1 I would crop lots of the top. I woudl also crop out the flowers on the left. This focesses the viewer on the main subject.
2 would be better if you got the bottoms of their legs
3 the background is very distracting. I would blur it with magic wand and average blur
4 is soft and has an akward frame through the hips -the rule of thumb is to frame away from joints. I think this needs to be cropped much closer. The background is competing with the main subject.
5 I like the picture but would crop off some top. Nice emotions and interesting.
6 is good but I would crop closer
7 i would crop of the nose on the left - leaving 1/2 the face looks awkward
8 I would crop tighter too - the posture makes her look chubby - and she is not - cropping off top and bottom would improve.
9 is good but I would I would make less centred by cropping just to increase the interest
10 is a nice shot - the banding behind is distracting a bit - I would try selecting the backgroudn and average blur to improve - but I like it
11is good for me. If you had a chance to reshoot I would choose a less textured background
12 is good but a little square - I would trim off a bit to the left to see if it improves and bring out the details in her dress with highlights/shadows.
13 is nice but I would trim a bit off the top
I have never shot a wedding or any other event for money and I am sure it is difficult so take my comments as they are intended - to be constructive.
I really appreciate you taking the time to touch on them all. And a bit glad to hear your cropping advice. All of these were most likely cropped a bit from the original, so it should be easy corrections, that will really enhance the images. I'll keep it in mind as i go through the rest. It is probably the thing i pay the least attention to- so you saying it so often is great, because now I will know to pay more attention.
I really wanted to step away from my norms on this wedding, but to be honest, I think i stayed in my box way too much. I have vowed for more off camera lighting next time around.
First, I have no experience shooting weddings - tried several of a relative's (not during ceremony) and the results were OK but I would categorize as "something family would like", IYKWIM.
On the B&Ws, I suggest a slightly warmer tone (but then it may be this monitor) . I prefer #1 to all, and agree with Scott re cropping etc.
Slightly different question: the Exifs indicate a D3, which (I have a D70 & 70s) from what I've read and seen in the Nikon forum is a killer at high ISO in available light. The Exifs seem to indicate you shot at ISO AUTO (ISO varies across images - I may be totally wrong here) and used a flash occasionally. If this is the case, may I inquire what caused you to select these settings? Is it to control for DOF?
Thanks,
my 2-cents (BTW, the facial resemblance between the bride and groom is remarkable)
You think they look alike? that's funny. people say me and my husband look like we could be siblings. If you could see them compared to their respective families you may think different. He and his sister look just alike, and much like their parents... and her and her sister look like a good match for their parents too. They make a great couple i think... plus they are just plain nice!
The B&W thing. i don't think i understand what you are saying. They are desaturated, not blue or any other color really... so if they look really blue on your screen, i'd say- yea, run a calibration! I'm calibrated here and at home, and I don't see blue- but if someone else does, please jump in!
I am shooting with the D3. I didn't use ISO auto, although I seriously considered it. I just was changing it thoroughout the day to see what it could do. I probably will set it to Auto ISO for my next wedding becasue you can set a max, and then just set it on manual to control my DOF, etc. Everything up to 6400 was just fantastic.... and don't get me wrong, properly exposed, 6400 was totally useable. This camera is amazing. I used fill flash as I thought it was needed, mostly I am bouncing, just fill in those cases.
Yes, this monitor is not calibrated - I'd have a hard time explaining that to my boss I'll have another look at home - typically I prefer a slightly warm tone, but then that's just me.
Later: yep, calibrated monitor looks much better
I've read amazing things about the D3 - one day I hope to get a D300, but frankly, I've yet to fully utilize what I already have.
wasn't that difficult actually (thanks)