Help: I did a photo shoot for a couple that I will be doing their wedding next May. I wanted some practice opportunities so I said I would meet them at the place that they will be...

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I did a photo shoot for a couple that I will be doing their wedding next May. I wanted some practice opportunities so I said I would meet them at the place that they will be getting married and take some pictures. It's a learning curve with a new camera of a different manufacture and I did find a few mistakes on the way I had the camera programmed, all in all a great learning opportunity and the couple got some nice photos ...

Most were shot with my new Sony 35mm f/1.4 and of course my new Sony a7 III in jpeg

OK, to the 'help' request. I want to narrow down the quantity of photos I give them. The very best shots. So take a look at the gallery and tell me which ones you don't think are worthy of giving to the couple.

Thanks everyone ...

https://jerrydallonsphotography.smugmug.com/Taylor/n-T62ZFC/

Password: 10122018

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

I had a look and did want to comment but not sure how to correctly identify each image. Can you help? You certainly do have some quality shots for sure. The ones with the light strings I would take a pass on. Too distracting and their lines lead away from the people and out of the frame imho.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Mostly lovely shots. Number 1 and number 3 have one or other person slightly out of focus. I would take those out and show them the rest.

Beercat wrote:

I did a photo shoot for a couple that I will be do... (show quote)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

DebAnn wrote:

Mostly lovely shots. Number 1 and number 3 have one or other person slightly out of focus. I would take those out and show them the rest.

Thank you DebAnn ... you are correct. Deleted two pictures and made two variations of one photo.

The lights I have no problem with as one shows the venue and the place where they will tie the knot.

A camera/lenses and I'm not used to shooting with a 35mm f/1.4 so I'll need to remind myself to look closely at the DOF.

I also was having a problem getting the background exposure the way I wanted. It was programming issues, one problem I caught while there the other I didn't get corrected until back home and I did an internet search. This new Sony camera has so many programming options and it can change depending on the accessory manufacture you use, in this case I was using Godox off-camera and the Sony a7 III must be programmed slightly different than if you were using a Sony off-camera flash.

So .... when any of you make the jump to Sony lets talk, I'll give you so good advise ;)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I did go back out this afternoon and shot a few more pictures of the couple now that I found the one programming error ....

A re-do of the first picture from yesterday .... face and the ring are in perfect focus, even a tiny starburst on the ring :)

Thanks for the help :)

(Download)

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Beercat wrote:

I did go back out this afternoon and shot a few more pictures of the couple now that I found the one programming error ....

A re-do of the first picture from yesterday .... face and the ring are in perfect focus, even a tiny starburst on the ring :)

Thanks for the help :)

Jerry, I am not able to get your Smugmug link to work, but wanted to comment on this picture you posted. For me it is one of the best engagement shots I have seen. Along with perfect exposure and focus her expression is very good (eyes smiling), the hands are posed very well, and yes you pulled off a little starburst on the ring.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

It's a lovely shot. I'm just curious about the orange-ish light glow coming from the left. The woman's left hand (the one on the the right side of the photo) has normal colouring, but the face and the other hand do not. Did you have a filtered studio light on that side?

Beercat wrote:

I did go back out this afternoon and shot a few more pictures of the couple now that I found the one programming error ....

A re-do of the first picture from yesterday .... face and the ring are in perfect focus, even a tiny starburst on the ring :)

Thanks for the help :)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Probably a lighting issue between the ambient temp and the flash temp. I used only one-off camera speed light with a snoot from my right side and looking down a bit, Can I fix it? Sure but it doesn't change anything ...

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

jaysnave wrote:

Jerry, I am not able to get your Smugmug link to work, but wanted to comment on this picture you posted. For me it is one of the best engagement shots I have seen. Along with perfect exposure and focus her expression is very good (eyes smiling), the hands are posed very well, and yes you pulled off a little starburst on the ring.

Thanks Jay:)

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Beercat wrote:

Probably a lighting issue between the ambient temp and the flash temp. I used only one-off camera speed light with a snoot from my right side and looking down a bit, Can I fix it? Sure but it doesn't change anything ...

I noticed the color temp and I would probably drop the reds for the midwest look, but I can embrace it for the California look :)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

jaysnave wrote:

I noticed the color temp and I would probably drop the reds for the midwest look, but I can embrace it for the California look :)

I had the color balance at 6000K intentionally but of course the speed light is pounding out 5500K so there will be a small difference. I prefer a bit more warmth on my photos so I like 6000K outside.

Another from yesterday .... all shot in jpeg

(Download)

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Very nice shot. Just wondering why you aren't shooting in Raw. It would give you way more leeway in post processing, should you need to alter anything.

Beercat wrote:

I had the color balance at 6000K intentionally but of course the speed light is pounding out 5500K so there will be a small difference. I prefer a bit more warmth on my photos so I like 6000K outside.

Another from yesterday .... all shot in jpeg

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Beercat wrote:

I had the color balance at 6000K intentionally but of course the speed light is pounding out 5500K so there will be a small difference. I prefer a bit more warmth on my photos so I like 6000K outside.

Another from yesterday .... all shot in jpeg

Come on Jerry. Those are models right? Those poses and expressions are magazine worthy.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

DebAnn wrote:

Very nice shot. Just wondering why you aren't shooting in Raw. It would give you way more leeway in post processing, should you need to alter anything.

I shoot both RAW and jpeg, two card slots. However, I can edit a wedding in 1 day in jpeg .... 5/6 days in RAW. If the exposure is solid and all it the picture needs is a bit of 'spice' why get bogged down with 100's of RAW files? If a picture is a great shot but needs real help I can fix from the RAW. Time is money ....

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I also can't see smugmug from here, and this monitor isn't calibrated. On my "uncalibrated monitor" I do prefer the balance in the second photo as well, but love both poses. These are pretty much the looks I go for in my engagement photos.

I have a commercial job for the Auburn, Cord, Duisenberg museum, and talked one of my couples for next year, into getting their engagement photos done at the same museum. (kill 2 birds with one stone) Hopefully, I'll get some nice ones to share. I haven't been in the museum itself, just in their reception hall, so I'm not sure what we'll get into as far as being able to get nice shots in front of the old cars. The groom is into 30's era cars, so it was an easy sell.

bk