We will be filming and recording you all day long. There are a few things you can do in advance to make things run smoothly, and we have a few pointers to make sure that you are getting the best from our wedding videographer.
Love messages
Write love messages to each other in advance. Aim for about 40 seconds each. We can record you reading these early on in the day, and use the video, text and sound footage in the short trailer video, to make it really personal and intimate (yes we are right mushers really).
Get your rooms ready for us
Things like dresses, presents, flowers, rings, shoes, perfume, and jewelry, should be ready and displayed nicely in the getting ready rooms before we arrive.
This is a great idea because you then know where everything is, and that you have everything in the right place. This also means we can get beautiful footage of all the details you have been planning for ages.
Unplugged wedding
Consider an unplugged wedding. Tell guests you have a superb professional team shooting photography and videography, so they do not need to.
This has a couple of effects. The guests can relax, as they do not have any responsibility or need to take photos and videos. We are not battling past a sea of phones, and Uncle Bob with a camcorder who is determined to be right there in the action, in front of us!
The guests are more relaxed and engaging in our footage. If the guests are filming, they are not in the footage as guests.
We are not saying guests should not have cameras, what we do is invite them in to shoot theirs, once we have our shots and footage. In this way, everyone gets a great shot.
Speak clearly
We’re recording your voice, so don’t mumble or put your head down as you say your vows and speeches, etc. Practice if you have to. You are aiming for nice and clear, well heard but not shouting.
Get rid of shine
Invest in some mattifying primer. Many TV studio makeup artists use this as a base on men and women, and it takes the shine and light reflection right off your skin. It’s totally clear and is not like makeup at all, it just reduces shiny skin (and is a brilliant makeup base).
Where to look
We use multiple cameras, so unless we let you know, do not worry about what camera to look at. But when we do tell you, absolutely do look at that camera.
It can be quite distracting on the day, with photographers, videographers, and guests all wanting your attention. We prefer to shoot naturally, and we do not say what camera we are shooting with very often, when we do, it will be really clear.
It’s a real shame when you get a cracking clip of a Bride looking one way and the Groom looking the other!
We leave cameras rolling
Because we cut between cameras, and shoot additional footage for interest, we sometimes leave cameras rolling, and microphones recording. If we have popped a microphone on you, we can hear what you are saying afterward… Just saying!
Know what you want
Just like photography, videography takes a little planning. With enough time and a good plan, we can get what you really want. So, for example, if you want a lovely shot of the two of you walking down the beach as the sun is setting, let us know.
Keep smiling
With photography, we sometimes shoot five shots, knowing we are going to pick the very best expression. With videography, things are different. We do not have that luxury; we capture you as you are. One bad expression can spoil a whole clip. With weddings, this is not a big problem, but you need to be aware that we are capturing things as they are.
You need to be tidy
If your hotel room looks like you blew up a suitcase up in it, we are going to be struggling to get nice clean video footage in there. Tidy the rooms up before we get there.
Stand in each corner and imagine what we are seeing with our cameras.
Again, this is where photography is a bit different to videography. With photography, we can crop mess out a little easier. Video is totally unforgiving, as we will be moving the camera in the same clip, catching more of the room.
Put your holiday stuff in another room i.e. one of the groomsmen, or bridesmaids etc.
On your run through
The other areas need to be tidy too. Floor walk your wedding the day before, looking at the rooms, the venue, the ceremony area.
Look out for horrible distractions. Litter bin in the background? Signs for jet ski hire, etc… Have the hotel move or disguise these things.
It is your wedding; you want things to look nice. On your video, as we are panning and moving, it is super hard to avoid things that are distracting in the background, or that that look messy.
We are magicians
But you can help! If for example, your hairdresser has you backed right up into a dark corner, we can’t get more than one camera angle on you, and its dark as well.
So if your hair and makeup are starting before we arrive, get them a nice, light, clear, and open space with a mirror to work in. Yes, we will always get great work, but it’s smart to make it easier. Besides that, you will feel better in a brighter clearer environment too!
If a Bridesmaids room is close by, consider using both rooms if the space is tight.
Build in time for videography on your timeline
Most of the time, the photography and videography team are working together, so there is no extra time needed. Sometimes, for example with couple shots, we diverge a bit.
The photography and videography teams are looking to get different things out of the time, so build in a little extra time into these parts of the day. We will advise you about this before the schedule of the day is made.
Be natural
If you see us working, just ignore us, we will do the rest.
Speeches
Have all your speeches from an agreed single location, yes we shoot from all over, but generally, we have to set up fixed cameras and lighting that we do not want to move between speeches.
Don’t have the speeches whilst anything is being served or eaten. The chinking of plates and cutlery, or waiters walking in and out of shot, is super distracting on the final video.
On top of that, you do not want us to catch the reaction of the groom to the best man’s speech, while he has food in his mouth!
