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two questions , editing wedding photos. also laser lights
Sep 7, 2017 12:48:08   #
bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.
 
I roam the wedding reception taking random candid shots of guests.

While editing I just do a few corrections in ACR brightness, saturation etc and then crop areas that are not needed etc.

I dont remove people, glasses on tables etc.

How much editing do you do to your random shots. Just wondering.

Next question, Stupid colored laser lights flashing around the reception, I try and edit them out when they are on faces etc. How do u handle that?

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Sep 8, 2017 08:34:03   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
I try to produce even, clean and consistent files when shooting candid shots at receptions with the objective of minimal editing-like you said, the odd crop, color, contrast or saturation adjustment.

Crazy lighting- laser etc.? I process them AS IS- DJs and bands do various kinds of stage lighting (laser, strobe,black light, sparklers, smoke- whatever) to create the mood so I try to capture it realistically. I only do corrective facial, skin and other aesthetics on the formal portraits and a few candids if required- toasting, head table, cake cutting- shots where blemishes on the faces may be distracting.

I hope this helps.

Ed

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Sep 8, 2017 17:44:14   #
jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio
 
I love getting candids at the reception. For the main events like father daughter dance & cake cutting I will use good lighting for nice crisp images and spend a fair amount of editing time. When the venue drops the light to almost darkness I will start looking for the right mix of strobe + crazy dj lights with acceptable ISO to capture the environment. Sometimes the crazy lights can make for some interesting images. Anyway, as for editing not that much. Usually no retouching needed which is the most time consuming. I will not remove stuff unless it really does not fit the scene.

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Sep 9, 2017 08:37:22   #
crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada
 
Very rarely do more than lightroom/ACR level exposure/color/noise/crop level tweaks. Try to not change settings too much when shooting the reception and use my feet vs zoom where possible so on-camera fill is always the same (dont trust ettl in that situation).

That way, I can edit 1 to perfection and then copy the settings bulk. After that, just cropping and minor tweaks....including healing the grooms blemish on his face that was building during the day ... in lightroom, its a quick fix :-)

If one of the photos is special...i will spend more time on it but most get the aame treatment as others noted here
.

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Sep 13, 2017 16:52:37   #
bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana
 
I'm not the "expert" like Ed, but ditto on what he said... HAHA, that's an easy answer.
I treat a reception much different than the wedding, formals, and "reception events like cake, bouquet and garter, etc.

For table shots (I know some that just don't do them, because they don't "sell" they do go well in albums, especially when you may not know that some relative made a surprise trip from across the country, or grandparents that got out of sick beds to show up, etc.

Tim Stapp will tell you that I'm a stickler for table shots. However many shooters I have, I make sure that we will split the room up, divide and conquer. It's not a matter of grabbing shots with people just talking to each other, or maybe taking a drink. I want people posed in groups. If they are at the same table, they will be put into a group. I don't give them a choice. I tell them that the bride and groom want a photo of their group. We have them all gather on one side, and then say something to get a smile. If someone doesn't want their photo taken, I just ask the group to line up around that person, and take it anyway. If they are grimacing, well, that's on them. Normally, they get "the joke" and will join in anyway. I know my daughter had that happen, only to have the cops show up and arrest 2 of the people at the reception, because they had open warrants. She wasn't blamed, because they were uninvited guests, and one of their own relatives called the sheriff, (exciting) We NEVER take photos of people putting food in their mouths, other than B&G and the cake.
For dance floor and crazy lights. It's just a part of life. I don't try to edit it out. If the lights are interesting, good for me. If they are just awful, I don't use that photo. I actually love to use a gelled light as a backlight on the dance floor, and try to take advantage of any fancy lights that the DJ may have. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Not sure if this has been mentioned recently, but it was beaten into me in my apprentice days, and I still believe it should be everyone's first rule. If it isn't something you would be proud to display and say "this represents my work" then it should never be shown to the client.

There's no reason on earth to give someone 3000 photos to look through and try to pick something to print. That's OUR job. We should cull it to something reasonable. (even 300-500 are just overwhelming) In the film days, we'd give them a max of maybe 36-48, before that, it was more like 12.
If people ask me how many photos I take, I explain that it's quality, not quantity, there's "only one Mona Lisa" I will tell the story of their most beautiful day, and I won't throw them a disk of several thousand images and wish them luck. IN any "people photography" it's our job to help them pick everything. I don't ask them to choose the photos for a slideshow or album. I do it all, then give them a proof. If they don't like a choice or two, I change that. Rarely happens... Normally, the bride is crying, and the groom can't keep the smile off his face.

So, do I just keep them? Not many, but I do try to capture it as it happened, crazy lights and all. I surely don't mess with trying to remove lights that they actually paid the DJ good money to include.

OK, off my soapbox. Hoping I helped, even if just a bit.

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