Help with a Wedding Shoot

[Steve Wargo]

You’ll probably find what you need at http://www.weva.com

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!

[Bob Cole]

I did a freelance job once for a cable show about weddings and this is what I learned:

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRIDE.

If you have one camera, put it in a place to catch the BRIDE’S expression.

etc. etc. ad nauseum.

All you need to know, aside from: IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO SHOOT HER WEDDING, JUST SAY NO.

Actually that’s not fair. But a wedding photographer told me that every time he hears the Electric Slide he thinks he might go insane.

— Bob C

[Marafilms]

Hey Joe,
Hope this helps:

Can it be done with one camera?
Yeah, though usually medium to high end shoots are done with two. One from the back getting a wide to med 3 shot (bride, groom, and minister)… the other set up between groom and minister to get wide, meds, and CUs of bride and ugly side shots of the other two. Sinlge camera shoots usually only set up like how I described the second camera, though it may not be very appealing to the groom, it covers the bride and all the “money shots” nicely.

What are the money shots? The absolutes?
The basics anyone would think of. Ring exchange, B/G vows, kiss, certificate signing, crowd shots, etc.

What about the reception? Should I interview the attendees? Maybe they can give their wishes for the new couple.

Hmm… sometimes we used to shoot message for the main guests which the couple could watch after the whole affair is over with. Though short interviews “how are you doing?”s from the bride and groom (and maybe parents) is always a nice touch. This is usually nice before and after the ceremony, especially since they are always nervous and its great to get a response… the only trick is to get them to actually answer and not be camera shy.

Good luck.

marafilms

[Maria]

Just some quick thoughts:

A friend and I are documentarians and we have a wedding video business that we pay very little attention to, but we offer a cinema verite approach. We just shoot as if we were at any regular documentary shoot and make it very natural. So, we avoid the whole cheesy interview thing unless someone asks us to do it. Basically, don’t feel constrained to make a typical wedding video – your friend is asking you because of the things you do, so bring your aesthetic and your usual sense of judgment into it.

Two cameras are also helpful because there’s a healthy period of time before the ceremony that the bride and groom are often separated. If they are, it’s nice to spend time with both of them, though if they are separated beforehand (not always the case in our modern times) you would probably go with the bride. But if a good editor is working with it, you can get totally decent coverage with one camera.

And take the personality of the couple into consideration. Not every wedding is ‘bride, bride, bride’. If they’re a fun couple you’ll want to get great coverage of both of them. That will give them a video with more of the personality of them and of the day.

Also, remember that your main customers here are the parents. Talk to them a bit to get a sense of your atmosphere.

Important moments after the ceremony: the bride/father dance, the groom/mother dance – might be nice (with either two cameras or one) to get a bit of the son/daughter asking and a bit of the father/mother anticipating; the first dance as a couple; the cake; and then just get coverage of a couple of the songs later. The bouquet and boutonneire toss; the departure. Get some coverage of the people who are there because these are the people the bride and groom and their families have invited and they’ll want to see them in the video.

[Tom Maloney]

As one just said go check out Weva. Look at local videographers demos and you will see what you need. Gets real boring, I mean 5 minutes of a couple holding hands and looking into each others eyes or 45 minutes of people dancing. After you do so many of them they are really all the same.

good luck happy editing

Tom

[Jason Linn]

I shot a wedding a few weeks ago… and let me tell you… make sure you have your angels set. But i think that my biggest mistake was not renting a better camera than I had. prob. your best bet would be to get two of the same cameras, that way they are somewhat consistant. Good luck! happy importing!

[Chip Johns]

Just to add to all of the other great advise

Ask the couple what they want. Each couple has their own idea of what should be part of the video. Make sure you include these shots that they want. Also, just stay on your toes. Things will happen that will be good for you to get, only you don’t know they are going to happen.. Stay on your toes. Shoot as much as you can.

[Mike Cohen]

As chip said, pay attention. Between main events, shoot some static shots of flowers, certerpieces, table of gifts and cards, both in and out of focus, can make good backgrounds for graphics or dvd menus.

It is a good idea to check with the band or disc jockey, as they often have a rundown of the order of events. Also introduce yourself to the stills photographer, so you don’t get in each others’ way.

I also eat a sandwich before shooting an event. Inevitably you are going to be shooting somethng when the good food is served and then whisked away before you can sit fown – if you get fed at all.

I have an outdoor wedding coming up. Even with a wireless lav, the wind can be a killer.

[Chip Johns]

Quote…also eat a sandwich before shooting an event. Inevitably you are going to be shooting somethng when the good food is served and then whisked away before you can sit fown – if you get fed at all.

This is an interesting subject. I have in the past explained that “on your wedding day, I get started at 10 in the morning and go to 10 at night (or later) and this means that I need to eat sometime during the day. If you do not supply a meal for me I will need to get something to eat somewhere else and this will take my time away from your wedding.”

Make them understand that it is their responsibility to provide you something to eat. And, find out what it is in advance… (NOT a PB&J) You’d be surprised what some caterers will provide for Photographers and videographers. Make specifically what you eat part of the contract!… They need to feed you! If you wait until the day of the wedding, you are screwed…

I know this isn’t a problem for you since this is your friend, but this is something to think about if you do any more weddings..

[Nick Szpara]

“I have been asked by my friend to shoot his wedding. I have done many other things but never a wedding. I have really had no desire. None the less, I told him that I would.”

hmm. i make a lot of short films (so my friends/family assume i’ll do any video stuff). my friend who is an architect asked me to shoot his wedding (for free), so i asked him to design me a house for free. i try not to get sucked into this kind of stuff, because, especially with family and friends, they dont understand that a 12-hour shoot and then the 30 hours to edit and master a dvd is worth thousands of dollars.
BUT, sometimes if there’s good food it can be worth it.
good luck!
nick