First Wedding Attempt

[kopiosatu]

Only a few pictures here... but share your comments yea?

[kopiosatu]

Ideas for these collages are 'stolen' from iamasaint. I loved the way he did his pictures and I thought of trying it out. Sorry la, creativity engine haven't order yet...

[phtgrphrs]

Not bad for a first timer, but you have got a load to learn.

I guess you were trying to capture your photos jounalistically, but they are just not eye catching at all. More like point and shoot kinda photos.

And the collage is just too normal, anyone also can do that kind of collage. Try to order the creativity engine then. :P

[kopiosatu]

ok i need to know something... what am i supposed to capture during a wedding???

Creative engine on the way, yet to even know the full potential of photoshop!

[kopiosatu]

Btw i haven't attended a full day wedding since i was a kid! So I didn't know the traditional sequence, I went there blurer than any sotong in the world!! So besides the crash-course on wedding photography joho gave me. I hope someone can give me a clearer lesson here...

Or maybe joho can re-write the whole lesson (IN DETAIL). Hahahahahahaha!!!

[phtgrphrs]

You seriously think anyone will teach you properly from any course and become their competitor?

Besides, asking comment on this forum about wedding photos is a waste of time, those people who are in this line will not really give any comment or suggestion, at least not useful one. O ya give good suggestion and comment so that you can learn from them and become their stronger competitor?

Think again!

[kopiosatu]

hmmmm well nothing is a waste of time. if people want to sit back, sneer, don't want to give constructive comments and keep the 'trade secrets' then i guess its too bad.

i'm used to it, its the same as my day job. i'll know how to handle it. i don't need you to come around giving me logic i already know.

like i said, nothing is a waste of time. it is better to ask than to not ask at all.

[catchlights]

I do let someone tap along with me before, and share with those who interested in wedding day photography, but too busy lately.

Sometimes, some people here show kind of attitude, this is not the way to learn. If someone show great enthusiastic about wedding day photography, you can learn from many people.

Btw, I don’t think that anyone can learn to be a good wedding day photographer just overnight. You have to shoot least 20 weddings than you will known a little more about wedding day photography, 50 weddings to have your own style, but before that, tap along 10 weddings first.

[kopiosatu]

Originally Posted by catchlights I do let someone tap along with me before, and share with those who interested in wedding day photography, but too busy lately. Sometimes, some people here show kind of attitude, this is not the way to learn. If someone show great enthusiastic about wedding day photography, you can learn from many people. Btw, I don’t think that anyone can learn to be a good wedding day photographer just overnight. You have to shoot least 20 weddings than you will known a little more about wedding day photography, 50 weddings to have your own style, but before that, tap along 10 weddings first.

yeah i really need more shoots under my belt, now i'm still a headless chicken. for this shoot, i was thrown into the deep end. there was supposed to be another photographer, then he couldn't make it during the day and i was asked to cover the day shots. then after that at night cannot come so i was asked to cover the night shots.

quite a culture shock for me since i'm used to just taking scenary photos.

[thoa_rs]

A few tips, ask yourself 'why?' before you capture each photo. Why does this photo deserved to be captured? Is it because of the emotion? The moment? Or is it just to go with the flow of event coverage? Try not to rely too much on DI techniques like selective coloring and collages yet and focus on taking photos that matter. Like what you said, wedding photography is a bit different. You have to understand what makes weddings special, the true essence of weddings, to take good photos. Hope this helps.

[kopiosatu]

Originally Posted by thoa_rs A few tips, ask yourself 'why?' before you capture each photo. Why does this photo deserved to be captured? Is it because of the emotion? The moment? Or is it just to go with the flow of event coverage? Try not to rely too much on DI techniques like selective coloring and collages yet and focus on taking photos that matter. Like what you said, wedding photography is a bit different. You have to understand what makes weddings special, the true essence of weddings, to take good photos. Hope this helps.

got it~... ok maybe i don't got it... yet.

i need to shoot more man.

[TrailsofLife]

hi,

I have been doing quite a few weddings too, for extra cash since I am jobless.

I think your shots are good, if not better than some pro wedding shooters that do record shots just to make a living. Nothing pretty, just money shots.

My challenge to you is to take wide angle shots of ceremony, that's the difficult part. To record the couple and their families interaction, tea ceremony etc. during the wedding.

Until now, I still find it difficult to do a good wide shot, after like 10+ weddings.

Keep shooting...

[fWord]

I've no experience with wedding photography. Like yourself, I do simple landscape shots most of the time.

It's probably been said before, but I think that, with a bit of observation, you can be your best teacher. Try to gather resources and learn from them...in your case, ask to see as many of the wedding photographs from your relatives as you can. One or two shots in the entire album may strike you, and you can 'search' for those perspectives in the future.

Study your photos as objectively as you can, and think about what can be improved. I'm very new myself, so I always take a good look at my photos at the end of every photoshoot, decide what can be improved, and then go back to do it again, or wait for another opportunity to do so.

At other times it simply means having the camera ready and firing it off when you sense that something interesting is about to crop up. When it comes to scenery shots, it's possible to take your time to think of deeper meaning. But if you're using digital, and in a place where events only pass your way once, then there's no time.

Last but not least, relax, and put your subjects at ease with good cheer and unobstrusiveness. I find this difficult myself, but being tense will cripple your ability to see things in a fun and enjoyable light. And that's what photography is really all about.

Sorry about the long rant, and good luck.

[Virgo]

To me, as long as you've give your best shots, choose the best for the couple, and they and their relatives and friends like them, that's about it! There's no such things as good or bad in wedding photography. To me, I choose the best for the couple, and luckily, up till now, they liked them very much.

Manage their expectations. Find out what they like and dislike. You may sometimes need to change your style a bit to cater for their likes. After all, they're your clients!

Have your own style. The couple buy your style, not your pics. My style is different from yours, so I really can't comment much. But one word of caution, you have to capture the atmosphere, the moment, which I find it a bit lack. Human interaction is very important in my opinion. Yet again, it depends on your style.

Shoot more, compare more, and I'm sure you'll improve.

[BlueFly]

Your efforts are good for a first-timer, despite what you have been told. And you are humble enough to ask for help -- that is a good attitude that I applaud.

Aside from other good suggestions given by some posters, let me suggest that there is nothing better than watching and seeing the experienced wedding photographers in action. Ask some of the better ones and see if they will let you follow them around, perhaps as a junior or assistant..

Another way is to google for wedding photographers on the web -- there are plenty -- and most of them showcase their works e.g. http://www.carolsteele.co.uk -- she has an interesting biography, btw.

Obviously you should try to develop your own style instead of imitating others -- but that is how we all started our photography, be it as a professional or amateur.

All the best to you: maybe one day you may be the photographer for mine..

[kopiosatu]

thanks for all the tips~ i actually pasted all this 'lessons' in notepad to read it again and most probably as a reference in future, hahaha!

regarding pictures of interaction... ehhhh i'm holding onto them, cuz i don't wanna show too many faces on the internet yea?

[arttl]

A very good try given this is your first wedding shoot.

I don't even have this standard for my first wedding assignment. Keep shooting and observe everything around you. Need not be a wedding but simple things that happen in your daily life. In this way, you learn to appreciate life and photography. And when you shoot a wedding next time, eject that kind of observation and capture the love in the air.

Cheers

[SniperD]

Kopiosatu,

I think many here have given you very valuable advice, contrary to what phtgrphrs has said about information/ tips sharing.
Let me say that for a first timer, you are okie. Learn as you go along and you will see an improvement to your shots.

Capturing a wedding - anyone (and I really mean any one) with a camera (phone camera also can) can do. But capturing the essence of the wedding.. that is another perspective

Keep working harder!

[phtgrphrs]

O well may be times has changed, now more people willing to give userful
advices, unlike last time when I posted here, my mistake my mistake, so sorry about that, keep posting here and get more advice and good luck.

[deencat]

Originally Posted by thoa_rs A few tips, ask yourself 'why?' before you capture each photo. Why does this photo deserved to be captured? Is it because of the emotion? The moment? Or is it just to go with the flow of event coverage? Try not to rely too much on DI techniques like selective coloring and collages yet and focus on taking photos that matter. Like what you said, wedding photography is a bit different. You have to understand what makes weddings special, the true essence of weddings, to take good photos. Hope this helps.

I like ur pix man Thoa_rs, they're indeed diff from most wed photos I've seen. Do you DI this way for the whole wedding photos? How abt pose one ha? Any e.g. if ya do? Cheers man!