Amber's Bridals

[AllenOwen]

Shot these at The Bell Tower on 34th. She got married on Saturday so now I can show them off!

[dracula02]

Good exposure, lighting, and clean processing. Only nitpick is posing. Some of the arms and hands look a bit awkward, otherwise, good job. I bet she was really happy with the results.

Total aside and not photography relate: I'm not really a fan of her headpiece.

[AllenOwen]

Originally Posted by dracula02

Good exposure, lighting, and clean processing. Only nitpick is posing. Some of the arms and hands look a bit awkward, otherwise, good job. I bet she was really happy with the results.

Total aside and not photography relate: I'm not really a fan of her headpiece.

Yep posing her was a nightmare. I keep promising I'm going to bring alcohol to the shoots from now on to loosen people up. Her facial expressions on a others are really uncomfortable looking (even these after getting to know her, you can tell she's uncomfortable).

There's a few other things that I have problems with. One is the lamp in the first picture. I turned the one on next to her when doing closeups and forgot to turn the other one on when panned out. It's still balanced, but just wish it was symmetrical.

The headpiece was ditched for the wedding. I feel it's somewhat my fault too. I mentioned that it reminded me of the girl from Neverending Story.

[dracula02]

Alcohol is one option, but if you talk to your bride and get them comfortable with you, then it should translate in the image. During bridals, my wife and I are constantly talking to our brides about other things, and then we tell them with everything that we ask them to do that it looks great, they're doing great, and usually it's the last 30 minutes of a session that everything is spot on with posing, lighting, expressions, etc. I don't know that we've ever had a perfect session, but the brides don't know it wasn't perfect. And yes, we've learned to keep our comments positive because anything negative about a headpiece, jewelry, or accessory will give you those uncomfortable looks.

[AllenOwen]

Yeah, my wife and I are pretty good with warming them up. Sometimes I won't even start shooting until ~20 minutes into it (my wife is a chatterbox). And you're right, the last 30 minutes are always the easiest. Some people are just not comfortable being the center of attention and we try to work around that. I like to tell them that I'm just testing my lighting and just relax, and I'll let them know when I'm ready. I'll get a few shots in of them relaxed, not looking at me and those are some of the better ones.

The headpiece comment was at the end when we were joking around with it. The way she talked, I don't think she was sold on it. She ended up wearing her hair down at the wedding.

[groovyone]

You got to shoot a couple of the spots I wanted to for the wedding I shot there. Alas, it was too rushed and I did not get to take them around.

[AllenOwen]

Originally Posted by groovyone

You got to shoot a couple of the spots I wanted to for the wedding I shot there. Alas, it was too rushed and I did not get to take them around.

We did their engagements there too. Amber and Byron | AllenOwen Photography I had to make sure we didn't cover the same locations so it didn't completely look like the same place.

[jkderby]

The first one, my eye goes to the mirror with all the junk in it and then the side lamps. She gets lost in the photo.

[AllenOwen]

Originally Posted by jkderby

The first one, my eye goes to the mirror with all the junk in it and then the side lamps. She gets lost in the photo.

Agreed. Anything with the other pictures (other than what has already been said)? I'm not emotionally attached to any of these so, nobody has to be nice.

[groovyone]

I'll give it a whirl.

#1, the mirror. I tried a similar shot and it didn't work for me. I like everything else about it. Maybe if you could clone out the junk.

#2, maybe a touch more fill light. The left side looks mildly overexposed in order to get the right side (my right not hers) exposed well. She looks like she was crying. Someone more skilled than I could probably work with the eyes more.

#3, maybe the pose from 3 with the framing in 7? I like seeing the entire dress. I do know it was WICKED dark in that room. That is where I had to shoot the reception.

#4, I like the door, I just wish the room was more interesting. There were some great doors there. I think the concept and the technical side is good, just wish it was a better room.

#5, Little more fill from the left (yours, not hers) may have helped balance the lighting more. I like the framing, might have tried turning her body the other direction also. Tough to say without comparing the two.

#6, I wanted to do this same shot but didn't have the time. My very minor change might be to crop in a little on the right side, but that is really just nitpicking here.

Hope that rambling helps.

[janetg]

2) agree with groovyone...her eyes need work. so does her boob...using the liquify tool to make it meet the dress. i hate gaps.. next time, tell her to breathe in..and hold it.

[AllenOwen]

Originally Posted by groovyone

I'll give it a whirl.

#2, maybe a touch more fill light. The left side looks mildly overexposed in order to get the right side (my right not hers) exposed well. She looks like she was crying. Someone more skilled than I could probably work with the eyes more.

What exactly about the eyes? The puffyness below the eyes? I could clean that up.

Originally Posted by groovyone

#3, maybe the pose from 3 with the framing in 7? I like seeing the entire dress. I do know it was WICKED dark in that room. That is where I had to shoot the reception.

I missed it on this shot. That's the full frame. I'm bad about clipping feet and dresses.

Originally Posted by groovyone

#4, I like the door, I just wish the room was more interesting. There were some great doors there. I think the concept and the technical side is good, just wish it was a better room.

That's the door to the bathroom.

Originally Posted by groovyone

#5, Little more fill from the left (yours, not hers) may have helped balance the lighting more. I like the framing, might have tried turning her body the other direction also. Tough to say without comparing the two.

True, I should have brought out another light, but I feel pressed to quickly get these done. I feel guilty if I make the client wait for me to set up another light, even if it's for a minute or two.
Also, I don't like her pose here. She looks "slumpy"

Originally Posted by groovyone

#6, I wanted to do this same shot but didn't have the time. My very minor change might be to crop in a little on the right side, but that is really just nitpicking here.

Hope that rambling helps.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by janetg

2) agree with groovyone...her eyes need work. so does her boob...using the liquify tool to make it meet the dress. i hate gaps.. next time, tell her to breathe in..and hold it.

I did quite a bit on her right boob/arm. It was pushing up forming a big crease on the arm part. Thanks for the breathing tip! For the gap, would you bring the dress to the boob, or the boob to the dress?
Now that I look at it more, the left boob looks out of proportion.