Leica has announced the Summicron-M 28mm F2 ASPH, a compact wide-angle M-mount lens for the company’s rangefinder cameras.

In case you thought you’d seen one of these before, you’d be right, as the lens is an update to Leica’s existing 28mm F2, although the new version, which features a new body design and an integrated lens hood, comes with a $400-odd price increase.

Like its predecessor, Leica says it has positioned the lens as ideal for photojournalism, street and daily environmental photography, and promises sharpness even when wide open at F2.

Inside, nine lenses in six groups provide for images that are ‘extremely rich in contrast and detail.’

Leica says the focus ring can be adjusted in a ‘remarkably quiet and smooth way’. 

The Leica Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH. is available now from Leica Store. It retails for $8,290. 

In part one, I looked at the preparation up to and including the wedding day itself. But much of the work happens after the event in front of a computer.

Running A Photography Business Isn’t Straightforward

A professional photographer must employ a range of skills that, in most businesses, would be undertaken by a team of people. Apart from being a photographer and all that it entails, I am also my own accountant, marketing director, public relations coordinator, bookings planner, technical advisor, website designer and developer, and coffee brewer. My skills include video, desktop publishing, writing, and business mentoring. If I am on a business trip, I book the transport. Plus, I make the executive decisions about what jobs I want to take on.

Keeping on top of my accounts, something that I find an unwelcome chore, is essential. There are some good photography management apps out there. Apps like Studio Ninja and Light Blue can save busy photographers huge amounts of time with that and tracking customers and their photoshoots.

However, I don’t use them. When I first started in this profession, I manually created invoices using Excel. I nearly made an Access database to do the job, but I found Express Accounts from NCH was affordable and served my purposes then, and it does now.

There are numerous business courses that I went on when I first started. They all promoted constant advertising and boosting one’s online presence. It’s what I did to start with, but I now have two counterarguments to this approach. Firstly, social media is great for promoting start-ups if it is done well. However, it can be a giveaway that you are new and inexperienced. Secondly, social media is a vampire, sucking not blood but the valuable time that you could be spending earning money plus personal professional development and training.

That is something you need to work out for yourself. I find word of mouth, helping others by giving free advice, and being friendly works best for me. Much of your work is going to be local, so having a good reputation locally is essential. Your clients will, of course, Google you. So, if you spend hours writing snarky comments on articles, they will see that and reject work from you.

Using Imagen AI for Culling and Developing Raw Images

Of course, processing wedding photos is by far the most time-consuming part of the job. You will shoot many more photos than you need. Shooting one frame will inevitably capture someone’s eyes closed, especially in group shots. Sifting through maybe 3,000 images and reducing them down to 150 takes a long time.

Luckily, there is software now that will help you with that, called Imagen AI. It is a great app that analyzes your photos and detects when there is something wrong with them, such as being out of focus or someone having their eyes shut. It suggests them for culling, although you have the final say. It will also learn your style and apply that to the entire set. If you haven’t found your style yet, you can adopt that of a well-known photographer and apply it to your photos.

It saves days of work. I still go through all the remaining photos and tweak them individually. But Imagen AI has sped up my workflow enormously, which affects my bottom line. Saving that time was vital for last weekend’s wedding because I had to get the shoot out of the way as I had other work to do.

Getting to Grips With the Tourbox

Recently, I acquired a Tourbox Elite. It’s another tool that made a huge difference to my workflow. I reviewed it here. To speed up the processing and editing of images, it’s something I wish I had invested in years ago. It speeds up the processing of images more than I thought possible and gives me finer control than I can achieve with my mouse.

How Much Editing Should You Do?

I have no qualms about removing pimples and shaving cuts from faces and will routinely do so when I process the shots. The photographer’s job is to make the wedding look beautiful, and nobody will remember that zit.

Equally, I have seen bridal photos with some glaring errors that could have been easily fixed with a quick bit of cloning. We all miss stuff when we take photos, but there’s no excuse for providing the client with images with a single hair running across the bride’s face, a lamppost growing from the groom’s head, or a road cone lying on its side in the background. I’ve seen other wedding photo albums that had all these rudimentary mistakes that could be so easily fixed in Photoshop.

When you start, shoot a slightly wider frame than you need, as it gives you more scope for creative cropping and sampling areas to clone. I crop all photos to the dimensions of the prints I am providing.

How Should I Present the Photos?

About 20 years ago, things changed. Photographers started offering printed photo books. They take a long time to create, and I think they are never that special unless you are paying huge sums for them. My approach instead is to encourage the couple to create a traditional scrapbook-style wedding album. Then, the newlyweds can spend time together, creating a book of memories not just from my photos but from mementos of the day too.

How to Keep the Photos and for How Long

I share the images via the cloud. I tell my clients that I only store their photos for a year, unless they have agreed that I use some of them for my publicity.

One client emailed me two years later in a panic because they had lost access to the cloud service where they had stored the images. Luckily, I found the pictures on a redundant external hard drive and was able to resupply them.

If they have asked for prints, they receive those enveloped in acid-free paper and presented in a carved wooden box, along with all the images on a pen drive.

Why Am I Giving Up Weddings?

Why am I stopping wedding photography? As I said in the previous article, I have learned to be laid back and not become stressed about things over which I have no absolute control. For example, I have an event shoot this coming weekend, but I picked up a horrendous cold at the wedding last weekend, so I have passed the work on to someone else. There is no use worrying about it. Furthermore, I know my clients are happy with their images.

The truth is, I have enough other work on my plate, and weddings eat into the time spent doing that. The opportunity cost of shooting weddings is too high. So, I now pass most wedding requests onto two fabulous, young wedding photographers who live nearby.

Moreover, the more I do, the more I find many weddings are very similar and blur into one another. Although there are opportunities for being creative, that creativity must be restricted so that the clients appreciate the photos. If I push the creative boundaries too far, the reaction from my clients will not be great.

I might still accept the occasional small one, but no more big fairy tale weddings for me from now on.

Do You Shoot Weddings?

What lessons have you learned from wedding shoots? Are weddings too daunting for you to shoot? It would be great to read your comments. If you missed my first article in this series, you can find it here.

NASA has shared its monthly update for what skygazers should look for in the night sky in December.

First seen on Digital Trends, the main draw this month is the Geminid meteor shower.

“The Geminid meteors peak overnight tonight. Northern Hemisphere observers can look for meteors as early as 9 or 10 PM., with the hourly number increasing after midnight,” writes NASA. “Dress warmly, get away from bright lights, and take in as much of the sky as possible. Meteors will fall all over the sky.”

The Planetary Society explains that the Geminids are expected to produce up to 120 meteors per hour when viewed at a dark site. Further, the waxing crescent Moon during that time won’t disrupt the night sky, so 2023 is an excellent year for observing and photographing the Geminids.

Capturing meteors with a camera is no easy feat, but good preparation will go a long way toward getting great photos. Photographers must find a clear, dark sky, and ensure that their camera is stable. Since meteors are unpredictable, long exposures are often the best way to capture the streaks across the sky. Often, a wide-angle lens is a good choice as it offers the most expansive view of the sky.

Other night sky photo opportunities this month include the slimming crescent Moon rising from December 7-10 alongside Venus and the bright star Spica. This will be viewable in the eastern sky during the couple of hours before sunrise.

Following sunset on December 17th, photographers should watch the crescent Moon, which will be very close to Saturn in the southwest. Binoculars or a small telescope — or a long lens — may allow viewers to spy Saturn’s giant moon, Titan, as a faint dot next to the planet.

Another planetary viewing opportunity arrives on December 21 when Jupiter is clearly to the increasingly full Moon in the southeast. They will travel across the night sky, practically in tandem, throughout the night.

Throughout December, amateur astronomers can enjoy observing the Vesta asteroid. It is at opposition, meaning it is on the opposite side of Earth and the Sun. Vesta is at its brightest and closest position of 2023. “Look for it to move northward in the sky between Gemini and Orion during the month. Use your favorite skywatching app to locate its precise position on the night you’re observing,” NASA explains.

Image credits: Featured photo licensed via Depositphotos. The images in the article are courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Overall winner and Single Capture Winner, Tara Lilly – Tara Lilly Photography
“Mikaela + Mitch held an intimate mountaintop wedding in Whistler, Canada, on the unceded territory of Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh & L̓il̓wat7úl First Nations⁣⁣⁣. We took 4×4 jeeps up to an alpine meadow, home to a number of animals, including whiskey jacks. (If you’ve visited Whistler in the winter, you may have seen these small birds entertain skiers waiting in the lift line by landing on their ski poles held in the air.) Just as Mitch began his vows, a curious whiskey jack swooped in and landed directly on top of Mikaela’s head. Mikaela’s shock, surprise, and laughter were not enough to dissuade this bird from his perch. “I’m Snow White!” Mikaela laughed.”

A small bird coming in for a crash landing helped win Tara Lilly the title of International Wedding Photographer of the Year. The Canadian wedding photographer beat out over 300 of her peers to rise to the top of the competition. The precious image of a whiskey jack landing on the head of a bride is a lighthearted look at the couple’s go-with-the-flow attitude during their wedding in Whistler, Canada.

For her efforts, Lilly is taking home a prize pool, including a share of over $3,000 and products from award sponsors. In second place, Italian photographer Carmelo Ucchino captured a couple’s romantic first dance as water cascaded from the ceiling. The dramatic black and white image also won the Dance Floor category.

Over 1,700 images were submitted to 11 categories that show the creative range of possibilities when it comes to wedding photography. “It was an absolute joy judging so many diverse entries and the quality of imagery was off the charts,” shared judge and photographer Dee Kampe, who won last year’s contest.

“I was drawn to the winning entry for its perfection in capturing this chance encounter,” she continues. “It’s joyous, uplifting, and makes me grin from ear to ear just looking at it. There’s pure, unfiltered emotion, there’s surprise, there’s the unexpected. It encapsulates the emotions and narrative that runs through an entire wedding day in a single frame.”

This year’s contest was more successful than ever. Now in its seventh year, the International Wedding Photographer of the Year saw an increase in entries, showing that the world is back on track when it comes to celebrating these important life moments. Scroll down to see more of the winners and check out all of the finalists in the official gallery. And, if you are in the market for a wedding photographer, you can search the contest’s database to find a talented photographer in your area.

Here are the winners of the 2023 International Wedding Photographer of the Year contest.

Overall Runner-up and Winner, Dance Floor, Carmelo Ucchino
“Such a sweet and in love couple that involved me passionately. The simplicity of a refined wedding in Sicily with many facets, from the very romantic one between the two spouses to the very exuberant one in the post-prom party. In this photo, water actually falls from the roof in an almost surreal context, it is a dance floor where the bride and groom do their first dance together. I remember with amusement the slippery floor after prom. A few slips and lots of laughter to liven up the story of this wedding even more.”

Winner, The “I Do” Crew / Group Shot, Jeff Tisman
“The funny thing about this photo is that I did it once before with another couple at this particular venue. The first time the photo had eight people. This couple wanted the same shot and said Jeff do you think you could fit all 16 of us?
I said there is only one way to find out. “You all get in and we’ll find out”. And in they went!”

Winner, Epic Location, Aimée Flynn
“Being huge climbers, it was super important for these two to climb in celebration of their elopement. In this moment I was turning around to find a new vantage point for photos when I heard, “Oh, Spiderman style!” from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw, well, this, and then frantically started taking photos. It’s wild to think I had very little to do with the set up of this photo and that this was genuinely just the two of them having fun.”

Winner, From Above, Ben Lane – Tinted Photography
“
We started our day super early with Marianne and Jeremy to catch the sun rising across Lago Di Braies. Later, they would say their vows to each other, surrounded by the indescribable peaks of the Italian Dolomites. But in between was this moment. We had the jetty to ourselves; the lake was dead calm, the row boats still in their moorings. It was a perfect time for these two to take a moment and just relax with each other.”

Winner, Break the Rules, Traci Edwards
“When planning with Gillian + Josh it was clear how much climbing was a part of their relationship. Their first date was on a multi pitch trad route and they got engaged on an epic sport route in Moab. The main things they wanted to be a part of their day: warmth, time to enjoy, climbing, beer and star gazing.
Immediately, I started thinking about how can we create epic star photos that could also embody more of who they are and what they want out of their elopement experience. I pitched the idea to them for a night time hanging rappel down the middle of an arch for star gazing. They loved it!
Logistically, photography wise, this wasn’t going to be easy. Hanging rappels, no matter how hard you try, there is lots of subtle movement. With practice, holding our breathes and some help from passing cars we pulled it off – a night time hanging rappel under the stars – captured for years to look back on and remember the moment, the stars, the hanging in the air with each other before becoming married.”

Winner, Couple Portrait, Aimée Flynn
“When you get a little bit of weather and combine it with off the charts stoke, magic can happen. Not 40 minutes before this photo was taken we were all being pelted with rain, sleet, and snow. The nice thing is that in places as wide open as the desert, you can see often see weather approaching… *and* you can see when that weather will clear, making for the prettiest and moodiest sunset ever. There was so much joyful shrieking as this couple scrambled over the rocks, wind whipping their hair and clothes. It was chilly and windy, but these two had the time of their lives embracing their (very epic) wedding day.”

Winner, Black & White, Fabio Mirulla
“I remember very well that day, it was a very hot summer day and the couple was walking in Siena (Tuscany), in one of the most interesting streets, with ancient buildings and narrow streets that lead to Piazza del Campo, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful squares in the world. We were talking just right before starting the photo session when I turned around and saw that there was a cone of light projecting this very strong shadow against Palazzo del Rettorato. I immediately took the chance to play with frames to create something different, a strong geometry totally in contrast and discontinuous with the usual aspect of the city which is a purely medieval town with its typical bricks. The success of a photo sometimes is being in the right place at the right time and this was definitely the case.”

Winner, LIT, Van Middleton
“I was fortunate for this image in that a lot of things aligned. There was a full moon that was tracing a line right between two beautiful big old trees near the wedding venue, I had a couple that was super excited to be involved in a few outdoors night-time creative photos (while their friends were partying hard inside!) and I was also sharing the day with a videographer James Alexander, who was running with a large LED spotlight that I begged and borrowed. I didn’t think my speed lights would be quite right for this type of shot, because I needed something steady and more controlled that I could also light up the trees a bit with. This shot was taken at Worrowing Estate, an amazing venue with beautiful forests all around, which was another stroke of fortune!”

Winner, Solo Portrait, Shankhesh Jariwala.
“There is a very interesting story behind this picture.
So while capturing bride solo portrait I saw this painting on the wall which was hanging little higher I instantly created the story in my mind about the painting.
I asked bride if she can stand on the little table with those high heels on and she trusted my vision and agreed to do for her perfect bridal portrait Heads off to her That’s how we captured this beautiful portrait of her.”

Winner, Engagement / Non Wedding, Julian Zeman
“Steph and Matt are both marine biologists’ and got married in the Cook Islands. It was only fitting they merge their passion for the ocean and their love for each other with an underwater photoshoot. On the day of the shoot, we were greeted with a bit of wind, which made the waters a tad choppy. Determined to get the perfect shots, we decided to venture further out than usual. My mate John, who owns the fishing boat we went out on, took us to one of the fishing fads – a spot with crystal-clear waters, perfect for our shoot but definitely not a spot for anyone scared of deep water. There’s always a bit of a current, and naturally, on a windy day, we’re dealing with it being choppy, but Steph and Matt were incredibly graceful.”

International Wedding Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the International Wedding Photographer of the Year.

Related Articles:

Extreme Wedding Photographer Does Photo Shoots on 350ft Cliff Ledge

Charitable Photographer Gets One Wedding Photo to Go Viral for a Great Cause

Stunning Winners of the International Wedding Photographer of the Year Contest

Wedding Photographer Tells Couples To Act Drunk and Gets Great Shots Because of It

Selecting the right lens for portrait photography is a pivotal decision for photographers of all levels. This comprehensive video offers valuable insights into the intricate world of portrait lenses with in-depth exploration of various lens types, from prime lenses to zooms, wide angles to telephotos, making it an invaluable resource for photographers seeking to refine their portrait photography skills.

Coming to you from Julia Trotti, this fantastic video tutorial brings a practical touch to the discussion of portrait lenses by sharing personal experiences and opinions, offering real-world insights that can help photographers make informed decisions. One critical topic addressed in the video is the perpetual dilemma of choosing between achieving the sought-after background blur (bokeh) and the convenience of a zoom lens. This is one of the most important choices a photographer must make regarding portrait lenses.

The ability to choose the right lens can profoundly impact the final outcome of portrait photography, with focal length affecting both your ability to provide environmental context and the way the subject’s facial geometry is rendered and aperture controlling depth of field and subject isolation. The more you understand this, the more you can make informed technical decisions and take more precise control of the creative process. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Trotti.

If you would like to continue learning about the art of portraiture, be sure to check out our range of tutorials on the subject in the Fstoppers store.