recent wedding

Unfortunately, this shot has a lot going against it. You can't see the bishop at all (except for a piece of his hand) so you can't even tell if this is part of the ceremony or just a meeting in a hallway. The face of the bride is barely visible. The gang in the back all have red hands and funky shadows. The little boy has sprouted a tree out of his head. The lights in the middle are blinding. Though you really tried with this shot to get that wreath out of the way, I think this is one of those "I tried" shots that gets put aside. Can you show us some of the straight on shots that you took? Perhaps the wreath can be cloned out. If you do want to include this, I'd do a crop, to get rid of some of the extra elements. I'd also dodge him a bit, to get rid of some of that redness. Hope you don't mind, but here's basically what I'm thinking:

Susie talks about a wedding and posts a photo. Marian then posts a photo that was taken if not the same time, the same people and place.

I am really confused...

Hey Marian, I'll be here off and on all day today.

And Susie, you know we're friends and I love your work, but this is not one of your best by a long shot.  Please show us some of your better work that we have come to expect from this wedding.  And the one you're shooting now for that matter.

My biggest problem with this particular image is that she doesn't appear to be especially thin, and the angles you have chosen in this image have not done anything to help her with that at all.  Low camera angles and wide angle shots of people should be very carefully chosen, especially when those techniques are combined.

I realize this is a candid shot, and it sounds like you were somewhat limited on space and potential angles; but I don't think you have done the best you are capable of with this photo.

I hope you're not too mad at me for being so blunt on this post, but I really think you are so much more talented than this image shows.

In the infamous nature of Bob... "ducks and runs"

Travis