How to edit wedding photos?

[bigheadkyle2]

I have a question that maybe someone can help me with. My brother just recently got married and they had a lady shoot the wedding that wasn't really a professional. She isn't experienced with Photoshop or Lightroom so she gave the pictures to us on a disk and I'm going to edit them. The question I have is how should I go about editing them? There are 350-ish pictures to begin with. Would this be a good way to go about it?

1. Delete all of the really bad shots to get down to 75 or so
2. Do color correction and other basic edits to all of the rest of them
3. Take 20-30 of those 75 and give them a little more work. Maybe some vignetting and other effects.
4. Take 5-10 of their favorite ones and do even more with them. Maybe some vintage looks or something like that.


How would you guys go about doing it?

 

[pixilstudio]

sounds like yo got it under control.. i like lightroom

 

[KmH]

Lightroom certainly has it's place, but it's Develope module is an incomplete editing solution. I don't use Lightroom much for editing, instead I use it's big brother Camera Raw (ACR 6) for my initial edits, and finish up in CS5.

Save every image as it was originally shot, only edit duplicates . Let the B&G decide what is really bad.

Are the photos Raw files ot JPEGs? If they are JPEGs you won't be able to do as much as you can do with Raw files.

What image editing applications do you have available?

 

[bigheadkyle2]

Yeah I know all about the editing side of things. I've done plenty of that. That's no big deal. I was just wondering how I should go about editing them as far as how many to edit. I prefer Lightroom over Camera Raw but the free trial of Lightroom ran out so I guess I'll be using Camera Raw and CS4 for them.

 

[WesternGuy]

I think that you are on the right track, I mean you have less than 400 images to work with. I would also consult with the B&G to see if they have any preferences, or images they would like to see - maybe they will agree to go through them with you. If you are going to prepare a wedding album, don't overlook collages, e.g., the B&G as the main subject in an image, with smaller images of the wedding party - best man, groomsmen on the Groom's side and the maid of honour and bridesmaids on the Brides side...same central image, with images of the B&G's parents on their respective side of the photo - you might even do some of these for framing, whether there is an album or not. Anyway, you get the idea, as the potential for collages are unlimited and are simply up to your imagination. As far as vignetting goes, don't overlook the potential of white vignettes as well as black/greyish ones - again - outcome from this is entirely what you can come up with from your imagination.

Maybe share a couple with the group here, so we can get an idea of what you have to work with...

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[Forkie]

DON'T DELETE THE "CRAPPY" ONES

Keep them, just don't use them. You never know, you may want to revisit them.

 

[bigheadkyle2]

DON'T DELETE THE "CRAPPY" ONES

Keep them, just don't use them. You never know, you may want to revisit them.

Yeah that's what I meant. I'm not going to delete any of them. I'll post a few on here sometime soon.

 

[KmH]

TPF rules/regs only allows us to post photos we have exclusive copyright to, or written permission from the copyright owner. Photography Forum & Digital Photography Forum FAQ

* You agree to only post images and/or other material to which you have exclusive copyright, or permission from the copyright holder that you are able to present to TPF Staff. Under no circumstances will any instance of copyright infringement be tolerated.

 

[bennielou]

Ok, I understand the deal, but you might have a problem here. If the photographer, however unprofessional, owns the rights to the photos, you might not be able to mess with them at all.

My heart goes out to you though. I know you are trying to help your friends.

Is there any way that the photog will turn over the rights?

 

[bigheadkyle2]

She has no idea I'm doing it. I don't even know if she knows I have them. I'm going to edit them all, post them all over the internet and make tons of money from them without her knowing it. She'll get over it. Copyrights are just make believe anyway.

 

[gsgary]

If they were not bothered about hiring a proper photographer to shot the wedding they could not have been bothered about good photos so why bother editing them, you get what you pay for

 

[bigheadkyle2]

If they were not bothered about hiring a proper photographer to shot the wedding they could not have been bothered about good photos so why bother editing them, you get what you pay for

They didn't bother because it costs a ton of money to hire a wedding photographer and believe it or not not everyone has the money or doesn't won't to spend that kind of money to hire a professional. That doesn't seem like the best mindset to have. Because they didn't have the money to hire someone then I shouldn't help them out with them? That seems like a ****ty attitude to have.

 

[gsgary]

If they were not bothered about hiring a proper photographer to shot the wedding they could not have been bothered about good photos so why bother editing them, you get what you pay for

They didn't bother because it costs a ton of money to hire a wedding photographer and believe it or not not everyone has the money or doesn't won't to spend that kind of money to hire a professional. That doesn't seem like the best mindset to have. Because they didn't have the money to hire someone then I shouldn't help them out with them? That seems like a ****ty attitude to have.

If your posting on this forum why didn't you shoot it ?

 

[bigheadkyle2]

If they were not bothered about hiring a proper photographer to shot the wedding they could not have been bothered about good photos so why bother editing them, you get what you pay for

They didn't bother because it costs a ton of money to hire a wedding photographer and believe it or not not everyone has the money or doesn't won't to spend that kind of money to hire a professional. That doesn't seem like the best mindset to have. Because they didn't have the money to hire someone then I shouldn't help them out with them? That seems like a ****ty attitude to have.

If your posting on this forum why didn't you shoot it ?

2 reasons, number 1, I don't have the proper equipment and number 2, I was the best man in the wedding.

 

[mrpink]

She has no idea I'm doing it. I don't even know if she knows I have them. I'm going to edit them all, post them all over the internet and make tons of money from them without her knowing it. She'll get over it. Copyrights are just make believe anyway.

That seems like a ****ty attitude to have.

Speaking of ****ty attitudes...

I hope you and your cheap brother get sued by this crappy photographer...






p!nK