I just started my own wedding photography business, and I'm looking to get some kind of critique of my photos. I have been an amateur photographer for a while, and I'm also an oil painter, so I'm hoping my knowledge of composition and design has translated well in my photographs. Please be honest - I want to be the best I can!
Website is:
http://www.artistseyephoto.com
2007-11-04 13:13:12 · 15 answers · asked by starryartist99 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
By the way, I have taken photography classes throughout high school and college, and I'm actually getting my MFA right now (taking several classes in photography) from AAU in San Francisco. I still have a lot to learn, but I surely don't think anyone can pick up a digital camera and be a photographer. I've read several books in wedding photography and digital photography, and I'm learning more about using my on-camera flash (bounce flash, fill flash, etc.). I work in the photojournalistic style, so most of my photos are not "posed."
2007-11-04 13:32:46 · update #1
I see some potential, but I can also see some places for improvement.
1) Some shots require that there be critical focus. There are a lot in there that have very fuzzy faces. Could be how they were compressed for the web, if so you need to fix that. Your displayed work is your portfolio others will look at to determine your quality.
2) Color and white balance. Make sure that you get these nailed.
3) There is more to a wedding than the posed shots, and those seem to be the ones that you took the most time with. Ones during the ceremony seemed like an after thought. The ceremony is where you'll get the most honest emotion. Those tend to be the "wow" shots that all my clients comment on the most.
On other notes...loud music that cannot be turned off on websites is annoying, so Antoni, you are not alone. A lot of pomp and "Flash" for the site is annoying as well. A well designed basic website that showcases the talent would do you much better than some slow loading(for some people - remember, there are still slow DSL and dial uppers out there) Flash site with music.
Keep working hard, improving your skills. If possible, see if you cannot be a second shooter or apprentice for an established wedding photographer.
2007-11-05 02:35:42 · answer #1 · answered by gryphon1911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not bad, for a beginner, but nothing outstanding either. You need to work on WB, the color is all over the place, especially on the indoor images. One of the inside images looks soft, might just be a result of resizing for web. If it is soft in reality, get rid of it. Many could use less DOF. Your composition seems static and centered to me. A few people are cropped at the knee (usually bad idea). I liked the bouquet toss best, and the portrait with the red leaves at their feet. She was a lovely bride and a beautiful location.
What's up with the other non-wedding images? The one with the weedy fluff balls in particular isn't a strong image, and I wondered at first what that had to do with the wedding couple. Then I noticed I had to go to a different gallery to see teh wedding. . If you are wanting to shoot weddings, I would eliminate the other stuff and "focus" on weddings.
I agree about the man's hand, really icky looking. Some careful Photoshop work would do wonders, but it would have been better to position woman's hand on top. Sometimes I just do the rings on the flowers, minus the hands if neither the B or G have nice hands, or position the hands so the cuticles won't show.
It would be nice to see more faces. I'm sure you have oodles of images. Assuming you are shooting your first weddings for free or at cost, the B & G should be satisified. If possible, you might want to apprentice with an established pro for at least a few weddings, it will help immensly in ways you don't even realize. Also get a backup kit, including camera body, flash, lenses, cords, etc etc if you haven't already.
All in all, it's a start. Weed out the weaker images and only use your best, especially for your website. There were a few I would get rid of, the back of the people with the twisted camera strap and the awful hand shot. Be brutal in edit, you want potential brides to see your best, not a mish mash of snapshots, almost there, and fairly good. Best wishes to you.
2007-11-05 00:34:45 · answer #2 · answered by Ara57 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Starrya!
Nice work, but your site takes way to long to load everything. You should have someone tighten that up for you. I have a fast connection and it bugged me.
I think you'll be a success if you work the business hard enough. The 'photojournalistic style' is becoming more popular for weddings.
You handle natural light, composition and color well, which I would expect. However, from what I looked at, your shooting is more of a naturalistic or casual style than photojournalistic by nature. This is a big, gray, fuzzy area in wedding photography, but there is more of a story in what I would consider photojournalistic pictures. This isn't a matter of visual style, but of being sensitive to the action and emotional development that is constantly going on around you.
A good photojournalism picture captures something of what went before and implies the future in the moment captured. However, that is just my take as a photojournalist. I am fine with the term 'photojournalistic style'.
Gryphon also makes a point about the formals, they are the ones that sell. As a historical matter and therefore a matter of customer expectations, you need them. This doesn't mean you have to do certain posings. Far from it, look at the work of Yervant, but you do need to memorialize the formality of the occasion.
Vance
2007-11-05 03:16:53 · answer #3 · answered by Seamless_1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I will be totally honest!
1) Get rid of all the other pics on your site or make up a wedding album link-all th eother stuff bored me seen it all before
2) people want to see wedding pics not 1 wedding pic and another of mopeds in a road- it was long and boring to get to what you NEED,to so desperatly want to know, which was 'Can I take good wedding pics? not LOOK at all of my other pictures.
sorry if that sounds harsh but I am honest!
back to your question
in some they are great natural and not posed in others like the bride groom on the rocks in the stream would have been beautifulif he were not avoiding getting smacked in the face with the bouquet, had he been leaning toward his wife they would not look so stiff, try to be assertive and see what the bride and groom want also make sure it works for you if it looks awkward tell them to move in a certain way some were lovely and natural others abit distant and not relevant to the day position yourself on THEM only then the rest of the other things
saying this I would get you to take my wedding pics but would also feel i would direct you too-after all I only get one chance I want them nice,.
also I am of adifferent view to yours about anybody picking up a digital camera and being good-they can and are and even the best of the best use touch up software and use filters etc.
so i believe that you may be trying too hard relax a bit you obviously have talent and a passion-let the passion come out more you will get a better picture.
hope this has been constructive critisism and you don't feel offended.
terrie
2007-11-04 14:21:04 · answer #4 · answered by terrieangel12 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have amazing photos! You really did well capturing emotion in the wedding photos. I cannot critique, but the only thing that I noticed that you may want to do differently is to place the woman's hand on top of the man's because women's hands are generally more beautiful. That guy had some gnarly cuticles!
The pictures were great though! Really stunning!
2007-11-04 13:26:05 · answer #5 · answered by its_jim_morrison 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-02-13 16:56:50 · answer #6 · answered by Shiloh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i set a new rule for myself last week, i now dont bother with sites that pump music into my browser........no doubt others find it annoying also......so learn from that
being an artist means nothing, do you know off camera flash et cetera??
the one image i saw of flowers looked like an artist that thinks photography (good stuff anyway) requires no skills or schooling or training,
if your serious goto a photography school and study photography - as honest as it gets
EDIT: excellent to hear you are studing hard.......sorry the music is annoying to me - i could be on my own there??
congrads you know that study is key, keep at it and you will go further than those think they are to smart to study
a
2007-11-04 13:23:16 · answer #7 · answered by Antoni 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No way, I LOVE Them so much, and your an amateur...I love your natural way of photography...how u didn't make them pose...SO beautiful.
When I get married I'll give u a call
Keep on doing the best u can and improve as much as u can...but keep the natural beauty of ur photography always!
Oh, and where did u take them...beautiful place!
2007-11-04 13:23:26 · answer #8 · answered by Allana S 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-03-02 10:08:19 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're doing great. You recognize that you still have a lot to learn and yet you don't let that deter you from following your passion. I applaud you and would only say that it would have been nice to see more faces. Keep learning and following your dream.
2007-11-04 13:46:12 · answer #10 · answered by gamuttime 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋