My First...

[Flutist]

So I finished up my first wedding.... and while I'm happy it's over, I know I have ALOT to improve upon. Be gentle, I'm hard enough on myself...:rolleyes

1.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664344561_fy8vF-L.jpg

2.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664370704_3eJRn-L.jpg

3.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664390955_SrFhN-L.jpg

4.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664390437_H6eHJ-L.jpg

5.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664464522_KhN46-L.jpg

6.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664493463_KtGHG-L.jpg

7.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664500650_KnwVo-L.jpg

8.
http://sbrownphotography.smugmug.com/photos/664499621_2ia2p-L.jpg

9.

[Kinkajou]

Love the emotion in #5, and the last one is just lovely.

Great job for a first wedding! I definitely noticed how well you exposed for the dress... perfect in every shot. :)

[Flutist]

Thank you Kinkaju... I owe the exposure knowledge to Randy (RBrogen) He gave me super pointers for killer sunlight on a wedding dress..

[tenoverthenose]

Great job on your first wedding! Here a few things that I noticed for improvement.

#3 Make sure you get all limbs of your subject(s) in frame

In #4, wait until they are both looking at you before you open the shutter. Better yet, grab a few frames of the same pose while you are there as insurance.

#6 is a great idea, but I think both the bride and groom are a little too centered. If the groom was more to the right and bride more to the left it would be a stronger photo.

In #7, try to place their faces in the "openings" of the gate. Do not let the bars cross over their faces.

[RBrogen]

Hey Shannon,

Looks like you had fun and nailed the exposure. Good job!

Now to the critique:

#1 has a snapshot feel and and the crop is too tight I think. The concept, if I'm reading it correctly is getting the mother looking at her daughter with pride and excitment and this emotion is somewhat lost with all that is going on in the shot.
#2 Nice shot here. Good control on the exposure and it's a creative view.
#3 Cropped too tight....need both B&G in this to make it work
#4 Nice shot, good exposure control but the Groom is looking camera right. With this nice background, one pose could be to have them face each other and expose more of the BG and then use DOF control to slightly blur it. I'd also try and tone the light on the leaves down that are to the Groom's right.
#5 Nice capture. Might try to go in tight with the crop just behind the Groom's back in portrait style and see how that looks.
#6 I like this shot setup a lot. Good job.
#7 Good idea but I think there is too much going on around the gate and the bar is unfortunately right through the brides head. The crop is also a bit tight cutting off the circle of roses on the gate.
#8 Very nicely done!

[Flutist]

Thanks Randy! I'm so upset over the mother daughter shot myself...they have an odd relationship so to have them in the same room for any length of time was a rare happening!

And the rest, totally agree and thanks for the props on the ones you deemed good! Really helps me to know what direction to take with the wedding this Saturday!!

[lisarhinehart]

8 is fab :)