Looking to grow as a wedding photographer

[Braught]

I have been an in studio portrait photography for five years, but recently I've been interested in natural light outdoor photography. This was an attempt at my first wedding using just my simple Canon rebel and no extra lighting. Please tell me where I can improve. Thanks!

[candleman]

welcome to the forums,

whats your EXIF?

i dint really know what else to say but,
i really dont like the fake DOF, the sharpness in the Halo's is very noticable
if you make a fake DOF image, make it believable by doing a very good job on the masking.
also, i probaby wouldnt want to chop the brides trailing veil/dress off.

nice shot though, and i wish you all the best with it.

[Createbeauty]

I agree I am still new to photography but the blurring of the image is not consistent (a little sloppy). I can still see a portion of the man's face in the background, the trees, etc.

Something about the composition seems off as well. The minister could have been cropped out of the photo. He doesn't seem to add anything to the image IMO. I would have liked the focus to have been more on the couple.

The image could also be a bit crisper and the colors sharper.

[untitled99]

i like the concept, but have to admit that the fake blur needs some work.

[Laurenbiz]

I actually chuckled at the guy in the hat at the wedding who is in focus! (Directly underneath her bouquet.)

If this photo was taken with a Rebel, though, you should be able to control the aperture to create true background blur.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Laurenbiz

I actually chuckled at the guy in the hat at the wedding who is in focus! (Directly underneath her bouquet.)

If this photo was taken with a Rebel, though, you should be able to control the aperture to create true background blur.

chances are it was very bright.. but yeah

if you weernt using any flash,
you could have opened up the aperture and used a faster shutterspeed, and lowest ISO possible to get exactly the same shot.. but with real DOF.

hence my question of EXIF

[Cam Monroe]

Originally Posted by candleman

hence my question of EXIF

Here is what I pulled out of the image OP posted

Make - Canon
Model - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - ArcSoft PhotoImpression 6
DateTime - 2010:04:21 21:02:46
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 260
ExposureTime - 1/60 seconds
FNumber - 5.60
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 400
ExifVersion - j
DateTimeOriginal - 2009:09:12 21:12:09
DateTimeDigitized - 2009:09:12 21:12:09
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/60 seconds
ApertureValue - F 5.60
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Flash fired, auto mode, red-eye reduction mode
FocalLength - 31 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 700
ExifImageHeight - 467
InteroperabilityOffset - 230
FocalPlaneXResolution - 4433.30
FocalPlaneYResolution - 4453.61
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Off
Self timer - Off
Quality - Normal
Flash mode - Red-eye reduction
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - One-Shot
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Fast Shutter
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Low , -60338
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Low , -49143
ISO Value - 3
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Manual
AF point selected -
Exposure mode - Easy shooting
Focal length - 0 - 32 mm (5210 mm)
Flash activity -
Flash details - FP sync enabled
Focus mode 2 - Single
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
AF point used - Left
Flash bias - 2047.00 EV
Subject Distance - Infinite
Image Type - Dà€ ÀŸÿÿ
Firmware Version -
"ÿÿ Àxüÿÿ
Owner Name - Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Camera Serial Number - 2021127566 (787762862)
Sharpness (0D) - 0
File number - 011 - 16221
Sharpness (A0) - 0

[Cathrine]

I was wondering about the blur because part of the groom (the shoulder) looked blurry--I didn't realize you could fake a DOF.. interesting.

And the minister had a "dumb" expression, so I would have cropped him out just focusing on the groom and bride.

You have a rebel t1i so you can do a natural DOF...

I do love the idea that you were trying to convey--is there anyway you can go back to the original and fix it?

Thanks for allowing me to learn from your picture. )