C&C my first wedding photos

[mrerico]

www.ericomoriphotography.com (http://www.ericomoriphotography.com)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2089435628_a8a5564ee8.jpg?v=0

Sorry it would have taken too long for me to post every image on here :\ so instead I give you the link!


-Eric O.

[carianoff]

Just post a few of them and the link, people seem to expect that here. You will get more feedback that way.

I can tell by the angles you weren't the only guy there with a camera. Alot of the shots looks like you got the 2nd best angle for the shot.

I also think you need to have more faith in your horizontaly framed shots. Alot of the vertical shots fill up the frame too much. Some of them worked real well, don't get me wrong.

[leninglass]

^^ ditto..

I see that you werent the main Photographer. You kinda looked like a tag along or stealing shots. lol i dont know. and some have glair. did did you have a flash with you?

[mrerico]

It wont let me post more than one photo...wierd.

Yeah they had the uncle take photos for them I was just a secondary photographer. Trying to get anything he might have missed. :\ IMHO I think they suck, others are telling me otherwise but I dont want to listen to them since they are my friends and family. I want to hear what POTN members have to say :]

[mrerico]

^^ ditto..

I see that you werent the main Photographer. You kinda looked like a tag along or stealing shots. lol i dont know. and some have glair. did did you have a flash with you?


no I left it in my car. Stupid thing of my to do...

[amironsi]

the bride's face is in the shadowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... that is not good
No flash
that is a big mistake man... get one

[mrerico]

The lighting was reallly harsh out on the beach. The only time I wish I had my flash with me was underneath the gazebo.

[carianoff]

Like hopefully you can get some good feedback from others about the harsh hard and soft light mix you had, thats not my special. But i found a shot that i think is one of the better ones and just wanna give you my take on what i think can improve composition.

I would have aimed the horizon line of the water at their eye level. It has a way of almost respecting the subject a little more. The negitive space of the sky pushes the viewers eye down two the couple. I think there are several very small moves like this that you could have done to improve other shots.

[leninglass]

I know this isnt my thread but ^^ great technique! Ill keep that in mind. thanks

[cdifoto]

I would have aimed the horizon line of the water at their eye level. It has a way of almost respecting the subject a little more. The negitive space of the sky pushes the viewers eye down two the couple. I think there are several very small moves like this that you could have done to improve other shots.

But then you'd get people who bitch about how the horizon "slices" through their heads...:rolleyes:

Personally I would have got even lower to let their entire head be in the sky. But hindsight's 20/20 and all that stuff. And I would never have left the flash in the car.

[carianoff]

We both have the same type idea, both would help here. Its easier to tell a person a small move they can to their shot then totally re composing the shot. I want to sharpen his eye not give him mine. Plus I like the bird in the frame and don't want it going over their head.

As far as the people that bitch about the horizon line cutting through their heads, they can hire someone else.;)

[cdifoto]

As far as the people that bitch about the horizon line cutting through their heads, they can hire someone else.;)

I was referring to the POTN "experts" :lol:

[cdifoto]

I want to sharpen his eye not give him mine.

Your telling him what you'd do doesn't sharpen his eye (or give him yours) any more or less than my telling him what I'd do. :rolleyes:

[carianoff]

I was referring to the POTN "experts" :lol:

Hah!

Your telling him what you'd do doesn't sharpen his eye (or give him yours) any more or less than my telling him what I'd do. :rolleyes: Matter of opinion, In the context of this photo I believe its a easier method.

[ktgiggle]

Please take my comment as being constructive and honest ...

Besides the fact that the bride is in shadow (which can be improved a bit by Kubota digital flash action), I think it's an awkward crop (you almost always do not want to crop near the body joints.)

[ktgiggle]

Sorry, but the composition is not too flattering for me either...
I don't care much for the empty wooden frame (it might have been better if the couple are standing behind the frame, with the upper parts of their bodies show through ... ;))

[mrerico]

Alright cool. Its good to hear these types of things from other people. I need more advise. This was just sort of a tag along type of thing but I want to eventually get better at composition

[mrerico]

Any other comments/suggestions for next time?

[notapro]

I'm not very experienced, but here are my thoughts (worth maybe 0.01, not 0.02):

My first (only so far) wedding took place on a beach under a gazebo. I had a flash, but TBH, I didn't really know how to use it as I have never really been a people photographer until this year and have always used natural light. I blew out the sky in every single photo, too. Then I swore to learn how to use a flash. The difficult lighting situation was obvious, so formals under the gazebo was probably not a terrific idea, but I guess it was likely the main who chose it.

Glare from the sun tends to look better angled than coming straight in from the top of the frame. And some people don't like it, especially when it's interfering with faces, etc., so I would personally try to get the same shots without the glare.

Opening up your aperture would help give you shallower DOF in some of the shots. There are a few where you had plenty room to go with a faster shutter speed or even knock it down to ISO 50 and open up a little bit. I don't know what lens you were using, but my good lenses are still sharp at wide apertures.

Do you use center-point focus all the time? I noticed that most of the 'action' shots are framed with faces in the center, maybe because you didn't have time to recompose after focusing? I switch points a lot, others are really good at recomposing... just takes practice to figure out what works for you.

I think for a first go and someone who is obviously young and still learning, and was a guest with no real control (right?) these are pretty good. I'm sure they'll love a set of them.

[mrerico]

I'm not very experienced, but here are my thoughts (worth maybe 0.01, not 0.02):

My first (only so far) wedding took place on a beach under a gazebo. I had a flash, but TBH, I didn't really know how to use it as I have never really been a people photographer until this year and have always used natural light. I blew out the sky in every single photo, too. Then I swore to learn how to use a flash. The difficult lighting situation was obvious, so formals under the gazebo was probably not a terrific idea, but I guess it was likely the main who chose it.

Glare from the sun tends to look better angled than coming straight in from the top of the frame. And some people don't like it, especially when it's interfering with faces, etc., so I would personally try to get the same shots without the glare.

Opening up your aperture would help give you shallower DOF in some of the shots. There are a few where you had plenty room to go with a faster shutter speed or even knock it down to ISO 50 and open up a little bit. I don't know what lens you were using, but my good lenses are still sharp at wide apertures.

Do you use center-point focus all the time? I noticed that most of the 'action' shots are framed with faces in the center, maybe because you didn't have time to recompose after focusing? I switch points a lot, others are really good at recomposing... just takes practice to figure out what works for you.

I think for a first go and someone who is obviously young and still learning, and was a guest with no real control (right?) these are pretty good. I'm sure they'll love a set of them.

Thanks yeah I think I am going to start learning about how to use my flash. I barely know how to use it right now. How do you change your focus points so fast? I tried it but left it in the center after it taking me long periods of time to recompose for more shots.

[notapro]

Thanks yeah I think I am going to start learning about how to use my flash. I barely know how to use it right now. How do you change your focus points so fast? I tried it but left it in the center after it taking me long periods of time to recompose for more shots.

I'm not sure how it works on the 30D - it only has one wheel right? With the markII it's easy to change quickly because one wheel moves it left to right, and the other moves it up and down. You could try starting with it set to 9 points, so that there are fewer to choose from and therefore it would take less clicks to get it to roughly the right spot. it just takes practice I guess like everything else.

Flash is tricky. I'm not consistently happy with my results yet, either, or I would try to offer more help for you with learning it. Keep at it and you'll get there!

[mrerico]

Do you use the joystick method? I heard some people talking about that.

-Eric O.

PS. Still looking for more critique/commenting :]

[notapro]

Do you use the joystick method? I heard some people talking about that.



not sure what that is. I push the button and turn the wheels... that's about it :lol:

[ktgiggle]

Do you use the joystick method? I heard some people talking about that.

-Eric O.

PS. Still looking for more critique/commenting :]

Not sure if it's different for 40D, but for 30D, you can manually select the AF points (only in P, Tv, Av, and M modes). First press on the AF point selecttion button (the same one to enlarge the picture during play back). Then you can use either the multi controller (I think this is what you referred to as the "joystick" ), or the quick control dial (the big dial wheel on the back of the camera) to cycle through the AF points. Anyway, read the manual and see which one you prefer. I dont like the multi controller because it's very small, and sometimes it's hard to change it fast enough.

I suggest you to get a book and learn about composition, look at the work of well-known wedding photographers, or just browse through many great pictures posted here in this forum. Of course composition is only a small part of making a picture look great, but you can start from there.

[ktgiggle]

Regarding flash, not sure if you have read it, but check out http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=138907 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138907), and also
http://planetneil.com/tangents/

[mrerico]

thanks for the help guys!! I really appreciate it, I am trying to improve my work :\

[notapro]

thanks for the help guys!! I really appreciate it, I am trying to improve my work :\


I think we all are :) And every great photographer started somewhere. Looking forward to seeing more!

[nvrl8]

The best thing about this is that you accept the criticism and comments so very well...that, to me, indicates a desire to learn. Those that get mad and pout adn then delete their pics don't learn. That, by itself, is amazing. Learn the flash and keep posting for more C&C.

[mrerico]

Haha, thanks nvrl8. I tend to accept the fact others know alot more then me, especially with photography since it has been around for such a long time. I am never embarrassed anymore when other people critique my work because those people who are good critiques have probably been C&C'd before and know what they are doing.

BTW, I have been reading alot on flash photography and it seems to be clearing up to me but as all other things I think I am going to need more practice. I just lack subjects to photography right now. Any ideas on what I can practice on or what types of situations I should try to put myself in so I know how to work under pressure?

Thanks again for all the C&C. Can't wait for the next time I get to shoot an event like this so hopefully I can correct myself :]

-Eric

[ktgiggle]

Hey Eric,

I was glad that you took my honest critique in a positive way, and be grateful about it. You're among the cool guys who are not shy to show your work, being humble, have a strong desire to learn, and really want to improve your skills as photographers. I'm more or less the same way, learning and trying to improve my photographic ability whenever I can.

Did you check out Tim's FAQ, and his book recommendations http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=242640 ?

Anyway, good luck, and have fun shooting the next event ! :D

[SIMPLEPHOTOLT]

BTW, I have been reading alot on flash photography and it seems to be clearing up to me but as all other things I think I am going to need more practice. I just lack subjects to photography right now. Any ideas on what I can practice on or what types of situations I should try to put myself in so I know how to work under pressure?


-Eric

You can try shooting events like Chirstmas parties, Mass celebration at local church or stuff like that since its the holiday season. You can also find some wedding within the community and ask the bride+photographer see if they let you take some shots for practice. Just be honest and tell them the truth. If they don't feel comfortable then just find another chance. At least that's what I'm trying to do. Have fun shooting.
LT

[mrerico]

Is it true that if someone asks me to take pictures of an event I dont need to have people sign releases but if I go un-announced then I have to get releases signed by them in order to host their picture on my website?

I read the thread on when you need a release, and I understand it...partly.

The gallery hosting plan I am on right now is zenfolio's premium plan and they do offer purchasing photos off my site. But its optional. Could I get sued if I put them on my website where people have a choice to buy them if I dont get releases signed?