Tips to Help Your Wedding Videographer
Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few things that couples can do to help their wedding videographer on the day, these small things can dramatically improve the look and feel of the wedding film.
Most couples will quite rightly just assume that their wedding videographer will be able to reproduce their style for any type of wedding, but the fact is there are so many variables on the day that will actually dictate how your film will look and sound.
I have created this quick blog so that couples can get an insight into some of the creative challenges all wedding videographers encounter when capturing weddings, and how they can help overcome some of these.
Bridal Prep.
“Sit by a window”
Usually, your makeup artist will position you in front of a window so that they can use all of the natural light available. For wedding videographers, this is the perfect situation to be in!
Your videographer may ask to turn any room lights off so that only natural light is being used. Indoor lights produce an orange\tungsten look that is not flattering on camera.
Sometimes your makeup artist will bring their own ‘ring light’ instead of using natural light from a window, this is completely fine, but your videographer may ask if this could be turned off temporarily, and ask for some shots in front of a window instead, honestly it just looks so much better on-screen.
Bridal Prep.
“Turn background sounds off”
Almost all morning preparations have music playing in the background to help settle any nerves, but your wedding videographer would much prefer to capture the room noises, such as the laughter and giggles, or the champagne cork popping from the bottle, instead of what is currently playing on KISS FM.
When your videographer arrives, think about turning TV’s and radios off, only during filming.
“Keep the room tidy“
With a room full of people getting ready, gifts being opened, flowers arriving, champagne bottles being opened and other things, it’s very difficult to keep your room tidy, which means any clutter will be in all your videos and photos.
Try and keep the room tidy, you would be surprised how quickly a room can get trashed with so many people in there.
Bridal Prep.
“Giving gifts”
Your wedding videographer will want to capture all the best moments from your morning preparations, this doesn’t just include you getting the final stages of your makeup done, this can include your bridesmaids opening any gifts you may have given them, this is always amazing to capture because there are so many emotions happening at once.
If you are planning of giving gifts, then please let your wedding videographer know ahead of time so that it can be captured.
This goes for anything happening on the day, make sure your photographer and videographer are aware of all surprises.
“Messages”
One of the most important parts of your wedding film is the narrative. Your wedding videographer will use so many different methods to help tell your story.
One of these methods is using voice over from both couples reading a letter to each other. This is always amazing to capture as it brings out raw emotion and will completely help drive the story.
If you are planning on sending a letter to your partner then let your wedding videographer know so that they can capture it.
The Ceremony.
“I can’t hear you!"
Wedding videographers will capture audio for your ceremony using small discreet lapels, just like what you see on TV (or rather, don’t see).
The challenge wedding videographers sometimes encounter is getting the marriage officiant to wear one, sometimes this is because they are worried it will send out wireless signals and interfere with their wireless system, or that it will amplify their voice through speakers.
Your wedding videographer will usually only have 2-3 minutes to talk with the marriage officiant before the ceremony, so there isn’t much time to explain and put their minds at rest, by letting them know the recorders do not send out any signals or amplify their voice.
In most cases, the marriage officiant will just refuse to wear the lapel and this can have a huge sound impact on the wedding film.
Because you will have more time with the marriage officiant, you can help by asking if they would mind wearing a small lapel, and explaining that it only records to itself.
“Slow down!"
Just before you walk down the aisle, you will be outside the ceremony doors extremely nervous and excited, and believe it or not, some people forget how to walk at a normal pace.
Try not to walk down the aisle really fast, your photographer and videographer will want to get loads of beautiful shots of you walking down the aisle - so if you walk fast they will not have as much time to capture it.
Slow down, take your time and really take this special moment in.
The Ceremony.
“Confetti“
All wedding videographers absolutely love filming the newly married couple walking through confetti, it just always looks great!
If you want the best confetti shot in your wedding film then you need to get slow falling confetti that will remain in the air longer, instead of just dropping straight to the floor.
Keep in mind that some venues will be strict on the type of confetti that you are allowed, such as non-biodegradable confetti that is difficult to clean up.
The best type of confetti that will remain in the air longer is Naturally Dried Flower Petals, check with your florist and they can advise further.
The Speeches.
“Don’t split up“
During the planning phases, some couples will decide to split the speeches up during each course. For example, have one speech and then have the starters, then the second speech followed by the main course and so on.
What couples do not realise is this is a logistical nightmare for their wedding suppliers.
This is because for each speech the wedding videographer will need to bring in and set up their tripods, adjust any lighting and make sure that each person speaking is wearing a lapel, this all takes time to do.
The affects this can have on the wedding film is a constant change of light, as the evening progresses on it will get darker and darker and so there will be inconsistent shots of some people talking during the day, and then some when it’s darker.
If you can prevent it, don’t split the speeches up. However, It is completely your choice and your wedding videographer will be more than happy to accommodate however you plan your speeches.
“Set limits“
Something that is usually overlooked during the planning phases.
It’s so important to set time limits with anyone that is delivering a speech. I would highly recommend no longer than 15-20 minutes for each speech.
I once filmed a wedding when one of the speeches went over an hour, there were still 3 people to go after them!
After 20 minutes your wedding guests will start to wonder when it will end, and when they can eat and drink.
After all, who likes sitting through long speeches?
The Speeches
“Awwwww“
Really, this tip should be at the top of the list because it has the biggest impact on your wedding film.
Grooms\Brides, whatever you say in your speech, the most critical thing you need to include is some lovey-dovey bits about the love of your life, no matter how cringy you feel doing it.
I have filmed so many weddings where the main speech didn’t say any lovey-dovey bits about their partner, which is completely fine if you do not want this in the film, but it will change the design of your film.
You do not need to make the entire speech like this, just a paragraph or two talking about how you first met them, what you love most about them, how you felt when you first saw them walk down the aisle etc.
Honestly, this makes a huge difference to your wedding film, make sure there is something like this in your speech.
