What happens when a dog photographer shoots a wedding

[debbry531]

Despite my best intentions and good sense, I was talked into shooting a friend's wedding last week (she swore that if not me, then her mom with a disposable). They had a very small wedding in Lake Tahoe (it was awesome - she rented a 7 bed/7 bath house for the wedding party (and me) to stay in and for the wedding to take place. The whole wedding was maybe 25 people - super small - followed by dinner and *happy* dancing on the makeshift dancefloor (a small, cleared part of the dining room). They're having a more formal (and larger) reception (with the cake and champagne, etc.) this weekend back in Dallas.

So it was a fun (but terrifying) experience - what do I know about weddings? (Answer: very little.) Here's a selection -- I know there is a variance in processing. I have regular versions as well, but I liked the pastel wash on the blonde bride and the b&w versions of the late night dancing. Any comments/criticisms/critiques are welcome. I don't get my feelings hurt easily (and I won't be doing any more weddings any time soon, but lessons learned here can be applied elsewhere!).
















Okay, so that's a lot of photos -- way more than I was thinking - sorry!

[texkam]

I hope you didn't have to buy a wedding gift. :) These are priceless!

[Smileforthecamera]

Impressive work. All with the same equipment?

[S-Man]

These are great.
Question: Are the low-contrast 'hazy' photos the "in" thing now? I see alot of them from lots of people.
I tend to PP with high contrast and saturation. Am I behind in the game?

[sashi]

these are great!

[ChristopherCoy]

Debbie, I think you might be on to a second source of income there! These are great!

And as I found out... dogs in the studio really aren't that easy. If you can chase a dog and produce nice shots, I'm quite sure you can chase a bride!

ChristopherCoy added 0 Minutes and 56 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by S-Man

I tend to PP with high contrast and saturation. Am I behind in the game?

At least your in the game! I didn't even know I could edit in CS3 from LR without exporting until last night!

[ronocnikral]

i'd put these in a sample album and put up a page on your website and take whatever comes along. these are great. you did awesome.

@sam, i have been noticing the same thing. i like vibrant colors. hmmm...it's tough not to chase trends if that is what sells...

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by S-Man

These are great.
Question: Are the low-contrast 'hazy' photos the "in" thing now?

is that what you would call it? Reminds me of shooting on cheap agfa film.

[billseye]

@S-man - I've wondered about that myself. My daughter and I shoot some weddings, and she does almost all of our pp. She goes for that de-saturated look, and I like bold color. I trust her judgement because she's a woman, but she doesn't follow trends, as a matter of fact she almost never looks at bridal mags or photo publications. Our clients are always happy with the results of her pp. So I let her run with it.

billseye added 3 Minutes and 23 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Debbie, these are really priceless shots!
Great job!

[bryanlindsey]

Solid shoot. Only comments are that not all the B&W's are good candidiates for BW, and if you're going to use the hazy PP you've got to have really good composition - otherwise you can take a serviceable photo and make it look like a snapshot. But again, solid set - you could probably make a few bucks off this type of thing if you have the inclination.

If you can chase a dog and produce nice shots, I'm quite sure you can chase a bride!

SO NOT TRUE! A bride's scowl is much worse...

[lscottpht]

Damn, I think you should be a dog photographer AND a wedding photographer! I love the different processing. You did an awesome job. Maybe I should start shooting dogs, instead lol.

lscottpht added 1 Minutes and 40 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by S-Man

These are great.
Question: Are the low-contrast 'hazy' photos the "in" thing now? I see alot of them from lots of people.
I tend to PP with high contrast and saturation. Am I behind in the game?

Yes, that's def. the "in" thing. I wish I knew how to get that look! I still can't get it right. Hopefully, it will go out soon so I can be "in" again lol.

[billseye]

SO NOT TRUE! A bride's scowl is much worse...

Ha, What about the Mother of the Bride?

[mmuhlenkamp]

You captured some great moments. You obviously know your way around a camera and what makes a good photo even if you've never done a wedding before. Your friend better get you a REALLY nice Christmas gift this year

[debbry531]

Thanks all! I was very nervous, but I'm fairly happy with the overall results (of course, I'll nitpick my own stuff all day), but it's definitely good to hear from y'all that I didn't majorly blow it! As for more weddings? I think I'll leave them to the pros.

All with the same equipment?

I used my 50D and a rented 5DII. Lens-wise, I used the 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8, and 50 1.4. And just my little 430EX on camera (with stofen).

Are the low-contrast 'hazy' photos the "in" thing now?

I don't know, but I've definitely seen others around. It gives a slightly romantic feeling, in my opinion. But it's not something I often use (dogs and romance aren't typically associated!). I have an action in a package I bought that I tried and liked on these shots -- perhaps because it was overcast for a good part of the day. And I thought it was pretty on the tan, blonde bride, but I have haze-less versions as well.

A bride's scowl is much worse...

This was part of my anxiety going in! Dogs are cute (sometimes cuter) when you catch them making funny faces -- people? Usually not. I hoped that having an attractive couple would make it easier, but at the same time worried I'd make an attractive couple unattractive.

[lscottpht]

Originally Posted by debbry531

Thanks all! I was very nervous, but I'm fairly happy with the overall results (of course, I'll nitpick my own stuff all day), but it's definitely good to hear from y'all that I didn't majorly blow it! As for more weddings? I think I'll leave them to the pros.


I used my 50D and a rented 5DII. Lens-wise, I used the 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8, and 50 1.4. And just my little 430EX on camera (with stofen).


I don't know, but I've definitely seen others around. It gives a slightly romantic feeling, in my opinion. But it's not something I often use (dogs and romance aren't typically associated!). I have an action in a package I bought that I tried and liked on these shots -- perhaps because it was overcast for a good part of the day. And I thought it was pretty on the tan, blonde bride, but I have haze-less versions as well.

What action did you use? Just curious. I understand if you don't want to say. I've tried a ton of different actions from sets that I own, but I can never quite get this look.