Wedding photos - lots of cropping?

[groovyone]

I am working on my photos from a wedding this past Saturday, and I have found myself cropping close to 75% of my pre-ceremony photos. Anyone else find they crop a lot for this stuff? I haven't done it this much in the past, and I am thinking it is because the rooms they got ready in were VERY cluttered and I was more concerned about getting the shot than the specific framing, or that may be a poor excuse for sloppy execution.

On the bright side my WB and exposure was pretty darn good in most cases.

[dracula02]

Salt and pepper to taste.... Sometimes I find it's better to crop than need more room.

[kenw]

not wedding-specific, but I find it rare that all shots are perfectly cropped in-camera, especially using a prime lens. Since the balance of the final image is affected by the print ratio, cropping separately for 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 ad nauseum is a necessity of life. The reality is that life isn't always a 4x3 aspect ratio. Sometimes it's 12x4 panoramic! It is equally rare that all of my hand-held shots are perfectly level as well, and straightening always requires a subsequent crop anyway.

if every shot you take is perfectly cropped in-camera, you need higher standards or you miss more shots than you get.

[StevenGWebb]

Originally Posted by kenw

not wedding-specific, but I find it rare that all shots are perfectly cropped in-camera, especially using a prime lens. Since the balance of the final image is affected by the print ratio, cropping separately for 4x6, 5x7, 8x10 ad nauseum is a necessity of life. The reality is that life isn't always a 4x3 aspect ratio. Sometimes it's 12x4 panoramic! It is equally rare that all of my hand-held shots are perfectly level as well, and straightening always requires a subsequent crop anyway.

if every shot you take is perfectly cropped in-camera, you need higher standards or you miss more shots than you get.

What he said.

Ever wonder how you could get a 16X20 out of film negatives that range in size from 36mmX24mm, 6cmX7cm, 6cmX4.5cm and 2.25inX2.25in? Uh huh, cropping is a way of life.

Steve

[groovyone]

True, I crop when it comes to print time, but I am just cropping 2:3 to 2:3 with less junk in the way.I guess it was just a cluttered scene. On the bright side, I caught the moments and just recomposed them after.

[rusty_tripod]

Cropping at this moment may be relative to your style choices at this time. As you progress, you may find this occurring less often. For example, I tend to prefer a tight framing, and I cater to that. The reality is that I need to shoot some shots a bit broader. Finally, I believe that my crop sensor camera sometimes motivates cropping because what I get is not always what I think I see. Things are further complicated because I find I like a 4 by 5 crop.

It is all a developmental and/or circumstantial process.

[kenw]

Originally Posted by groovyone

.... On the bright side, I caught the moments and just recomposed them after.

and I think that is the most important thing!

[rusty_tripod]

Your approach in capturing the moment and cropping afterwards is reasonable and probably a common practice among a lot of shooters.

[ttruelove]

Originally Posted by rusty_tripod

Your approach in capturing the moment and cropping afterwards is reasonable and probably a common practice among a lot of shooters.

I agree with Rusty_Tripod. I've shot about 25 weddings (relatively new) and make it a point to frame my shots as much as possible in camera. As I do more weddings, I tend to get better and better at this concept, however rarely do we get an event shot perfectly framed in camera. I feel there is no shame in cropping as long as it doesn't distort the integrity of the photo. If you get the important aspects of the shot (like the emotion), you did well in my book.

[groovyone]

Thanks for the replies. In the past I was a #2 or 3 shooter so MOST of my shots were detail shots, less live action. All in all I am pretty happy with my results from this wedding.