Results following previous advice

[Hangerhead]

So - I am not a wedding photographer (will be obvious I think ), however, the shots i took here were good enough for me to feel I needed to thank people who offered advice regarding flash/lighting....
These are from my sister's wedding in England where I was giving her away.

First pic is my niece - she was bridesmaid for the day.

2nd pic - the somewhat bemusingly small bouquet

[Hangerhead]

and a couple of shots i played around with - obviously Bride and her bridesmaid.

[Hangerhead]

I was also hoping for a little c & c/suggestions please...

[Scott_Quier]

As a first go, these are pretty good and, depending on considerations, I believe the B&G will be pleased.

In the spirit of trying to help you improve:

#1 - Over flashed, sky blown a bit. A little "snapshottish". She doesn't look comfortable - look at her right hand.
#2 - Basically a nice shot. Was this before or after the wedding ceremony. Might have been nice to see either the engagement or wedding ring.
#3 - Interesting framing. I not sure I like it but it's a decent concept. Have you thought about blurring the border/frame in addition to the darkening? Her gown is seriously blown.
#4 - Selective colorization - well at least it's the bride that is highlighted. The rest of the shot looks a little underexposed and there seems to be a shadow on both ladies' faces.

[Hangerhead]

Cheers for the reply.

#1 - i see it was a bit overblown - the shadow was a little strong on her arm. i was trying to slightly underexpose the bright white/grey sky to get a bit of ambient light and use HSS on the flash. I thought the HSS woud be a little less strong than it was - I should have dialled down i think about 2/3.
as for her hand - i agree, might have been better to ask her to slightly extend fingers or hide behind back or...


#2 - Ring shot was before wedding - as my sister had her own friend doing the wedding shots, and as I was under strict orders to not abandon my own wife... i didn't take any other shots really after the wedding, so everything was done before we left...

#3 - Dress was overblown - i forgot to 'meter' for the dress basically - too much in my head around trying to use a little ambient light etc and I messed up. ho hum
As for framing - I 'did it' with an action I downloaded and thought it looked quite striking. not really anything mroe than that and as the shot itself is overblown, the framing at least (in my eyes) elevated it a little.
i hadn't thought about blurring the border - might give it a go later.

#4 - The darkness on the faces I think is down to an under-tint sepia tone. i can brighten up again a little.
the rest of the shot I actually deliberately darkened as i didn't want too much colour and brightness with the bride to contrast against everything else... was trying to do it so it was obvious but subtle (oxymoron..)


Thanks again - I wouldn't want to do this every week - and these are all just with the kit lens ont he 350d, but happy enough for a first time.

[csm328]

Added to the comments above: clone out her watch or whatever that awful thing is on her wrist in the first pic.Change the second pic of the almost dead flowers to B&W and maybe selectively colour just the ring? The artificial frame in the third doesnt do much for the picture and the bride isnt even looking at you.I have no idea why you went so low on that shot. Her nose looks large for her face.Last picture, again, the bride isn't looking at your cam and the dress looks ugly against the B&W due to its colour. Choose colour or B&W, not both. Did she also have a pro for the wedding?

[Hangerhead]

I'm not sure if the official photog was a pro as such... more a hobbyist, although he'd told me he had shot 10 weddings previosuly, he wasn't charging my sister as they are all part of a 'religious fellowship'.
the bracelet in pic 1 - bad because of the glare from the flash, or just a bad piece to have worn anyway?

for the looking up shot... well, i was trying something different - my sister is a little short and whilst i could have moved her slightly forward/bridesmaid back, i wanted to see if dropping lower would help - perhaps too far?

like i say - thankfully, i am not a wedding photographer, I am just trying to learn to take better pictures,

cheers