Shooting First Wedding Tomorrow

Just a couple more for CC.

Looks like the bride and groom are going to be very happy with your work...hope you had as much fun as they did on such a joyous day!

I see you struggled with the larger groups. This is where an assistant can really help. Nice job overall.

I think they look great. Congratulations. What did you use?

scorpio_e wrote in post #16547514
I see you struggled with the larger groups. This is where an assistant can really help. Nice job overall.

Yes, my assistant(wife) learned what morning sickness was all about starting the day of this wedding so I had to fly solo.

If you had to critique the glaring problems with the groups, what stands out to you?

Luxx wrote in post #16547568
I think they look great. Congratulations. What did you use?

60D, 24-70 2.8 Vs 1, 70-200 2.8, handful of flashes

Well...The focus looks great. The lighting is really good...looks natural. The couple seems to have a lot of personality...They must be thrilled with the photographs....and the scowling children in the group shot...wouldn't have it any other way. Bravo

Awesome work! Doing my first wedding photoshoot this Friday. I will be renting the lenses you used since I don't have enough to purchase my own yet. When you say a handful of flashes, what did you use?

3 speedlites (480ex and two yongnuo 560-II)

the 480 was corded on a flash bracket. 99% of the pictures were from this flash alone. The yongnuos were on stands at the reception with triggers but it was all too much for me to coordinate so I just turned them off. They helped on a couple of shots but they also proved to be an excellent backup battery cache since I went through several flash batteries. I was lucky to have all of my batteries because I did not plan it that way: carry twice or three times as many batteries as you think you need.

There are a few nice ones in there, like the first one in post #16, especially for a first wedding shoot.

My criticism would be that the lighting and DOF in most of them feel a bit flat and generic. I think a bit more experimentation wider apertures and some additional use of off camera flash (especially for the portraits) could have made a number of the shots more interesting.

Good images but is it just me there is something wrong with the one on the steps?I want to say the horizon is not level but it could just be a wide angle lens distortion? That or he is not straight perpendicular to the stairs to it looks slanted?

benji25 wrote in post #16549703
Good images but is it just me there is something wrong with the one on the steps?I want to say the horizon is not level but it could just be a wide angle lens distortion? That or he is not straight perpendicular to the stairs to it looks slanted?

Yep. The B&G and crowd weren't centered on the steps, so it's not quite symmetrical and there's a little perspective distortion.

Can't fault the photographer too much, a crowd that size is tough to handle with little experience and no assistant. Gets easier and easier every time, though.

A few things threw a wrench in the group photos, all experience related:
The stairs where the group was standing and area to shoot from were too close. A straight on shot from the first step was maybe 15 feet if that. The widest I had was 24mm. Instead of standing on the red dot which was perpendicular to the stairs, I had to stand on the green dot.

There was enough on the edge I might could have cheated a little closer to center but that wasn't the decision I made in the moment. I think if I was shooting another wedding at the same location (which is highly likely) I'll be more comfortable and prepared. I might have been able to hide it better with PP perspective? I'll play around with it some more tonight, I haven't done perspective work before.

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Based on that photo you should have climbed the tree and shot it. :P

fkulv wrote in post #16550452
Instead of standing on the red dot which was perpendicular to the stairs, I had to stand on the green dot.

Could you have hopped over the flowers and into the planter with the trees?

fkulv wrote in post #16550452
I might have been able to hide it better with PP perspective? I'll play around with it some more tonight, I haven't done perspective work before.

Maybe. You'll have to be very careful that you don't distort the people.