Accidentally took high ISO shots, need help reducing noise and processing

[Peaceful Dolphin]

I just realized the same thing, on my photos I just shot of a WHOLE wedding! I was outside taking some pics before the wedding, and cranked the ISO up to 1600. Explains why I couldn't get the lighting right. I am not sure what to do. If I should give them their $ back or what. I will try to use suggestions, and hope I didn't flub up too badly.

 

[Tinderbox (UK)]

Let them see the photo`s but don't tell them about the grain, and see what they say, most non photography people are a lot less fussy on image noise, than blurring caused by movement.

Can you post a sample, what camera did you use out of interest.

John.

 

[Overread14 2]

*thread split from the original one*

 

[dennybeall]

Do you have post-processing software like Photoshop? The Camera Raw filter in CC(2014) does a really nice job on jpg and tiff as well as the raw that it works best with.

 

[sashbar]

Topaz DeNoise - the #1 noise reduction software for photography

And you can download a trial version.

 

[Trever1t]

My first thought - You might want to rethink taking people's money. Not only could you ruin someone's special day with a lack of decent images but you could also put yourself in legal harm's way!!!! (keep in mind I do not know your experience or expertise and simple mistakes can and do happen...but)

Second thought - Arty black & white wedding photos!

 

[fotomonkey]

I've been a NoiseNinja user for years. I need to see how it compares to DeNoise.

Definitely sucks to have been on a paid job.

 

[Overread14 2]

If the exposures are good then noise recovery shouldn't be too much a problem with most digital cameras. ISO 1600 is very usable and chances after noise reduction and printing most of the noise will be gone.

 

[KmH]

Noise reduction often entails a loss of sharpness.
The more aggressive the noise reduction the greater the sharpness loss .
That's why the Sharpening panel in ACR (CC 2014 Camera Raw and LR Develop module) and both sharpening and noise reduction controls.
So you're going to need to balance the noise reduction with some sharpening.
You should also note that there are many sharpening techniques and you may need to use a combination of some them.

I agree it is quite possible your clients will be much more tolerant of the image noise.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't know that giving back them the money will solve the problem; I don't see how you can leave them without any photos of their wedding. Seems like you'll need to figure out what pictures are the most usable and do what you can to correct and adjust, and maybe offer a refund for part of what they paid to compensate for the quality of the photos if needed. Maybe doing some assisting would help you develop experience and build up toward your own business doing weddings.

 

[beachrat]

I just realized the same thing, on my photos I just shot of a WHOLE wedding! I was outside taking some pics before the wedding, and cranked the ISO up to 1600. Explains why I couldn't get the lighting right. I am not sure what to do. If I should give them their $ back or what. I will try to use suggestions, and hope I didn't flub up too badly.

None of this makes any sense.
You upped the ISO outside,and couldn't figure out the lighting inside because the ISO was too high?
Worse,you shot a wedding with bodies that can't handle 1600 and you aren't sure if they can be fixed?
There is no way in hell you should be attempting to shoot a wedding and trying to get paid for it.

 

[TreeofLifeStairs]

I just realized the same thing, on my photos I just shot of a WHOLE wedding! I was outside taking some pics before the wedding, and cranked the ISO up to 1600. Explains why I couldn't get the lighting right. I am not sure what to do. If I should give them their $ back or what. I will try to use suggestions, and hope I didn't flub up too badly.

None of this makes any sense.
You upped the ISO outside,and couldn't figure out the lighting inside because the ISO was too high?
Worse,you shot a wedding with bodies that can't handle 1600 and you aren't sure if they can be fixed?
There is no way in hell you should be attempting to shoot a wedding and trying to get paid for it.

I had the same questions. The only scenario I could come up with was that it was a night time wedding where it was darker outside than inside. In any case, what camera body we're you using to where 1600 doesn't work?

I know one time I grabbed my camera and cranked up the ISO and thought I was on 1600 but was actually on 16,000. It was only to take a couple shots of my kids though and not an entire wedding. Yikes

 

[beachrat]

I just realized the same thing, on my photos I just shot of a WHOLE wedding! I was outside taking some pics before the wedding, and cranked the ISO up to 1600. Explains why I couldn't get the lighting right. I am not sure what to do. If I should give them their $ back or what. I will try to use suggestions, and hope I didn't flub up too badly.

None of this makes any sense.
You upped the ISO outside,and couldn't figure out the lighting inside because the ISO was too high?
Worse,you shot a wedding with bodies that can't handle 1600 and you aren't sure if they can be fixed?
There is no way in hell you should be attempting to shoot a wedding and trying to get paid for it.

I had the same questions. The only scenario I could come up with was that it was a night time wedding where it was darker outside than inside. In any case, what camera body we're you using to where 1600 doesn't work?

I know one time I grabbed my camera and cranked up the ISO and thought I was on 1600 but was actually on 16,000. It was only to take a couple shots of my kids though and not an entire wedding. Yikes

ANYBODY can make a mistake like that.
A working pro figures it out. And quickly.
How do you shoot a wedding and not see that there's a lighting problem?

 

[runnah]

I would have to see the images before I could reach a "use/not use" verdict. If the camera is a high end body made within the past 5 years my gut says it's fine. If it's an entry level body or a very old pro body then I'd say you might be in trouble.

But I will echo the sentiment that this is a basic error that should not happen. Regardless of the event not changing or checking a fundamental setting is a clear indicator that you are not ready for paying work.

 

[Overread14 2]

Even entry level should be able to handle ISO 1600 so long as the exposures are good - esp for prints. Sure results won't be as good as a low ISO but they should be fully usable.

The key really is how the shots came out - if they are significantly underexposed there might be problems - if they are significantly overexposed chances are there is little recovery room.

It can happen - heck till I started shooting indoor equine events a few times I'd hardly gone much above ISO 800 and the odd 1600 - its a whole new ballgame when you're dealing with serious noise as opposed to light noise.