Wedding shots - finally finished!! LOTS of shots!

[Nidz]

Too many to comments on individually but I like the hand on hand ring shot and the individual ring shots. Some of the ones witht eh plants int he foreground seem to overpower the shot a bit. Otherwise good bunch of shots.

[PIXI_666]

I thought that a bit too Nidz with those shots with the plant, but i was thinking of doing it in a series - and they worked well with the DVD presentation...but alone like that yes i get what you mean, i still like it but it may be overpowering like you said. Thanks

[tim]

I have to be honest and say in general, I don't like them. There are a few I like, but in general, they don't grab me, and they just don't "pop" for me. The tiny image size doesn't help, the poor contrast and dull colors aren't good, and the composition seems to be lacking. Increasing the contrast and saturation by 10% each helped a bit with the second two factors. Experience will help you learn where to be and when so you get good shots, working with a pro would help too.

Here's a few individual image comments:
#2 - you got the back of the brides head, and cut the face off the groom. Tilting the other way would've been better to get his face, or even better shoot level.
#3 - sides of faces don't interest me.
#4 - eyes closed
#5 - what's the picture of? This is a snapshot to me. Get closer, focus on something happening.
#6, #7, #8 - my favorites, I love the hand/ring shot!

You shouldn't be spending time playing with web sized images. Save the images how you want them, then run an action to resize and frame them. Write the action once and run it on each image using bridge. Use the image processor if you want to resize another way. It took me months to develop my workflow, now I can process 800 images down to 400 proofs in 4 hours now, plus an hour or so of thinking time from my PC (during which I drink Bourbon). If anyone wants a writeup of my workflow post to this thread and i'll write it up when I have time.

Hopefully this comes across as at least mildly helpful. I just spent a full day at a seminar with New Zealand's top wedding photographer, that's made a huge change to my way of thinking, and has resulted in a massive mindshift in my approach to weddings.

[pancho187]

hey tim, can you post an action for your work flow for PS CS2?

[tim]

My workflow isn't an action, it's a series of steps that I take. I'll post it in a new thread when I get time - maybe tomorrow, maybe later this week.

[pixelessays]

yah sure, that would be cool. post a script

[pixelessays]

oh ok. thanks

[PIXI_666]

Thanks Tim

Thanks for the honest opinions...i knew they would happen sooner or later from you - i can't say i have seen MANY comments from you where you like people's images....or you like a few here and there. So i knew when i saw your name i wasn't going to be getting nice comments haha

BUT in saying that....i like to hear what other people think, and i also like constructive criticism so what you said helped...most of your commetns are due to the fact that i couldn't get around to the other side of the B&G in the ceremony. I waltzed left to right all through out it....but i wasn't allowed on the steps which eliminated me from getting good Bride shots in the ceremony - which im bummed about!

But i wont sit here and make excuses - trust me if i could get better shots by going the other side i would have but the priest gave me ONE thing "Don't go on the steps" and by that i couldn't get aroudn the other way - i am also one for not making too much of a scene - i didn't want to get in the parents way who were RIGHT in the view of the B&G lol

Tiny images don't help but its either TINY or TOO BIG for me i cant seem to grasp posting images very well on POTN for some reason? I admit they are grainy too and pixelated due to web sized images - my bad totally! But it's my own fault for not known how to post better lol

They are all saved at high quality but becaus ei wanted to post them onto my website quickly i resized them all and framed them for that - the B&G don't get them liek this at all. But ill look at saturation and contrast a bit to make them pop - they look better in larger images for some reason they DO look dull don't they? I find that too now you mention it...ill see what i can come up with

If anyone wants to try stuff on my images im not worried (I cant find the button that says go ahead with it)

But thanks for the comments Tim...even though your a tough critique yes some of it did help...even if sometimes it's like a stake through the heart from hours and HOURS of work....lol but it's what i posted them for aye!

Del

[tim]

I do hope my comments helped Del, I think with a little thought you can improve these images and do better next time. A bit more equipment can sometimes help you work around restrictions that are imposed on you.

Yes I am a tough critic, both on myself and others. "Wow that's great" never helped anyone. I aim to be constructive, though I sometimes miss that mark. If I can make people cry who've never met the bride and groom then my job is done.

[PIXI_666]

Yes....equipment i have to work on, with a very helpful hubby i will achieve this in the upcoming year - fortunately i have friends and family willing to give me a chance to try out wedding photography by myself. And within the next 6mths i will be working with a pro which i think is going to help me out immensly!!!

Nope what you say is true which is why iw as pushing for more critique rather than "That's great" even though comments liek those i love haha coz i feel like i achieved something for people to say they are great, but i needed something solid in here for improvement!

I think i am one of thsoe people who say "WOW beautiful shots" and then giv eno critique...but i feel im not worthy of it just yet...i just dont think of myself as a pro so i dont feel i can critique like one lol but hey ill try - because it helps ME so it should help out others too right?

[tim]

I think everyone is qualified to critique wedding images, because as wedding photographers we're ultimately judged by regular people who decide whether or not to hire us for their wedding.

[BLINN]

First off Tim, Your no pro. You are self taught like most people here. These images aren't all that bad. And this crap of you being able to proof 800 image to 400 in 4 hours....YAY for you. They're proofs, it should only take a few hours. Every post is the same...blah,blah,blah...4 hours. Who cares!! If you want to look good, try helping out with your comment. Give people ideas or tips to get better images, not just critique and run. That helps no one but yourself.

Hey again Del,



I had a chance to take a look at your photos before it gets too busy here. First off I really like them. You have a good eye for the modern freestyle photography of this day and age. I think that your age plays that part well. Mine too. (I am 29) Ok now for the C&C, I am very honest and this is what I think. Any shot not commented on is good. So….here goes….



2 – The shot is nice, it shows the emotion of the bride but it should be cropped tighter. I find the back of the groomsmen distracting. If it was just her face it would give more of that happy fell instantly.



3 – Love the angle. However be aware of the objects behind the subjects, like the window. The light come through could be distracting. In this case it isn’t bad. Might have been able to get a similar shot from the other side.



5 – Try to concentrate on the bride it is a day all about her. Try to capture her emotion. Once again might have been better from the other side.



7 – Shadows in the face. Not very appealing. Try using a reflector, if you don’t have one you can make one. A piece of cardboard with tinfoil on it works great.



8 – Very nice



9 – Try it next time with the hand reversed, woman’s hand on man’s. Make for a more fem shot.



11, 12 and 14 – Again use a reflector to elmininate shadow in the face and eye sockets.



17 – This one I just don’t like. I find the rings out of focus and since you already have 2 shots of the rings I wouldn’t worry about this one.



19 – When people are shot in a group you should have them all with or all with out sun glasses. Nice pose and shot just find the half glass distracting.



20 – Harsh shadow again. I would have back them into the shade and used a reflector to brighten up the faces.



21 – love this shot. Again glasses half on half off. And the bridesmaid with her face in the sun is very distracting, draws attention away from the subject. However I love the way they are posed for this shot.



22 – Nice pose, works OK. Looks like there is a ghost behind the groom. I think you had lots of noise with this one. Looks a bit soft as well.





Del, Please do not get up set. I am just picking on the photo as a photographer to try to help you get better. As a client I think that are fine and would be very happy with them. All in all you are doing great. Keep it up and you will be winning awards in no time.

[PIXI_666]

Mike is taking this from my website by the way so if your reading it all the way through it all co-incides from there

Thanks Mike,

I agree i need to crop tighter with number 2, in fact i thouht about it, then i didn't do it, i think i liked it like this, but i will try it out and it will mroe than likely look better cropped.

I think i buggered the angle on 3, with yours and Tims feedback on that one, i might just end up ditching it, i have others that are similar but possibly better?

Yeh i so wanted to get onto the brides side but the grooms men where in the way on that side, and i wasn't allowed on the steps as i said before...im still so bummed about it lol and maybe i should have asked the priest to position her on the other side? Do youthink that is right if the photographer says that (At the rehearsal of course!!! lol) i had the opportunity!!

7 agreed

I think 99% of comments have liked my ring shots...which is funny, at the time i thought "These are gonna suck so bad!" lol so i took lots...in the end i think they turned out better than expected!

Didnt even think about that - thanks for the tip of the reversal of hands!

I need to sort out the shadow issue!!

The rings are out of focus....i noticed that, hmm...ok my arms being twisted lol i have plenty of ring photo's it can be easily ditched!

Kept forgetting about the glasses!!! totally my fault - wasn't concetrating and i noticed it when i looked at all the shots when i got home!

Yep bad bad BAD noise in the stair case shots, tried to get rid of it and made it look a bit too soft...im really hoping they don't want these oens blown up - i think they will turn out very unattractive enlarged!

Thansk for all your comments BLINN

[BLINN]

Del, try adding noise back into the stair image this might give some dramatic effect. Make it look more like film. Just a thought.

[staciecd]

My favorite shot is showing the groom's shoulder and the bride. I would change this to color to really show off the ring.

Staie