All opinions wanted... "selective color" bridal...

[LVPhotos]

This is how "torn" we are about this photo... in our opinion either it's junk or it's worthy of making a big canvas print for our office. Love it or hate it. Not kidding.

I know the selective color is "cliche" but the brides like it, and this is a bit different... it's not fully b/w.

This, by the way, is a new Lightroom Preset that I found, with a bunch of PP in Photoshop afterwards (mainly smoothing the skin).

I would like totally honest opinions, "junk", "has potential", or "awesome"... and why.

Please look at it not only as a photographer but as a "consumer"... put yourself in a bride's shoes, would you like it? All opinions will be considered and appreciated.

If you say it's junk then I would believe you, I'm not kidding when I say I look at it sometimes and love it, other times I wanna puke!

Also if there's any other tweaking (ie. "has potential") then please let me know. If we print this as a canvas we want it PERFECT!

[Livinthalife]

JUNK! just kidding, your right, the clients really love this stuff. I think it's different as the whole person is in color and with a the rose on the table. I can't say it would be big fav of mine. The picture itself though looks beautiful. Maybe a little more contast or change in curves to give it that "pop".

[FlyingPhotog]

Just one other opinion but my eye doesn't pick up on the rose easily as it's so far from her and so near the edge of the frame...

[gooble]

The rose is too far away. Would she like it? I don't know. I kind of detest 'selective color' images, however I kind of like desaturated shots with a hint of color.

[LVPhotos]

I was also wondering about the rose.. the rose played a big part in the ceremony.. then I looked at the original file and see that I did a pretty tight crop... here's the same photo moved over a bit but WITHOUT THE EXTRA PHOTOSHOP PROCESSING (so no comments on the random color in the flowers behind, or the blotchy skin), just for comparison... better? Or crop somewhere between?

[T.D.]

I do like selective coloring at times -- when it adds to the image. Sorry, but I don't think the selective color does that here.

It's more of a distraction than an enhancement, in my eyes anyway.

[SwingBopper]

Selective color notwithstanding, I don't like this photo due to the huge white column dead center which competes with where the attention should be. And the white thing directly above her head isn't helping either. Really big cloning job there and maybe not worth the effort to fix. But since weddings are so emotional, she may not care in either case.

[GinoE]

I agree. All the white areas distract attention away from the wedding dress, and the dress is always a big deal with brides... Too much white makes the composition a bit messy too...

[cchooks]

To me, it matters not what my feelings are about selective coloring, I provide what sells, and done right, it can be very effective. I only do them when the isolated area is in stark contrast to the subject and enhances the image. The image should be strong enough to stand alone without the effect. Your image seems pretty monotone even though you use the effect. I am wanting to see the coloring of the flowers in the background because the image is weak. Here is an example of how I use it.

[Flo]

Originally Posted by SwingBopper

Selective color notwithstanding, I don't like this photo due to the huge white column dead center which competes with where the attention should be. And the white thing directly above her head isn't helping either. Really big cloning job there and maybe not worth the effort to fix. But since weddings are so emotional, she may not care in either case.

I have to agree.she is a pretty bride, but she is having to compete with a whole lotta stuff. Not liking the SC....

[Nathan]

i think selective coloring seldom works on a person. usually, i like it when it focuses on some clothing or another singular subject - examples, being the flowers on a bouquet or the gold wedding band on a closeup of hands

[Broncobear]

maybe the roses would look better in b&W as well and not take away emphasis on the bride.

[JustinLawrence]

I like the second crop better, add a dark vignette and that will bring attention toward the bride and darken the white thing growing from her head.

[JustinLawrence]

quick edit, could have fine tuned vignette a bit better, bu this gives you an idea

[chauncey]

Don't like it because of the lighting on the bride, to much is washed out (nose, shoulder. arm).
Selective color is OK if your clients like it. might benefit from some sepia in the B&W portions.