Big wedding last weekend.

Erbeman · July 29, 2011

I shot a wedding this last weekend that was huge!! I took my first picture at 7:45 in the morning of girls getting their hair done, and took the last pictures at 11 at night!! It was a crazy long day. I had a great 2nd shooter though that got so much of the detail shots, that allowed me to get the main stuff the bride wanted. Let me know what you think good/bad, what could have been done better. Thanks

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mmmatt · July 29, 2011

Hey Ross!

First off these are some nice images and you most certainly caught some important moments. I don't find these overall as big wow-factor shots or as overly artistic. They certainly show an acceptable level of competency, even if they are more on the traditional side to my eye. That isn't a bad thing of course!!! Good job using low DOF and exposures and skin tones seem perfect on my calibrated laptop. Here is how I think you could do a little better though.

First is the lighting. These images sort of scream bare bulb to me. Lighting is harsh on many of them. On your group shot I am seeing shadows on people in the 2nd or 3rd rows. That is a pet peeve of mine but maybe to some it is nbd. On the groups you were obviously using off camera flash. First step is getting the lights up in the air a little more so that the shadows go below the view of the camera, then I would recommend an umbrella or softbox to soften things a bit and then either introduce more ambient into the mix by shooting a higher iso or lower shutter speed, or use front fill to soften the shadows a bit. Even a speedlight on-camera is fine for fill depending on how you are triggering your remote. In the shot with the groom and the girls it looks as though you are using 2 lights with one on either side. Usually having a single side light and front fill is more pleasing to the eye because it gives you direction to the light. This is often called "A/B lighting" and is a very easy 2-light technique. In your groom and girls shot you are throwing shadows on both sides behind them and not adding any drama to you lighting. That looks a bit amatuerish to me, but to a client I doubt they will care or notice at all.

I think your compostionts are pretty good but you have some tilted horizons. super easy fix with a minimal crop. 11 and 12 are the one that need it imho. 13 isn't an ideal tilt to my eye but not offensive either, since it is an action shot and a tilt like you have done can add an element of confusion or fmotion to the comp so it works OK in that one.

My .02!

Matt

Erbeman · July 29, 2011

That is great feedback mmatt!! Thank you. I agree with pretty much everything you said.

Qarik · July 29, 2011

good stuff here! Everything is in focus, well exposed, decently framed etc. 11 needs to be straigtened out though and some the reception shots are little orangey for my taste.

Erbeman · July 29, 2011

Qarik wrote: »

good stuff here! Everything is in focus, well exposed, decently framed etc. 11 needs to be straigtened out though and some the reception shots are little orangey for my taste.

Thanks brother, I actually like how 11 is tilted. Of course that doesn't make it right. Let me show you what I was working with at the reception. Absolutely putrid lighting conditions!!! Believe it or not, this picture was already worked on once in RAW where I lowered the warmth. I've never seen a room that was actually dark orange! That was not fun to work with at all.

Sam · July 29, 2011

I think the couple will be happy.

Matt...................nice detailed feedback!

Sam

NeilL · July 30, 2011

Good feedback from Matt - I've put your points in my head! At the same time though I enjoyed these images.

Neil

Matthew Saville · July 31, 2011

Sounds about right for usage of the term "BIG"! Last weekend we started at 9 AM and finished at 1 AM....After shooting for two days prior, too! Indian wedding, haha...

Love the images, although his eyes look way over-done in image #10. Not a fan of photoshopped eyes.

I can also definitely recommend getting the formals lit with a softbox / umbrella, from near the camera position and up as high as possible. Sometimes I have my assistant hold the light stand up even higher, way over my head. Or sometimes I do that for others when I'm assisting. Works great!

=Matt=

whysoserious · July 31, 2011

i really liked the pictures, my favorite is the one where the couple is to the bottom left and the bridal party is blurred in the background, i thought that was a great shot... you def have a good eye, i also like the sharpness of your photos, you also seem to like bright pictures, everyone has a style

sphynge · August 2, 2011

Awesome job!
I think you did an awesome job! If I were to be nit picky, I'd say that some of the group formals, while very well posed, look posed - try asking crazy questions to get everybody to relax. You can go tame or you can go crazy (eg "french kiss your groomsman ladies!") and see everyone laugh when they understand how nuts the request is

That's all really - I think composition, lighting, detail shots; it's really there. Keep going!

Erbeman · August 2, 2011

Thanks again everyone for the feedback. Its great to hear other points of view.

Foques · August 2, 2011

Good work, sir.
Matt, could you expand on the AB shooting?

ows4428 · August 2, 2011

From what I recall, you just started doing portraits and weddings I believe. Given that, I'd say you did an outstanding job. I really like #12.

Erbeman · August 2, 2011

You are correct sir. This was actually my first wedding to take the lead camera.

Big wedding last weekend.

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