First amateur wedding photos

[carinlynchin]

Hi, this is my very first wedding I've done and I really need some advice, critiques about composition, editing, etc. I am attaching just one picture right now but if you want to look at the rest they are at

http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w...view=slideshow


the password is : wedding1

My goal would be to get very CRISP focused photos but using the manual I though would give me practice but I still lack that clarity like I have seen so many other photographers achieve...but I would love to see what advice and critiques you all can give me ...thanks.


exif info on this one is

f stop: 5
exposure: 1/80sec
ISO 100
NO flash

[Sachis2112]

I have to say that, for your first "amateur" wedding shoot, I like a lot of these shots. I'm no pro mind you but I find them pleasing and to be honest, wouldn't even know where to start to help you make them "better".

I only had a moment to flip through them but I did want to point out that, in one shot, there is a gentleman in a gray shirt in focus, with a portion of the bride out of focus to the right. Please don't use this shot! It looks like he's checking out her hiney!

[untitled99]

they look better than most of the ones that a pro took at my wedding! good job-- i have no help to offer, but wanted to let you know that i would have been pleased :-)

[carinlynchin]

thank you guys so much! You have boosted my confidence. If anyone else has anything to add, please, please, please let me know. I would LOVE to be the type of photographer that creates photos that makes people drool and then I get booked up ALOT I know that might be a far fetched dream, but if there is any help you all can give I'd appreciate it.

[zona5101]

i think you did a real nice job. I am sure the couple will be pleased.

[Rehesan]

For me, a humble photography amateur I think you´ve done a good job, there are many photos that I liked from your set.

As a photography amateur I have no experience in weedings and that subject is not one of my big interest in photography, due to that, I have no expert critique to make to your job, but from the photography basics point of view I would say that maybe the only area to be improved is the composition, there are some photos where you got only the half face or body from either the bride´s or the groom´s, I think it would be nicer to have a complete image of both. Also be careful when shoting full body portraits, in a couple of photos you "cut" the subject´s feet and lastly If you make portraits I think it would be better to get two type: full body or faces, in my oppinion the half body portraits does not are the most appropiate ;-)

Keep on the good job.

[myshots]

I'll just start out here saying that I am not a pro at wedding photo's. But the photos you have taken here are as nice as any i have seen,( Including the shots from my wedding.) The only thing that i kind'a think i might have seen. And mind you i did not count the shots, But i think i seen more shots of him ,Than of her. My train of thought here, Is it not her day. Maybe just old fashioned. But very nice shots.

[sweetmaple]

I'm also not a pro, and have never shot a wedding. There are, however, a few comments I could make. This first is that all the "family" shots are identical. You could replace any one of the people in the picture, and it looks the same as the last shot. I guess I would have varied the background (just a little), and the composition maybe. I also would have aimed to do some journalistic style shots where you ask the people to look at eachother, or laugh, or look at something similar (like the bride's bouquet) in order to vary the shots a little and make them seem a bit more "candid", even if they weren't. The other thing is that it looks like you used Photoshop a bit to do some background filters. I found them a bit distracting and unnecessary. I think those shots might have looked better without anything. But just my opinion. Overall, they were excellent shots for a first wedding. I too am about to do my first wedding soon and hope you will all give me the same honest, candid input I've given here today.

[Laurenbiz]

If you're looking for more crisp photos - it may be the camera and/or lens you're using. What camera and lens did you use for those wedding photos?

[Photolicious]

Great photos - I think you did capture the joy and love and that is what really counts!
I have just a few points you could think about

a) The crop is a bit tight in most photos. (Feet and shoulders and hair are cut off). If you stepped back just a bit, you could have more space around your subject and get som scenery in the photos as well while you see the intire person also.
This goes for guests of course, but especially for the bride! When the wedding is over, she wants those full body shots, that show her dress, not just her head or face.

b) Don't filter or vignet Maybe it is just me, but I think it is a bit...uuhm...90'ties.. Sorry

c) Take pictures of the small details (like the wine glasses, although they are a bit too tightly cropped also).
- Don't forget close ups of: her hair, her jewely, her bouqet (sp?), the rings, the details in the dress, but make sure everything is in the frame before pressing the shutterbotton.

d) Wary your viewpoint - move around and get that kiss/speach etc from several angles, so the viewer sees something new in every photo

e) More candid shots.

Hope you could use some, but I do think my advice on not zooming (and thus cropping) so much is the most important one...