Finally Time to Throw Myself to the Snake Pit

For those that were kind enough to read through my long post a few weeks ago concerning my first wedding I really appreciate you all taking the time. The original thread is here: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1167755. To summarize, this was for a good family friend and her fiance (now husband). Each of them has told me they are more than happy with the results so that's good enough for me to check it off as a success.

Since they are happy I decided to stop putting off getting some feedback from those that know this stuff way better than I do. The entire series is located here: http://www.bkimaging.c​om …ony-Kathy-White-31Mar2012, but I picked out what I feel are a good series of eight photos that summarize the day. Thanks in advance.

1.

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Here's my take:

1. I like that this is kinda different, but the rings get a little lost in the mix. I would have put her ring by his, then shot this much closer. Nice vivid colors though and it's not a bad shot at all.

2. Not too crazy about the processing. I would also either clone out or crop out the tip of the box towards the very bottom of the frame but otherwise a good shot.

3. Not too crazy about the processing. I had to look at the other photos to figure out who was who. But otherwise a decent photo.

4. Looks oversaturated. Grass is too green and skin tones look too red/pink. I would dial it down a notch or two. Also, you had some harsh light to deal with looking at their blown out foreheads.

5. Good shot although that guy on the right looks huge, which I know couldn't be helped. The colors look off on this one as well. Kinda has a overall warm cast to it which I am not too crazy about. There's also too much DOF on this one which makes it look like a snap-shot like photo. Not saying it's a snap shot though.

6. Good capture on the ring and decent enough photo.

7. I would have centered them and it's a little too blown out. I don't mind that it's blown out, but it's just a bit too much.

8. Decent photo. Might be a little too hot though.

I think overall these are decent enough photos. As you mentioned, the clients are happy, so that's a good thing.

like them all but #7, i just don't care for that OE look

nicksan wrote in post #14267264
Here's my take:

1. I like that this is kinda different, but the rings get a little lost in the mix. I would have put her ring by his, then shot this much closer. Nice vivid colors though and it's not a bad shot at all.

2. Not too crazy about the processing. I would also either clone out or crop out the tip of the box towards the very bottom of the frame but otherwise a good shot.

3. Not too crazy about the processing. I had to look at the other photos to figure out who was who. But otherwise a decent photo.

4. Looks oversaturated. Grass is too green and skin tones look too red/pink. I would dial it down a notch or two. Also, you had some harsh light to deal with looking at their blown out foreheads.

5. Good shot although that guy on the right looks huge, which I know couldn't be helped. The colors look off on this one as well. Kinda has a overall warm cast to it which I am not too crazy about. There's also too much DOF on this one which makes it look like a snap-shot like photo. Not saying it's a snap shot though.

6. Good capture on the ring and decent enough photo.

7. I would have centered them and it's a little too blown out. I don't mind that it's blown out, but it's just a bit too much.

8. Decent photo. Might be a little too hot though.

I think overall these are decent enough photos. As you mentioned, the clients are happy, so that's a good thing.

Thanks for taking the time Nick. I'm going to go back over some of my settings and see if I can get the colors to look a little better. Thanks again.

Not sure if it is my monitor but a lot of them appear to be overexposed.

Without reading the above critiques, here are mine:
1. subject matter (especially with droplets) proves to be so contrasty that the rings almost get lost in the scene.
2. reads as slightly overexposed to me. I like the framing.
3. Good moment. Color balance seems slightly off--greenish ? I wish the black tones were a little deeper. seems lacking in contrast.
4. Your assembly hasn't made clear who the bride and groom are. I can't pick them out unless I study your other photos. I usually try to stagger heads a little (that's the last check I do before taking the shot: I squint and then try to just see the heads as dots floating in the air. I try to see that they're fairly evenly arranged; and I definitely avoid heads right above one another.). I'd not have put the boy in front of the woman. Was open shade possible ? What about positioning so that the sun was more behind the group and adding fill with a flash ?
6. Looks good. As clear a view of the ring as you probably could hope for.
7. I'd have deleted. Or rather, I'd have not cut off either B or G here. Framing is not so hot. Blowing out does not bother me per se.
8. Reads like they were posing for another camera. That makes these shots feel for me like you're not acting as first as forcefully as you could be. Candids are great, but if it's a candid, you have time to wait for when things are a little more ideal (e.g. his hand looks like it's mid-movement here). And you should be able to control the light a little better and make them pop a little better. there's no atmosphere here.

Just to clarify--and I should clarify this more often--don't take this list of critiques as a suggestion that you didn't do well. I generally focus more on what I think can be improved because I think that (if I'm ever on the right track--and sometimes this happens..) that is what you can learn from most.

I'd crop in on #4. Most of them look overexposed.

Thanks for all of the feedback. I'm re-working some of the white balance and exposure issues to make things look better. I think I need to start taking more breaks between editing sets because after a while its easy (at least for me) to start doing dumb stuff and chalking it up to being creative. The PP on a few of these after reading critiques had me scratching my own head and asking "Why???". Anyways, thanks again.