AG|WPJA The Artistic Guild of the WPJA

Judges Comment: This is a beautiful and touching moment during the ceremony. So many times the photographer is limited to the upper deck to shoot the most important event of the day. If more clergy and couples could see images like this one, they may realize that photography can be discrete and tell timeless stories with just one frame.

Judges Comment: A sensual yet intimate ceremony image that's visually stimulating. From the video guy in the back, the clapping hands and candle in the foreground, I like how the photographer used the entire frame to tell the ceremony story. Kudos on working your way to the altar!

Judges Comment: Way to be on your game to capture the bride waiting for the ceremony to start. The B&W toning is a bit flat and could use a bit more vignetting on the left to help create more of a bookend effect. It would help your eye to circle around from the bride to the groomsmen and back to the bride. I would also suggest burning down the highlights on the altar floor.

Judges Comment: A great laying of hands image! I really like how the mom (I think) is beaming at her daughter. The groom, while I know is the groom, gets a bit lost because of the heavy burn on the lower left corner of the frame. I hope you pulled out a long lens and shot just the hands on the daughter's arm, it's a lovely moment and would tell a story even without a face. Final thought, a slight crop from the left (just to the right of the bald spot) and the image would read much quicker.

Judges Comment: This is an interesting way to tell the story of the ceremony. It's a nice hide and seek with the bride and groom. I like the muted blue tones and thanks for the refreshing horizontal crop!

Judges Comment: Gotta love those ring bearers especially when they add a little bit of humor to the frame. Good catch by the photographer with just enough depth of field to keep the kid's face readable.

Judges Comment: Ok, this is a bit of a weird frame and quite frankly something I haven't seen before. Kids sure can be funny sometimes, I like the moment and I'm glad you were there to capture it! It's just a funny, surreal scene. My only suggestions, pull down the black point and warm the whole image up.

Judges Comment: Nice toning and strong burning in the lower right corner forces your eye to stay in the upper third of the frame. Even though the sun is centered, the angle and arc of the pagoda make you feel off-center and somewhat pushed to the left. Good eye in a tough lighting situation!

Judges Comment: Somewhat dreamy and movie-still like, this image is on the verge of being just a little too dark. While the composition is very dramatic, strong and angular, the bride is almost lost due to toning. Bring up her mid-tones just a bit, pull out a bit more of her bouquet and you've got a zinger. Also, burn down or crop out the white streak on the left side of the frame, it's distracting.

Judges Comment: Reflections often lend themselves to layered images and this one helps to tell the story of the day. The image could use a bit of a crop on the left side and a little more density (especially black point) throughout the entire frame.

Judges Comment: It's a nice classic exit shot from a ceremony. The vignette helps to 'shape' the image and pull you into the center of the frame. Without it, the wide-angle lens used would feel too wide and the couple would be lost. The smoke from the sparklers created a ghosted white area behind the couple and detracts from the image. Take another look at the frame and think about burning that area down.

Judges Comment: We don't always look away from the couple during a ceremony but this photographer was rewarded when they did! Between the funny dog lick and the nice expression on the guests face the image comes together well. A slight crop off the right side would take the viewer to the dog much faster.

Judges Comment: This image has an overall calming feel to it accented by some really nice toning and texturing. The warm browns and simple stance of the couple make it feel like a painting. I would suggest making the image a strong vertical and crop off the person on the right along with de-saturating the green in the "exit" sign.

Judges Comment: Confetti everywhere makes a fun and somewhat chaotic image. Thanks to the photographer for bending their knees for this one. Getting even lower and shooting up would have accentuated the confetti even more. The image feels a little unbalanced and I would suggest a slight vignette along with a slight highlight dodge on the couples face.

Judges Comment: Good seeing through the crowd to find this little moment. The slight warm tone has a nice feel and is well-done.

Judges Comment: Straighten up that horizon...the image needs to be straightened or turned off horizon even more. It's at an angle that feels like an accident. The overall burning could use more finesse (larger brush, reduce opacity). How cool would it have been to rush up the bride, get ground-level and shoot up into that flowing veil?