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

Woah, got a bit heated in here! So... composition, a good eye, and and use of the environment seem to be the main things.

I'm going to need a lot more practice! Like GtrPlyr said, when I see work like this it makes me realize how truly far away I am from being that excellent! Luckily I'm young and have plenty of time to learn!

Aside from the compostion and lighting stuff, I assume you are asking about his processing. To me the one thing that stands out is that he has a real love for strong contrast, especially a strong black "point". I don't see anything else that sticks out as a processing "style". He keeps his colors pretty radiant, compared to a lot of styles you see today.

YankeeMom wrote in post #11899480
YUCK. It was a turn-off to me (a former bride.) (I didn't think it was her father, but the groom.)

Exactly! This is not a father & bride shot. (the photographer agrees I guess because that photo is no longer on the login screen)

GtrPlyr wrote in post #11898517
unbelievable <facepalm>


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

I gave an example. Why not tell why you disagree with it and show some counter examples to support your point of view?

René Damkot wrote in post #11899143
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".

Gallery 3 #4,5,6,10,12 ... and more .... snapshots that could have been taken by anyone at the wedding party. Sure he has a few decent shots as would anyone taking hundreds of pictures at a wedding party. But on occasion a little fill flash will really make a photo stand out.

lookingforaname wrote in post #11898941
grimy fingernails against an exquisite dress.

wingandaprayer72 wrote in post #11899266
The "dirty fingernail" shot was brilliant!

I've been through all three galleries twice, looking in vain for "grimy" or "dirty" fingernails. Are you guys referring to this?

http://img407.imagesha​ck.us/img407/5865/fing​ers.jpg

Peano wrote in post #11901632
I've been through all three galleries twice, looking in vain for "grimy" or "dirty" fingernails. Are you guys referring to this?

http://img407.imagesha​ck.us/img407/5865/fing​ers.jpg

Nope. It's gone now - wisely.

Qbx wrote in post #11901708
Nope. It's gone now - wisely.

Like a bad penny, it seems to have shown up again.

http://img513.imagesha​ck.us/img513/6/fingern​ails.jpg

Sorry, I'm just not carried away with this photographer's style. To each his own.

That's what happens when you're candid.

Personally he seems about equal with the rest of the good wedding photogs I've seen. Good but not exemplary.

Ack! The dirty fingers are back! I'm sorry, but looking at that again -- I still stand by my original comment, "YUCK!" Just not attractive and not a photo I would want to showcase in my album (or photography website.) Again, I'm not saying he's not talented and some of his photos are excellent, but I've just seen better.

lookingforaname wrote in post #11899736
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.

I agree. I spent more time looking at that one picture than any of the others.

Okay folks, no embedding of images that aren't yours…

Good to see the images evoke emotion, but keep it nice

lookingforaname wrote in post #11899736
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.

+1. This wasn't from the June issue of Bride Magazine. I first noticed the dirty nails and went "What?" and then went "That's SO cool!" I'll guarantee the bride loved that shot.

that 'dirty fingernail' shot might of had been the bride and her father! i think every photo on that site shows a story behind it. ESPECIALLY that 'dirty fingernail' shot. to me.. i think of my father's hands. he works hard to put food on our table and send us to a good school, and to have his hands on THE DRESS that symbolizes that i now belong to a 'new' family, it's beautiful. just looking at that i could cry and makes me love my father that much more. i don't know why you're disgusted with it. i would totally hire this guy.

The issue is not this one photo alone. It is just an example of ho-hum photography with plenty of other snapshot-like photos among the three galleries. There may well have been a tear-jerker story behind this photo or it could have been some sloppy groom who got plastered the night before and forgot to wash. Who knows? It would be nice if there were some caption to guide viewers to the story if there is one. On balance his galleries just don't show anything special in the way of talent to me. If you want photos like his then buy a dozen disposable cameras, hand them out them to guests at the beginning of the ceremony and collect them at the end (some actually do this) and you will get shots like in this guys gallery.

Since the photographer seems to be monitoring this thread - why not give us permission to embed your photos and we can have a rational discussion of different shots on their merits? How about it ? That is what POTN is about isn't it?

folks are entitled to their opinions but that doesn't automatically make them an informed one.
let me guess, you're probably a rookie at photography. and where do you get the nerve to make presumptions and demands on the photographer as to what he should be doing here or on his website?
if it weren't for the mods having to 'play nice' i'd really be laying into an ignorant no nothing like yourself.
tell you what...grab your camera, grab some talent, and come back with some images that even remotely comes close to that guys work.

Qbx wrote in post #11898249
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.

Wow! That's all I can say... Emotion is what makes great wedding shots and this guy is a real pro at capturing it!