Winter Wedding - Llywellyn's Take

Llywellyn

So urbanaries/Lynne actually said "yes" to my crazy query of wanting to drive 10 hours to shoot a wedding with her. I haven't actually attended a wedding since I was about 12, so this was a huge learning experience for me. Holy katz, shooting a wedding is not an easy thing to do! Nor did I think it would be, but the time and constant movement was still more than I anticipated.

I have a whole new respect for wedding photographers, especially Lynne. By the end of the event, the groom hugged her! :feelgood I can see why clients love her. She is a dream and utter blast to shoot with.

Since she's talked up my shots so much, I'll humbly post them here, but they're seriously nothing compared with hers. These are the lucky few I managed to not futz up during the event. :rolleyes

1 - The bride had this amazing stole she held closed with this snowflake brooch, and Lynne had rented a macro lens for me to try out, something I'd never used before! That was an awesome surprise.


2


3


4 - The first look from above.


5


6 - Utterly gorgeous venue!


7 - The one shot I went in wanting. So happy the bride, groom, and Lynne indulged me.


8


9 - And the magical carriage ride at the end of the night.


Thank you again, Lynne, for letting me make the journey and witness your expertise in action. I learned so much about lighting and PJ photography. :bow

geospatial_junkie

Nice job. I really like #6 and #9.

sherijohnson

You are not giving yourself enough credit, you got some amazing shots here. I bet you had fun doing this even though you thought everything was moving so fast. All events are that way, so you just have to do your very best and always be prepared. My experience, you can't get every moment, but the ones you do get will be remembered forever through the images you get and that is what it is all about.

Zanotti

I really like the warmth here. Her wistful expression and the warm candle type light is very romantic.

Great shots!



Z


Ps: The carraige shot rocks!

.

Llywellyn

geospatial_junkie wrote:

Nice job. I really like #6 and #9.

Thank you very much.

sherijohnson wrote:

You are not giving yourself enough credit, you got some amazing shots here. I bet you had fun doing this even though you thought everything was moving so fast.

Thank you. It was my first time ever shooting a wedding, even as a second, so I was a bit overwhelmed. I did enjoy myself, though Lynne couldn't tell (kept razzing me because I wasn't smiling, but that's ony because my feet hurt so much! ). The experience did convince me that this isn't a business I want to enter into, though, but it's something I would like to experience again for the learning since it gets me out of my comfort zone.

Zanotti wrote:

I really like to warmth here. Her wistful expression and the warm candle type light is very romantic.

Great shots!

Thank you!

Darren Troy C

Fantastic....love 'em!

Shima

These are all great, though 7 is my absolute favorite! Isn't Lynne just awesome to shoot with? I had a blast doing a wedding with her back in October, would love to repeat that experience if she and I are nearby again (though my drive is only about 3 hours, unlike your 10!!!) I'm glad you got to shoot with her and produce these great shots!

Llywellyn

Idlewild wrote:

Fantastic....love 'em!

Thank you!

Shima wrote:

These are all great, though 7 is my absolute favorite! Isn't Lynne just awesome to shoot with? I had a blast doing a wedding with her back in October, would love to repeat that experience if she and I are nearby again (though my drive is only about 3 hours, unlike your 10!!!) I'm glad you got to shoot with her and produce these great shots!

I confess, 7 is my absolute fave as well. I must have been grinning like a fool after I got it because Lynne said something to the effect of, "It's so nice to see you smile!" (See earlier reference to pain registering on my face. :giggle) She's a doll, and I'm so happy I got the chance to shoot with her. I told her if I forgot the pain in a year and was crazy enough to think I wanted to try it again, I'd fly instead of drive.

zoomer

This is my favorite set of these winter wedding threads. I like the lighting better in this bunch.
What a fantastic venue for photography..having said that my favorite shot is the one where they are standing out side by the tree, number 5.
Number 3 the white balance seems a bit, some people may like that however..
Very nice work!

Llywellyn

zoomer wrote:

This is my favorite set of these winter wedding threads. I like the lighting better in this bunch.
What a fantastic venue for photography..having said that my favorite shot is the one where they are standing out side by the tree, number 5.
Number 3 the white balance seems a bit, some people may like that however..
Very nice work!

Thank you so much. I do have to take a moment and chuckle about the lighting, because there isn't any to speak of--it's what I'm still trying to learn. Except for 1, 4, 7, and 8, the only light is ambient light. And those four shots used on-camera flash bounced off the ceiling.

These really are the lucky few where I didn't mess up with my flash or horribly underexpose using the ambient.

Thanks for the comment about 3. It's purposely very warm, but looking at it here there seems to be a green tint in her face that I don't like.

urbanaries

You did so well under pressure and I know the clients will love your shots! I know you're just being kind saying you learned a lot, I'm sure when the curtain was pulled back you realized I'm just flying by the seat of my pants!:D

Each and every one of these are lush, beautiful stories within a frame. I'm especially impressed with the bridal window portrait, wow, you truly elevated that one to a new level! Your processing is TRULY AMAZING and I am in awe of your vision and ability to execute it!
Cheers to surviving your first wedding, may it not be your last!

heatherfeather

I wonder if you can feel my jealousy across the miles. You got to learn from Lynne! Don't we all fly by the seat of our pants?

My favorites are 1,2,5,6,& 9 with 5 being my most favorite. I love the warmth in your processing. It really has a golden feel that I find to be very elegant especially with the more mature b & g and the gorgeous gold and cream decor. Very well done. Your carriage photo is perfect! Did you tell them to kiss while smiling? Just curious!

On another note:
I have been looking for the perfect shoe for weddings for what seems like forever and the amount I have paid for shoes has increased to what I hope is the peak. But still I have yet to find the perfect shoe. I have tried Naots, Clarks, Danskos, Earth shoes and on and on and I literally feel your pain. My last wedding wasn't as bad with the Danskos but I had broke them in rather well. I am always amused when my assistants ignore my directions of "no high heels" and wear them anyway. They always mention their regret by the end of the day and I don't need to say a single word. And my next wedding I will be spending a great deal of time outside in the winter, so I plan on wearing snow boots!

urbanaries

heatherfeather wrote:

I wonder if you can feel my jealousy across the miles. You got to learn from Lynne! Don't we all fly by the seat of our pants?

My favorites are 1,2,5,6,& 9 with 5 being my most favorite. I love the warmth in your processing. It really has a golden feel that I find to be very elegant especially with the more mature b & g and the gorgeous gold and cream decor. Very well done. Your carriage photo is perfect! Did you tell them to kiss while smiling? Just curious!

On another note:
I have been looking for the perfect shoe for weddings for what seems like forever and the amount I have paid for shoes has increased to what I hope is the peak. But still I have yet to find the perfect shoe. I have tried Naots, Clarks, Danskos, Earth shoes and on and on and I literally feel your pain. My last wedding wasn't as bad with the Danskos but I had broke them in rather well. I am always amused when my assistants ignore my directions of "no high heels" and wear them anyway. They always mention their regret by the end of the day and I don't need to say a single word. And my next wedding I will be spending a great deal of time outside in the winter, so I plan on wearing snow boots!

I am so glad I am not the only one who has spent a small fortune on the right clothing and shoes for weddings! It's a real challenge trying to find something that is the right combination of comfortable, breathable and dressy. And just when I think I have it, the season changes and my broken in $150 open-toed dansko sandals won't cut it! Andi Tippie swears by Merrells but she shoots outdoor weddings, mostly. I have lost both of my big toenails to wearing closed toe shoes at weddings, unfortunately. It's kind of funny....but kind of not!

And your sarcasm is starting to peek through your jealousy, sister!!!! Every one of my second shooters churns out better shots than me! Hey, maybe I'm the Frank Zappa of second-rate wedding photogs....he wouldn't have passed an audition into his own band.

jeffreaux2

....Hey that broach shot is beautiful......but my fave from the set is #5. The composition there, the exposure, the choice in treatments is spot-on.

jeffreaux2

urbanaries wrote:

I am so glad I am not the only one who has spent a small fortune on the right clothing and shoes for weddings! It's a real challenge trying to find something that is the right combination of comfortable, breathable and dressy. And just when I think I have it, the season changes and my broken in $150 open-toed dansko sandals won't cut it! Andi Tippie swears by Merrells but she shoots outdoor weddings, mostly. I have lost both of my big toenails to wearing closed toe shoes at weddings, unfortunately. It's kind of funny....but kind of not!

And your sarcasm is starting to peek through your jealousy, sister!!!! Every one of my second shooters churns out better shots than me! Hey, maybe I'm the Frank Zappa of second-rate wedding photogs....he wouldn't have passed an audition into his own band.

The clothing is an issue for guys as well. I bought a new suit specifically for photography. It was around $500 before adding shoes, shirt, and tie. I had it altered to leave the sleeves a little long and leave room in the shoulders for my body position while holding a camera to my eye. The shoe situation REALLY sucks. My very first wedding I had the sole of my right shoe split in half from flexing it in a squat. Since then I have used only shoes with leather soles, but they are generally more slippery. I hope to get up the nerve to grab some black on black NIKEs and wear them someday in lieu of dressy shoes.

For less formal weddings I wear black slacks with a black long sleeved mock turtleneck. Much more comfortable.

I did get to wear cargo shorts to my one and only beach wedding.(Is that an 85mm F1.8 in your pocket or are you just glad to see me? )....THAT was NICE!!!

I have ALWAYS shot wearing black (even on my senior sessions and the like)based on advice given in this forum by this chick who visits here, shoots fab photos, and has a tough time accepting compliments on her work. Know her?

zoomer

When I say lighting I actually meant exposure...they look brighter with more pop.

Llywellyn wrote:

Thank you so much. I do have to take a moment and chuckle about the lighting, because there isn't any to speak of--it's what I'm still trying to learn. Except for 1, 4, 7, and 8, the only light is ambient light. And those four shots used on-camera flash bounced off the ceiling.

These really are the lucky few where I didn't mess up with my flash or horribly underexpose using the ambient.

Thanks for the comment about 3. It's purposely very warm, but looking at it here there seems to be a green tint in her face that I don't like.

heatherfeather

No truly! I would love to learn from you. I am so self taught that I have never even seconded anyone. So it would be a real treat to absorb some skills from another- especially one that I so respect. Not to mention that you got to learn from the great and powerful Shay! I would love to come and observe! (And compare shoes which is almost as much fun!)

And I always wear black on black too. (But it is my goal to find some snazzy comfortable BRIGHT RED shoes to go with it. Black is boring)

schmoo

Kerry I'm thrilled to see this panned out so well! What a great opportunity and so generous of Lynne to have you come out and shoot with her. Your shots are so great, and the wedding looks like it was a stunning one, too. Holy cow.

Llywellyn

heatherfeather wrote:

I wonder if you can feel my jealousy across the miles. You got to learn from Lynne! Don't we all fly by the seat of our pants?

My favorites are 1,2,5,6,& 9 with 5 being my most favorite. I love the warmth in your processing. It really has a golden feel that I find to be very elegant especially with the more mature b & g and the gorgeous gold and cream decor. Very well done. Your carriage photo is perfect! Did you tell them to kiss while smiling? Just curious!

It was an awesome experience, to be sure. Thank you so much for the kind words. For the carriage shot, I was actually holding the flash for Lynne and decided to shoot from my angle one-handed, so I didn't tell them anything! I just kept pressing the trigger as they snuggled.

I knew to wear comfy shoes, but about halfway through one of straps snapped and I had a broken shoe the rest of the night. On the bright side, it made the shoe even more comfortable, though a little tougher to walk in. :giggle

jeffreaux2 wrote:

....Hey that broach shot is beautiful......but my fave from the set is #5. The composition there, the exposure, the choice in treatments is spot-on.

Thank you, Jeff! It's so nice to hear from a portrait photographer I really admire. I have to admit the exposure in the original has a blown-out sky (it was cold, and we were on our way back inside, so I rushed). I pasted in a better sky in Photoshop.

schmoo wrote:

Kerry I'm thrilled to see this panned out so well! What a great opportunity and so generous of Lynne to have you come out and shoot with her. Your shots are so great, and the wedding looks like it was a stunning one, too. Holy cow. [

Aw, thank you. Lynne really was a doll letting me come out and do this with her. She likes to talk herself down, but don't believe a word of it. I did learn so much just by observing how she adjusted the lighting and interacted with the bride and groom, plus everyone else. And yes, I completely lucked out being able to join her at this venue. It was amazing and gorgeous.

So Lynne, I'm not being kind when I say I learned a lot. I truly did. Thank you thank you thank you for everything.

mmmatt

Great stuff Kerry!!!

3, 5, and 9 are my favs. I would have taken some of the yellow out of 3 but that is just me.

And for the shoe thing from a guy perspective, I have 2 and 1/2 words... Johnston & Murphy. You pay for them, but they are super comfy right out of the box. I have a J&M outlet store near me and got my $250 pair for about $80, but they are easily worth full pop if you hav e the dough.


Matt

divamum

Kerry: I mentioned my admiration for the work of BOTH of you guys in one of the other threads, but in case you didn't see it there let me repeat... BRAVA!!! Great job. I absolutely love the brooch shot and the entire series is just sooo classy. bow

As for footwear - yeah, I can imagine that is the PITS for y'all. (and I'll insert a famous and appropriate opera story here: when Birgit Nillson - considered by many to be THE greatest Wagnerian soprano of the last 50 years or so - asked "what's the most important thing you have to learn to sing Wagner like that?" her reply was, "Wear a comfortable pair of shoes"!)

Elaine

Stunning set, Kerry! What an amazing entrance into wedding photography...getting to shoot with Lynne at this beautiful event! I love 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9.

Agnieszka

Uhm yeah ... those shots are pretty darn awesome!!!! You better get started with your new career!!! lust

Agnieszka

Do I see Lynne in #6 on the far right??

I love getting shots of my 2nd shooters (unfortunately they also love taking really awkward shots of me ) haha ... #6 is gorgeous, but I would crop Lynne out (and don't take that personal!!! )

Llywellyn

Thanks so much for all the nice comments, everyone!

And Agnieszka, yep, that is Lynne you see. I would also crop her out for aesthetic reasons if I were delivering the shot myself to the client. But I kept her in that one to see who might notice. Good eye!

angevin1

schmoo wrote:

Kerry I'm thrilled to see this panned out so well! What a great opportunity and so generous of Lynne to have you come out and shoot with her. Your shots are so great, and the wedding looks like it was a stunning one, too. Holy cow. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/clap.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

My thoughts exactly! Generous and a super way to show how giving you both are! Very special!

On the footwear front...no heels for me (:D); and that aside, Being a regularly working Nurse my feet used to ache and ache, even before going to work, at just the thought. Once I began to do my hiking in UNSUPPORTED footwear, my feet are much stronger and rarely if ever ache. By wearing unsupported footwear: tevas, Keens or real cheapos like I wear <$30; Your foot muscles build and do what they were intended to do.

cheers, tom

joshhuntnm

Great shots.

this is a nit pic, but i think #4 would be even better if you darkend everything except the couple just a bit--especially the tree.