Rena's Bridal at the Adolphus

5.


6.


7.

Thank you Maven!  I didn't notice the boob droop, but you are absolutely right. :-)

Shots 2 and 4 have "Movie Star" written all over them. 

Number 5 is my favourite.  Gorgeous lighting and pose.  That location is beautiful.  I also like the treatment of number 3.
Stellar job.

#3 very creative
#5 My fave, because of the lighting and good use of editing in photoshop to keep the viewer's eye on the subject. 

Improvement? the skin, still in my opinion too processed. You can reduce the opacity of that particular section in the action.

Hi Mike and Ginny.  Thank you both for your comments.

To be fair to the beautiful bride, very very little was done on the way of skin.  She's an Indian lady, and has the most incredible glowing skin I've ever seen...ever.  (She works for a fashion magazine, and is every bit the part).
No work at all has been done on eyes or teeth.  The only skin work done, was lessening some bags under her eyes...on a dupe layer, and then replaced at 70 percent opacity.  She's just a very beautiful, classy woman.  This is for the most part, exactly what she looks like in real life.

I've learned alot from the feedback here, as far as eyes, teeth, and skinwork.  I've abandoned eyes and teeth, except for an occassional catchlight.  I know it's not popular umong fellow photographers, but I'll most likely keep up with the flawless skin routine.  I'm working to tone it down, because some photographers simply don't like it, but in some ways, I think I'm on to something.

Have you guys ever noticed I gets more than my share of knockout brides?  It's something my local competition kid me about all the time.  One photographer even started a bad rumor saying that I hired a bunch of models.  (LOL, that would be a hard way to run a business).

Anyhoo, if you think about it, we humans go out of our way all the time to look our very very best.  We diet and excersice.   We knock ourselves out to make our skin pretty by tanning, and slathering on creams. Some go as far as zoom whitening the teeth, dying hair, having implants, and hair extensions.  We do this in order to look like that person in the magazine.  And that person in the magazine has been photoshopped to hell and back.  Not all of us, but most of us try to achieve that fantasy every day.  I'm not sure if it goes back to instictive behavior (preening to find the mate most suitable to sustain life), or what...but we do it.  We all do it to some measure or another.

So these discussions about why I get so many "pretty people" got me to thinking.  People want to look as good as they possibly can.  They want to look fantasy good.  For people who want to look as good as they can, it becomes even more important.

And add into the mix, that it's a milestone in the bride and grooms life, a huge photo op.....

When a person walks into my showroom, they see many things.  One of the books I show them is of before and after.  I don't show them the Elephant man turned into Angelina Jolie, but real people like them.  One is them...with basic photoshop as far as contrast and color correction.  The other is that same person, same photo, with blemishes removed, stretch marks removed, eye bags removed, tummies tucked, chins tucked....  Is it "them" as they were that moment?  No.
Is it them as they wish to be?  Yes.

If I was shooting wildlife, it would be a totally different thing.  Owls don't get their claws manicured.

I'm a self trained photographer who came out of nowhere three years ago to become a contender in a very large market.  It's not because I'm the best photographer in the area, and I'm certainly not the cheapist.  I honestly believe it's because I bring the fantasy to life.

So while I respect everyones opinions....I swear I do....especially from the photographic perspective....I also owe it to my client to do what they are asking me to do.  And I think that the photographers who are unwilling to do it, because other photographers say it's "too perfect" are losing business to people like me, who are willing to make it so.

Is it Pulitzer Prize winning stuff.  Certainly no.  

So I had to make some business decisions here.  Tone it down, yes.  You guys are so right there.    But to make it "real".  No.  My clients aren't looking for real.  They are looking for what they see every day in bridal magazines.  They've done all they can personally, to look their very best, and leave the rest to me.

I've learned so much from you guys, and I'm doing the best I can to tone it down, but I want to warn you, my photos will always be a bit more fantasy than reality.  It's a nitch often ignored, and one I'm happy to fill.

Love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy

You should put that in your signature.