Videotaping a Wedding - You Can Do It!

Videotaping a Wedding - You Can Do It! [movie rentals online]

"ARGH!!! I’ve been asked to videotape a wedding!"

It must be safe to assume that, because you’re looking at this article, you’ve either made the decision to video tape someone’s wedding, whether that someone’s a relative, a friend, or you’re thinking about it. Or maybe you’ve decided to increase your stress level on a regular basis and do this as a business.

Whatever your situation, you can go ahead and put the stress pills away. Videotaping a wedding is easier than you think - especially when you’ve preplanned and thought it out a bit.

Today’s point-and-shoot video cameras mean that you rarely have to worry about focusing, lower lighting conditions, white-balance, and many of the other issues you had to take care of with the older camcorders.

You’ve been asked to videotape the wedding because you have either shown some talent or ability in this area, you’re the only one with a video camera, or you were standing in the wrong place at the wrong time (for you, that is). Let’s be honest though, by not hiring a professional (although some “professionals” leave a lot to be desired), the couple are not expecting a four thousand dollar, five camera shoot, complete with helicopter aerial shots.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need: [movie rentals online]

- Video Camcorder (hard to video tape without one).

- Couple of batteries and a charger - use one while the other charges; the more the merrier.

- Videotape or recording media - enough to cover the event and one extra for emergency use. You won't shoot six hours of footage but having at least six one-hour tapes allows you to change tapes half way through to a new one. Don't use the same tape that you used for the rehearsal and "topping" it up with footage of the ceremony. Use a fresh tape each time.

- Backup video camcorder for emergency use - if you can get your hands on one. Of course, you can always jump over the pews and grab someone else’s if yours packs in right at the exchange of vows – or maybe not.

- Extension power chord to use as power during reception – or in case both batteries die.

- Tripod if you’ve got one - not absolutely necessary but very nice at times.

- Running shoes or business cards - To run away from anyone else who asks you to do their wedding or to generously accept money deposits for future weddings.

The key to a good wedding video is planning. It’s better to have a slightly shaky shot of the wedding vows than none at all because you were busy plugging in the spare battery to the charger. Or you missed the entire ceremony because you found out on the day that you’re in a church that the clergy doesn’t allow video or still cameras, and so you didn’t get time to wine and dine and plead with them first. (Actually, if you are having problems that way, it’s best to get the bride and groom to do that). [movie rentals online]

On the week of the wedding - because some plans aren’t finalized until then or are last minute - sit and talk with the bride and groom. Get them to tell you everything that’s happening, where it’s happening, and when it’s happening. What do they actually want you to tape and are there some things that they don't care if they made it to the video or not. This could cut down your workload. Are you allowed to tape where the ceremony is? There are also some things that the couple isn't privy to, such as surprise slide shows, skits, and songs at the reception, a prank at the rehearsal, or a special guest who has been invited by the siblings. For these you have to talk to the master of ceremonies for the reception, whose name you get from the bride and groom.

Use those three by five index cards to point-form all the details: where you’re meant to be and when; key peoples names and roles (such as the name of the officiating clergy); addresses and directions if you need them; in fact, anything that you think will aide you making your day’s "shoot" go easier. (Yup, you’re now part of the movie club, so you get to use the entire movie-making lingo now).

Make sure you go to the rehearsal. Tell the person who's officiating the ceremony that you'll move around a lot at the rehearsal, but not at the actual wedding ceremony. It gives them a sense of confidence in you - that you actually take this seriously.

The rehearsal is the place to find out where the best spots are and where you shouldn't be. Take note of anything special that's going to happen, and where the best place is to be to capture that on camera. Don't worry, you'll be told if you're in the way. This is a super place to practice different types of shots and review them later to see what works and what doesn't.

Try shooting some shots of crowds from a low angle with the camera pointing up at them. Try some "overhead" shots, where, using the LCD monitor, you raise the camera over your head and point it down over the people. There's lots of room for experimentation. Shots like these add variety to your video.

On the day of the wedding, the general rule on what to shoot is that the bride and groom are the main focus of your attention. Everything else is secondary - not unimportant - but secondary to the main "action". When the actual ceremony is underway, only shoot secondary footage when there's little or nothing happening with the main couple.

Do make sure that somewhere in your footage you get a shot or two of all the guests in the church, or wherever the ceremony is being held.

If you're only using the camera's built-in microphone for sound, then you need to get in as close as possible to the couple when they are doing their vows or saying something important. Getting in close will eliminate those distracting surrounding sounds that the camera usually wants to pick up and will instead record the couple's voices better.

Keep your camera movements smooth and purposeful. When panning from left to right or right to left, move at half of the speed you think you should. If you're walking with your camera, use the LCD monitor on the camera and adjust the telephoto "zoom" lever until the camera lens is at its widest setting. This will keep camera movement to a minimum and won't make people get motion sickness from watching your video.

During the ceremony, keep the camera recording. It's better to be able to cut unwanted footage out later than to forget to switch the camera back to record, or worse, think that you pressed the record button all the way but didn't and you lose the vows, or the first kiss etc.

After the ceremony, make sure you follow the couple where they go. If they stop to do a greeting line then that is your opportunity to do some shots of them but it also gives you the opportunity to take off and do other shots of the guests, the outside of the church, the getaway car etc.

Most professional photographers don't want you at the photo shoot, so that's a great chance for you to go and set up at the reception hall, and also to recharge those much-needed batteries (not yours - the cameras!)

While you're at the reception hall waiting for the couple to arrive, videotape the decorations, the tables, and generally anything of interest that relates to the wedding. Also tape guests arriving, signing the guest register, mingling before the event begins etc. When people are seated, that's also a great time to videotape all the guests before everything begins to happen.

After you videotaped the couple arriving to the reception, the rest is speeches, dancing, the cake cutting, and just about anything they planned and a lot they didn't.

Once you're all done, flake out on the couch at home and sleep for a couple of days.

You did it! Congratulations.