I need my eyes opened

Feedback appreciated on any and all of the photos. I am trying to fight off the growing habit of being fairly satisfied with some of my work and I need to know how bad it is so I can keep improving. Also bear in mind that none of these have received any cropping or fine retouching. They're straight from Adobe Lightroom (wonderful software).

I am fully aware of my limited ability to compose an image with more than one or two elements in it, and I'm working on that. Most of my work is very simple and until I learn to make multiple things communicate with or complement one another in a shot I will not reach the next level. However, I'm sure there are other flaws in these photos.

Thank you!

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If yuou want us to say these suck, then they suck JK!

The first one seems too contrasty imo.
2 is nice, but my eyes go to the box, then the rings.
3 I like
4 Beautiful KEEPER
5 "
6 "

Over all I like them, but if you feel they are not up to par, push yourself harder for new comps, different styles etc.

Thank you. I have some mental road blocks but I still need to keep improving my work.

Box then rings...because of position and focus or because when you scroll down you first see the box and then the rings? I see they're both in focus.

I tried the first with less contrast and it seemed less snappy to me, but I can look at it again.

5 different versions - Because of the way it was lit and that it was shot at ISO800, there is very little information in the blacks.

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I actually like the contrast in the first one. To me it has a romantic feel to it; like I've stumbled upon this couple stealing a moment together when they thought no one was watching...

I'd say my least favorite picture is the one with the box and the rings for the above mentioned reason that my eyes go the box first. I think because of the position. Maybe if the box was more in the background and blurred slightly? Just my two cents...

The rest are all very nice.

I like the sepia toned one out of the '5' different versions you posted last.

I like it because you can see some detail in the faces. I reckon if you want to make a silhouette then make them entirely blacked out.

The others from the original post are all pretty nice. My fav is the rings. The rest are nice except for the whites being blown out.

Thank you. Looks like those two shots, the off-camera-flash-made silhouette and the ring photo have received some different opinions.

The whites, according to my screen, are not blown on any of the photos. Many of them are on the brink, but if I brought them back more the dress may appear more dull.

i really like the sepia version of the first one, i just wish you would have strobed his back also

the second one is cool... good work!

the third one looks like your setting up for a shot, not actually taking the shot... you can have their backs facing the camera under the right circumstance, but in my uneducated opinion, that is not the right circumstances.

fourth one is nice, just tone down the highlights a bit and it will be great

i really like the fifth one... not to sure what it is, but i like it

i love the bokeh on the last one... all around good shot


good deries and keep up the good work!

# 2 looks like something out of a magazine ad...looks professional to me.

#5 is a very good shot.

The others are "OK" but look like you were trying way to hard in photo shop for a unique look that those particular pictures just weren't suited for.

Interesting responses. The third one I think would be better if they were both looking back or had some more body language between them, so I understand it has some flaws. Partly because of that, I processed it in a dreamy, fantasy style.

#2 still draws the greatest controversy, it seems.

My mood at the time of retouching influences how I do them. However, the ones that received the extra strong color effects were initially provided in more natural colors than the versions on here. If I find that I like the results in my edits, then I will often give the couple the full size version.

All effects were done in lightroom only, no cropping or photoshop.

Maybe someday I'll reach the point where my photos are seen as good by all or most, instead of few or some. At that point, will I have arrived?

Somebody tell me why the groom doesn't seem to know how to practice good grooming.
That "look" went out with "Miami Vice".

The couple were both artists, very good natured and generous people with artistic talent...but not very rich - which is why they hired me. I don't diss about the hair; everyone has a look that they can call their own, as they should have the right to do. Besides, I'd rather have his hair than what's left of mine.

Livinthalife wrote in post #6660938
If yuou want us to say these suck, then they suck JK!

The first one seems too contrasty imo.
2 is nice, but my eyes go to the box, then the rings.
3 I like
4 Beautiful KEEPER
5 "
6 "

Over all I like them, but if you feel they are not up to par, push yourself harder for new comps, different styles etc.

My exact thoughts even before I scrolled down and read this.

You have some very nice shots here. The first was a good idea, but it just doesn't work for me.