Photographing Bride

[mdaddyrabbit]

I have been ask to shoot another wedding but the last one I didn't feel I got the coloring right with the brides dress. What is the easiest way to make sure I am getting the color right on the dress?

[Pixil Studio]

eye dropper on the dress?

[dmward]

Best way to ensure proper color management is to photograph a color (white balance) reference.

There are color checker options like X-Rite Pass Port. Another less formal approach is something like a paper towel.

Just tell the bride you are doing a test shot and have her hold the reference object.

Then use Lightroom eye dropper to get the proper color temp/tint. If the dress is close, or the groom's shirt etc., then use one of those and make the minor adjustment in LR to color temp/tint.

[Chet]

Set custom wb with a 18% gray card. Will very with lighting used. Also shoot in RAW.

[mdaddyrabbit]

So basically take a photo of the gray card in the light I will be photographing the wedding in and set that as custom WB?

[gadgeteer]

Shoot in RAW and adjust WB in PP.

[JohnThomas]

The gray card method might work for the ceremony or shots outside, but it also might drive you crazy when it comes time for the reception. Reception lighting constantly changes.

If you shoot in RAW white balance shouldn't be a problem - provided you are familiar with processing the files in ACR or LR.

[mdaddyrabbit]

I always shoot Manual and RAW format. I also process with ACR and I also have lightroom. What would you say is the easiest way to achieved proper white balance?

[Red Tie Photography]

Can you post an example to what you are getting? The answer usually is starting with good light. Without good light or mixed light on the bride, it can get difficult.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Originally Posted by Red Tie Photography

Can you post an example to what you are getting? The answer usually is starting with good light. Without good light or mixed light on the bride, it can get difficult.

Yes, I will post something in the next hour.

[JohnThomas]

I'm not sure what will work best for you, but I use Auto WB on the camera. When I import the files into LR I compare the "As Shot" setting to the "Automatic" setting and then decide where I want it to fall. Every photographer has their own style - some like a little warmer looking photo and some like them a little cooler.

[mdaddyrabbit]

Here is a link to the raw file LINK

[Christopher Steven b]

Dresses and cloth in general are sometimes challenging to use as a neutral subject for the eye-dropper because the texture often creates micro-shadows that tinge them usually blue-ish. In other words, sometimes the right color balance for the scene is one such that the dress or white-collared shirt, is very slightly bluish.

My approach is to shoot in RAW, eyedrop a neutral area that is co-planar with the part of the subject receiving the main light, and then adjust slightly in the direction that makes the subject's face look best. Again, if that means the dress is ever so slightly bluish, so be it. If it's dramatically blue, I pull down the blue saturation slider in LR.

[Phil V]

Originally Posted by mdaddyrabbit

Here is a link to the raw file LINK

That file white balances off the brides dress fine with the eyedropper, it's about half a stop underexposed though, so not much work to get it OK.

From a non-calibrated laptop.

[brokensocial]

We just shoot in AWB. Dresses look different in all kinds of light; as long as we like the way the people look, we're happy.