WEDDING: Our first one!

[Andy90]

I like the informal look about the whole set.

They're nice and sharp.

Most of the set however appears 'cold' to me, sort of blue rather than warm - is that the fault of the flash or the processing?

Some are over exposed for my liking.

 

[James J]

No, I was piling all my processing dislikes into one comment These aren't bleached, just the overexposed look or washed out that I don't like. I realise it's a style a lot use at the moment, but personally I don't see why people like it due to it removing detail from the images. As I say, it's all personal taste but to me it seems like a lot of photographers are copying each other for the sake of having that style, rather than using their own. Coincidentally, a friend of mine just posted some shots of her wedding a while ago as she's selling her wedding dress, and they look like this trend/style, but with more contrast.

I prefer the way Ray does his, with a more contrasty look and use of light. Sometimes when the washed out look is used incorrectly it just looks like a light leak on a film shot, and it baffles me why people like it.

Ahhh I misintepretted what you meant mate and I agree. Wedding togs just follow the style though as its easier to attract clients that way. I'd personally have my wedding done completely in black and white!

 

[An Exception]

Really? That's your comment? Have you thought about how your comment might feed back to us were the bride and groom to see it? I can see why people don't bother or delete their wedding posts now.

Frankly I was disappointed by the comments (giff) and blatant lack of good manners also. I don't post my work here anymore, but I remember you took the time to look through and comment on my wedding threads so I will return the favour.

My general impression overall is I like the set, especially the composition in allot. I can imagine I would have chosen similar compositions with some, especially during the ceremony. You also captured some great moments!
Not a big fan of the posed family stuff but that is entirely a matter of (my) taste. I still personally take some family pictures though, but I just don't often include many in a set of images either here or on my blog.

Exposure does look a little too hot in some. Look into VSCO keys. It's saves me no end of time and I can adjust exposure with keyboard keys rather than a slider. WB on a few look a little off as well, outside is cool & inside a little too warm. The film packs can also save allot of time developing a processing style also if that's a style you like.

Below are a few individual critiques on the couple portraits. These can be hard to get right, especially when you don't have much time as there is a pressure to rush them a little. Ideally I like to spend 20-30 minutes on them, but sometimes I also only get literally 5 mins. Also these are just my opinions, I may be right/wrong etc, so take what you like and leave the rest.

Allot of photographers place the couple smack bang in front of the venue. Personally I dislike this type of composition (especially with wide angle) as the couple obstruct what is obviously a secondary subject. It also feels too 'show off', like the couple are trying to show off the venue. IMO showing off only works if it doesn't look like showing off, so I would have tried to be more subtle.
Practically speaking you could have had the couple walking through or along the hedges or maybe you could have put the couple in the gap between the hedges and moved to the right. You could have perhaps aligned the venue + couple on a rule of thirds.

Great picture due to their expressions!

With walking shot's I usually like to be looking at the couple either head on or at an angle so neither the bride or groom are obstructed by each other.

It's probably easier to show than explain, below is what I would do in terms of angle.

Instead of getting them to walk in that picture, the hedge actually looks like it would make an interesting backdrop for some portraits. could have got a little funky with it if that's your cup of tea, although I appreciate you didn't have much time.

This one is obviously the same location but looking head on. I like the shot and expressions (especially the bride) are great. Although I like the shot, this is one of the times I would prefer to capture the bride & groom looking at each other, especially if they happen to make themselves laugh as it just looks more natural.

Nice framing. I often try a similar pose. If I can I'll try and capture them just as they pull away so their foreheads are not quite touching.

 

[juno_first]

Yeah a wedding in B&W would be awesome & focus would be narrowed down to the couple & dress, that creamy B&W look of skin tones achievable with good equipment.
I shot my first wedding in B&W as that's what the couple wanted. On a Canon A1.

 

[jonneymendoza]

they are great shots man well done

 

[ElDude]

Ahhh I misintepretted what you meant mate and I agree. Wedding togs just follow the style though as its easier to attract clients that way. I'd personally have my wedding done completely in black and white!

Me too, I'm a B&W whore

 

[Russinating]

Thanks for the comments guys. And as someone has said dan edited his post after my reply, I wasn't responding to what's there now. Will leave it at that, and thank you for editing it dan, it would be funny in GD but I'm sure you can understand my point

Thanks for the in-depth reply An Exception. I was actually trying to find your photos when we were processing as I love your style. Found your site in the end (note you've deleted all your post's content on here) but really struggled to find how you got your processing! They're like half bleached but still with deep blacks, really lovely, nice work.

And yep, agree with all your comments really! I too don't really like formal family shots but as 99% of couples want them and rate them as important I thought I'd include a few here. And the couples shots were really rushed. It was ridiculously windy (hence the night time dress blowing) and spitting with rain so we literally walked them round to the rear of the venue and back again; all the walking shots are them just walking full speed to get there and us running ahead after each shot.

The hedge shot was mine and I ran to the side because I love rule of third shots, similar to Rhein II. That's just a personal preference which is why I posted it here, but my colleague was in front of them the whole time and I think got one or two more thirds on. We gave them 480 photos in total whereas I've only posted the limit of 100 here. Although I think they're a little too close to the edge of the frame because we were rushing, this one on the top right is probably more your thinking?

@juno_first

Thanks for your comments! And yes, most wedding togs do mainly candid work, in fact most newer photographers hate formal and set shots. And indeed, most clients expect far more shots than were probably normal 10+ years ago when film was standard. We advertise that they'll receive 400+ full-res which is pretty normal from the research we've done.

 

[An Exception]

Yeh top right looks better imo as well as the bottom right head on walking (as they are looking at each other). Not sure what story boarding software you are using, but if you are doing it manually you should look into tych panel. It's good as well as free.

 

[Russinating]

I actually developed our own InDesign template for the storyboarding which works quite well. Just a load of master pages (such as 1 Portrait 2 Landscape for the above) which you can drag and drop into whatever order and then drag and drop images into the placeholders. Actually works very well for something I thought of and did in an hour! Though looks like that particular master needs tweeking as I just noticed the 1px of white at the bottom of the portrait.

Will check out Tych Panel anyway tomorrow.

 

[joelk2]

looks like a lovely set of images.

i love that venue also, friends of mine got married there.

 

[mrk]

E*
On my screen (or to my eyes!) the colour processing looks more blue biased but on the whole it works and is consistent. Everyone has their style myself included. As for CC, same as what others have mentioned already really (use of vignette, some OE in various shots and some framing inconsistencies resulting in what to me would be a less useful shot than a useful one regardless of if it's technically "right" or not - If it were my shot I'd be critting it the same way).

spray & prey

Duck season?