Class of 2013

An Exception · 21 Dec 2013 at 02:14

Just some wedding highlights from this year...

[IMGhttp://www.rhysphotograph.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Documentary_Wedding_Photographer-60.jpg[/IMG]

Genoma · 21 Dec 2013 at 08:37

Fabulous work. You must feel really lucky to do something you clearly love. Now tell the truth, you just pick weddings if the people attending are photogenic right?!

My favorites are two black and white ones, the one with the flowers covering the bride and groom's face a bit, and the one with them walking down the street with a bike in it.

Josh · 21 Dec 2013 at 08:57

Brilliant work,

I very much like the picture of the man (father?) in the background walking on his own with the bride in the foreground. A look of quiet contemplation of his face.

Very good.

dannyjo22 · 21 Dec 2013 at 10:08

Lovely work, I love your processing my fav on here, wish I could replicate it especially the look in number 9.

Sh4rkie · 21 Dec 2013 at 11:02

Amazing, so many beautifully shot photos. I reckon you should be immensely proud of your talent

An Exception · 21 Dec 2013 at 11:55

Genoma said:
Fabulous work. You must feel really lucky to do something you clearly love. Now tell the truth, you just pick weddings if the people attending are photogenic right?!

My favorites are two black and white ones, the one with the flowers covering the bride and groom's face a bit, and the one with them walking down the street with a bike in it.

Yeh I feel very lucky indeed. I remember not long ago, I was looking at other photographers and wished I was able to do what they were. I still do, as eventually I'd love to start doing some destination weddings.

Apart from a few exceptions. Most people are/were actually average and awkward in front of the camera, at least to begin with. I won't say which bride, but there was one that literally suffered from serious panic attacks at the thought of being photographed. She had one on the morning of her wedding as I turned up to start shooting. I just chatted with her and her friends (luckily they had a good/rude sense of humour) for about 10 mins until she calmed down, then she was good.
I kind of just try to photograph them in way I feel is most flattering for them and at least try to have a little fun doing it.
On the wedding day, people are always looking at their very best though.

J05H86UK said:
Brilliant work,

I very much like the picture of the man (father?) in the background walking on his own with the bride in the foreground. A look of quiet contemplation of his face.

Very good.

Thanks. Yes that was the farther. Apparently no one had realised he was a little nervous until they had seen that photo.

dannyjo22 said:
Lovely work, I love your processing my fav on here, wish I could replicate it especially the look in number 9.

Thanks Danny It's kind of my own signature processing style, but as others will tell you. VSCO should get you pretty close.

Sh4rkie said:
Amazing, so many beautifully shot photos. I reckon you should be immensely proud of your talent

Thank you very much. :-)

Rojin · 21 Dec 2013 at 14:03

Nice work, I love the candids and even most of the staged ones

King Damager · 21 Dec 2013 at 17:16

Definitely not your best photo, but the one on Waterloo Bridge, I see that every day and am amazed you managed to get it when there's not a train there...

kd

dannyjo22 · 21 Dec 2013 at 19:56

An Exception said:
Thanks Danny It's kind of my own signature processing style, but as others will tell you. VSCO should get you pretty close.

I had to google that to know what it is. $119 per preset pack wow

blairw · 22 Dec 2013 at 14:50

Stunning work, I love your processing style and your work is certainly helped by the great subjects you are capturing!

James J · 22 Dec 2013 at 15:17

I think the black and white shots are probably the best, but I'm really not a fan of the staged shots with absolutely tiny people lost in the frame, nor the staged shots of the bride and groom stood apart like they don't even know each other. Sure its nice from a photographical composition perspective, but not a "love and romance" one.

An Exception · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:04

James J said:
I think the black and white shots are probably the best, but I'm really not a fan of the staged shots with absolutely tiny people lost in the frame, nor the staged shots of the bride and groom stood apart like they don't even know each other. Sure its nice from a photographical composition perspective, but not a "love and romance" one.

As you know it horses for courses, but I like to mix it up a bit.
Thanks though.

blairw said:
Stunning work, I love your processing style and your work is certainly helped by the great subjects you are capturing!

Thanks mate. I think I'v been really lucky with clients tbh. The vast majority are just really nice and often become genuine friends. It makes you 'want' to go that extra mile, which makes a difference imo.

blairw · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:33

Your style is not dissimilar to ross harvey's, his work is absolutely amazing and I can spend hours going through his photoblog!

You certainly have that edge that will make people stand up and take notice.

An Exception · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:42

Yeh Ross Harvey is absolutely amazing. Would love to be as good as he is one day.

Raymond Lin · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:44

Another RH fan here

blairw · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:45

I'd love to be one day half as good as him - you are well on the way to being of a similar standard

Mp4 · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:50

Still no idea how you and Raymond do this with a Canon!

Struggle to hell with my 5D 3!

An Exception · 22 Dec 2013 at 17:37

Mp4 said:
Still no idea how you and Raymond do this with a Canon!

Struggle to hell with my 5D 3!

Experiment. Succeed/Fail. Learn. Repeat.

When you are starting out, it's hard to be creative because your brain has to consciously process numerous things all at once. The more you practice, the less you need to consciously think about the technical stuff. After a point you just do rather than think about doing.

It's a bit like this clip Bruce Lee clip.

Also when photographers are posting to blogs or forums, you are only seeing what that photographer thinks was a success. It can give the impression the tog has his/her **** together more than he/she actually has.
You are not seeing the endless crap the photographer thought 'might work' but actually really didn't.

Also first and foremost, the end result is mostly down to the photographer not the camera. However I would be lying if I said it doesn't matter.. it does. Anything that helps rather than hinders will aid you in getting better results.

As you are shooting some darn good gear though, all that is left is to practice and not stop pushing your boundaries.

P.s.
I don't shoot Canon.

Edit:
Also togs like Ross Harvey etc. offer workshops. I haven't done one, so can't comment how good they are, but I suspect they would give you some useful insights into how he/they approach different situations.