Okay, so long story short...for some stupid reason I want to get back into the overbloated wedding photography business. (I did this somewhat professionally some years ago)

This was my first paid gig in at least 6 or 7 years. On top of that, it was my first job working fully digital, in the past I was purely film and prints. It took nearly a year for me to understand the differences in the actual exposure and processing of digital files.

Sooooo, what I'm asking for from you fine bunch of message board geeks is this:


Take a look at the slideshow, tell me what you like, what you hate (not me I hope!)...any and every comment you have on the images. I need feedback from people that aren't my clients or family. If your friend showed you these pictures, would you think they had a good wedding photographer or would you think they were taken by some Uncle Bob with a digital SLR at the event?

Just be nice, I'm sensitive.

(for the record, the sun was pretty much set at the end of the ceremony, so if those images look a little rough, it's just because I had to bring so much of the detail out in post processing...not much I could do there. )


http://www.flickr.com/pho...5222/show/

I like the colors, especially how you captured the blue tones or what you made of them, and I like your eye for details and some of the weirder stuff, like the pic that looks like you shot it from a helicopter, for lack of better words. Some of the angles look a bit strange though, and in some pictures the objects look a bit cut off. But, all in all, I really like those pics....if I were a client, I´d be happy.

Ask Veronikka, she´s an amateur photographer but I really like her pictures a lot.Some of them can be seen via her profile page.


Man,if you knew how much I´d like to trade places with you....the weather here sucks.The cold is literally making me sick, and I couldn´t make it to Florida due to my new job. Maybe in April.

i will when i got time to cut copy and paste, damn, i cant work on no sunday morning!!!!

Most of the shots are very nice and some are really great

I like the non traditional approach

You have a great eye for unique detail

Some of the angles are okay and some I don't seem to care for Overall I really enjoy them and would be very pleased with them

Most of them are really nice pictures, but I'm not sure if most clients would like to have these type of photos taken of their wedding. Many of them look like photos for ads, CD inserts or something like that. The angles, colours and the blurred parts look just unrealistic on some. I'd hire you to take photos of a party of a different kind, but usually people would probably expect to get something a bit more "normal" for their weddings I think.

Of course if you can offer your clients a nice mix of more traditional and the different ype of stuff as well, then there probably won't be a problem.

I liked watching them nevertheless.

your work is fantastic! it reminds me of those fancy photos you see in hotels/resorts websites, if you know what i mean?

the one thing i'll comment on is the glow effect you experimented with on a few photos (like the bride's photo, #12). i think it takes away from the beauty of your work.

other than that i think you're brilliant and i'd be so satisfied with the results.

KoolEaze said:

Apart from that, I really like them as well

KoolEaze said:

I gotta tell you, I kind of agree. I never used to use such dramatic off level framing technique, but it just seems to be the perspective that sells to young brides these days. I do like the effect on a number of images, but I think I tried it out a little too much here. I will probably use more traditional framing on the whole in the future.

It'll be nice and warm here in April!

Mach said:

see above.

Thank you for the nice words Mach.

I thank you all for providing constructive criticism and will refrain from cutting you, as Jersey says I'm not allowed.

novabrkr said:

I would most certainly give a more traditional and reverent feel to the appropriate wedding. I usually find out what they are looking for at the inital meeting...that guides me on how I decide to shoot the event. The next traditional wedding I shoot, I'll def. post that also. I want to be able to show that I can provide almost any look they are looking for.

Thank you so much for the feedback!

PricelessHo said:

Thanks so much man!

the glow effect does not sit well with me at all.

Unfortunately, I don't have a soft focus filter, or the software that I want for effects like that yet, so I had to rely on moving the clarity way down to get a soft focus effect. I'm not a big fan of it at all myself, I should have the software I need by the next event.

Aelis said:

Thank you so much, I'm totally going to improve on that.

PunkMistress said:

she sees through marriage colored glasses.

JerseyKRS said:

I also know the bride and groom, and know that they're wild and crazy guys. The way you shot and processed these photos was nearly perfect for them as a couple!



Sorry, I'll leave now.

JerseyKRS said:

I think that's the key - you'll want different styles for different folks. I think the whole is beautiful, the use of color, etc. And I can see this style being very popular with younger couples.
I agree when putting together your portfolio a nice mix of this and some not-so-produced shots will help sell it, and you can chat about what each couple likes.

The composition and subjects are such that most of these don't need the extras to make them beautiful. But they're fun to play around with, nonetheless.

CarrieMpls said:

Oh Carrie, that was just the nicest thing I could hear.

JerseyKRS said:

It's true!

Amazing!!!

I love the colors and angles

The bride's father passed away unexpectedly a month and a half after this wedding.

JerseyKRS said:

I'm not skeered of her in the least bit

I carry my own big ole dagger

I like the part where she looks up and then you cut to the birds... like a movie!

I didn't like one photo early on... #12, the portrait of the Bride... too much blur and overlaying!

But all the other photos (I have to run, so I can't see them all right now) look great. Very good color manipulation, framing, and most important... a great choice of moments.

I like them so much that I want to know more about your process if you can answer and share some of your technique... and what you learned as far as handling digital photos.

Awwwww!! This is cute! I'm so glad ur doing wat u love chris!!

I can't look now tho I'll have to check it out at work tom

Jersey,
You know I am the flower lady and we do only wedding's and big events...

I Love the overview pic of the entire bridal party and the guests...and especially the one in black and white. Really a lovely job....the only thing I am not so keen on is the angled shots....jus' me I suppose but, some of them I like others not so much....

I know you have done this for a very long time before and do fine job indeed...

I will leave U this link as she is the photographer for alot of our weddings....maybe a lil new insperation for you a well...

www.jenkrollphotography.com/#

she seems to have a way of capturing some things not expected and out of the ordinary as you do as well.

's and 's

i agree, you've got a great eye...

novabrkr said:

some people ASK for wedding photos that DON'T look like wedding photos ( I know I did exactly like that and hired a photographer who didn't normally do weddings at all - usually architecture!! and was VERY happy with an unconventional approach.)

JerseyKRS said:

I was going to comment on that

THAT is the only thing that might make your shots look like uncle bob took them and tried to make the photos look "special". Soft focus done with a filter traditionally looks very different to that blur or negative clarity effect.
Looking forwards to seeing how you will tackle that in future

if bride has skin issues, let the photo be regular sharpness and use the patch and spot heal tools on it.

Using overexposure recovery too much you get a weird grey halo

JerseyKRS said:

Y'know...I'm really sorry to hear that. But honestly, I thought he looked ill in the photos.

LOVE the the stills and the candids shot with doubles and groups! Now you just need a soft focus filter, and to work on the singles/portraits

You're located in the prime area for a niche wedding photography market, the non-traditional approach should appeal to the folks where you are big time. If you could get a couple more clients to bulid up your online book, after that, it'll just be about marketing, marketing, marketing, my friend.

Try to devote some time to making the bridal portraits your strength...and photograph the subjects as softly and lovingly as you would your own wife, even if they are non-traditional and sort of avante...every bride wants to look like she emerged from a dream on her wedding day whether she's in a princess dress or an Elvis sequined suit; if you can do that, you are golden.Guaranteed.

KoolEaze said:

It has snowed in Hamburg every day since Silvester. I'm trying to convince myself it's better than the rain we usually get but I had an accident last weekend and fell down the stairs going to the River Elbe from the ic