Great location/DOF

I see a lot of really nice photo locations with the background blurred to highlight the happy couple. Should you therefore then try and get a range of photos with and without background blur? It seems a waste of a great location to have the background blurred but then when you see the background in the photos it can take away from the couple. Is it prefrence of the couple or do you have your own prefrence and stick to it?

Thanks in Advance.

Heya,

I've seen a lot of full depth of field wedding/ceremony/event images that are mind blowingly good where the location is magic on top of the couple, I can't remember the name(s) but a few were medium format shooters that do it on amazing locations where you want to get it all.

Very best,

It's a creative decision that the photographer makes, based on common sense I guess. In a nice location show the location. In a crappy location try to blur it out.

Not every photo at a wedding has to be art, some (most?) are simple documentary images. Shallow depth of field isn't art, it's a tool to concentrate the attention of the viewer.

Thanks as always Tim. I had a look at your website. Some great work.

I think it's just about variety.

Keep in mind you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

The issue is actually wide angles vs telephotos - as they inherently show different levels of background context. I use all my lenses wide open for 99% of photos (I only stop down to get stars for backlit flash etc. and maybe some group shots where I can't get the groups level in line with each other)

Wide angles are inherently worse photos than telephoto photos because the couple. I guarantee you if you were to take every shot at wide angle you'll get complaints. But if you take all telephotos then you aren't showing the context of the venue.

So it's a matter of balance.

This is Melbourne's top wedding venue - have a look at how I handled the need to get quality vs. context to give you some ideas:

(Just a draft album - nothing exciting
http://www.asovx.com …Q8qNuD2c%3D&web​ClientId=1

and here's another one (client gallery):
http://clartephotograp​hy.pixieset.com/eileen​andwesley/