Memorial Day Wedding

I shot a wedding over the Memorial day weekend. This is the first wedding I've done that wasn't for friends. This is a friend of my neighbors. I shot their wedding about a year ago. Like I said, ny first REAL wedding for someone I didn't know. They didn't want any frills, and actually I only got 6 shots of them after the wedding, and I had to beg to get to take them. They were more interested in the ceremony and getting the family shots afterwards. I only had access to shot from 3 locations... behind and to the left, straight behind, and in the balcony.

The bride did request some formal shots before the wedding with a background. I went out and bought this just for the wedding. Please let me know what you think.

I absolutely love the ring shot. You've shown it off quite nicely.

The rings look great!!

I like the poses in some I think they are too far away from each other in the first one. I'm not too keen on the color of most of them but I'm not experienced enough to give examples of how they could be fixed. I like the pictures themselves though.

Ring shot is great...

1 and 2, both B and G look a bit shiny, I know you can PP that out.

the one with the bride alone seems a little over processed....

1. I don't like the look on the bride's face. I hope you have other from this series because it is a nice setup.

2 & 3. Nice shots but the WB looks off. If you shoot RAW, this can be corrected relatively easily. Just take the eyedropper and click on the bride's dress. Given that it was a white dress, it should be pretty easy sailing after that.

4. Nice shot and pose. Is this a background you brought?

5. Awesome ring shot! I'm totally impressed!

All in all, nice shots!

Thanks to everyone who commented.

Bcap. I noticed the look on the brides face as well, but it seems all the shots I have like this, she's the same in each.
2 & 4 were specific shots I had WB problems with. I'll try to readjust and repost for comparison.

The ring shot......... I must say, I am proud of that one. I like the ceremony shot too, but the ring is my favorite.

I did have some problems with the WB. I went from one room with one type of lighting to another with a different kind. Most of the shots are okay. But it seemed I would take two exact shots in a row, on a tripod, without moving the focus or metering area and the shots white balance would be different. I'm not sure why.

Are you shooting in RAW?

The ring shot is wonderful. The formal of the bride doesn't do much for me for lighting. She looks like she is in shadow more than in the light. The WB makes her hair greenish. Bump up the exposure on that one and put red into it. Your gear list is very good, did you use the flash without a diffuser on the couple shot? The shadow on the flowers and the shine on the forehead are distracting, but not awful. I hate to say it, but when the room lighting is not perfect, sometimes with close up portraits, I just pop the old globe thing on the top of my 580ex and go for it! It relieves the shadows. Also a bracket instead of 2 flashes on stands sometimes works better if the couple is already standing far from the wall behind them.

Congratulations on shooting your first wedding!
I like your risk you took in composing the first shot but, think they are a but far away from each other. But keep up the creativity!
The formal of Bride & Groom: Watch out for objects poking from out of people's heads (like the candle stick) yes, you can take that out later and since it's on a simple B/G it will be easy to remove.
The formal of the bride only I love the from above angle and agree about some of the lighting but with exoerience we'll get there! I'd also would have liked to see her more at a 3/4 angle since you were shooting her from above.

Love your ring shot.

that "studio" shot of the bride is wonderful! i hope u got one of couple and parents too.

and the ring! just perfect but, this is a wedding we talking bout, not a product shoot soo.... but its so darn nice!!

the first shot just seems busy to me. too much stuff in it to attract your attention. id rather have a plainer bg to work with.

formal shot close up couple. that candle outta his head is no no. and that curl on the grooms head should be removed. But both easy fixes.

great first wedding and i hope u post more from your next one or two.!!

bcap wrote in post #3314458
Are you shooting in RAW?

Yes. I only shoot Raw. I find if shooting a wedding, you're really taking a chance to do otherwise. Too many things can go wrong and Raw gives you more options to fix if needed.

SuzyView wrote in post #3314468
The ring shot is wonderful. The formal of the bride doesn't do much for me for lighting. She looks like she is in shadow more than in the light. The WB makes her hair greenish. Bump up the exposure on that one and put red into it. Your gear list is very good, did you use the flash without a diffuser on the couple shot? The shadow on the flowers and the shine on the forehead are distracting, but not awful. I hate to say it, but when the room lighting is not perfect, sometimes with close up portraits, I just pop the old globe thing on the top of my 580ex and go for it! It relieves the shadows. Also a bracket instead of 2 flashes on stands sometimes works better if the couple is already standing far from the wall behind them.

The formal of the bride was shot with two 580EX's on stands at 45 degrees. She probably looks like she's in shadow rather than light due to me messing with it. It looks a little flat to me too. The flash was not diffused. I really struggled with the lighting a bit. Are these better?

I'd love some more feedback. Oh yeah.... I also took the candle stick out of the grooms head as pointed out by Jeannemarie.

quote=jeannemarie;3314​516]Congratulations on shooting your first wedding!
I like your risk you took in composing the first shot but, think they are a but far away from each other. But keep up the creativity!
The formal of Bride & Groom: Watch out for objects poking from out of people's heads (like the candle stick) yes, you can take that out later and since it's on a simple B/G it will be easy to remove.
The formal of the bride only I love the from above angle and agree about some of the lighting but with exoerience we'll get there! I'd also would have liked to see her more at a 3/4 angle since you were shooting her from above.

Love your ring shot.

Thanks Jeanemarie. In the first picture the groom was supposed to be more out of focus. I've posted the 3/4 angle for you. I like the close up better, but I guess it's a matter of preference.

howzitboy wrote in post #3315497
that "studio" shot of the bride is wonderful! i hope u got one of couple and parents too.

and the ring! just perfect but, this is a wedding we talking bout, not a product shoot soo.... but its so darn nice!!

the first shot just seems busy to me. too much stuff in it to attract your attention. id rather have a plainer bg to work with.

formal shot close up couple. that candle outta his head is no no. and that curl on the grooms head should be removed. But both easy fixes.

great first wedding and i hope u post more from your next one or two.!!

Thanks. The first shot was taken at the reception. Actually, after everything else was done. I had to ask them to come off the dance floor to get some shots. I wanted some at the church of just the two of them, but they did not want to.

They wanted a ring shot, and I actually love to do them as well, so who am I to say no?

I've fixed the candle also. I never even noticed it, until it was pointed out to me.

Hey Jamey - The ring shot was by far my favorite and the second studio shot is much better than the first.

Thanks Chris. I'm pretty much happy with most of the shots, but you're right, the ring shot is the best. I like both the studio shots. The second one for the pose and the first one because the blue background seems to bring out the blue in her eyes. I love her eyes.

Thanks again.