Wedding - Too Dark?????

[Sakuraba39]

They looked fine on my IMAC at home, but now at work they look like they need to be lightend up a bit. ALSO: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO POST PROCESS A WEDDING? WEEKS? A MONTH? A FEW DAYS?????

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3042712390_30c421cc53.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3041783909_07b5b46f8a_b.jpg

[stathunter]

Yep-- definitely dark. I noticed that my iMac is bright-- and when I look at photos on another computer they tend to be a bit more dark.
It takes me many weeks to process a wedding--- but I also take a ton of photos. You will learn to include processing into your fees for weddings.

[sapearl]

The difference could be in the "calibration differences" between the two machines.

What I mean is, the brightness/contrast/color temp settings could be totally different between your home and work machines. Unless you have calibrated them to be the same, there really is no accurate way to compare the images on both. This is also a common problem that pro's run into with clients and other users. Typically their machines have brightness and contrast turned all the way up for "maximum punch" and appearance, but this is NOT the way we PP our work. That only blows out the highlights and misrepresents shadow detail.

As for how long PP takes.... that depends on how big the wedding was and how many images I shot.

Typically I will finish and present 400-500 images from a wedding, on average. I shoot RAW, so this only inlcudes global adjustments I make for WB, highlight, shadow, blackpoint, exposure, etc. It does NOT include elaborate retouch work - that would be done later in Photoshop if the shot was selected as an album photo or an enlargement.

But I will usually have the online gallery up in 3-7 days. The actual 4x6 lab prints inserted in proof books will take about 2-3 weeks. If the client is ordering a finished bound album, I tell them 8-10 weeks from the time they provide me with the final order. That period of time includes elaborate PP on each image and album assembly. - Stu

[TheHoff]

Yup, dark. With the second one (bounced flash?) there is pure white at the top of the drapery but the bride's white dress is grey.

I generally only shoot as a guest; avg 500 RAWs down to 40 or 60 processed picks, usually about 3 or 4 hours. The one time I shot as a second shooter for a pro, I spent the same amount of time shooting as I did processing, so about 6 hours shooting and 6 hours processing. I've been working with PS since version 2 so I may be quicker than avg.

[stathunter]

I generally only shoot as a guest; avg 500 RAWs .

Shoot 500 as a guest........remind me to check the guest list to see if you are going to be there. :)

[sapearl]

Forgot to answer the obvious - yes they are both dark. The second shot is very challenging too and would be difficult for most folks.

You have a lot of white subject matter reflecting the flash back which will also render dark skin even darker. I periodically run into this myself, and it requires a substantial amount of post processing. This is where the RAW files really shows its strength.

[TheHoff]

Shoot 500 as a guest........remind me to check the guest list to see if you are going to be there.

I'd be the one offering to carry your ladder or hold a reflector if you didn't have an assistant :D I'm always respectful to the pros... A lot of the shots come from the reception and partying since the pro will often have run out of paid time by the end of the night.

http://i34.tinypic.com/25u5gk1.jpg

[Sakuraba39]

The problem that I had was that the lights were turned down low and there were a lot of mirrors. So I had to manuever so that the flash wouldn't reflect in the mirrors.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3032102785_d58cc217b1.jpg

[stathunter]

I'd be the one offering to carry your ladder or hold a reflector if you didn't have an assistant :D I'm always respectful to the pros... A lot of the shots come from the reception and partying since the pro will often have run out of paid time by the end of the night.

http://i34.tinypic.com/25u5gk1.jpg

That is a great shot.......would love to have you second shoot with me. (as long as you are not as annoying as you are here :) )

[TheHoff]

The problem that I had was that the lights were turned down low and there were a lot of mirrors. So I had to manuever so that the flash wouldn't reflect in the mirrors.

That one is right on. Good balance of light in the background as well. I'd like a little more space around them but that is picking...


That is a great shot.......would love to have you second shoot with me. (as long as you are not as annoying as you are here )

Thanks, but my photos come packaged with the attitude.

[stathunter]

The problem that I had was that the lights were turned down low and there were a lot of mirrors. So I had to manuever so that the flash wouldn't reflect in the mirrors.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3032102785_d58cc217b1.jpg


Nice--- I have found a sweet spot for the 35L in situations like this--- it is fantastic in low light. I started by renting one and man it makes a HUGE difference.

[sapearl]

I can certainly sympathasize - been there done that. I'm guessing that you probably could not have selected a better aperture for this exposure - nice DOF - but perhaps you could have used a slightly lower shutter speed. By dragging the shutter you would have allowed a bit more ambient light to creep into the exposure resulting a slightly brighter background.

The problem that I had was that the lights were turned down low and there were a lot of mirrors. So I had to manuever so that the flash wouldn't reflect in the mirrors.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3032102785_d58cc217b1.jpg

[TeeJay]

.......would love to have you second shoot with me. (as long as you are not as annoying as you are here :) )

I just had to smile at that :D

TJ

[sapearl]

Ouch!! :lol::lol:

That is a great shot.......would love to have you second shoot with me. (as long as you are not as annoying as you are here :) )

[ebann]

Forgot to answer the obvious - yes they are both dark. The second shot is very challenging too and would be difficult for most folks.


Would bracketing the shot have helped?

[sapearl]

Bracketing can almost always help, but you're dealing with the extremes of white wedding cloth and dark skin tone. This is something that can usually be addressed to a degree in PP. Here's a little work I did to improve the final shot. I added a first exposure adjustment layer to brighten up the shadows and skin tone, and then a second one to tone down the fabric highlights:

=>

Would bracketing the shot have helped?

[shannyD]

That is a great shot.......would love to have you second shoot with me. (as long as you are not as annoying as you are here :) )

man you really are in a needs of a second shooter arent you? this is the second time i have seen you say this in the last couple of days.

the ones you did talk about are awesome for Sure! Hoff that is a great photo..


OP.. they are dark.. if you have the original files.. they can probably be saved and brightened up.

but i think they are great photos.. just a tad on the dark side as you mentioned.

[Sakuraba39]

I lightened this one up a little.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3045527871_c5f6b43c5f.jpg

[sapearl]

Nice emotion on that one Sakura - good timing. What technique do you use for lightening?