Palm Sunday-The Weather-A Peek

jeffreaux2 · April 7, 2009

We have been having a string of unpredictable weather lately. Hail, rain, heavy cloud cover, beastly clear days as well....it has given me fits for getting senior photos done. Last Sunday, I photographed a wedding. During the rehearsal the previous day I began praying in earnest for one singular cloud at the appointed ceremony time the following day. The rehearsal was at 3pm, and the wedding was at 2pm....yikes.....outdoors!

Oh...and take it easy on me...I am only in the most earliest of stages at sorting, culling, editing on this set. It could take weeks.:D

Okay, here's the location. The bride and groom worked summer camps at this location.
1-Early Sunday morning.

2- I snapped this at the rehearsal. Too much dynamic range here for my tastes. Where's my clouds?:dunno

-3 Another from Sunday morning.

-4 After set up...still early on.

5- The ceremony has begun....where's those clouds?:dunno

6- Now I am thinking it's gonna be a long day....look at the sun on her arm. Good grief!!!:huh

7- ....but wait....where'd the shadows go?:dunno ....and the hotspots?

8-Ahhhh...a cloud!!!:wink

9-

10- It lasted through the ceremony......and then.....bright bald harsh sun....again....but I was thankful for the 10 or so minutes I had.

11- The reception was indoors...at the lodge.

12-

13-

14-Relaxing on the porch.....it was a long day for everyone!

heatherfeather · April 7, 2009

Yay! another Jeff wedding! Can't wait to see more! Looks like you handled things well despite the harsh light!

Agnieszka · April 8, 2009

Beautiful photos Jeff!!

I was already looking forward to seeing this wedding (after having seen their engagement photos)

The location is gorgeous. Looks so peaceful and .... just beautiful! I think I need a vacation.

#6 is a pretty good shot, I wouldn't worry too much about her shoulder. Nothing you could have done differently & everybody wants to have a sunny day

#8 is also beautiful, I wish her face wouldn't be hiding behind her veil .... hmmmm ... I'm not a big fan of veils, nor couples that are facing the priest, instead of each other

#9 Beautiful

#11 love it

#12 is my absolute favorite, beautiful!!!!

lust

#14 somebody should take a photo of the photographer after such a long day, haha ... I bet we don't look that different ... tired, relieved, and happy

Beautiful set, are you going to share more photos??

jeffreaux2 · April 8, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

Yay! another Jeff wedding! Can't wait to see more! Looks like you handled things well despite the harsh light!

Thanks Heather......

I havent really even started to edit them other than a preliminary stab at these few. I doubt I will share more from the day.....I wouldnt wanna bore the entire community here!:D

jeffreaux2 · April 8, 2009

Agnieszka wrote:

Beautiful photos Jeff!! I was already looking forward to seeing this wedding (after having seen their engagement photos)

The location is gorgeous. Looks so peaceful and .... just beautiful! I think I need a vacation.

#6 is a pretty good shot, I wouldn't worry too much about her shoulder. Nothing you could have done differently & everybody wants to have a sunny day

#8 is also beautiful, I wish her face wouldn't be hiding behind her veil .... hmmmm ... I'm not a big fan of veils, nor couples that are facing the priest, instead of each other

#9 Beautiful

#11 love it

#12 is my absolute favorite, beautiful!!!! lust

#14 somebody should take a photo of the photographer after such a long day, haha ... I bet we don't look that different ... tired, relieved, and happy

Beautiful set, are you going to share more photos??

Thanks Agnieszka,

I was sure to make a point at the rehearsal about having them face enough toward each other so as to allow some facial shots....but they didnt quite do it. The veils are pretty, but can be troublesome for a photographer. I managed to get some great shots of her placing his ring on his finger, but of course had manuvered around so far that his face wasn't visible. Give and take...eh?

It was a very nice...serene location. It was sooo misty and atmospheric that morning during the set-up that I wished it were a 9am ceremony. That last shot....well they don't quite look as worn out as I felt at that same time. I had been looking forward to this wedding for some time, but have also been super busy with other projects. I am finally just about caught up on everything. I intend to let the files sit until I can devote some real personal time with them to make this day the best I can.

On another note, I have been negotiating a December wedding with a couple and was finally able to meet them face to face at this wedding. We should be doing their engagement series next month....if everything works out well. Asking me for a price on the heels of a long day like Sunday might prove to be a mistake!

divamum · April 8, 2009

Wait... isn't this the couple from your "Head over Heels" shot?

Love the flare on 12 and the emotion in 13 (and the processing in both).

Blurmore · April 8, 2009

J,

I shoot into my lights like that a lot for the rim light effect too, but man do I hate to see the lightstand. I usually try to dodge the stand behind them. The flare on these is cool, are you just using the standard reflector? I've taken to using grids on mine, and a good friend of mine swears by barn doors on them. The grid is tricky if they are moving a lot in their first dance, but the effect is spectacular. The barn door does a good job of not flaring you from the side, and making the light more concentrated but still wide enough to cover. I think it is very telling of your skills and experience with portraits that you go so crazy over the changing light for the ceremony. My advice is to just shoot it, and lean on the AV if it is really changing. I'm very particular about my portraits being in shade, but for ceremonies, the light they have...is the light they get. Great work.

Scott_Quier · April 9, 2009

There's a saying, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good." My observation is ... this doesn't apply to you - you have both bases covered!

Excellent work - really looking forward to seeing some finished shots!

jeffreaux2 · April 9, 2009

divamum wrote:

Wait... isn't this the couple from your "Head over Heels" shot? Love the flare on 12 and the emotion in 13 (and the processing in both).

Hey....you might be better at remembering faces than me!

Yes, this is the same couple. I know their expectations are high after such a great E-session. I am hoping that the wedding photos will meet their expectations!....time will tell.

jeffreaux2 · April 9, 2009

Blurmore wrote:

J,

I shoot into my lights like that a lot for the rim light effect too, but man do I hate to see the lightstand. I usually try to dodge the stand behind them. The flare on these is cool, are you just using the standard reflector? I've taken to using grids on mine, and a good friend of mine swears by barn doors on them. The grid is tricky if they are moving a lot in their first dance, but the effect is spectacular. The barn door does a good job of not flaring you from the side, and making the light more concentrated but still wide enough to cover. I think it is very telling of your skills and experience with portraits that you go so crazy over the changing light for the ceremony. My advice is to just shoot it, and lean on the AV if it is really changing. I'm very particular about my portraits being in shade, but for ceremonies, the light they have...is the light they get. Great work.

Im not crazy about seeing the stand either, but I think wil a bit of patience I can make it disappear. The light is just a bare 580EXII. Usually, indoors, I would have at the very least use a gel to match the incandescents, but the room was wrapped with huge windows.....the incandescents contributing very little to the ambient light. I chose instead to just go bare flash and use auto white balance....then adjust for the bride's skin tones accordingly in LR.

I wasn't able to shoot the ceremony in manual. When I arrived the day before I was supposed to help them decide where to set up and which direction to face to help me the most. I threw a couple pine cones around the edges of a shadow from a pine tree near where it was to be done. 30 minutes later, the shadows had grown 8 feet or more beyond the cones. This was a little later than the ceremony was to take place, but I decided that the light was changing too fast to make shooting in manual make sense. I shot in AV mode, with a little negative compensation to hold the highlights....and also used the lowest setting of the dynamic lighting option that is supposed to ease the shadows up a bit. It worked out pretty well. I showed them some of the harsh shots after the rehearsal, but we all understood that....well.....that in the end it is what it is......can't very well move the sun lower......

Thanks for commenting.

jeffreaux2 · April 9, 2009

Scott_Quier wrote:

There's a saying, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good." My observation is ... this doesn't apply to you - you have both bases covered!

Excellent work - really looking forward to seeing some finished shots!

Lucky is good........isn't it?

I appreciate the confidence builder.

...and back to luck.....my daughter's recent accident caused me to have to see a Notery today and she is also an accountant. While waiting for a witness to arrive she and I had the most delightful conversation, and we agreed to meet in a month...when things slow down for us both, to discuss business. She promises to make things simple for me. THAT will be great. (still doubt it's worth the price of a car though!)

BTW....I am ALSO looking forward to seeing some finished shots!!!:D

I can't wait to get started on them.

heatherfeather · April 9, 2009

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Thanks Heather......

I havent really even started to edit them other than a preliminary stab at these few. I doubt I will share more from the day.....I wouldnt wanna bore the entire community here!:D

As if...

Haven't you noticed that there has been "such a rush" on the wedding forum? Boy people are really getting "post happy".

!

No, you goose, you have it backwards and are not boring us. We are bored from the lack of posting! Get on it!

(All joking aside, I really would want to see more. This forum is great for interesting reads during the times while actions are perking along...)

jeffreaux2 · April 9, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

As if...

Haven't you noticed that there has been "such a rush" on the wedding forum? Boy people are really getting "post happy".

!

No, you goose, you have it backwards and are not boring us. We are bored from the lack of posting! Get on it!

(All joking aside, I really would want to see more. This forum is great for interesting reads during the times while actions are perking along...)

You crack me up.

Honestly, the way I see it is....

The wedding forum should be in two sections. One for photo posting, and another for the discussions. It would be easier...in my opinion...to sort through it all. I have noticed a few folks posting e-session pics in "people", and although I don't know their reasoning....a guess would be that photographs in "weddings" usually get less traffic than in "people". Maybe because there are so many discussions in "weddings" that some folks would rather not sift through ("where's the beef?"....right?).

Anyways.....it seems more of a popular demand to discuss gear, contracts, whether or not to shoot a first wedding (any wedding photographer in the world has had to shoot a first), and here and there a photo or two. ....And...

Then there is the now and again elitists. Those who shun newbies....and make out like wedding photography is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do with a camera. It gets old.

My view on it all is that any shot worth taking is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do with a camera....regardless of the genre. But it's once in a lifetime?.....Tell that to a sports shooter or someone who travelled to Yosimite to grab his/her once in a lifetime sunset.

There are plenty of VERY helpful grinners out there too(yourself included). My little rant wasn't intended to take away from that all important fact ...that keeps me coming to Dgrin (when I should be editing

)....while your actions run!

Maybe Ill post more...I dunno....I still havent started sifting through these shots yet. I need to get through graduation stuff first. Hopefully soon.

heatherfeather · April 9, 2009

jeffreaux2 wrote:

You crack me up.

Honestly, the way I see it is....

The wedding forum should be in two sections. One for photo posting, and another for the discussions. It would be easier...in my opinion...to sort through it all. I have noticed a few folks posting e-session pics in "people", and although I don't know their reasoning....a guess would be that photographs in "weddings" usually get less traffic than in "people". Maybe because there are so many discussions in "weddings" that some folks would rather not sift through ("where's the beef?"....right?).

Anyways.....it seems more of a popular demand to discuss gear, contracts, whether or not to shoot a first wedding (any wedding photographer in the world has had to shoot a first), and here and there a photo or two. ....And...

Then there is the now and again elitists. Those who shun newbies....and make out like wedding photography is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do with a camera. It gets old.

My view on it all is that any shot worth taking is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do with a camera....regardless of the genre. But it's once in a lifetime?.....Tell that to a sports shooter or someone who travelled to Yosimite to grab his/her once in a lifetime sunset.

There are plenty of VERY helpful grinners out there too(yourself included). My little rant wasn't intended to take away from that all important fact ...that keeps me coming to Dgrin (when I should be editing )....while your actions run!

Maybe Ill post more...I dunno....I still havent started sifting through these shots yet. I need to get through graduation stuff first. Hopefully soon.

So what the heck do you think you are doing taking photos for weddings? Don't you know you should have 100 years experience second shooting before you try that? Jeez Louise. The nerve.

And yes, I was wondering what the protocol for e-session posting was. And there is way less traffic on here, so I suppose that would be great incentive to put it in the more frequented people section.

Now what I really wonder, is what the artists in residence are for? A resume' for the wedding forum? Wow we are really cool! Look at me! I'm cool cause an artist in residence once came to this forum. WOW!

As to you finally posting more... I suppose I can wait. I just finished editing my wedding from Saturday so I have a WHOLE day to just veg without editing computer. (As if... again.)

jayegirl · April 9, 2009

Jeff and Heather, still two of my favorites and still cracking me up.
Once I graduate in December (29 years to get a 4 year degree) I hope to get back in the groove of taking pictures I like!

sweet caroline · April 9, 2009

These photos are great... and I want more!

I recently posted engagement photos to the people category for two reasons. First of all, that's where my online buddies hang out the most. Second, I really didn't want to hear the admonishments! "What are you doing taking on a wedding?" A few less experienced photogs have been chewed up around here recently.

Caroline

jeffreaux2 · April 10, 2009

jayegirl wrote:

Jeff and Heather, still two of my favorites and still cracking me up.
Once I graduate in December (29 years to get a 4 year degree) I hope to get back in the groove of taking pictures I like!

Awesome!!! on the graduation!!!

Don't be so hard on yourself......imagine 29 years without a degree.

I think it's an awesome accomplishment.

Soooo....what would you think of some graduation photographs....to mark the event for posterity?.....I can mail you my business card?:D

Can't wait to see you posting regularly!

jeffreaux2 · April 10, 2009

sweet caroline wrote:

These photos are great... and I want more!

I recently posted engagement photos to the people category for two reasons. First of all, that's where my online buddies hang out the most. Second, I really didn't want to hear the admonishments! "What are you doing taking on a wedding?" A few less experienced photogs have been chewed up around here recently.

Caroline

....and I certainly wasn't knocking on the folks who have done that...and really.....might have done the same myself.....

It's a little disheartening to see a new grinner....3 or 4 posts....ask about wedding photography since they have maybe been roped into a wedding for a friend of a friend just because they have a "big camera".....and see them chewed up. They come to the forum scared....and leave scared and hurt when they should have been helped. That really sucks!

jeffreaux2 · April 10, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

So what the heck do you think you are doing taking photos for weddings? Don't you know you should have 100 years experience second shooting before you try that? Jeez Louise. The nerve.

And yes, I was wondering what the protocol for e-session posting was. And there is way less traffic on here, so I suppose that would be great incentive to put it in the more frequented people section.

Now what I really wonder, is what the artists in residence are for? A resume' for the wedding forum? Wow we are really cool! Look at me! I'm cool cause an artist in residence once came to this forum. WOW!

As to you finally posting more... I suppose I can wait. I just finished editing my wedding from Saturday so I have a WHOLE day to just veg without editing computer. (As if... again.)

Hey....we better ease up....we might get banned!!!

Then we'd have to do the Heather and Jeff Show somewhere else!

sweet caroline · April 10, 2009

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Hey....we better ease up....we might get banned!!!

Then we'd have to do the Heather and Jeff Show somewhere else!

I'd have to follow! Wait.. would that make me a groupie?

I promise to be brave enough to post my wedding pics here. I may even post future engagements, as well.

Caroline

Scott_Quier · April 10, 2009

sweet caroline wrote:

I'd have to follow! Wait.. would that make me a groupie?

I promise to be brave enough to post my wedding pics here. I may even post future engagements, as well.

Caroline

C - I'd be right there beside you! I love their work.

And, at the risk of sounding patronizing and/or condescening and/or brown-nozing....

I have every confidence that you will do quite well. You have the technical knowledge/skills and, even more importantly, you have that inner-eye needed to capture the meaningful moments and translate them into beautiful images.

heatherfeather · April 10, 2009

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Hey....we better ease up....we might get banned!!!

Then we'd have to do the Heather and Jeff Show somewhere else!

I'll be good! I promise I promise!

You guys are all cracking me up!

Yay for newbs! I used to be one.

jeffreaux2 · April 10, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

I'll be good! I promise I promise!

Hah!!!

Your nose is gonna grow!

anonymouscuban · April 10, 2009

Nice set Jeff, but how old is that boy? He looks to be 16 or 17 at most!!!

Travis · April 10, 2009

heatherfeather wrote:

So what the heck do you think you are doing taking photos for weddings? Don't you know you should have 100 years experience second shooting before you try that? Jeez Louise. The nerve.

Yea but you forgot to say that you need to shoot no less than 10 weddings to be a candidate as a second shooter.

I'm finally starting to understand why all of those disposable cameras are on the reception tables.

divamum · April 10, 2009

I'm sorry, but the Heather n' Jeff (and Scott and Ag and Lynn and Shima and all the rest) show is the reason even a NON wedding photog checks into this forum regularly!!! Y'all are Official Fixtures, so please don't run away!

And I promise if I ever (HEAVEN HELP ME) shoot an e-session or wedding (nooooooooo.... DO NOT.....want.....to.....shoot....weddings.....) that I'll put on my tin hat and flameproof suit and post 'em in here

Now Heather, you just get back to misbehaving and keeping us alll entertained... works for me!

sweet caroline · April 10, 2009

divamum wrote:

I'm sorry, but the Heather n' Jeff (and Scott and Ag and Lynn and Shima and all the rest) show is the reason even a NON wedding photog checks into this forum regularly!!! Y'all are Official Fixtures, so please don't run away!

And I promise if I ever (HEAVEN HELP ME) shoot an e-session or wedding (nooooooooo.... DO NOT.....want.....to.....shoot....weddings.....) that I'll put on my tin hat and flameproof suit and post 'em in here

Now Heather, you just get back to misbehaving and keeping us alll entertained... works for me!

Oh, it's only a matter of time, Diva. You'll get sucked into one! The weddings I've done in the past were a lot of work. Let me say that again A LOT OF WORK. No sitting for a good 4-6 hours. But I love the happy energy of the day. I can't see going out and advertising as a wedding photographer, but when the right opportunity and the right couple comes along, it can be really fun.

Caroline

divamum · April 10, 2009

sweet caroline wrote:

Oh, it's only a matter of time, Diva. You'll get sucked into one! The weddings I've done in the past were a lot of work. Let me say that again A LOT OF WORK. No sitting for a good 4-6 hours. But I love the happy energy of the day. I can't see going out and advertising as a wedding photographer, but when the right opportunity and the right couple comes along, it can be really fun.

Caroline

NooooooooooooOOOOOooooOOOOOOoo!! You have NO idea how much I do NOT WANT TO SHOOT WEDDINGS! (despite being utterly mesmerized by the gorgeous photos y'all post and occasionally thinking, "Oooo... those must be fun to capture")

Little story: when I was in college, I made some extra money by designing and making concert dresses for my musician friends and colleagues (I'd made my own for years because by British standards I'm tall and I could NEVER find anything long enough that I liked and people saw what I was wearing, liked 'em and asked me to do them for them). It was a nice little earner for me at the time.

Some of them were pretty elaborate gowns, but I NEVER EVER EVER accepted a wedding commission (although I was asked). The whole "has to be absolutely perfect for my most perfect day" thing would make me CRAZY!!!! I just don't have that kind of attention for all the perfect invisible details that brides want and it would scare the pants off me!

And yeah, I hereby acknolwedge that you can all laugh at me when sonewhere down the line I post "So... about those weddings I said I'd never shoot...."

lol

jeffreaux2 · April 10, 2009

divamum wrote:

NooooooooooooOOOOOooooOOOOOOoo!! You have NO idea how much I do NOT WANT TO SHOOT WEDDINGS! (despite being utterly mesmerized by the gorgeous photos y'all post and occasionally thinking, "Oooo... those must be fun to capture")

lol

Watch It young lady!!!!

It wasn't hard at all to talk you into shooting RAW!

I bet we could talk you into more!

divamum · April 10, 2009

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Watch It young lady!!!!

It wasn't hard at all to talk you into shooting RAW!

I bet we could talk you into more!

Ohhhhh nooooooo.... I'm doooOOOOoooOOOOOooooOOOOmed!! :hide :lol4

Scott_Quier · April 10, 2009

Shooting weddings is a lot of work and you have to be on your feet for at least 4 hours with no break and usually move at medium speed for that entire time. Most weddings I do, I'm on my feet, constantly, for at least 6 hours. I usually don't feel it until about an hour before "quittin' time" and then oh boy.

By the time I get home, I'm flat ... my battery is completely flat-lined and it takes me at least a day (sometime more) to recover.

But, the smiles I get when I talk to the clients after the event, when they've seen the photos - that makes it all worth while ... oh, and the money ain't bad either. But I do it because I love the celebration of life that is a wedding and I'm usually still on an emotional high a couple of hours later.

Palm Sunday-The Weather-A Peek

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