Carena and Josh

Candid Arts

Shot this wedding for my cousin on an EXTREMELY rushed schedule (for the photography at least). I would love some C&C on the photos as this is only my 5th wedding I still need a lot of work. Thank you for any and all comments.

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#5


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#15


#16


The rest of the photos can be found here.

samran

C&c
I love number 5, 15 and 16. Great composition and artistic creativity. Keep up the great work!!!

Candid Arts wrote:

Shot this wedding for my cousin on an EXTREMELY rushed schedule (for the photography at least). I would love some C&C on the photos as this is only my 5th wedding I still need a lot of work. Thank you for any and all comments.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8


#9


#10


#11


#12


#13


#14


#15


#16


The rest of the photos can be found here.

harvey3

I like your the way you do your focus.

shoot 1 is the best for me.
I like your photo editing also...

well done!

heatherfeather

Candid,
Obviously these few you posted are just representative of the rest of the set (which I did not check out), so take my comments with a grain of salt.

The best one is #5, even with the blown bits. She sure is an adorable flowergirl. The other flowergirl photos are cute... and I like them fairly well.

In my opinion the rest have some issues:

Framing: 12 out of 16 are tilted intentionally or just don't have a straight horizon. You have to get out of that habit of running to tilt on default. Every now and then is okay, (like around 5 out of 300) but if that high of a percentage is tilted, what is she going to have to frame in ten years when tilts are out of fashion? Also, most of the photos need more room around the subjects. Just imagine framing them... at least 1/4 inch on all sides is needed to hide the edges of the photo, and is impossible with most of your crops. Also keep in mind cropping for other aspect ratios, take a step back and leave room.

Details: Keep your eyes on the details... for instance the cake shot has the focus on a spot of the cake that has the icing messed up. Unless the messed up spot tells a story (like you catch the ringbearer with his finger in the cake) you should have attempted to minimise that problem by shooting a different spot, or being sure that spot is out of focus. Another instance is #9. This photo is not at all flattering to the bride. Her hair is in her eyes... it is ok and a really good idea for you to either ask her to or you personally brush it aside if it is needed. (Ask permission first, though.) Also it looks as though the camera is about 4 inches below her chin, and therefore not at a flattering angle. I can't tell for sure, but I think her eyes might even be out of focus.... This one would have been tossed if it were mine.

Perspective: #8 Guys don't mind perspective making them look larger than life, but for ladies it is different. Make sure that the bridesmaids are not the closest ones to the camera...

Flash: Get out there and practice with your flash. Most of the photos have either too much or not enough. #10... flash is too hot and the fact that it is on camera and rotated is causing this photo some pretty big issues. (shadows beside him, obvious flash marks on the rock work that are almost in the shape of a smily face )

But the great news is that you do not have to be at a wedding to practice ALL of these things. By your next one you should consider spending several hours practicing fill out doors, and think about methods of getting that flash off your camera. Work on looking for creative ways to frame things without a tilt. Practice shooting details and look at each part of what you are shooting before you click. And before you press the shutter look around the edges of the frame and leave room... if for nothing else just so you can straighten that horizon without cutting off crucial subject elements.

You have a lot of work to do, but I can tell you have a good foundation of a good eye. For instance, #15 is a great catch. Good job spotting that one! You do really want to improve, as has been illustrated by the great way you have received other critiques, and that spirit will help you learn almost more than anything. Keep on posting, KEEP ON SHOOTING... take my comments with the heart they are intended: to help you become an even better photographer.

Candid Arts

Heather,

Thank you so much for your reply. This is exactly what I was looking for, and being from you makes it even that much better.

Framing: For me usually if I can see a horizon, I tend to want to make it straight. However for whatever reason during this wedding, the background just wasn't pleasing so I wanted to abstract it I guess? I don't really know. They seem to fill the frame better when tilted, but maybe that's just me. A lot of the times I would have it set up straight, and wouldn't like it, so would intentionally rotate the camera 'till I did.

Details: I see what you mean in regards to the cake shot. It was kind of a tricky situation where we only had about 30 minutes with the bride and groom together to take all of the both of their family and them shots, plus the B&G portraits and bridesmaids photos with them. Needless to say there was not a lot of photos taken of the B&G, so time normally spent shooting details was catch it if you can in between shooting the B&G doing the dancing, garter/bouquet toss, cake cutting, etc... I would have hoped that normally I would have noticed something like that, as the detail shots are usually my specialty, but due to the rushed nature of the reception, I think I overlooked some of that...

Perspective: I see what you mean, and noticed that actually once I started looking at the photos. I really should have had the B&G up front, or like you say, the groomsmen.

Flash: This is one of the biggest things I need to work on I think. I have two light stands with umbrellas, problem is I only have two flashes and no radio triggers. So I gotta have one flash on my camera all the time to trigger the second flash. I do have a flash bracket, but thus far have only found it to be cumbersome and awkward to use. I haven't practiced with it much lately, but I suppose I need to more. I know I need to get the flash off camera, just really haven't learned yet exactly where to put it, and what settings it needs to be on, etc etc etc... Lighting is probably my biggest downfall right now as far as I'm concerned. I really just need to watch someone do it and help set up and see the results, then repeat about 20 times, then do it on my own, and repeat about 50 times...

Thank you everyone for your opinions, they are all valuable.

Heather, I truly appreciate the time you spent to look at my photos and give your opinions. If you could, take a look at the rest of the gallery for a broader view of the day?

I hadn't been on dgrin in awhile and my first time back I looked in the weddings section at your latest wedding. I had thought my photos were looking good, then I was reminded of what great wedding photos looked like. I still think I got a few good "money shots", but over all pale in comparison. You do such great work and I love to get feedback from people like you, especially about things I need to work on. I can't grow on compliments alone. Thank you again.

Any other takers? I'm looking for all I can get, bad and good.

Qarik

sorry this is going to sound harsh. I don't see a single good capture. I don't like the processing, the angles, the lighting, the composition... *sigh* I want to say something good because you appears to be trying hard and eager to learn. There are a couple of okay ones such as 5 and 15.

The 1st thing that jumps out at me is the processing. 1st of all you have about about 7 distinct styles in there. It destroys the continuity of the set by making it look hodge podge. Also the soft focus and selective coloring..just not working imo. The color shots lack pop and could use some contrast and saturation. The semi sepia .. just not a fan.

I would like to make specific comment on shot #9..toss it..this just makes the bride look very bad. yeah maybe it was 120% humidity that day but there is is no way you can leave that shot in. Her hair looks really really messy.