Shot at three p.m, in Texas heat, but I really like this shot. Two different versions, one just got a little punch in Lightroom. Minimal Photoshop done, cloned out a sign on the right and a skin blur to hide the sweat. It is Texas afterall!
The key to wedding images is how does the bride like them. For myself, I'm not keen on either pose, although the first is better than the second. Her arm position isn't flattering. The variable light on the bride's arm, shoulders and face isn't ideal. You should be able to improve it with some artful dodging of the bride and bouquet. The second image trades emphasis on the bride for emphasis on the environment. That's generally an unfavorable trade for a wedding image.
SAREBEL, the "Missions" here are definately some of the best venues for Bridals...As mentioned before the first is more attention on the "bride to be". Great colors and you nailed the exposure. The sun looks also as if it's causing her to squint just a bit. Which lens was this shot with?
Would have preferred to see a shot of her against the left side of the arch shot from farther left and closer in. The arch and vista are taking away from the bride and are not themselves overly attractive...sort of a double whammy. Making the backdrop more of a sliver would give the context but keep eyes on the bride.
You might have wanted to shoot her more from a high angle rather than a low one to be more flattering.
in 1 she looks pained, and the flowers and her match up in a straight line and give the eye nothing to look at, nowhere to travel. Further increasing this centered image, stagnant eye is the arch way above. With the face she is showing, two has better lines on her face, neck and arm. and the cloud has got to go
Thanks everyone for the tips. I will focus next time I try this on the left side of the arch's. I found this literally on the way out ans rushed it a bit. I was able to clone out the dark spot in the clouds before she saw it. I am on my laptop now and don't have the shot to post, I will try to remember that when I get home so ya'll can see the finished product.
@reno.peterson, beleive it or not that shot was done with my Sigma 24-70 2.8. Still hoping to replace it soon with the Canon, but it works fine for now
They are ok. Like someone else wrote, the only opinion that matters with bridal shots is the bride's.
That said, the following are my thoughts:
1. Hands on hips is a power pose and conflicts with the femininity of a bridal portrait.
2. Shadows on the face in both are distracting.
3. Flowers on the ground, while seeimgly done often tends to be a visual distraction that is not complmentary to the image. ( They would work in the hands of the bride and that would take her hands off of her hips.)
4. Not a real fan of the bullseye pose. (centered in the middle of the image) I might have leaned her against the wall of the arch.
I think the color and exposure are good. The work needed is in posing and compostion.
