melissa_w.___arizona_calif Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 My first wedding is completed!! I was looking forward to it for quite a while and I think I got a few good shots (well more than a few I hope!!). I had a bit of a hard time with the wedding... just the atmosphere. The bride was pregnant and am not sure if that was the reason. Also the dancing was outdoors and there was no light except for a few tealights. I had been told that there were going to be loads of candles, white lights and that the DJ would have stuff as well. The bride said that they just never got round to it, so I was caught a bit off guard with that. So those didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, but I think that bride will be happy with them. The formals turned out better though than I had hoped! So have a look in the new wedding folder and let me know what you think! A big thanks as well to all those who gave me advice and helped me through this first one!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissa_w.___arizona_calif Posted March 15, 2005 Author Share Posted March 15, 2005 Sorry... here is the link to the photos. I also wanted to say that the photos may appear a bit dark. I had to leave straight away to visit family the day after the wedding so I have been working on these photos on my laptop. I think the screen is a bit brighter so I have adjusted accordingly, but that will be fixed once I arrive home and adjust on my computer there. http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=908465 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yodleboy Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 i particularly like the bouquet shot and the one of the bride/maids walking. my wedding is in a few weeks and we have a final meeting with the photographer coming up. want him to do something similar. nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alokppatel Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Mellisa, Great job. I think you have some great images here and to use a cliche, a good eye. You picked out some great photo ops, and created others. I can sing your praises some more, and if you would like me to just let me know and I will, but I will proceed to some hopefully helpful constructive criticism. You said that the photographs might be dark due to your computer screen. I can see where you can correct that in a few of the shots. I am currently in the middle of experimenting with some good flash, both on and off camera. I think maybe some of your images, especially the formals, might "pop" as some of the pros here say, with at least some fill. I guess by way of illustration I can only point out the formal with the girls standing, the backroud seem to take over the image. I know sometimes the metering can be difficult, especially since you don't have a spot meter on the camera, and if you aren't using a supplemental meter. Anyway, good luck working on those images. Great Job. Alok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_au Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Hi Melissa, you certainly have an eye for details - I like those shots a lot. I like the girls walking towards you too. A couple of the b&w conversions are a little flat and could stand a little post-processing pickup. I find the groom faces the camera too squarely, but I can appreciate the challenges of posing a pregnant bride ;-). I think they'll be happy with the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissa_w.___arizona_calif Posted March 15, 2005 Author Share Posted March 15, 2005 Alok - I never minded a bit of singing!! ;-) Thanks for the lovely comments and the constructive criticism as well. I know I need to work on my flash techniques. I have always struggled with this. I have a 580ex and a vivitar 285 and have read and re-read the manuals, but I still get confused by them sometimes. I guess just more practicing! William - She was only 18 weeks along, but she was really showing! So we have a lot of her looking over her shoulder, but she also didn't want her tattoos on her shoulder showing so we did a lot of positioning with the veil. As to the groom, he seemed a bit annoyed at having his photo taken and didn't say anything to me throughout the whole wedding! He just definitely wasn't into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alokppatel Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Mellisa, I looked through both of your wedding folders. It definitely seems like the first one was a more intimate experience for you as a phtographer. I think witht he distance from your subjects and a bright sky in the background you posed yourself some flash challanges. I saw one person had toyed with your mages with curves on PS. It took out all detail in the sky but it worked for that image. This is the beauty of digital, right. Also, did you use a tripod for the reception? It might help it not to get one, even a cheaper one that feels sturdy enough. Post some of your other images from the new wedding as you work on them if you like. I really liked the composition and idea of the girls walking toward the camera, may borrow it. Also, I like the effect of showing all of the guys spread out, it has a nice effect, i think if you get in a little bit closer to them, it might make it easier to get them all lit up nicely with your two flashes. Alok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenPapai Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 So far so good with your First Wedding shoot. Looks like you've shot others -- were you an assistant there?<p> What about your equipment -- looks like you have a dRebel and a 10D -- what are you using flash-wise and lens-wise? <p> Congratulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picturesque Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 The photo above--if you were directing it, I would have had the bride bend her elbow a little. Looks a little stiff/tense. Old posing rule about joints being bent. Not that you need to follow rules all the time but most rules have a good original reason for existing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzanne carey Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Bravo Melissa! I think you did a fabulous job. Kudos to a fellow newbie. My first is in April, so any advice you have...send it my way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedding-photography-denver Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Some nice posing and grab shots. A little more work on the flash part and bending for softness to the posed arms, but that is about it. As your first, GREAT!! if you progress in this manner going forward, you will be a sensation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre_noble4 Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I admire your courage to shoot a wedding that well at the age of 23. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathon Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 maybe a bit of B&W on some images...<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_russell2 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I was supposed to shoot my first wedding here in May, well another one just popped up two weeks away. I hope my pics come out as good as yours did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melisa Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Ooooo Jonathon, I agree, that's nice converted. Melissa, I love, love the cake shots. Nice work here and I agree with the others cc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 You're talented. No doubt. François Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly mikel Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 You did a great job!! (I've only done 2 myself, so maybe I'm not experienced enough to say - but I think you did wonderfully.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_sokal___dallas__tx Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Melissa, you got your first SLR in May and you're turning out pics like these? I hate you. I agree with the previous comments that these are great for the first time out (though I'm confused about the other wedding folder if this is your first--I mean if you're lying about that then maybe you have a college degree in photography and have been shooting a Leica since age four and that's why you're just now into SLR :-)) As noted above you need to work on your fill flash technique and some posing issues, but you did a masterful job minimizing the appearance of the baby-in-oven. It appears you have a foot fettish. I think it's kind of cute with the girls. I'm not sure the guys shoes do much for you though. If they were wearing cowboy boots, might be more interesting, kind of a James Dean wedding look, but the Thom McCans, not so much. I like the picture of the champagne flute but it might look better off center, using the 1/3 rule (another of those dreaded rules you're licensed to break at will). I'm not sure what the blurry motion picture is about. From what I can figure though, I'd lose it. I do think that there is less emotion in these pics than that other wedding you didn't shoot. Sounds like it may have more to do with the couple than you, or maybe you haven't posted those yet. Anyway, great start. Send more Chuck Berry (oops-old SNL joke you're too young to remember). Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milbourn Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I think it is impressive that you have hit it with a definite style straight off. I might quible about some details but I am sure most of it can be sorted out. Overall I think there might need to be a bit more emphasis on peoples faces as you can overdo the bottom of people's shoes approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kariann Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 I think you did a great job! Especially for your first time. I agree that you "have the eye." I just hope you got paid enough! Kudos to you. Keep it up. It gets easier with each wedding. (well, the shots get easier, for me the nerves are still there!) And, I think you gave me a couple ideas for my next one! Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissa_w.___arizona_calif Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 Thank you all for the responses! I did shoot a wedding previously, but it was a friends wedding and it was for my benefit as she had a proper photographer as well. This was the first one on my own. I do have more posed shots, photos that I thought were more the standard. I promise these are my only foot shots (although I do have a bit of a fetish about feet photos!). All these photos are still being worked on as well and I really appreciate people having a go at the photos as well. The dress photo looks really nice in B&W, I will definitely do that! I will post more as I get them finished, and thanks again so much for the nice comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregory_c Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 Hi, nice shots, I like your style, I am one of these traditional square format wedding photographers & shoot traditional pics, I am trying to move away from it,, YEAH!! do remember to shoot some traditional shots, keep up good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmdelux Posted March 24, 2005 Share Posted March 24, 2005 Loved the pics. I've done several dozen weddings -I would say successfully if the renumeration was any indication. One thing to avoid hard time is to BE PREPARED. Make sure your gear is good to go -back-up cameras and several flash units and lots of film. Then JUST GO WITH IT. Every family will be different. Remember, you're not the wedding planner - your task is to document the event and to shoot great formals. Equip yourself lightly. Go for the available light shooting but remember weddings are not necessarily documentaries as such- they are happy party events. Flash and fill flash go with this territory. You've got to make certain to light up those beautiful faces and smiles. Keep a list a desired shots so that you won't brain-freeze. Plan what you want out of it and be quick about it. Full blown formals don't take me more than 1/2 hour anymore. Work with them and be FLEXIBLE. Best Regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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