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View Full Version : Introduction and First Wedding shots (long)


sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 09:35
Hi Everyone! I have been hanging around here reading and learning from all of your expert advice for quite a while and i thought it was time I introduced myself. I'm Suzi, monther of two young kids (Meghan 3 and TJ 1). I have a "day job" as a VP of an investment bank, but have been actively pursuing photography since my daughter was born. I would love to get to the point that i could just do the photography, but i know it will take lots of time, practice and learning from great people like you all!!

I have been shooting some portraits of friends and family and I have two "fine art" gallery exhibits going on right now - one at a gallery/gift shop down the Jersey Shore, and one in a local restaurant in my town.

In mid-June, my husbands cousin called and said that her wedding photographer blew her off for her shower and was nervous about having her for her Aug 4th wedding. I told her i was up for the challenge and said i would be the official photographer for her. I wanted to see if this is something that I could pursue, and if i could even handle it!! We had to drive 13 hours each way with both kids in the car from New York to North Carolina - it was quite a hectic and stressful situation!! But I think i managed to pull it off!

I got some shots that i really like....but i think the best part is that i know what i did wrong and I learned A LOT. I also know i need some help using my speedlight properly. I have a 30D and primarily used my 24-70 2.8L. I rented a 70-200 IS as well, but didn't use it that much because i was not very familiar with it and BOY is it heavy!! I had my digital rebel with kid lens as backup. The reception was in the gym of the school behind the church - big huge room with yellow walls and flourescent lighting -- until they turned all the lights off on me. It was quite a challenge.

Anyway -- i could go on and on...I just wanted to thank all of you for sharing all of your incredibly helpful advice, knowledge and experience. I know that without this forum i wouldn't have been nearly as prepared as i was! I actually think i might do it again, but I would probably like to be a second shooter for someone else to get some more technical experience before going it alone again!

Now, all that being said - here are a few of my favorite shots - what do you think?

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 09:36
two more

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 09:38
final two (i'm not so good at this posting thing...sorry!):oops:

Jimbo24
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 11:18
Nice pictures!!!

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 11:23
Thank you Jimbo!! I was getting a little discouraged that no one was responding. It's a bit nerve wracking being the new kid :o)

Maui Kim
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 11:36
Hi Suzi! Welcome to the forum..It looks like you did a great job for yur first wedding! I really like #2 of the couple and #4 of the back of the bride..good job. Don't get discouraged if no one responds right away. They will soon :)..Thanks for sharing. ~Kim

Jimbo24
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 11:42
Here's a couple things that might be helpful with using your Speedlite...
Speedlite DVD tutorial (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Canon-Speedlite-580EX-430EX/dp/B000CQM2LM)

Article on Flash Photography (http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/)

notapro
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 11:42
I know how you feel being the new kid. The first pictures I posted here last month were met with lots of constructive criticism, which I appreciated.

I'm not a pro, but I think the couple will be happy with your photos. I really like the idea in the third one. The fourth one is great - maybe crop a little so there is less of the doorframe/wall showing? I don't know what your aspect ratio would have to be on the last one, but I would probably crop the swing out of the background on the right side. The first two are really nice as well! Did you get any full length ones?

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 12:05
Thank you Kim, Jimbo and Amanda! I'm feeling much better now!!

Jimbo - i will check those out. Thanks for the info!
Amanda - I see what you mean about the swing in the background. I tried to crop that out, but you're right - the aspect ratio would be wacky or i'd cut off the guy on top of the swingset (who was not only the best man, but the father of the groom too!!). I did get some full length ones, but they weren't anything noteworthy.

Thanks again for your constructive comments! I think i'm going to like it here!
-Suzi

notapro
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 12:32
I did get some full length ones, but they weren't anything noteworthy.



I mostly just wanted to see her full dress anyway, so that's okay. It looks beautiful.

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 12:47
Funny you say that, Amanda....Ironically, I picked it out. The bride borrowed my sister-in-law's dress. I brought my sister-in-law to my bridal shop to get her dress. It's this really soft champagne color - my sister-in-law didn't want white because she already has a kid, and her cousin (THIS bride) absolutely loved it! It helps that they are both less than a size zero, so it fit her perfect. You can see it a little better here -- not a great photo, but you can see more of the dress.

notapro
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 12:58
wow, I love that dress. I prefer non-white dresses, but still in pretty reserved colours like this. I love the straps and the detail on the bodice. Sorry to hijack your thread! Cool car in the background of that last picture, too!

sschirm
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 13:11
No hijacking whatsoever! This bride added the straps - i was AMAZED at how well they tied in with the dress. It really was stunning on her (both of them actually).

The car belonged to a friend of the groom. We took some really fun pictures around and in it -- the mirror and the black and white looking out the back window - were two of my favorites!

Here is a total snapshot of the original dress owner at her wedding last summer (that's me second from the right)

Sakia Warner
17th of August 2007 (Fri), 21:35
I think you did a great job for your first wedding. I LOVE the kissing in the car mirror photo..
The first photos of her on his lap look uncomfortable to me.. but those are hard shots to get just right. I've tried

I think you did fine and I am sure they will love the photos!