waterskiier and this is the location where she trained, practiced, and competed often. She pretty much lived here every summer for many many years. Which is why this was really the ONLY location that would satisfy her. totally understandable! The outside was pretty but the inside was a little harder to work with. It was very crowded and tight.

also there is an opinion that you shouldn't shoot straight into the sun since you might damage the sensor..i did it couple times but the sun was setting already so no biggy i guess...have you boys anf girls heard about it??

I dunno if there's a danger or not, but I do it ALL the time. Maybe the sensor doesn't like it but if I have to fry a couple of sensors to get the sun shots which I love so much, it's totally worth it to me.

[picturecrazy]

I wish the guys were closer, and more spread out along the frame in number 3. I can't really see their faces. Of course, it may be clearer in a larger image or print.

I'll agree with everyone and say 5 is a-may-zing. EXIF says no flash was used... was there a reflector involved?

I like 9. Would love 10 if the flash were a little more behind the groom. But hey, whatcha' gonna do?

The reason I kept the guys smaller is because the landscape was so nice. IT was a shot to feature both the guys and the landscape they were in. I already had some shots that were close and you could see all faces very clearly.

as for 5, EXIF often reports no flash when you use a pocketwizard. No reflector.... there's NO way a reflector can put out NEAR the amount of light I need. My speedlites are firing at 1/1 for most of the formal sessions. :eek:

I hear you on the flash position on 10. I love the flaring it created, so it turned out to my one of my favourites. But it's really hard to have yourself and the flash in the perfect position when the two are doing some crazy fast ballroom dancing. Just getting focus is hard enough! whew! that was stressful.

[maytownme]

Man these are stunning,very inspirational for me.I have to say no3
is my favourite,but quality throughout.

[ErikM]

Very nice Lloyd, I really like them all!!!

[louiep83]

#1, what's in the background ? kind of like a warehouse?
#4, mind if I ask how you do that? Ladder comes to mind but how do you avoid the legs?

I wish some of our customers are these emotional, it just make great story.

Louie

[jayspec]

But it's really hard to have yourself and the flash in the perfect position when the two are doing some crazy fast ballroom dancing. Just getting focus is hard enough! whew! that was stressful.

Oh, naturally. It's real easy to play Monday morning quarterback, innit?

By the way, we haven't interacted much on these boards, but I just wanted to say that I really like your work in general. You've been a real inspiration to me.

[ktgiggle]

Awesome pictures! My favorites are #3, 5, 9, 10.
You did GREAT Lloyd! :D

[daclozer]

Great shots (as always) but I especially like #3 and # 9. I am a scuker for good sepia/ b&w. I can fully appreciate what you were saying about some weddings being full of love. I just shot one that was like that. There was a fairly young woman in the wedding with a cane that last year was in an auto accident and pretty much pronounced dead at the scene. When she survived that, the family was told she would be braindead or paralyzed. Well she beat all that and had the first dance with the bride and groom... Very touching for all the family, not a dry eye in the place....

[picturecrazy]

#1, what's in the background ? kind of like a warehouse?
#4, mind if I ask how you do that? Ladder comes to mind but how do you avoid the legs?


It's just the MAC makeup studio! All that stuff on the shelves is product. Ten bazillion colour shades/tones of ten bazillion types of makeup.

For the bridesmaids shot, I stood on a 2-step stool I bring along to local weddings, zoom out to 10mm, hold the camera as high as I can and shoot downwards blindly. I've actually gotten pretty good at focusing and shooting without even looking into the viewfinder. I use this technique on the dance floor constantly. (Minus the stepstool) You will likely have to clone your feet/legs out of the shot though, just as I had to do.


Oh, naturally. It's real easy to play Monday morning quarterback, innit?

By the way, we haven't interacted much on these boards, but I just wanted to say that I really like your work in general. You've been a real inspiration to me.

thanks for the kind words! There are lots of inspirational people here on potn isn't there? :)

Great shots (as always) but I especially like #3 and # 9. I am a scuker for good sepia/ b&w. I can fully appreciate what you were saying about some weddings being full of love. I just shot one that was like that. There was a fairly young woman in the wedding with a cane that last year was in an auto accident and pretty much pronounced dead at the scene. When she survived that, the family was told she would be braindead or paralyzed. Well she beat all that and had the first dance with the bride and groom... Very touching for all the family, not a dry eye in the place....


Geeez, that's quite a story! Amazing actually. Thanks for sharing!

[joshbehan]

i love 2 and 9, great work again.

[SuzyView]

There are some very nice pictures here, Lloyd. I really liked what you did for #3. And I do like #5.

[tim]

5 lights? Wow! It's a great shot, thanks Lloyd :)

Can you tell us a bit about your lighting for the first dance? Undiffused flash at a persons chest height?

Also, i'd recommend watermarking your images, so no-one else can steal them and claim to have taken them. Someone local to me did that once, I was told by a potential customer (who didn't book).

[Hassan2285]

Lloyd,

I really love all your work. It is very inspirational. The colors that come from you pictures really astound me.

Great work, and can't wait to see more!

[restech]

Hi Lloyd,

Do you use a lens filter to catch that 'star-like' sunlight on pic # 5 ?
If not, I just wonder how you did it.
Does a fast shutter create that effect ?

Thanks

[picturecrazy]

5 lights? Wow! It's a great shot, thanks Lloyd :)

Can you tell us a bit about your lighting for the first dance? Undiffused flash at a persons chest height?


What I do is I have on-camera flash mounted as per usual. I bounce off a wall if available (preferred) or the ceiling, or people. Then I set up a pocketwizard light which my wife/assistant holds for me on the other side of the floor. If she's not there I use a lightstand, and set it to chest height but firing at an angle towards their heads. Usually zoomed to 50 or 70mm. So ettl does it thing and lights up the couple, and the pocketwizard does it's thing and flashes two stops over, placed behind them.


Also, i'd recommend watermarking your images, so no-one else can steal them and claim to have taken them. Someone local to me did that once, I was told by a potential customer (who didn't book).

man, I hope that doesn't happen to me. I'd be PISSED! I've considered it but I've never enjoyed looking at watermarked photos so I never do it myself. It's a catch 22 I guess.

Hi Lloyd,

Do you use a lens filter to catch that 'star-like' sunlight on pic # 5 ?
If not, I just wonder how you did it.
Does a fast shutter create that effect ?

Thanks


Every lens has it's own characteristics. You just gotta find the setting that produces it. Yes, you can use a star filter, but pretty much all lenses should do it. The shape of the star depends on the shape of the aperture blades. I actually prefer the shape the 17-55 produces over the 10-22.
I haven't bothered to find that sweet setting on my 24-70 because I don't really take formals with that lens. It's too... umm... boring?

[Gujustud]

Nice work man! Love 2, and 3 really rocks with the sky.

[tim]

What I do is I have on-camera flash mounted as per usual. I bounce off a wall if available (preferred) or the ceiling, or people. Then I set up a pocketwizard light which my wife/assistant holds for me on the other side of the floor. If she's not there I use a lightstand, and set it to chest height but firing at an angle towards their heads. Usually zoomed to 50 or 70mm. So ettl does it thing and lights up the couple, and the pocketwizard does it's thing and flashes two stops over, placed behind them.

Thanks for the info :)

[karien]

Awesome!! I love it.

WOW!!

[sweevil]

I am curious on #2, 3 and 7 what are you doing in photoshop to get such a nice black and white and/or what program are you using?

[picturecrazy]

I am curious on #2, 3 and 7 what are you doing in photoshop to get such a nice black and white and/or what program are you using?

The conversion was done using Lightroom. It comes with a built-in Sepia preset. I adjusted the preset so it was less yellow and more brown. Then you use the Grayscale Mix sliders to achieve the look you want. Pretty cool.

[jessiper]

Sorry I'm a bit late. I love 'em, of course! #4 is a little on the weird side for me, but it's definitely creative! Do you mind sharing your cross processing action/technique?

[bcap]

Wow. Lloyd, I don't know how I missed these, but they're amazing!

One of my favorite weddings I've seen posted on here.

How was #5 lit, Lloyd?

[bcap]

What I do is I have on-camera flash mounted as per usual. I bounce off a wall if available (preferred) or the ceiling, or people. Then I set up a pocketwizard light which my wife/assistant holds for me on the other side of the floor. If she's not there I use a lightstand, and set it to chest height but firing at an angle towards their heads. Usually zoomed to 50 or 70mm. So ettl does it thing and lights up the couple, and the pocketwizard does it's thing and flashes two stops over, placed behind them.


Sorry Lloyd, I'm a bit confused here. You say that you have 1 flash on-cam in E-TTL, then another one off camera w/ a pocketwizard? What fires the 2nd flash (with the pocketwizard)? If it's the main flash (on cam), why does it need a pocketwizard?

Sorry, I may just have read it the wrong way.

[picturecrazy]

Sorry Lloyd, I'm a bit confused here. You say that you have 1 flash on-cam in E-TTL, then another one off camera w/ a pocketwizard? What fires the 2nd flash (with the pocketwizard)? If it's the main flash (on cam), why does it need a pocketwizard?

Sorry, I may just have read it the wrong way.

oh wow, thread from the dead! :)

For 5, I used one off camera flash with a pocketwizard. Like 95% of my off camera shots. Same, boring old technique! ;)

As for the ettl/PW thing... no you did not read it wrong. I definitely use the on-camera flash to light up the couple and a pocketwizard for the backlight. To use both, this is where I actually use my flash bracket. 580 on the off shoe cord on the bracket, and the PW mounted onto the bracket too, and triggered via the PC sync port. This is the only way I really see be able to mount both a flash and a PW on the same camera. I COULD just use the canon wireless system, but it's HORRIBLY unreliable in this situation where the couple is directly inbetween the master and slave. I've tried it a couple times... it really sucks. Otherwise, the canon system works well indoors.