I have had more than a few days to beat myself up over this and now decided to share with you. Lots of folks talk about great times on shoots or how great it all turned out. This is not one of those post
It really could have been a lot worse but I am sure you all know when it is you it is the much, much worse.
I may have mentioned here or there that I was shooting wedding this past weekend weekend. What a disaster
Well, I think it was and time will tell as I go through the 600 pictures. I would bet 475+ are crap and blurry. I had one of those days where I could not get anything to work and the harder I tried the worse it got. UGGGGGHHHH!!!.
I always said I would never be a wedding photographer and this made it a sure thing. I guess if it was in a church and was a nice sunny afternoon I would have been much better. But it was Saturday afternoon 5:30pm and they (22 year old bride and groom) had to get married outside!!. So even though no rain it was dark (cloudy no sun) and windy (like hurricane windy) the ceremony was quick and dirty (like 6 minutes tops felt like 3) so I have about 4 pictures of the ceremony that are going to take some PP work to make decent.
After was no better, the great lens I rented (DA 16-50) and loved was less than stellar while focusing in low light. It basicaly would not focus and when I tried manual it would not lock and let me take a picture. Back focus, front focus you name it, it happened. The 540 flash was giving me a headache giving various output with new batteries. It refused to spot beam focus so I switched to the Sigma 500 and it helped but again must have be taked with the 540 and said "Lets F with Pat today". I am sure I am being way to hard on myself but I can tell you they were going to pay me, but I can’t in good conscious take any money for this.
I will share the sad pictures later in the week once I go through them. I really had a plan to take some nice shots and artsy creative stuff (did my homework had a plan) but it just never happened. The wedding party of 7 had three kids under 11 the bride groom and best man under 24. The bride really was not and told me up front really not excited about pictures (we shall see if she meant it) The only good thing was the table shots and a few family shots and the cake and other usual things. But these where all in low light situations that cuased the greatest headaches. Take picture, look , blurry, try again same UGHHH!!!!! Oh the hall had NO, I mean NO decent place to take shots inside. We were stuck in a small room with nothing close for a presentable background. More like some shots a guy took while making everyone line up….
Okay I have beat myself up enough for now and my wife says I am way over reacting and have to remember they know I am not a pro and have limited gear and they will be happy no matter what. I on the other hand want to give up photography and maybe start knitting.
Sure this sounds like a rambling of a freek but it is what it is. That I can assure you will be the last wedding for a long, long, long, long, long time.
Thanks for listening.
I will stick with taking pictures at Fenway and the back yard for now. Or the knitting thing may not be a bad idea