First Paid Wedding as Second Shooter...

So I was asked to be a second shooter at a paid gig, and I accepted. Wow, wedding photography makes for a full day, I don't know how some of you do this week after week? I don't think many appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into this. I am about to get into the reception photos, and I am not expecting great things from those, the lighting was atrocious.

Here are some of my best shots, please let me know what alterations or things I should watch for in the future.

These are beautiful - the first one looks a little bit blue - maybe warm it up a bit.
The fourth one is funny but don't like the white vignette.
Love your black and white processing - spot on!

Diane

Thank you. I thought about the vignetting, but those guys are so over the top, and I thought I would goof up that photo a bit. I will go back and pull off the vignette though, I agree.

On my calibrated monitor, the first doesn't appear too blue, but maybe a bit too dark maybe? I could try to lighten it up to see if that changes the mood a bit.

I am using NIK's silver effects actions, and trying to find the right combination of changes for the B&W, so I appreciate the input, it seems I am using the better pre-filters. Some are just a bit too crazy for me.

So what do photogs do when couples have their backs to you for the better part of the service? I keep thinking about getting a gopro with phone remote control, and using that to mount behind the reverend in the future. We use those for basketball right by the basket. It should be small enough and wide enough to get some very interesting shots outwards toward the crowd. For this, I could have put it into the trellis work in the back, or even on the other side, and make sure the vines were out of the way.

Really do love the moments. The dress is beautiful, and you captured that well.

I really think that your photos are strong enough to stand by themselves -- your processing with the things like the frames, and ESPECIALLY the white vignette is only hurting yourself.Some of the black/white matte style things are OK, but again your photos are better off without it. Now, this may be apart of an album or something we're not seeing here, so that might be fine for the frames. But no white vignettes.

Good info, thanks!

I am going to put together a collage and use some of those. The nice thing is that the action that makes those enlarges the canvas size to make them, so I can crop them back out very easily if needed. Now I just need to figure out print prices and what do with that, the family likes the shots and wants to order prints already.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17172798
the lighting was atrocious.

Welcome to the world of wedding photography the 'interesting' lighting might be the hard bit but, mostly, it's a very special place to be in the middle of.

If the couple have their backs to me I get the shot I moved to get and then go get the next one, where ever that might be from. You are pointing your camera so move if you want a different angle.
If you are a 2nd shooter remember, the main will be getting one angle you should be getting a different one. Weddings mostly have a set pace to them, once you get to know that you'll fly along.

Quick thoughts:
- #1 bride is underexposed, boost her up and warm her a little too. Or perhaps delete the shot, I don't see much value in it to the B&G, she looks unhappy. If you fix it don't blow the background.
- #2 is nice.
- #3 appears to be lit from the bottom, it has a weird look. The lighting is quite odd, quite front on, and it has little depth. Not the best positioning I guess.
- #4 Lose the 70's white vignette. Cheesy photo, if a customer asked for it I'd take it but I wouldn't show it - like jumping shots.
- #5 - nice but a bit flat, try to give it more punch.
- #6 try to brighten the important people without blowing the others. Gradient in ACR helps.

Lighting is always bad at receptions, you generally have to make your own light.

Overall not bad for a first time out.

Thank you very much.

#1 - I will have to go back to the raw and see. That wasn't my pose, the primary photog had her do this pose, and I just wanted to make sure I had alternative perspectives from what she was shooting. My pose was the couple on the bench, and I had a couple others I hadn't shared.

#3 - I agree, they were up in an alcove and with no light stands, all I had was a diffused flash. Some of that might be post processing too, I will have to look at the raw to see.

#4 - The family is a very dramatic family, drummer, stage presentation, lead singers, etc. They wanted that and shared the photo on facebook, etc.

#5 - For a B&W, adding punch would be a bit more contrast work, or go back to the raw, play with the colors, then reconvert to B&W?

#6 - Good point, I need to spend more time in post on that photo.

#5 I'd try the easy option first, but would likely end up playing with the color sliders in ACR.

Overall a very good job. Any advice from Tim is good advice.

these are great,i would be proud to show all of these in an album,i like the white vignette,its a funny photo and the dramatic cheesy vignette fits the scene,i wouldn't hesitate to include it as is in the album,those are great memories

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17173111
Thank you. I thought about the vignetting, but those guys are so over the top, and I thought I would goof up that photo a bit. I will go back and pull off the vignette though, I agree.

On my calibrated monitor, the first doesn't appear too blue, but maybe a bit too dark maybe? I could try to lighten it up to see if that changes the mood a bit.

I am using NIK's silver effects actions, and trying to find the right combination of changes for the B&W, so I appreciate the input, it seems I am using the better pre-filters. Some are just a bit too crazy for me.

So what do photogs do when couples have their backs to you for the better part of the service? I keep thinking about getting a gopro with phone remote control, and using that to mount behind the reverend in the future. We use those for basketball right by the basket. It should be small enough and wide enough to get some very interesting shots outwards toward the crowd. For this, I could have put it into the trellis work in the back, or even on the other side, and make sure the vines were out of the way.

Wait, wait -- I like that -- those guys are truly over-the-top and the image projects that with the 'fog surround' ... that's a great idea TS ... leave it, or at least offer both options.

I gave them the other outtakes too, i shot in burst to be sure to have enough to select from.