First Bridal Portraits

[andrewdayphoto]

Shot these last month in NC. C&C
http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal28.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal41_b.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal75.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal22.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal46.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal55.jpg

http://andrewdayphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/kristin_bridal73.jpg

[auroraskye]

Bridals can be tricky at first, I think.. She sure is pretty! There are a few issues I've got. Focus looks good on all of them, and you've got some nice DOF in several of them.

1 - I love her smile, but I find her arm position to be really awkward looking, and it's covering her neck and cutting into her chin which just looks odd from a photo point of view. Her eyes are also very dark.. They've got no light in them. I think your clarity (or too much USM) is too high here, your lines look 'thick'.

2 - I like the fun attitude you've got here and lifting up the dress to show off the layers. It's a bit centered (as is the first one) and same processing issues.. thick black lines and really dark eyes. I think with different editing it would be improved. Also, the tip of her boot is cut off.

3 - Colors look pretty nice here to me. Again, I think this is a little too centered.. It doesn't make a strong statement. I hate when brides don't bring bouquets because then you're like.. what the hell do I do with her hands? lol.

4 - Now, the centered bit doesn't bother me here... there is nice framing around her. Horizon looks a little crooked though and again, your lines look thick and her eyes are almost black pits. Fix that up a little and I think it'll be really nice. Again, love her smile.

5 - Now, I dig the composition on this one more.. gives us some variety. I don't love this processing, but it's okay.

6 - This looks like an outtake to me, sorry. If she isn't looking at the camera, it should be obvious what's going on.. This just looks like she was traveling.

7 - Cute idea, I wish I could see more of her face.. Like if you had been against the barn shooting so we could see her better.

All in all, not bad for your first time. I think perhaps approach a less is more approach with the editing and once you know you've got good clean edits, then play around and get funky :) Just make sure the funkiness is flattering.

[sctbiggs]

Ditto with the centering. I don't see the overuse of USM (Unsharp Mask) in the first few though. I guess I do, but I just see it as the processing style. It doesn't look overdone to me.

4 and 5 are probably the best... at least to me. 6 could have been something. As it is though, it does just look like an outtake.

Using the free TRAs it looks like?

And just a thought, please number your photos. Trying to read the above comment and go back and look to see which photo is being talked about is a pain if they aren't numbered.