Outdoor shot

[jpdenk]

Hi folks,

I'm not a wedding photographer, but thought it might be OK to post a shot I took of some friends on their wedding day that turned out pretty nicely (I think so anyway).

It was made at the bride's mother's home between the service and reception. It was a very overcast day, so the light was very soft and even outside. The hired pro photographer took his shots, and when he was finished, I asked the couple if I could take a few, and this one turned out pretty well. I did have to do some Photoshop work on it though, as the combination of very light off-white wedding dress and black tux were a challenge. I masked the dress and the bride's bouquet and brightened everything else up a little with Levels, still have a bit of burned highlights in the dress, so it's not perfect. I also removed the groom's shirt tag behind his neck, as it showed. I made 13"x 19" prints of this for them and their parents on my Epson R1800 printer as a gift, everyone loved the shot.

I used a Nikon D70 with the 18-70 kit lens, and natural light only, no reflectors or anything else. ISO 200, f/4.2, 1/160 of a second, Shutter Priority mode.

Here's the image:
Pat and Theresa.jpg

John

[notsotechie]

Well it looks very nice
but the background is a bit of distraction
well done in natural light setting

Cheers

[indyfan31]

It's a very nice composition, and the PS work turned out well.
The flowers and the fence are a bit distracting. You could've opened up the lens a bit more; I think that lens comes down to f3.5. For portraits I always set the camera to Aperture priority.
Since you seem comfortable with Photoshop, you might try apply a blur to the background. Otherwise it's a nice shot, I can see why everyone liked it.
BTW, how do you like your Epson printer?

[Jigger]

Good Photo, I agree with others about the background, but as it was in between the service and reception more of a snap shot than a posed photo.

[jpdenk]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I realize that for a formal wedding portrait the background is unacceptable, but as has been mentioned, this is not intended to be a formal photo.

Actually, the flowers and porch in the background is something that their family liked. They requested that the pro take photos of the couple and the bridal party in front of the house. The house has been in the family since the early part of the 20th century, so it has great significance to them, and the (Italian) family business is a floral shop, so they want to see flowers in the background.

Regarding my Epson R1800 printer, I really like it, I've made some wonderful prints with it. Of course, it's not perfect: black and white isn't the absolute best, I find it hard to get a real neutral B&W print, they tend to be a bit cool, even at the warmest setting. I'd also like deeper blacks on matte paper, not bad, but not quite as good as on my older dye-based printers. Glossy paper blacks are excellent.

I've also had a bit of driver weirdness recently, but overall, it's an excellent printer, in my opinion. Of course, newer machines are better, always onward and upward with developing technology.

Thanks,
John

[Osito]

jp, although I like the background, but I think just that the flowers a bit to close to their heads, agree with Indy, a little blur, would help. but overall good skin tones.

[brianhuds81]

Hi,

Excellent work with photo shop but the back ground with flower should be
close. I also agree with others that you might use little blur to the
background.