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As some of you know, yesterday was my first paid wedding shoot.... it went very well and was quite a learning curve... i'll post my experiences later on.... but for now I have a lot of PP to do so that I can get the photos printed, mounted, and bound before the lovely couple get back from their honeymoon....

here's just one of the shots ... i hope you enjoy.... only thing i'd do differently in this shot is to move them to where there wasn't a V on the bricks...

http://www.nikonaustralia.com/gallery/People/DSC3506

comments appreciated as usual..

cheers

G'day,
Very nice. I like the colored flowers and B&W remainder, and something other than the "standard" pose and background too, you have a creative flair, I always enjoy your pics...

You're right about the "V" in the brickwork, it's distracting and takes attention away from the happy couple (unless it was placed a little more centrally between the couple or something?), I'd be tempted to try cropping some of the "top" off and see what that does too... Seems "top heavy" to me, but please take my comments with a grain of salt as I certainly ain't experienced and don't have your creative eye... I only wish...

Cheers,
Mudder

thanks for the comments mudder....

i'll give the crop a go... also thinking about spending some time to clone out the V... if i get the time....

I love the creative use of the brick wall for the backdrop

Looks great

Are they old enough to be getting married? (Or am i just getting older)

showing your age killa

Red roses on white looks nice, but the groom's red on black seems a touch too much. I dunno, it could be just me - I think they look too young to get married too.

Looks great Mark, I don't mind the V actually. The youngsters would be very pleased with this one I reckon.

Matt K, are you there Matt K. Input please....

.... and another.... this shot was quite fun being on the railway lines.... had to be quite quick as the security cameras were down where we were... plus the fact i didn't want anyone getting hit by a train.... wouldn't make a good start to wedding photos....

http://www.nikonaustralia.com/gallery/People/DSC3553

hope you enjoy...

i'll write a summary of the day tomorrow....

cheers

I really love this one, fantastic, great expressions, excellent location, what a beauty!

xerubus
You are an extremely creative photographer! However...do your clients want you to be so creative that the wedding itself...as it transpired...was not faithfully recorded? I am making this point without having seen the rest of your coverage...and I absolutely encourage and admire creativity, but I have seen some photographers come unstuck by creating a portfolio of images that, whilst on the one hand were creative and artistic....on the other hand had no relation to the wedding day itself. Just some food for thought. If I were to be creatively critical of your imagery I would encourage you to consider the background as an essential element of the image construction. Don't let it overpower the main subjects. Being a creative wedding photographer is truely a fine balancing act between allowing the wedding to progress without interefering and yet creating masterful images of the occasion. Therein lies one hell of a challange!

Matt... as usual I really value your input, and appreciate you taking the time ....

no need to worry too much about the creative side of the shots... i have enough 'stereotypical' wedding shots to fill their album... they have come out quite nicely and are very similar to my own wedding shots which I used to map out a path of what results i wanted for the couple.. i cannot post them as they are for the couple only..

you know me, i like to push the boundaries just a small amount... sometimes it works.. sometimes it doesn't get the results people want... with learning, I'll find the balance between the two ....

cheers

xerubus
That's how I usually work. Get the safe shots first and get them in the bag...then I try and get creative in the hope of snagging something special. If it doesn't work then no harm done.

Okay... here's a little dribble about the wedding shoot and what i've learnt just incase anyone else is doing the same.... keep in mind that i'm still learning, so take what i say with a pinch of salt.

a) patience! it is a very stressful day for the couple and all the families involved... and being patient is paramount. there's a lot going on, and sometimes the bride and groom can be a little vague at the best of times. if you come across relaxed and patient, it makes the day a lot easier..

b) know the clients. it was vital to try and figure out the personalities of the couple. i was lucky enough to work with them the weekend before, so managed to get an insight into who they are and what they like. i found that the best man or bridesmaid was a good person to communicate with throughout the day... they don't have as much on their mind, and are helpful with answering any questions you might have, as well as organising the bride and groom. get to know everyone's name in the bridal party and the families... there's nothing worse than someone talking to you by saying 'hey you with the red hair'...

c) be very careful with light. fill flash was essential on the day, as their service was in front of a big window with the morning sun shining directly in. i lost a few shots due to laziness and not thinking about the shot...

d) clarify the contract and plan ahead. for this wedding i knew the couple, so the contract on exactly what they were getting and what time they had with me was a little stretched. the next time i do a shoot i will be ensuring the couple know exactly what the costs and time frame are. planning ahead with this wedding was vital as the couple were in there own little world. if i hadn't planned what locations we were going to be taking shots, for how long, etc, the day would have never ended.

e) don't be afraid to step on people's toes. you have to be careful with this one, as you never know who your next clients are... however, you are the photographer, and if someone with a p&s get's in your way, make it very clear without being rude that they are in 'your space'. i had to step in front of people a few times to make sure i got the shot for the client...

f) the shots are for the client. this was the hardest part for me as i like to get a different perspective on a lot of shots.... just remember, the client wants 'the norm' in most cases, so make sure you capture it... once you've filled your quota with stereotypical shots which are saleable to the client, have some fun of your own....