Comments on: 5 Wedding Photography Composition Tips

By: stan_cwc

stan_cwc — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:01:42 +0000

Hi Nicole, I think your comment on adding a repertoire is spot on but I disagree on the camera/people generalization which is unfortunate.
I think Kathi’s style and Bob’s style is different and interestingly– seems to corresponds to their gender!
Kathi’s style generally looks very painted delicately-decidedly feminine while Bobby’s look very dynamic and bold. Bobby-your Shangri-la Fijian wedding pictures look fantastic. Wild colour or no colour, selective DOF, …

Cindy and Daniel thank for writing the article and providing a little more repertoire for those who care to learn more or even brush up like myself.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:32:11 +0000

Fantastic article!!! Great photos!!! Probably one of the first post I have read here that I can say that about … so kudos. Now for my input whatever value it may have. #3 and #5 are spot on advice and are all too often not included in wedding photography. Perhaps that controversial #3 isn’t entirely accurate for the non-seasoned pro and Paul provides a valuable incite on that, I definitely believe that Cindy didn’t manipulate the image in photoshop and it was clearly the combination of a low light situation, a telephoto lens, a wide-open aperture and the requisite distance between the subject and background … not everything in Photography is a scientific/mathematical equation Paul and to the author blatantly setting your aperture wide open and hoping for the best isn’t solid advice, but suggesting that you give it a go and manipulate it to work for you and add to your repertoire which is most likely what you were going for is great advice. Paul and Bob are obviously equipment oriented photographers – probably shoot with a Nikon {at least Bob} and think that the camera makes the photographer. You could have given Man Ray a Kodak disposable and he would still create amazing photographs … it is about talent in the end! If you want to see a great wedding photographer who uses a Canon 5D check out http://www.kathilittwin.com her work is spot on and a masters lesson in composition.

By: Joyce van Dijk

Joyce van Dijk — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:46:39 +0000

Or do what I did, study 4 years long Graphic Design – where I learned ALL about composition and image balance, what is all the same in photography!

Then studied 4 years Design and Multimedia – Advertising. Learned how to design my work / photos and everything else, learned how to SELL my work and to run a business.

1. Be an ARTIST!
The camera is JUST A TOOL. If you haven;t got ART in your heart you will be second class, copying what others do.

2. Become good in what you do and like best.

3. Become PASSIONATE about what you like.
4. EAT BREATH AND SLEEP what you like best
5. and then learn to use a camera.
6. have a VERY VERY VERY UNDERSTANDING PARTNER lol who is willing to put up with your OBESESSION

Have FUN

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:12:51 +0000

Hi everyone”
Ok” Honesty first. I am about to start two wedding shoots by the end of this year” I have been doing photography as an interest and hobby on and off for many years. I had thought about the idea of doing Weddings but was too scared to carry this big responsibility. My Friends who have seen my Landscape Photography. Many of them that have been posted on the Panoramio site. Here is a link to it.
http://www.panoramio.com/user/1167648
I have been encouraged to take the step and try Wedding Photography. Eventually I did. I did lot of further studying, but still learning of course. :-) Preperations and basiacly taking what ever i can about my venture.
Purchasing and investing in good Camera gear was also an essential neccessity.
One thing i always had is; PASSION!!!! I don’t need to be a professional to stress that passion in being a very important part or you should not be doing it in the first place. Then there is passion versus making money. Unfortunately i do see passion go out of the Window with some Peoples will compromise their work ethics for Money. Some of the reasons may be because they just get too busy and just don’t have the time anymore. I just hope that this will not happen to me. My work ethics and passion would be in great conflic on this. Besides” I would not want to increase the chances of an unsatisfied Customers hence reflecting on me.
How to balance this? I’ll work on that when i get there. My first two Wedding shoots will be for FREE. This is to build my Portfolio. So” Of course they will be very important first two wedding shoot experiences and i know i will be under pressure to get what ever i can get as best as i can. I have confidence in my abilities and i reckon i will do pretty good considering what i already know and have in experience. Weddings are more spontanious, fast paced at times and one needs to be on the ball, contrary to Landscape Photography where one has the time do work the shot. My syle will be more evolved around what my Customers want. I will just add my own and recommend that variety of shots would be a good idea as well as they can pick out later in what they like out of them.
Wide open Lense f 1.4 or f2.8 Photography? Nothing wrong with either. It all depends what you want to achieve. Some times i like to bring out a nice Head shot that looks nice, detailed and sharp. It depends on the Person i do the Portrait of. If she or he is suited for this type of shot. Other People look better with a more softer look and a little more deph is required to cover perhaps certain asspects of their facial features.
Further softening can be done later on as well. I think Photographer would do better to share what worked for them. Show examples of itand we all will learn more of each other.
Thank you everyone for sharing their experiences and thoughs. In life” We all learn from one another.
So” I will drop by every now and then an have a peek. :-)
By they way. Here is a question for you all. How much of your Wedding Photography is done using the Automatic setting. How much do you do in using your skills and use manual settings and where do you apply thse. I know my own answer. Just curious of others and see what works for them.
Cheers” Ray

By: Nick G

Nick G — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:35:13 +0000

Love this forum…. as an enthusiastic amateur, other peoples comments and experiences are truly invaluable. If I may, I would like to just comment on the little ’spat’ that was occurring on here between Paul and Bobby. It is my understanding that all the rules re: photography are there to be broken, nothing hard and fast, so I would think that whilst Paul might be correct in his remark that to achieve a great photo using f1.2 etc etc is difficult and shouldn’t be done that way, he isn’t necessarily right in assuming that everybody should agree with him. After all, he started the hissy fit really by stating, and I quote… “That shot above would have required you to get in close to the subjects to create the amount of blur (or it is produced in post-processing which is my feeling) seen in that background.” Now he intimated that he is the far more experienced photographer over Bobby, but it was interesting to see that Cindy Lowe, who took the shot, politely corrected him and explained just how she achieved the picture. So for starters, Paul who somewhat arrogantly tried to put Bobby down, was in fact wrong. So much for the ‘expert’ opinion. Maybe Bobby has less experience than Paul… who knows, who cares… I just think that Paul comes across as a bit of an egotist and arrogant type. There was no need for him to try and belittle Bobby as he so obviously did.
Other than that, I think this forum has to be the most instructive and informative website going.
Thanks for everything.

By: Norm Levin

Norm Levin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:42:41 +0000

Been away from this board for a few days. Catching up with the back and forth has been a hoot. I do have to agree with Bobby. Paul likes to blow a lot of smoke on other perfectly valid posts. Never having a 1.2, or 1.4 lens to luxuriate with, I can only comment that shooting wide open, especially with a tele of any length can create some marvelously artistic or at least non-distracting backgrounds. Even a concrete block wall can look somewhat dreamy under certain lighting situations.

Paul’s jab at my post about “leaving room to crop later” is not only incorrect, but impractical. When you’re in the midst of a shoot, I don’t care whether is a wedding or a war, you don’t know what the final product will be. Does the bride want a 5×7 or an 8×10? Does the magazine editor have the space for exactly your in-camera composition. Having shot for both brides and editors, I can say that if you don’t leave a little wiggle room for the customer to finesse, you’re risking a sale. That doesn’t mean not composing at all, Paul, something I never said or intended. I’m offering a bit of advice for a novice shooter who may try too hard to get it perfect in the viewfinder. That’s not always possible in a fast paced environment. Or even desirable.

You said it rather well yourself: 1. Shoot safe – if you are going to shoot a wedding keep within your comfort zone and build up the artistic style over time. There is nothing worse for self-doubt and confidence than screwing up someone’s big day.

Now go out and have a big day yourself.

By: Victor

Victor — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:59:41 +0000

Very nice and interesting ideas. It’s original and fresh for me. Do author want to print photos on canvas with us?

By: Bobby Earle

Bobby Earle — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:34:47 +0000

Not exactly sure where I’ve come off as a “pompous blow hard” ;) I’ve never once said I’m a great photographer or hinted that I’m world famous :D I simply wanted people to be able to verify that what I am saying is coming from a WORKING wedding photographer – in hopes to prove what I know – that Paul is not.

Honestly, I probably got a bit too involved. I know Daniel and Cindy really well. They are great, established, WORKING wedding photographers – and when a guy who refuses to verify himself comes along and begins with “Shoot wide open, even at f1.4? What a load of rubbish.” – when I know that this is factually an incorrect statement – as it works great for myself, Daniel and Cindy here, Mike Colon, Jessica Claire, Jasmine Star, Josh Newton, Jeff Ascough, Becker, John Mireles… Well I think that’s enough to prove it isn’t rubbish – that’s all I’m saying ;)

Really, I’ll try to be a little more controlled :) But it is a bit interesting to have my posts asked to be deleted by the person that calls me a pompous blow hard :P But if I had it coming, fair enough :D

Bobby

p.s. Still waiting for Paul to show himself. I HAD to say it :P

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:18:39 +0000

Seriously… I thought a nice little discussion was going on here until Bobby chimed in like a pompus blow hard… Paul had a point… forgot it now trying to take cover from all the pissing going on.

Sime – Delete them both… and I could care less about THIER work, I’m here to improve mine, not gaze endless at theirs.

To the actual subject at hand…

Is there no way to edit the original post to remove the word don’t from the line “just don’t put them somewhere other than the center”.

As for shooting wide open, it’s more about shooting at the right DOF, which often is wide open, but often is not either. I think the intent was clear “use DOF to control your backgrounds”, do we really need to nitpick the heck out of how the writer made the point?

I think this is particularly useful advice to many new/amature/inexperienced wedding shooters who are often shooting a friend’s low budget wedding for free. The kind of low budget wedding that also entails limited decorations and negligible backgrounds. Now a $10k a day pro offer some advice on how to make a cheap wedding not look it, that would be valuable advice. I laugh when I see wedding shots in castles or in vinyards or hawaiian beaches with captions offering advice to the poor guy roped into shooting thier friends wedding in another friends backyard without even a canopy to frame the ceremony or a backdrop to block the stucco wall.

I’ve taken a serious liking to decapitating extras in photos lately. Which is how I think of tip #5. It’s a nice technique to bring focus to individuals or details of the costumery.

Thanks to Daniel and Cindy!

By: Sime

Sime — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:47:08 +0000

Paul, Bobby – Enough… This pathetic back and forth isn’t going to get either of you anywhere (aside of deleted by me)

You’re wasting everyone else’s time…

If someone shoots at f1.4 they’re going to find out the hard way that sure, sometimes with the right distance to subject that they are going to miss sharp focus on pretty much everything outside of the 3cm mark… (Took my fave portrait in Cuba at 1.8 and sure, he was sharp in the eyes – his nose a blur) Also – totally agree, framing / get it right in camera is always better, BUT, not always possible. (As you pointed out, this forum is mainly learners) So, Paul, I know what you’re saying – said…

Bobby, sometimes there is no point arguing – thanks for your input.

Now fellas… move on, Paul – time to front up and show us your work??

Sime (who will still shoot at 1.4 and learn the hard way, sometimes)