A stolen moment

Disclaimer: I'm not a wedding photographer. I've done them, I've been a second shooter (which I somewhat enjoy), I'm good at weddings but not great, so please, any feedback, comments & critique you have I'll take. I don't plan on doing them full time but a close friend got married and asked me, and I couldn't say no to this wedding.

After dinner I snuck out to back alley with the bride and groom and got some photos with them - far away from friends and family where they could finally enjoy being with each other and being married:

Mike, I like the feel of this alot. It could've used a bit of fill from closer to your direction, to soften the Bride's shadow on the Groom's face, and the Groom's shadow on the wall, but it stands well as it is imo.

Not bad. Things I would have done differently: 1) look for something on scene to frame so the top left is 'anchored' 2) position, light so light doesn't cut across the groom's face (I'd even be cool with their faces both being darker, silhouetted)

I like it. It feels like a stolen moment, which it kinda was, and I love the use of depth here. Probably not the most brilliant image ever but a good, solid image that I'm sure the couple will enjoy!

Thanks - really appreciate the honest feedback here!

Not that bad at all. Not that good either. Just the right blend with tiny flaws. I love it though

Really nice DOF

It's a nice shot, but your EXIF has me a tad puzzled.

"100mm f/2 shot at f/2.8 in aperture priority mode & 1/125th, 4000iso"

Would it not have made more sense to shoot at f/2 and perhaps 1/80th to try to reduce the ISO/Noise?

Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware how easy it is to get caught up in things and not be thinking about details like that and only think about it afterwards, but it just has me a small bit confused, if it was intentional.


Nice capture, all the same. I'd recommend cropping down the top of the image, to make it a bit more panorama-ey. Just enough to get rid of the lightbulb in the centre (takes more attention from them than it gives to the overall photo in my opinion). The dead space above the heads doesn't help (though everyone'll think differently, obviously, so it's your image, and your choice).

I like it but there's just too much space up top. I think this would have been better shot closer to the couple and more from the right. I'm not that bothered by the shadow cast by the bride, but yeah, a little bit of flash might have helped.

chokeslamcena wrote in post #13858629
Would it not have made more sense to shoot at f/2 and perhaps 1/80th to try to reduce the ISO/Noise?

Why would you shoot a 100mm prime at 1/80? Pretty sure this was hand held. ISO4000 on the 5D2 is nothing. Noise is a non-issue. Also you'd probably want more DOF to get both of them in focus.

nicksan wrote in post #13859402
Why would you shoot a 100mm prime at 1/80? Pretty sure this was hand held. ISO400 on the 5D2 is nothing. Noise is a non-issue. Also you'd probably want more DOF to get both of them in focus.

I've often gotten away with 1/50 at 200mm on a crop body without IS. It's not impossible. 1/80 at 100mm on full freame seems easily achievable.


Subject distance in this photo would have them both in focus even at f/1.4. They're on the same focal plane. Look at the wall beside them; it's in focus a good few feet either side of them.

Well, you've got steadier hands than a lot of people then. I can tell you I'll ever be able to shoot a 200mm lens at 1/50 without IS, a tripod, or just spraying and praying.

Sure, f2 would have gotten the ISO lower, but at ISO4000, my guess is it still looks great.

Oh, I'm not denying it's a great shot. The EXIF just threw me a little. I wasn't asking in a condescending prick-like manner, was just generally curious.

You should try handholding 200mm at 1/50 or so. It's not that hard. Fair enough, if you're running around and quickly taking a photo it'll be difficult (unless you burst shoot and hope for the best) but if you take a second to come to a complete stop it's achievable.

Probably depends on how you hold the lens. I have my hand under it, so my finger tips are holding it near the camera body, but my index finger extends out and sits just under the front of the lens. It's quite stable in my opinion.

I find that if the lens is actually IN your hand (ie; touching your palm) it'll be shakier. Everyone's different though.