Not Thrilled With Pics....What do you say?

[manwez]

So, I just shot my first wedding 2 weeks ago and was so thrilled with how the pics turned out. Everyone involved has absolutely loved them, as have friends I've shown. The wedding was outdoors, the couple were young and gorgeous and open to all kinds of photography and we did a bridal party shoot on the broadwater, etc. etc.

2 weeks after that wedding, I shot my second one. This one was in a huge dark church. The couple is older and not all that interested in having a lot of photos done. I'm not THRILLED with my pics, though non-photography friends have said they are "lovely".

As photographers, I am pretty sure we are our own worst critics and probably perfectionists.

So what do I do? Play them off like they are fantastic and they should love them? I can't imagine saying "Here's your photos, I'm not thrilled with them but hope you enjoy them" is a good way to do biz! Haha!

There are a few pics on my flickr page.

[Barbara V]

Maybe you are comparing the two too much. One was open and wide and young and beautiful... the other was dark, and aging. Apples and oranges. Maybe the dark atmosphere fit the couple, and vice versa. Try to look at the shots without the first wedding in mind, and maybe you'll be surprised at what you see.
From what I saw on your flickr page, I think they will be happy with their photos. It seems like a low key wedding, and it made for some subdued shot. I like the ones on the marina. And the cake. It's too bad the bride didn't smile a bit wider.

[manwez]

Thanks Barbara. You are right, they were apples and oranges. The poor bride had that look on her face all day. I kept trying to get her to smile, but she was a worrier and always thinking about what had to be done, etc. I think I got 2 pics of her with a natural big smile on her face. But she was too concerned with everyone else and if everything was going to plan to really enjoy it I think! I guess I just want them to be happy and hope that I got enough that they will be happy with! Thanks for your input.

[LeeR]

Can I give you a different perspective? My wife and I were in our late forties when we got married four years ago. We are well aware of the fact that we are not as good looking as we once were and don't pretend we are. It's different. We know who we are, we have traveled this road before and suffered mightily in the past, but we also know we can survive and be the stronger for it. What we have given up in beauty we have gained in character. No one wants you to make us look perfect; we only want you to make us look our best. And if you find the chance to reveal a bit of that character, we'll make sure their is a little extra for you in the check.

[manwez]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was saying they were "old and ugly". I just meant that they are older, and the whole "fun" photoshoot type thing that 99.9% of wedding photographers do these days wasn't for them. That is completely fine. I think the bride looked absolutely stunning, especially when she relaxed a little and let her natural smile shine through. I just don't really feel like I did the wedding justice. I think it is so romantic that she waited so long for her prince charming and found him! I guess I just feel like I didn't really know how to handle the situation and I wish we weren't so rushed. I wish I'd gotten photos of them in the church, etc. My main concern is that they are happy with the pics as I don't feel like there is much variety etc.

[CaptainNH]

Originally Posted by manwez

As photographers, I am pretty sure we are our own worst critics and probably perfectionists.

So very true, and it has upsides and downsides.

On the upside, if a shot passes your quality control and is good enough for you to give it to your clients, chances are they will be happy with it too.

On the downside, I've been known to spend ages in PP making a shot perfect for my eyes, touching up tiny flaws that my client probably wouldn't ever notice and diluting my hourly rate considerably.