fotodon Loc: Oberlin, OH

The below link will take you to a site that has some winners in an International Wedding Photographers contest. Most, if not all, are inspirational. And the best part of this contest is it is broken up into many categories and the judges seem to focus very well on the intent of those categories. At least, if you look at the image before you know what the category is you can guess with ease because the images are great examples.

I would love to hear your take on these in general or specifically.

http://www.boredpanda.com/wedding-photo-awards-2014-ispwp/

Don

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

So many to comment on. Overall, I saw some really good Photoshop work which inspires me to refine my photoshop skills. I also saw some great compositions capturing some great emotional moments and angles I had not thought of. And, who came up with that engagement photo idea to grab the shorts? Just curious.

greg vescuso Loc: Ozark,Mo.

I really like this shot for the classic feel. It doesn't look like too much post processing was used to capture a beautiful moment in time. To me it looks like he just used a off camera flash to light up the bride and groom from the dance floor and then shooting from above with just enough of the chandelier to give the feel of the room and drawing your attention back to the bride and groom perfectly.

Photo credits: Peter van der Lingen

(Download)

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Wow, I can only aspire to come up with shots like that. Guess that's why you don't see any of my images in international awards. Among the many other reasons....

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Some good stuff, especially some of the compositions, I'll remember a few of those to use in the future.

I di agree that this is as much a lesson in PP than anything else.

It's easy to look at photos like this and get all amazed but we must remember these are the best of several high end photographers and each has been highly enhanced in PP.

This isn't the real world of wedding photography, your lucky to get a handful of good shots after an all day shoot. I remember one world renowned wedding photographer stated on a KelbyOne teaching series that if he gets one WOW photo each year he is inspired to continue, another words you can't look at a gallery like this and look at it in any form of reality ........

But as I said, some great compositions to consider for future use ........ thanks for sharing the link.

LKincaid Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Wow, beautiful photos!

fotodon Loc: Oberlin, OH

I don't know about you Beercat, but I get a half dozen shots like these at every wedding. And if you believe that I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

Kidding aside, I agree with your "real world" comment. And, I think the world renowned photog you referred to probably gets lots of WOW shoots every wedding. I believe he was making the point that it takes very little self gratification to keep us wacko, I mean dedicated, wedding photographers going. Many of us feel that there are many rewards to be had that have little to do with getting the perfect shot. At least that is the way I understood it coming from Jerry Ghionas at a seminar I attended. Maybe your photographer meant it differently.

IMHO, the 1st place lighting shot (1st pic) is an example of the kind of PS talent that most photographers haven't mastered. I know I haven't. However, the initial lighting setup is superb and I think would give Joe McNally goose bumps. If you have followed Joe you know that this type of setup is not all that difficult and very flexible with available environments so not to be cliché. But, I would not want to, nor be able to, put the time and effort into the planning, setup, and PP for this except to try and win some prestigious award.

I do believe that these winners, however unlikely to be common, do raise the bar on wedding photography. And lord knows we need that to happen. Prospective brides are being buried alive in mediocre wedding pics from mediocre wannabe wedding photographers that won't take the time to study winners like these.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Agree with much of what you shared .......... except

The WOW comment. It was Cliff Mautner who said it and I know exactly what he meant. As you get better as a wedding photographer your bar is set higher and higher, what wowed me a year ago doesn't do it now because I've set my own personal bar higher. This may be more true for budding wedding photographers as our bar is changing rapidly. In the case of Cliff's comment his bar is set very high and for him personally he doesn't get the WOW very often, for his own satisfaction though I sure he gets many good shots at weddings that would WOW us and more importantly the brides she shoots ..... you get my point.

When I look at award winning pictures like these I look for the ones that can be applied to most weddings. Example, the Eiffel tower picture. No I don't have the Eiffel tower handy but the posed, the groom seen through the legs of the bride ...... that is an easy shot to pull off at pretty much any location and is interesting. In all there are a handful of posed shots that I'll remember when I shooting weddings. What is interesting is how many candid shots won ......... I love candid shots and for the most part those are the ones B&G's will share and love the most, at least I have found that to be true in my case which of course has been primarily video.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Part of the issue I've always run into is the fact that people are still very reluctant to do first looks photos. If I get time before the wedding, I can get much more creative, even shoots soon after the wedding will work, but the actual day of, well... you know how hard it is to take any extra time to get the really, truly, beautifully set up shots. I meet with couples all the time that show me things from Pinterist, and I let them know that if we can shoot before, or when they get back (which sometimes means another tux rental) we can do that kind of thing, but if they just want to fly through the day, they'll just get the typical, traditional and candid photos. Even after telling them that, they still (usually because of brides Mom) wont' do first looks, and the guy's never want to dress up in the "monkey suit" again. So.........I just do the best I can, with what I can.

fotodon Loc: Oberlin, OH

To Beercat: Understood and agree. BTW, partner Terri likes the Eiffel Tower one the best also. Did you notice where the shot was taken. Not Paris. Either a replica or photoshop. Yes, it is important to look at as many wedding pics as possible for inspiration. But, I have found out the hard way that it is just as important to analyze each one for method and technique. The wedding is the wrong place to be doing "design and engineering".

To bkyser: Been there, done that. Often, no amount of pre-wed consultation and "coaching" can get a B&G to meet us half way. Then, sometimes, surprise, surprise, they do a 180 the morning of the wedding and want to go all out for the pics. Whoopee...so much fun...not!!

We do the best we can. We try to make the formals as elegant (are you there Ed Shapiro) as we can. We try to capture the drama in everything else. In the end we probably won't have any award winners. It seems to me, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to maintain the highest degree of professionalism and produce a truly artistic, fine art album for the B&G.

Don

Bobbee

There were some very good photographs in that gallery/contest. I keep a directory on my Tablet of possible shots and show them to the bride to get her take on what is possible and also that a stout face is not the only one I am looking for. I copied some of those photos to add to my examples. Thanks.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

they put the rings, vows and aisle shots in proper perspective.