A few months ago I posted asking for pointers for my first wedding shoot. It was for close friends and I did it for free, for them to consider as my present.
I found the job very enjoyable most of all because of the location. The Alhambra at Granada. I recruited my wife as my assistant, mostly to hold a big gold/silver reflector.
We managed to use areas that were not crowded for the shoot. I used my 5D + 24-105 f4 L IS USM as first choice and my 10D + 50mm f1.8 mkII. Plenty of cards and several spare charged batteries just in case.
Their reaction to the result has been great. I have been given a lot of praise both from the couple and from some family members I have bumped into.
In total I processed 245 images, but many of them were multiples of the same shot, i.e. one colour, one b&w and one processed with the midnight sepia action, which I showed them as an initial test and they liked for the 'dreamy' look.
Below are a few of the images, and also a link to a selection of 37. I have purposefully included the different processings of one same shot. I'd welcome your comments and criticism. Please bear in mind this was my first wedding, but dont hesitate to say what you want to say, I want to learn from the experience as much as possible.
I think 2 is a wonderful moment with great lighting. I also love number 3. I wish you'd been straight on with it instead of shooting from a slight angle.
Number 1 could be nice, if it weren't for the selective color. I just can't get behind that. Number 6 feels like a snapshot. I think you were too close to the couple when you took the shot, and the composition just doesn't work. The background distracts instead of enhancing the shot. Otherwise, a pretty nice little set.
I like all of em, even the selective color photo. But I am in the camp of letting selective coloring die. 1 out of every 1,000 photos probably need to be selective colored. =o)
I totally agree about selective colour, the problem, if you want to call it that, is people like it. They loved that shot. The parents loved that shot. The friends loved that shot. Who am I to deprive them from it?
I did overexpose some highlights, mea culpa. Luckily non-photographers dont seem to mind them so long as the image has enough of a well exposed subject for them to look at, but still, I took this shoot seriously and I'd like it to stand to the scrutiny of other photographers.
#2 and #3 are also two of their favourites, and mine so I guess I did well there. gregneil: You are correct about #3 having been better head-on, and if I remember correctly I was in that position due to an obstacle. There were some works being done there, and to walk further away, behind the works for the shot required a longer focal length than I had. Maybe cropping a little would help.
The thing is I have avoided cropping any of the shots so that they can all be printed in standard sizes.
Anyhow, thanks for your comments, and I am glad overall you like what I did
John Power wrote:
Wonder what they charge for that place. I have been there and its big so I guess you rent out a small part of it...
John, what you rent out is within the premises of the hotel. There is an area within the walls of the Alhambra but which is (technically outside for visiting purposes) which has a couple of shops, a cheaper hotel and a mode luxurious one called 'El Parador'. The hotel itself is built around parts of ancient Alhambra constructions. This is where they hedl the ceremony and the reception.
After the ceremony the couple, my wife and myself went into the Alhambra premises proper with our tickets and when to an area which is mainly gardens and least crowded with tourists, so we could get on with the shoot and not too much interruption.
Pricewise, I have no idea of how much the area for the ceremony cost to rent and to decorate/dress. Neither have I got any idea how much the reception/food, but I can tell you it was a beautiful terrace with lovely views of the Alhambra palaces.
The nuptial suite was 600 euros a night and rooms for guests were 300 euros a night.
To rent the Alhambra itself (or at least close it for one day for your use) you'd probably need a hollywood movie budget and a very good reason
