How can I bring the essence of these photos into mine?

There's this wedding photographer I met last year (he's a good friend of my photo teacher), Joe Craig. Ever since I've met with him and he presented his work to us, I've fallen in love with his work. I didn't have a chance to talk to him much, so I didn't get to learn to much about his work flow. First things I notice are he uses tons of primes, wide apertures, and interesting composition.

However, his photos have a distinct look and feel. I can't pin it down exactly. Any ideas? I've seen quite a few wedding photographers, but he's without a doubt one of my favorite.

Here's his site: http://www.joecraigpho​to.com/

Good eye, lots of available light with judicious use of flash. Never aimed flash at the subject.
Mostly good eye and knowing how to use your equipment to capture what you see.
Practice, practice, practice. Shoot pictures of just about anything. Weddings are just like every other life event. So practice, practice, practice.

Oh, and did I suggest that if you practice you'll get better.

His look and feel is because he's a damn fine photographer! lol

Reeeeaaaaally nice compositions

When I see something that good, I just want to dig a six foot trench and jump right in.

I checked the site out and all I can say is wow....I see what you are talking about. Those photos are filled with emotion. Like the previous poster said, Good eye...or more like GREAT eye.

I hate to rain on this parade, but I think the OP should look around at some other wedding photo sites. On this site I found a lot of bad shots. An example would be #9 in gallery 3. The groom's coat is out of place and juts over the bride's face, he looks anything but happy, he's oof, his eyes look like a raccoon. This is just one example. The first photo on his login page shows some grimy hands (wb looks off) with dirty fingernails. Most of these shots on this site look like snapshots. I'd look elsewhere for inspiration.

I perused the site a little, not the best I've seen by a long shot. I'd say a good percentage of the shots are outstanding, but the rest are just OK. (I cringed at the dirty fingernails, too!)

unbelievable <facepalm>


snapshots??!! my god, you're absolutely clueless

The grimy fingernails I thought was a beautiful juxtaposition that elevated it from a normal picture to a "statement" photo - grimy fingernails against an exquisite dress.

Qbx wrote in post #11898249
Most of these shots on this site look like snapshots. I'd look elsewhere for inspiration.

You must be looking at a different website...

The guy is very good at capturing a mood. Wether or not it's your style of photography is another point, but I'd certainly not call them "snapshots".

The "dirty fingernail" shot was brilliant! I immediately thought of a father who had worked his fingers to the bone for this family...and his emotion on this day, giving his daughter away.

Snap shot? I think not.

YankeeMom wrote in post #11898283
(I cringed at the dirty fingernails, too!)

In addition to the above comments about juxtaposition, we don't know how the nails got dirty but the wedding party did and sometimes this kind of thing has real meaning to them.

It can also be good marketing to have something like that in the portfolio. When you are meeting with a prospective client you point out the dirty fingernails then go into a sentimental story about what it meant to the bride. Most prospective brides can't tell okay photography from great photography but they can certainly understand having empathy for a previous client.

YUCK. It was a turn-off to me (a former bride.) (I didn't think it was her father, but the groom.)

I'm a "former bride" as well, and I still love the shot. I also assumed groom, but also thought - maybe a farmer? mechanic? Someone who obviously works with his hands, yet loves this bride. Whatever the specific case, the picture tells a story and elicits emotion, and shows the photographer's skill at finding the unique details of people's lives, rather than generic ho-hum stuff.

Two thumbs up!

I also felt a lot of these shots were filled with emotion. And like others, I really thought the shot of the dirty fingernails against the pristine dress was a *brilliant* shot. Some shots were typical (the wedding party against the barn wall could have been much better... what a setting!), but overall this guy has a superb eye and a way of capturing not only the people, but also the feel of the environment around them.... all in a very unobtrusive way (groom's reflection in the mirror that also shows deep mahogany woodwork on the furniture of the room).

Most of what I see at that site is very very good composition. Definitely noteworthy for any wedding photographer.