Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories
by Glen Johnson
List Price:
Our Price: $9.99
You Save: $20.00 (67%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.54 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Glen JohnsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-08-07
ISBN: 0471790176
Number of pages: 310
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories
Book Review: The Photography Book you READ...
Summary: 5 Stars
...because it is so well written.
Let me start out by offering kudos to Amazon reviewers. I ordered this book because of its 5 star rating. If I just saw it on the shelf at a bookstore, I dont know if I would have picked it up...and it would have been my loss.
Because I keep getting more and more requests to do weddings, I sat down a few days ago and got three books from Amazon, each 5-star rated. I wanted to explore whether weddings are something I dare get into. The other two books I thumbed through, looked at the pics, skimmed a paragraph or chapter when something caught my attention, and kept going.
This one I started on this afternoon and read cover to cover...without meaning to!
Before you yawn and move on, know that this book is twice as thick as the average Amherst book (and only a tad smaller).
First of all, this book is targeted to people like me...folks that have a good working knowledge of SLRs and are either curious or serious about starting to shoot weddings. The book is written in a conversational style without the narrative stuffiness that caused me to put the other two down after thumbing through.
I felt like the author was talking to someone on my level, without all the eliteism I run into when mixing in semi- or pro circles.
For example, I know that shooting RAW gives more control over images. I know that primes are generally sharper than zooms. I've met purists who proudly snub their noses at JPEG, zooms, or both, speaking of them with the same disgust one might have talking about a cockroach that crosses the floor... or the junior photog in front of them that sheepishly mentions he uses both.
I own a couple of primes and will probably buy Photoshop CS2 in the next 12 months. Although its a necessary evil, I dont really enjoy sitting in front of a computer with the image software I have, much less something as complicated as CS2. Rather, Ive tried to spend the last couple of years immersing myself in PHOTOGRAPHY- trying to get the best, most creative images through the lens and into the camera...before all the processing.
I never felt second-class while reading this book.
This author tells you the "what" to do, but he excels in also telling the "why." A suggestion for certain shots has the requisite photo as an example, but often has other photos demonstrating how differences from that suggestion that affect the final image...usually negatively. This author has little problem "showing" as well as "telling."
He gives examples of why RAW is better most of the time, but he freely admits that shooting RAW involves a cost/benefit tradeoff, particularly a solo photog without a studio staff devoted to post-processing. He has no problems with the idea that sometimes JPEG wins that tradeoff for whatever reason. He writes about situations he feels JPEGs work just fine and times where even a JPEG photog needs to shoot RAW if at all possible (for example, shots of a bride in bright sunlight). He shows examples of why he says that. After all that, he then goes into tips to use if you still choose JPEG.
Other authors adopt the tone, "If you don't do what I say, you're wasting both our time by reading any further."
He talks about how digital has changed the landscape of wedding photography (such as folks like me considering it) and the trends of some photogs to provide digital copies on DVD's instead of keeping negatives and extracting money on prints. Rather than judge or cry about either, he simply deals with it and presents business models that take advantage of each issue either way.
The other books have gorgeous pics of gorgeous people getting married in castles, attended by butlers or maids as they get ready, and amazing images of fantasy weddings I doubt I'll ever attend. In fact, my new favorite wedding pic (maybe favorite any pic!) was in one of those books.
But I kept coming back to this book to read.
Even though I cant count how many photog books Ive read over the past two years, I still learned from this one.
I dont know if I will seriously commit to weddings or not.
I do know I am a better photog now than I was 8 hours ago...without even picking up a camera.
UPDATE 11/07
I can agree with one reviewer that the books is probably most helpful to shooters with 0-5 weddings under their belts. I'll add that its also probably most helpful to photogs that have read 0-5 wedding books. As I pointed out, the other books I bought were stuffed with "Photographs!" that dazzle and inspire. Heck, I brought out the other two to thumb through and ogle pics last night. But last week, I broke this one out to read though again.
New to wedding photography? Picture books are great for visual inspiration. Amazon is flooded with thin wedding books with purdyful, full-page pics. Heck, if you're reading this you can see what you probably aspire to right now by searching though the top rated wedding photographs in various online galleries such as photo*net or photosig*com. Some of the work there, as with many other books and websites, is distilled, unadulterated Mastery.
This book, however, is written as a tutorial for your brain (and wallet) more than an art class for your eye sockets. If this describes your needs, then, a year after purchase, I still offer my recommendation to you.
Summary of Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories
Capture unforgettable moments of that special dayProfessional wedding photographer Glen Johnson knows there's a huge difference between being able to take good pictures and being a good wedding photographer. In this exquisite, full-color book, Glen dispenses sage advice and solutions for taking impressive digital wedding images -- posed or candid, in any weather, in any setting, at any locale. You will also learn the secrets of creating a successful digital wedding photography business, and much more. Whether you're an aspiring professional or an amateur who wants to improve your skills at digital wedding photography, this book will help you succeed.
Discover what makes wedding photography a unique specialty
* Find out how to make people feel relaxed and comfortable while you're shooting
* Explore ways to capture the emotion as well as the moment
* Understand different photographic styles and adapt to your client's wishes
* Prepare for all types of lighting situations
* Learn appropriate etiquette for shooting in dressing rooms and during the ceremony
* Know what to take when traveling abroad
* Set up the perfect digital studio to process your images
* Find out how to price your work realistically
* See why your business skills may be more important than your photographic talent
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs, each showingthe camera settings and other details used to create the image
Digital Photography Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Digital Photography Books
Michael Freeman's Perfect Exposure: The Professional's Guide to Capturing Perfect Digital Photographsby Michael Freeman
Focal Press; Published: 2009-04-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.77
Price in other shops:
The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correctionby Steve Hullfish
Focal Press; Published: 2008-02-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.02
Price in other shops:
Advanced Photoshop Elements 7 for Digital Photographersby Philip Andrews
Focal Press; Published: 2008-12-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.31
Price in other shops:
How to Cheat in Photoshop CS4: The art of creating photorealistic montagesby Steve Caplin
Focal Press; Published: 2008-12-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.96
Price in other shops:
Adobe Photoshop 5.5 for Photographers: A professional image editor's guide to the creative use of Photoshop for the Macintosh and PCby Martin Evening
Focal Press; Published: 2000-03-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Digital Imaging: Essential Skills (Photography Essential Skills)by Mark Galer M.Ed., Les Horvat B.Sci Dip. Ed B.A(Photog.) M.A.I.P.P
Focal Press; Published: 2001-06-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $32.68
Max Ferguson's Digital Darkroom Masterclassby Max Ferguson
Focal Press; Focal Press; Published: 2000-10-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.50
Price in other shops:
Nikon D3100 Digital Field Guideby Thomas
Wiley; Published: 2010-12-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.80
Price in other shops:
The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographersby Scott Kelby
Peachpit Press; Published: 2006-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.64
Price in other shops:
The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2by Scott Kelby
Peachpit Press; Published: 2008-01-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.33
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image (Voices That Matter)by Scott Kelby
Peachpit Press; Published: 2011-09-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.88
Price in other shops:
Digital Wedding Photography Photo Workshopby Kenny Kim
Wiley; Published: 2011-05-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.75
Price in other shops:
The Art of Wedding Photography: Professional Techniques with Styleby Bambi Cantrell, Skip Cohen
Watson Guptill; Amphoto Books; Published: 2000-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Master Posing Guide for Wedding Photographersby Bill Hurter
Amherst Media; Amherst Media, Inc.; Published: 2009-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.79
Price in other shops:
On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photographyby Neil van Niekerk
Amherst Media; Amherst Media, Inc.; Published: 2009-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.97
Price in other shops:
Captured by the Light: The Essential Guide to Creating Extraordinary Wedding Photographyby David Ziser
Peachpit Press; Peachpit Press; Published: 2010-02-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.48
Price in other shops:
500 Poses for Photographing Brides: A Visual Sourcebook for Professional Digital Wedding Photographersby Michelle Perkins
Amherst Media; Amherst Media, Inc.; Published: 2010-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.82
Price in other shops:
500 Poses for Photographing Couples: A Visual Sourcebook for Digital Portrait Photographersby Michelle Perkins
Amherst Media, Inc.; Published: 2011-07-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.82
Price in other shops:
Digital Wedding Photographer's Plannerby Kenny Kim
Wiley; Published: 2010-04-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.85
Price in other shops:
Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Brideby Jose Villa, Jeff Kent
Amphoto Books; Published: 2011-03-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.79
Price in other shops: