All are my opinions and a matter of flavor, so you can take advice or not
Negative
All of the images seemed to be very soft and personally, I don't like the lighting - too flat. Chances are you used ambient light, and that would explain the lighting as well as skin tone color (too warm).
#1 - pose is crappy - it looks like a passport picture, not a wedding glamor; in future have them form a V and turn faces a bit towards the camera. Also for a pose like this camera angle should be a bit higher.
#2 - I like the idea but again- lighting and too soft.
#3 - better then #1 but same theme (lighting and softness - L&S from now on
)
#4 - cute snapshot
#5 - I'd prefer to see her in focus in the mirror, but that's me.
#6 - Camera angle, and L&S
#7 - Not sure what you're getting in this image - nor emphasis on the flowers, nor them holding hands, its just - waste of
film
Positive:
You have an idea of what should/could be done but you didn't get it (at least in the images you posted). It is a positive thing b/c there are people out there who'll have better L&S but no clue what is nice or not.
Here's my advice how to improve:
One of the most important aspects in photography is lighting. W/o light there's no image
. Now for portrait/people lighting, there are number of styles to do so. One of the most simple methods is flat - meaning foreground/background, R&L sides of the face/body have same amount of light. Flat is simpler but also boring. The problem that I have with ambient light
only is that it is usually flat & boring. That's why you should get a flash, yank it on top of the camera and start using it (shooting straight, bouncing it, turning it, etc etc. Unfortunatly, a lot of ppl are affraid of using flash, though will never admit to it, and therefore do everything possible not to use it. But fact is that if you look at high end (Hollywood for example) still & even video productions (if you don't want to listen to me) regardless of indoors or outdoors, they all use lights but they way they are used is to punctuate various features of the scene/frame. Law Order Series (SVU to be exact) comes in mind to a very thought-out and specific/dramatic lighting. Now, personally, I hate the color that ambient light produces thus at least WB should be corrected/adjust for it or yank a warm gel on the flash and shoot with that but
accent features.
Now the softness: you shot these at around 1.4, more sharpest apertures on most lenses is about 2-3stops DOWN from widest open - which explains why images are so soft.
Someone will read this, quote me, and will say complete opposite of me
and will say how only natural light is better, etc etc, but fact remains the same that this little "miracle" device that is called flash in an indispensable item and I
strongly urge you to get one and learn how to use it efficiently.
If what I said makes sense and you want to talk more about it, feel free to PM me. Also, I often recommend this site
Portrait Lighting to TPF community who wants to learn classical lighting.
One point on classical - yes, it is
old and many clients don't want their pictures to look like their parents/grandparents albums, however, if you know classical lighting (or music
) can easily adapt to any situation (read any score) and deliver outstanding product (performance).
EDIT
I mentioned film earlier... think film when you're shooting digital better yet think medium format film. Back in the day it was preferred format for wedding/portrait photographers. A rough estimate is from moment you purchase a roll of film, shoot and develop it, it is about about $1/frame - therefore it was taught that when you shoot - make your frames count and look good, don't waste it b/c it was a waste of money. If you keep that in mind, you'll quickly become more efficient and will have high % of keepers.
Good Luck
The room wasn't bad at all, but we paid for the view of the ocean more than anything haha - was a beach wedding.
.. oh boyee.. i just realized why they call "pocket wizards" "pocket wizards"..
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