the_mongrel_cat

<p>it would be good if you could post a link to said images, or images like them showing what you mean. </p>

<p>i have seen some pictures where the whites have been blown where really there is no need and it offers no artistic merit. this is the fault of the bad photographer, thinking they are following a 'style' which is actually a fad.</p>

<p>but equally i have seen many good pictures where the whites are sacrificed on order to expose a beautiful face shot or expression. the good examples of this are usually, but not always seen in reportage style. i can think of one example that stand out - a beautiful jeff ascough shot of a bride having her veil sorted, the background is blown but her face is exposed perfectly (you can see it on his website). </p>

<p>i do not mean to imply that ascough has many shots with blown highlights, far from it.</p>

<p>but i agree with the reaction of the OP, most of the examples that i come across are just badly done, end of story. however, it is not the blowing of highlights that is the problem, it is the badly executed blowing of highlights.</p>

<p>Good shot, good light, good comp. Can't be too far wrong at that. I am in total agreement with Marc Williams about not wanting to alter the light there with refelectors or flashes. The light is what the light is.<br>

Of course, nothing is ever perfect and it would have been nice if the groom was more relaxed looking (but who hasn't shot an uncomfortable groom before?, in fact in my own wedding photographs I look dreadful). <br>

And also I do have a golden rule (of thumb) - dappled light? black and white! With dappled light you automatically have a very dynamic range from dark blacks to blown out highlights which in my opinion look great in b&w. I think that dappled light should have it's own category of shot - like silhouette. <br>

I'm unsure about the crop, they are very central, but is that a bad thing? Could this shot be composed a better way? maybe not.<br>

well done!</p>

<p>For a newbie you've got a great style, eye and ability. Your site is nice and works well.<br>

My only critiques would be<br>

1 - a tighter edit in your gallery, bring the number of pics down and use only your very very best. (I admit that I did not view all of them, I got bored) You have some great pics that show YOU. Your way is your strongest asset so play to it.<br>

2 - i don't see much of your personality in the site, whether this is down to the images you have chosen (a tighter edit will help show your personality I suspect) or whether it is the site design....<br>

That's my tuppence worth, I hope it helps.<br>

Best of luck</p>

<p>as someone who is just starting out, i can't compete with thousand pound (£) + weddings. i don't have the experience or portfolio to do that. i have to come in cheap in order to pay my dues. i'd rather work cheaper than not work. <br>

having said that, i understand that many high charging photographers bemoan the fact that there are people out there doing this. i fully intend to up my price as soon as is appropriate. but i'm having to compete with cheap-as-chips photographers too, and i don't have the portfolio or referral body that an established photographer will have.<br>

at the end of the day, i'm basing my own work on quality service and quality results and hoping desperately that my growing sense of business nous will start to see me through.<br>

it's simple darwinian theory - 'it's not the strongest of the species that survive, but the one most responsive to change.'</p>

<p>i'm finding some of these responses a bit weird. i am surprised that so many on this thread are arguing with you, fair enough you could have said no, but the thread is really about people's attitude towards your work - WORK, <em>noun,</em> what people do for recompense.</p>

<p>as far as i can see, the OP is just venting about the fact that everywhere he turns people are asking for something for nothing. imho that is something it is ok to be frustrated by. as another poster stated <em>"One wonders if on plumber.net if plumbers also give away their work too?"</em></p>

<p>it does seem as though the first thing people think when they need photography is "<em>hmmm, i'm sure i can get this done for free.</em> " closely followed by "<em>well, it's good for their portfolio.</em> " and "i<em>t's only digital, doesn't cost them anything.</em> "</p>

<p>this common consensus is rife. it is expected that a photographer will be grateful to work for nothing, just for the opportunity. never mind that they have invested muchos money and time (time from their one and only precious life) and effort into their profession/art.</p>

<p>i think i'll tell nikon that they should be grateful for me to take pictures with their camera and lenses. great exposure for them (no cheeky comments here). i'll bet my mortgage that they'd tell me to fork a roll.</p>

<p>Jean-Baptiste Avril, i am in full support of your chagrin. you have captured my heart with your rant. rage, broil, rail and fury at the injustice of it. burn it all, burn the whole feckin world.</p>

<p>good luck</p>

<p>ps - i really hope you don't burn the negatives :)</p>

<p>mmmm....difficult<br>

 <br>

on the face of it, it doesn't seem like a terrible thing to ask.  but i understand that you want to have some kind of professional dignity. <br>

my solution (and it's one that i use often) would be to lie.  it's no use falling out with people if you want to get referrals.  and the key, as with any argument, is to nip it in the bud.  a ready made answer such as "i'm afraid my professional indemnity insurance specifically forbids me to use any equipment that is not my own.."  something to that effect.<br>

it's not a great answer, but it will deter all but the most determined.<br>

 <br>

on the plus side, i have a very clear mental image of your indignation in the face of a behatted (is that a word?) mother of the bride, resplendent in floral and too much makeup.  in my mind, she is very large and you are very small.<br>

 <br>

good luck anyway</p>

<p>hi casey<br>

great stuff for your first wedding. you definitely have potential. but as has been mentioned, you need to work hard, be super critical of your work, learn more techniques, and always try to be improving. you clearly have a grasp of using lighting, using your camera etc, now go further with it.</p>

<p>on a practical wavelength, i would sort out your website - lose the music and i'm not a fan of 'add to cart' things showing up on images (or at all really). the font is something i wouldn't use either, a nice sans serif adds a bit of class. just my opinion, of course. but i much prefer a cleaner, simpler layout that gives the images room to breathe. also edit tighter, there seemed to be a million shoe shots at the beginning, no-one cares after the first, pick the best one and move on.</p>

<p>top stuff tho, keep working and trying and improving. one of the best bits of advice i ever got was to take on board what everyone was telling you and then dismiss it. be yourself and do your own thing.</p>

<p>best of luck, david</p>

<p>From my second wedding. Thanks for looking, at this stage I could really do with feedback and hints and tips :)<br>

Nikon D300<br>

Nikkor 28mm f2.8 @ f2.8<br>

1/320 shutter<br>

iso 100</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/9668305-md.jpg" alt="" /></p>