toddlaffler

<p>At David's request. :)</p>

<p>David, this was actually my first time at this venue, so it was not planned at all. When I had pulled in to the venue I saw this circle and sort of filed it in the back of my head to try and work it in a shot somehow. Well, it had been raining pretty badly almost all day, but later in the afternoon it finally stopped and we actually had a decent sun set. Just before dusk I walked outside to try and find something interesting to incorporate into a bride and groom shot. Basically I framed this up and envisioned the couple in the circle. Then I asked them to come outside for a few minutes, posed them, had an assistant behind them with a flash pointed at them, triggered via pocket wizards. I got a good exposure for the sky and that was pretty much it, pretty straight forward.<br /> With the 333 pixel wide criteria for this thread, the couple looks so small. This shot looks really good on my 30" monitor though! ;)</p>

<p>My photo won't upload...I get a "Server Error...the requested URL cannot be accessed due to a system error on this server"</p>

<p>I tried several time...oh well!</p>

Thanks for the info. I was thinking of using the slave as a rim light perhaps or to light up

dark areas of a room that won't be lit from the on camera bounced flash. I wasn't thinking

of using it as a dominant light source by any means.

At a reception I normally shoot in manual mode on the camera, picking all my settings,

and then let the flash determine the proper light output. The reason I don't shoot with the

flash in manual mode as well is because when bouncing off of ceilings, I usually find that

as you walk around to different spots around a large ballroom that the light bounces

differently depending on your position. Sometimes there is a small obstruction, or a

chandelier or something in the way, so I don't see how a set it and forget approach could

be consistent. Maybe you can elaborate on that.

Also, can anyone chime in on the reliability of the PC connection on the 5D? I have heard it

can be unreliable when using PWs.

Thanks

Can anyone verify this for me? I want to have my 580EX in the hotshoe on my 5D, then have a pocket

wizard connected to my camera (via PC Port?) which will trigger a remote flash on a stand, that flash being

set to manual.

Can I retain the E-TTL function of the on camera flash while still triggering a remote flash set to manual

mode, to be used as a kicker, or room light for instance?

According to the online PDF manual there is a section about using TTL flash in this manner, but was just

wondering if anyone has actually done it, and does it actually work?

Lastly, can someone suggest a good way of mounting the camera connected pocket wizard? It seems it

would be awkward to have the PW connected to the camera (with that big rubber "door" opened) and then

velcro the PW to the flash. I like to bounce flash so am always twisting the flash head around and back and

forth etc. I'm concerened the cord will not be long enough or will tug etc. Any ideas are much appreciated.

Thanks

Todd

PS, just thought of something else. If I can still use E-TTL on the camera mounted flash, can I easily

(remotely) choose not to fire the slave?

Colin...TOL, Thanks Out Loud! :)

Paul, veto power is nice, but it also means being responsible too! :) My gut says this image

should be ano brainer, but I guess I'm trying to cover all my bases so to speak. Hey, I love

the 80's too, but I'm not sure 20 somethings do.

Nadine, I have taken your suggestion about logo placement and it can be seen here:

http://www.photo.net/photo/6282062&size=lg

I also beefed up the bouquet and the top of her dress very slightly, probably around 8

Cyan 8 Magenta 8 Yellow. They should have no trouble holding an 8 percent dot. I think

they run 150 lpi screens on glossy paper.

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! :)

OK, I just ran this ad by my wife and she thought the photo looked dated, like from the

80's due to the blinds and spiral staircase. I didn't think about it that way until she said

that. OUCH, now that's all I can see.

Now, no one has mentioned that yet but her, but am wondering now that I said that can

anyone see her point. I don't want to look dated.

One last concern, although I do love this image, I am wondering if it is really

representative of my overall body of wedding work. I am starting to overthink this aren't I?

lol HELP!

Todd

Nadine, the dress and the white flowers are close to being blown, but there is about 3

percent of Cyan Magenta and Yellow in them. If I go with this photo, I will bulk them up

alittle, but not much, I don't wnat them to look grey and flat. I know the upper right

portion is certainly blown out, and not much I can do about that i think, but I'm ok with

that, I don't think many brides get a loupe out to see if the highlights are blown. :)

Paul, thank you. :) This was shot at the brides house about 10 minutes prior to leaving for

the church. I didn't have much time, but I did scout her house out for photo ops when I

first arrived. This was just an obvious choice to me. If I do go with this image, I certainly

hope it makes potential clients dog ear this page or even better, run right for the

computer to check out my site. :) We'll see.

Meg, thanks for your toiling! :) I'm just not in love with any solution yet.I tried moving the

contact info under the logo moved it to the upper left area. I don't like how it seems to

break up the image, but I also don't like how it looks "jammed" under the bride either. I do

feel that in the upper left it balances out with the bride better, but like I said, it looks like

it's floating and breaks up the image, but I don't know how it won't do that! UGH!

Here is the latest placement for those that still care. :)

http://www.photo.net/photo/6281561&size=lg

Now read my next post! lol

Woops, that link didn't work:

http://www.photo.net/photo/6280186&size=lg

see if that works

CIndy, thanks for your input.

Sarah, awww shucks, thanks. :)

Colin, I'm looking at this way, if I only book 2 weddings from this ad, then it will more than

pay for itself. Obviously I don't want to just break even, but I am fairly confident that I will

book more than 2 from this ad running for a full year (being on news stands that is, 2

issues).

Also, I am not accounting for any of the add on stuff either such as second photographer,

prints, albums, engagement sessions etc. So, that would be some extra income as well.

I would say it's pretty safe to assume that I will book at least 5 weddings as a result of this

ad. So, after any add ons, I would be doing ok, at least I would think the return on

investment is pretty good. Now, here's the other thing, out of those 5 weddings, let's say I

get 2 referrals out them. That's just gravy at that point. So, my initial expense can keep

working for me, long after the ad has stopped running through referrals, which seems to

be the bulk of how we get business.

Colin, I'm just curious where you were going with you questions? Can you explain some

more?

Meg, thank you. I just tried putting the logo above the contact info to see how it looked.

I'm not really sure whicih I like better. Here is the link: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?

photo_id=6280186&size=lg

Stacy, thanks...we all know brides like "pretty" :)

Laura, thank you very much.

Mariah, thank you. Yes, it was one of the bigger bouquets I've ever seen. :)

Colin, to run this full color half page ad for a year (bi-annaul, Summer/Spring Issue and a

Fall/Winter Issue) is around $3,600.

I posted an Ad for critque a few weeks ago and got some good feedback, and a lengthy debate on

"traditional" ads which have a headline, call to action etc. over a more minimal type of ad which I obviously

am leaning towards. So, I don't want to rehash that debate as I am settled on this type of advertising

(letting the image do most/all the work with minimal type, other than logo and contact information.) I

have used a similar type style ad before with good results (in my mind anyway).

So, this would be going in a local (NJ) bridal magazine. So, right away my market is very targeted. Having

said that, I am more interested in how effective people think the images I am trying out are, and how the

logo and contact info mesh with the photo, or are laid out. I know you guys aren't my target audience, but

hey you're someone, and perhaps will give me some food for thought regardless.

Instead of posting the image here, I am making it a link to a photo.net photo because of the size

limitations for posting an image here on the forum.

Here is the link: http://www.photo.net/photo/6278377&size=lg

Thanks for any input, and if I can return the favor, just let me know.

Warm Regards,

Todd

Oh, I know the type looks pretty junky because I had to recude the ad a lot to meet the

maximum posting limitations of photo.net.

Hello all, I am putting together a half page B&W ad for a bridal magazine, and was wondering if anyone

had any helpful advice or comments about what I have so far.

Thanks so much in advance.

Todd<div></div>

SImon, thank you for trying, that was really nice of you to do. I am double checking with

my cousin as to the time of the event. I know it's in late May of 2008, so if that helps as far

as how long I would have decent light etc.

DUH! Now that I think about it, I was in England in mid-may 2 months ago. I remember

that it doesn't get really dark until around 9-9:30 correct?

Anyway, thanks for your help, I appreciate it very much.

Todd

A HUGE thank you to all who responsed. This forum is, I think, the best thing about

photo.net, the sharing of knowledge is an amazing thing.

I am double checking on the time of the wedding, and keeping my fingers crossed that it

will occure during usable daylight hours.

I have liability insurance here in the states but will have to see if it will cover me abroad.

Simon, are you a REAL person? WOW, thank you for taking such interest in my situation. I

truly do appreciate your time.

warm regards,

Todd

Here's the deal, my cousin lives in England and I live in the US and he has asked me to photograph his

wedding. The problem is, the place he is getting married is COMPLETELY made of glass.

Here is the link to the venue: http://www.palmhouse.org.uk/index.php

How would you light something like this for a night wedding? Has anyone shot here by any chance, or shot

at a similar venue before?

Since I live across the pond too, I can't go there and test anything out either.

I'm a little hesitant to accept. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Todd

I find bouncing flash in large venues with tall ceilings to be a benefit, not a drawback.

When you bounce into a high ceiling it gives the light a chance to "grow" and I quite like

the results. Here is an example I put together. The first shot on the left shows the room, it

was taken only using ambient light while it was still light outside. It just gives you an idea

of how tall the ceiling were. The second shot is the same room but only bouncing a single

flash into the ceiling.

Don't be afraid to bounce off of tall ceilings, at least try it first and see what happens.

Todd<div></div>

Flip. I work in sRGB for what it's worth. I also shoot in RAW and am using Adobe Lightroom

to process the RAWs. Most of your problem can be linked to color temperature/balance. It

looks like you are telling your camera one thing and shooting something else. If you shoot

in RAW you don't have to worry quite as much about this.

Also, learning to color correct by the numbers (RGB/CMYK) will help eliminate monitor

calibration issues. For instance if you know what a good skin tone value is (i.e. what

percentage of each Cyan Magenta and Yellow) you can use that as your target. Of course

everyone's skin is slighly different but I think it helps get you in the ball park.

Pick up a good book about RAW editing and really try to understan what each slider/

control does.

I fixed your image mostly with correcting the white balance, and then adjusting the skin

tones from there and also lightening as necessary.

Good luck.

Todd

See attached image.<div></div>

Thanks everyone. The probelm with renaming the xmp's is that I had files from 4 different

cameras that used slightly different naming conventions. Just looking at the xmp file

names (with the old files names) didn't really tell me anything useful.

Luckily I backed up the RAWs to DVD and simply recopied them into the same folder as the

xmp's and ACR picked them right up.

Anyone reading this: make sure you check the "preserve" thingy before you batch rename!

Thanks again

Todd

Thanks everyone. The probelm with renaming the xmp's is that I had files from 4 different

cameras that used slightly different naming conventions. Just looking at the xmp file

names (with the old files names) didn't really tell me anything useful.

Luckily I backed up the RAWs to DVD and simply recopied them into the same folder as the

xmp's and ACR picked them right up.

Anyone reading this: make sure you check the "preserve" thingy before you batch rename!

Thanks again

Todd

Eric, I just updated my ACR plug-in before I started working on this job and I think the

preferences didn't keep from how i used to have them, anyway the file names were not

preserved.

Luckily I made a DVD back up of the raw files which I think I can re-import and they will

link up the xmp file, then dump my renamed files and start again. Wish me luck

Ellis, I did it through ACR.

I really did it this time! I just finished editing a bunch of RAWs from a wedding. When I was done, I did a

batch rename of the files, and when I did that all the settings for the RAW files have been lost/link

broken to the xmp files. My RAW's were renamed but the XMP files were not, so now all the RAWs open

in Adobe Camera RAW as if they were never touched!

Does anyone know of a quick and easy way to "relink" the xmp files to the correct RAW file (which now

has a different name all together)?

I SO appreciate any advice or help in saving my work, otherwise I have to go back and re-edit all the

RAWs again!

Ouch.

Thanks in advance.

Todd