PHOTOGRAPHY

Canon EOS 5D - 20th/sec - F2.8 - ISO 1000 - Aperture Priority - Posed

Just another experimental shot this.

I used the same technique as in a previous image

where I used a very slow shutter speed coupled with fill in flash to allow the ambient light to be included in the photo.

I quite liked this triptych and included it in their slideshow which the couple liked...not everyone's cup of tea though.

Lens 70-200 2.8 L at 70mm

This shot came out of nowhere and became a favourite of mine.

I had been outside waiting for the bride to arrive and when I came back in the hotel, the groom was obviously doing the same.

I don't know if he saw me take this shot or not as I was just walking in when I noticed him peering behind the pillar and simply fired away from a distance.

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 70mm

I guess this shot could be classed as semi-posed. The bridesmaids were blowing bubbles and generally larking about during the canapés and waiting for the meal to begin.

I asked this young lady to spin as she blew the bubbles but we just couldn't get it to work...so I Photoshopped the bubbles in from another image (but don't tell anyone)!

The usual manual settings and bounced flash worked a treat for me. A slower shutter speed lets the colourful ambient lighting in the background show up nicely.

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 34mm

I was caught a little off guard here. I was in "stealth mode" and shooting the reactions of the couple to the speeches when one of the bridesmaids looked straight at me.

I quickly focussed on her and took a couple of shots. If the room is bright enough I rarely use flash

unless absolutely necessary. The speakers have enough to think about without it being blindingly obvious that they are being recorded!

Lens 70-200 2.8 L at 166mm

Canon EOS 5D - 60th/sec - F7.1 - ISO 320 - Manual - Natural

If I take enough images (and I normally do) I like to try and tell a story with them which is particularly useful when making up the albums or books.

The large image normally has the main emphasis and the smaller ones lead into it with a story of some sort.

In this case, the speech went on for quite a while so I incorporated a small picture of the best man looking at his watch.

I think that for all of these shots, I kept the camera on the same, manual setting and used bounced flash as I was firing into the light at this point and would have got silhouettes otherwise.

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 57mm

I love this shot purely for the expressions on their faces.

If I remember correctly the bride had just been told something but the groom remained the consummate professional and remained "in character".

printed portfolio book.

Whatever happens around you, if proceedings get halted for any reason, just keep firing! It doesn't cost you anything and you may end up with some corkers.

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 32mm

Canon EOS 5D - 80th/sec - F6.3 - ISO 320 - Manual - Natural/Posed

You may have seen this image adorning the front page of All Things Photography for a while whilst I wrote this section.

I like the rich colours and full-on activity contrasted with the larger image of one bridesmaid "flaked out" after all that exercise.

Whatever is going on I try to shoot as many images as possible and when children are highly active like this, many shots will be either blurred or poorly composed. If I get a bunch that is decent 

and useable for the album I am more than happy. 

The arm falling out of the frame was an after thought

for the book...

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 45mm

Canon EOS 5D - 125th/sec - F4.5 - ISO 200 - Aperture Priority - Posed

During the "formal" sessions with the bride and groom, it is nice when they decide to take over and have a little fun...don't stop shooting because of this...on the contrary.

I cropped in tight for this one and used natural light with no fill in flash. I didn't want to "disturb" all the natural colours that were going on around the couple.

I may have needed to pull some detail out from the RAW image in Photoshop later on but not too much I think. By the way, did I mention the importance of learning how to shoot RAW for wedding photography yet?

Lens 24-70 2.8 L at 70mm

Canon EOS 5D - 60th/sec - F6.3 - ISO 125 - Aperture Priority - Semi-Posed

This wedding was in a much built up area on the Costa del Sol in Spain. After the ceremony, we drove the wedding party to a nearby park for some more relaxed images and a nicer environment.

After we had taken a few, I just asked the couple to stand on the pier and chat for a bit. I then ran round the other side of the lake and started firing away.

This one stood out because the failing sun was falling onto the couple and not the bridal party. When I returned they asked why I didn't take any because I hadn't told them what to do...Pah!

I hope you enjoyed looking at theses images and that they may have given you some useful advice on what to do and what not to do.

One last thing. From the same wedding as the above image, here is the shot used for the top bar on all of these wedding photography tips pages just so you know it is a real image...

Lens 70-200 2.8 L at 173mm