BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

A friend asked me to photograph her wedding (for free)........I am new at this. I have been the second shooter for a couple of weddings. I know many of you are familiar with shooting weddings and can give me an honest evaluation and critique of these photos so next time I can do better!
Thanks in advance.......and please download them to get more detail.

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Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Oh boy .... gentle, be gentle

The pictures are way over saturated

To much contrast

Under exposed

Composition could be better (think thirds)

On several pictures you have subjects looking at 4 different people who probably had cameras

Hands in all different positions

People in the background of a posed shot

Color balance was off

You shot in jpeg

I could go on but this will do for now ... work on the ones I mentioned ;)

Everything I mentioned above is happening on this picture, some of it I corrected the best I could using the small file you uploaded and of course limitations in jpeg format ....

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justhercamera Loc: NW Michigan

I remember the first wedding I shot... I didn't know enough to use fill flash, or to keep the photos until receiving payment (so it was for free), oh, the lessons I learned. You are getting good advice and I am sure there will be more. You are brave, you photographed the wedding, and asked for critique. Kudos!

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Thanks Beercat for all of the points that you took the time to share with me. I knew I was opening myself up to be ripped apart, but how else can you learn? I do appreciate the list of "no-no's" that I have done and for your alterations on the one photo.
I thought #2 was a good shot...........maybe I'm wrong? I'm ok with more pointers about all the photos.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Yes, justhercamera, I am brave about asking to be critiqued. I knew going into this that the photos were not on the standard of most of you pros that shoot weddings all the time. I also worked for FREE, but I knew this going in to the photo shoot. It was a favor to the bride. I feel somewhat justified of not giving them the best quality of wedding photos since it was FREE! You know the old saying.......you get what you pay for. It's a learning experience for me so I have gained something even if the bride and groom have not received the best quality photos.

justhercamera Loc: NW Michigan

I also made the mistake of not taking control of the shoot and I also had photos with people looking at other cameras, not mine. Is Beercat correct that you shot in jpeg, not RAW? The photo of the bride on the stairs could be brightened up some, and be improved. The photo of the bride and groom during the ceremony from way down the walkway... the eye goes to the wrinkled aisle runner, not the bride and groom.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Yes, Beercat is correct that I did not shoot the photos in RAW. Yes, your eye goes to the wrinkled aisle runner. And yes I also did not take control of the shoot and had people looking at other cameras. Thanks for pointing all of these out. There is a lot to remember of do's and don'ts when shooting a wedding. I'm sure experience makes a huge difference from learning all the right and wrong things about this specific kind of photo shoot.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Brent ... not ripping you apart. Your going at these the correct way in that it was for free/ You get lab rats and they get more pictures. it's a win / win. Learn from all your freebies, continue to ask for second shooter assignments. You will get there. After I decided to learn still photography for weddings I gleaned watching other photogs, watched everything on Kelby/One and during video stuff at weddings that we got paid for I would always practice stills after we had gotten everything we needed and usually after the photog had left. Would ask the B&G for permission, they always said yes ... after about 2 years I went for it for s wedding shoot. Charge a fair fee based on my ability .... every year I've raised my prices as my ability increased, that was 3 years ago that I shot my first wedding. This year I now feel prepared for pretty much anything I walk into but it took a 5 year learning curve to get there. It's a journey .... stay at it and you will make it.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Love your work, just not your wedding work. Seems you need to get yourself one of those new devices they call a flash. Weddings pretty much demand the use of flash. Jpeg?? Not for me!

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I never ... I'll say again ... never use a flash during a ceremony. Some photogs do, I don'y and the majority I know do not. I make a big deal about about keeping my distance from the actual place they will stand. Guest come to a wedding to see the couple, not a photog. Today we have fast long lenses, cameras that do well in the higher ISO range so no need to use a flash. The majority of my weddings are outside with tons of backlight (thing beach wedding) .... I never use as flash ... use a shutter priority or aperture priority and use exposure compensation. Yes you need to learn how far you can push it and not loose the detail of your subjects, it's a learning curve, a must for the pro is knowing how to use exposure compensation correctly.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

[quote=BrentHarder]Thanks Beercat for all of the points that you took the time to share with me. I knew I was opening myself up to be ripped apart, but how else can you learn? I do appreciate the list of "no-no's" that I have done and for your alterations on the one photo.

I thought #2 was a good shot...........maybe I'm wrong? I'm ok with more pointers about all the photos.[/q

#2 is nice though I would of made it brighter which would add contrast to the shot making the rings stand out more. It's a safe shoot. On a different thread under wedding photography I gave the details how to do a good shot of rings quickly ... go read it ... I even give the settings ;)

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I agree completely concerning the ceremony, but not for the formals and other shots. Just trying to give Bent some constructive assistance as his surfing photography is spectacular. Me, I did weddings for about 10 years and said "Enough!" about 10-15 years ago. I don't miss them at all! My last wedding, about three years ago, was a freebie for a good friend, but I did charge for normal prices for prints, just no additional fees. God love those with the patience and persistence to do weddings in this time where everyone carries a camera and is a wedding photographer. I'll stick with sports and portraits. Best of luck.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I use flash many times for the portraits and of course the reception ... just not the ceremony.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

My point exactly!

Wakko12 Loc: New Hampshire

Brent - thank you posting these. Others learn from your mistakes, too. I recently, as a favor to a friend, did my first solo wedding and made many of the same mistakes. My biggest is that I need to take control more and try to be less flexible. (Sure, I don’t have to see the venue first... it’s fine if you push the morning wedding back to noon and outside...) ugh.