How to edit this pics

[studlymonkey]

Ok, so I am really new to wedding photography and haha its not something I really want to do for a living. But a little while ago I did a wedding for a friend. It was either I do it, or they wouldnt have a wedding photographer. So I did this pics for free for them. So ... One thing I was having a hard time with, is gettign rid of the horrible ugly greenish yellow grass. How should I edit these. I am also having a hard time having the people exposed right, without hte dress being over exposed. The little ceramony was in the shade and the wedding was about mid day. So any help would be appriciated. And also, how do you guys like the pics. Thanks.

http://mtmountainman.smugmug.com/Weddings
The password is Behr

[C.Steele]

The grass is a color correction issue, although the fact that it's in the blazing sun and blown out is part of it too. I would start with getting the color balance right, then try some dodging/burning to try and tame the blown out parts a bit.

As far as the pics themselves, well, without you they weren't going to have any. Anything is better than nothing so they should be thankful for that. As far as the technical aspect from one photographer to another? They aren't great. Sorry, but that's the honest truth. There are some standouts though. I really dig the one of the bride by herself in the bottom row. That would make a great B&W I think.

If you do a wedding again work on getting some interesting and creative angles. Most, if not all, of those pics were taken from a normal standing position. Also, move, move, move. Side to side, wide shots, close shots, try to tell a story so that people that weren't there could get a feel for what it was like to be there.

Last, the shots toward the end by the tree - They look like posed shots so I'm guessing you put them there. That is the worst lighting possible. I'm betting you were trying to get them in the shade, but there just wasn't enough of it. You would have been much better off having them move out into the open sun and back lighting them with some fill.

Anyway, I will say this - wedding photography is hard as hell and you are brave for even trying it with no experience. Your friends should be very thankful that you stressed out for the day to give them the gift of photos of their wedding. And as far as my critique? It's worth what you paid for it ;) I just try to be as straight forward and detailed as I can when I give feedback because that's what I want when I ask for it. "Nice pics" doesn't really tell me much.

[studlymonkey]

Hey,
Thanks for the advice. And haha, I cant imagine how much stress wedding photographers go through and that's why I much prefer wildlife photography. Ill try those post processing techniques thanks.

[tim]

The grass looks fine to me, it probably looks the same in the photos as it did on the day. It can be very difficult to expose for the faces and the dress especially on a sunny day, I tend to expose for the people and worry about the dress in post - I bring it back a little with my raw converter. Looks to me like you needed fill flash for a lot of the shots, so use your brightness slider to bring up the midtones - or maybe a tiny bit of the fill light tool. NB the brightness tool works on the midtones, the exposure slider works on the whole image and affects the lightlights too. Tool names from ACR, they're probably different in other software.