Eric and Kara~June Wedding

JulieLawsonPhotography

I'm just posting a couple of my favorites from the reception. This wedding was a learning experience. I wasn't allowed to use flash, the majority of my images are noisy, I would like to think I did my best in the situation. :dunno This experience has caused me to rethink some things.

1. Quality not great, but I loved the moment. I chose to go without the flash on this one to capture the natural light.

2

3

4

5
had to noise ninja this image and the next (it's crooked oops)

6

lizzard_nyc

Hi Julie,
I can't comment on the technique aspect of the photos since I'm new. To my untrained eye, I think you have some lovely photos and I happen to like the soft focus grainy look of some of them.

I have been working on noticing little imperfections in my photos to correct them before taking the shot, and I can't imagine the detail overload a wedding photographer must have. That being said, the last photo of the wedding party sitting on the stairs, the young lady on the right sitting down, you might want to look out for what looks like her underwear peaking out before you give your sister-in-law the photos.

jeffreaux2

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Hi Julie,
I can't comment on the technique aspect of the photos since I'm new. To my untrained eye, I think you have some lovely photos and I happen to like the soft focus grainy look of some of them.

I have been working on noticing little imperfections in my photos to correct them before taking the shot, and I can't imagine the detail overload a wedding photographer must have. That being said, the last photo of the wedding party sitting on the stairs, the young lady on the right sitting down, you might want to look out for what looks like her underwear peaking out before you give your sister-in-law the photos.

I agree about the last shot.......this is something I have had to be very careful about with my "senior" shoots. To keep the pose and cover the goodies, just have the gals up front cross their ankles....knees together. The realatively short dresses that are worn these days seem to get a couple feet shorter when the gals are seated.

Overall, I like what you have done here, but the splayed fingers in #1 seems odd to me.

Was this the location with the one giant window wall at the ends of the sanctuary?

JulieLawsonPhotography

jeffreaux2 wrote:

I agree about the last shot.......this is something I have had to be very careful about with my "senior" shoots. To keep the pose and cover the goodies, just have the gals up front cross their ankles....knees together. The realatively short dresses that are worn these days seem to get a couple feet shorter when the gals are seated.

Overall, I like what you have done here, but the splayed fingers in #1 seems odd to me.

Was this the location with the one giant window wall at the ends of the sanctuary?

These were taken at the reception hall. The actual wedding took place in a very dark church, very dark. The reception area was all windows.

Not a good example, but you get the idea I hope. I wish I could have done some bride/groom portraits in here without all the people in the way.

JulieLawsonPhotography

lizzard_nyc wrote:

Hi Julie,
I can't comment on the technique aspect of the photos since I'm new. To my untrained eye, I think you have some lovely photos and I happen to like the soft focus grainy look of some of them.

I have been working on noticing little imperfections in my photos to correct them before taking the shot, and I can't imagine the detail overload a wedding photographer must have. That being said, the last photo of the wedding party sitting on the stairs, the young lady on the right sitting down, you might want to look out for what looks like her underwear peaking out before you give your sister-in-law the photos.

Thanks for pointing them out. I didn't realize the underwear. oops. I will have to watch out for that next time. I truly appreciate the comment and CC.

zoomer

Pretty tough situation.
As you mentioned pretty noisy slightly blurry due to slow shutter speeds.
Hard to get past this point without flash or expensive gear that handles high iso well plus some expensive lenses. Looks like on a few flash was used but not enough.

Maybe pick up a 50mm 1.8, would help by getting you more light, high shutter speed.

On the flip side it kind of gave some of the pics an affect like you added a texture to it which actually looks kind of cool.

3 4 and that last one have that effect, I like them.

Watch the tight crops, clipping of feet, flowers etc. Give your subjects a bit of frame at the edges. Ex of tight crops 1 2 5 6.

Remember it is better to shoot with higher iso and get a good bright exposure that it is to try to shoot at a lower iso and then brighten them in post...that really adds noise.

You did a nice job of capturing moments and fun, that is the hard part and you have a natural knack for it.

jpendley77

Love the post processing in 1-3...great effect to the photos. 4 seems a little over processed to me. I actually did'nt see the undies the first time I saw it either. I have done that before and had to do alot of cropping. On #6 also I would crop out the girls bouquets on the stairs. If they were pointed the same way and maybe on the same step, they would be fine. Always love seeing your posts.

JulieLawsonPhotography

zoomer wrote:

Pretty tough situation.
As you mentioned pretty noisy slightly blurry due to slow shutter speeds.
Hard to get past this point without flash or expensive gear that handles high iso well plus some expensive lenses. Looks like on a few flash was used but not enough.

Maybe pick up a 50mm 1.8, would help by getting you more light, high shutter speed.

On the flip side it kind of gave some of the pics an affect like you added a texture to it which actually looks kind of cool.

3 4 and that last one have that effect, I like them.

Watch the tight crops, clipping of feet, flowers etc. Give your subjects a bit of frame at the edges. Ex of tight crops 1 2 5 6.

Remember it is better to shoot with higher iso and get a good bright exposure that it is to try to shoot at a lower iso and then brighten them in post...that really adds noise.

You did a nice job of capturing moments and fun, that is the hard part and you have a natural knack for it.

Thanks Zoomer..
I had rented the 70-200 lens for this wedding....didn't use it though. I ended up using my 50mm 1.4 for the actual wedding (those weren't posted) What i've posted are all from the reception, after the wedding. Anyway, I wasn't allowed to move, all shots had to be from tripod. the way the church was set up....the 70-200 was too close. I learned that I have the right to be picky. If I'm not comfortable with the location of the wedding, I can politely tell them I'm booked or something.

elizabeth_Luna

Love your post processing what do you use? if you don't mind sharing...

barnyard

JulieLawsonPhotography wrote:

Spend time time learning how to pose bridal parties. Some simple instruction will add quite a bit to your subjects. Note the gentlemen's hands and the foot positions of both the men and ladies.

The groom appears like a 3rd grader that did not want to be in the photo.

The way I would have done it:

Reverse sides.

The bride is leaning into the groom's buttoneer. Changing sides eliminates that problem. Guys should stand with their weight on the back foot, with their front foot out at a 45 degree angle.

Ladies to the same with their feet, except the outside foot's heel is placed next to the instep of their inside foot (it's a dance position, but I cannot remember the name.)

By putting the weight on one foot, it puts a slight bend in the leg that is very flattering for chicks and not terrible for guys.

In the above pose, I would have the bridesmaids holding their bouquets in their outside hand, with a slight bend in the elbow. Their other hand would rest at their side.

The gentlemen would all have either their outside hand in their pocket, with their thumb out, or relaxed at their sides. Hands crossed at the front, looks like they are either adjusting or hiding an open fly.

With the bride on the other side, she can hold her flowers in her right hand, the groom has his right hand at the small of the bride's back and his left hand would be gently holding her left hand (small detail, in an enlargement, her ring is 'on display.')

Also, in posed group shots, always, always, always have the bride and groom tilting their heads towards each other. Their temples should not be touching, but very close.

Spend just a tiny bit more time arranging the guys so that they are not 'peeking around' the one in front of them. With that many stairs, it would be really easy to pair up couples and avoid the upside-down V altogether.

Tom B