Wedding Pic Advice

[cliff123]

Hello all.

Have just taken a few additional wedding pics for some friends and was wondering whether anyone has any advice on how I could improve these photos in photoshop. What would make them better?

Thanks, Cliff.

Edited by cliff123 on Monday 3rd March 14:30

[Simpo Two]

As 'straight' photos I think they look fine as they are; I don't see how they could be 'better' - unless you mean b/w, crops etc. I like the top one best - it would look good in b/w.

[Goldeeno]

I agree with the above, i quite like them mate, you have deffinatly thought about the location and the day, i think there great. If you did want to PS them a bit you could try blurring the background a little more, to emphasise, (if thats now you spell that :S) the bride and groom a little more from the background. Other than that, just play with the curves, contrast and of course the B&W mediums.

[hawkaye]

nice shots! I had a 5 minute play with #1, maybe a bit ott...

[CivicMan]

Hi there, just my thoughts which I'd like to offer as constructive criticism.

For future reference, join the Guild of Wedding Photographers if you intend to do weddings professionally. They'll give you a lot of help on just the basics eg lighting, posing, backgrounds etc.
http://www.gwp-uk.co.uk/

Improve how you see the picture when taking it - look at the churchyard background for example, with gravestones and a blue car competing with the couple. Lighting, try not to pose them looking into the sun, gives awful shadows. You need to soft light the brides, use backlighting for effect. The full length pose, you have one with the groom's arm right across her body as if he's wrestling her - it looks very awkward and uncomfortable.

With regard to your question, there's not a lot Photoshop could do with these. The first pic is by far the best, and the b/w effect keeping the flowers coloured is a nice touch. Maybe with the graves you could remove the car entirely and gaussian blur out the background a touch.



Get the original photo right, and then use Photoshop to enhance rather than fix! You've obviously got good rapport with the couple as you've some nice expressions and that counts for a lot!

I photographed weddings for some 20 years, and finished just as digital was coming in - boy I wish it had been around when I was operating!

Edited by CivicMan on Monday 3rd March 20:05

Edited by CivicMan on Monday 3rd March 20:08

[hawkaye]

good advice there

you beat me to the 2nd photo

[cliff123]

Thanks for your comments. It was my first time setting shots up, so was a bit of a novice to it. Only 24hrs after the session I was already more confident and having ideas for photos which I should have done. I really like the ones where the couple are separated, but didn't quite capture this on the camera as I had in my mind, but have new ideas now on how to do it. Like the black and white, and have now done that to a few pics, and am taking out the car... I'd taken so many out already surprised I missed that one!

Thanks for your comments.