Weddings are pretty special events for those involved. Many people wait their whole adult lives for the moment to come, they plan for a long time, and then in the blink of an eye, it’s done. This is why wedding photography and videography is so important for many weddings. The happy couple wants to cherish the memories that they created in the frenzy of the moment.
Sure, it’s just a wedding, but if you are shooting a wedding video, remember that it’s one of the most important moments in your client’s lives. Take the time to figure out how to do it right and create something that they will be able to enjoy forever. Here are some tips for beautiful great wedding videos.
Pick A Style
There are different ways to shoot and edit a wedding video. Before you get started, discuss what kind of video you’ll be trying to create with your clients. Are you documenting the entire process in long-form or shooting and editing the best parts for a 5-minute overview?
These different approaches will require different setups, planning, timing, and perhaps even different equipment. So, make sure you know what you want the end result to be and make sure the client agrees.
Know What To Expect
A Wedding is a whirlwind in a bottle. Once the lid comes off you have to be ready for what’s inside.
Talk with the clients and find out all the details you can about the location, the size of the wedding, the schedule, key moments. Work out what you expect lighting conditions to be, and whether if you will be outside. Consider attending and even shooting video at the rehearsal if you can, in order to have the best idea of what to expect.
Will you need to be mobile and get around quickly or will you stay in one place to document the process? If there will be multiple cameras, make a plan to get coverage without duplicating efforts or getting in each other’s way.
You only get one chance to capture everything you need while it’s happening, so put planning first in your list of things to do. You’ll be thankful later that you did.
Expect The Unexpected
Planning is key, but a wedding is a living, breathing entity that will have hiccups and surprises. So be prepared for everything you expect, and be flexible for things you don’t.
Great weather may turn bad, so pack supplies like rain gear. Timing can change on the fly, so don’t get bogged down in one spot and miss something important.
Not all of the surprises are bad. Something special may happen and you want to be there to catch it. So, look for unexpected things and take advantage of them when they come up.
Come Equipped
There are many different ways to shoot a wedding video. You can bring 3 Ultra HD cameras with massive tripods, strategic lighting, and tons of audio gear to capture the entire scene. Or you can have a smaller DSLR, a monopod for quick movement, and perhaps a single camera mounted microphone. There is no right or wrong approach as long as you have what you need to get what is expected.
Once you figure out the style of video you are making and the logistics of the event, make a detailed list of the equipment you need to bring. Then bring a few backup items that may some in handy.
Pack extra batteries, media storage, even lenses just to be safe. But don’t bring more gear than you need because it can just end up being a liability that you have to lug around or watch after.
Don’t Fake It
It’s hard enough to try and force people to look natural for a photo. It’s nearly impossible with video. Don’t try and force scenes or emotions when shooting. There will be plenty to go around.
Emotion is everywhere you turn at a wedding, and special moments are plenty. Just focus on finding them and being there when they happen. Look for details that help tell the entire story, like the moment special cuff-links get put in, or a toast between bridesmaids just before showtime. Find a combination of candid moments and planned events that capture the entire story as it unfolds.
Remember that the happy couple wants authentic memories of the event, not something that they could recreate on a Hollywood set.
Blend In
This isn’t so much about how you shoot your video as how you handle the event. Everyone is there to have a good time, so try not to get in the way or break that up.
Like a referee who gets in the way of the ball, bad placement can ruin a moment. Find your best places to capture the action without interfering and be subtle so that people almost forget you’re there.
This goes back to the point about faking it. If people forget you are aiming a camera at their face, they’ll likely be more natural and less shy.
Recreate The Moment
When it comes time to edit your video, you want to create the best representation of the moment that you can. Remember that weddings are about romance, joy, anticipation, love, and happiness. Make sure everything you do in the edit enhances these feelings.
Consider color correction techniques that add magic to the scene. Soft colors, light leaks, and glow give footage more of a romantic touch. If you aren’t comfortable with color grading, consider plug-ins that can help with creating a cohesive look, like the Magic Bullet Looks plug-in from Red Giant.
The Looks plugin offers up over 200 color grading presets that are all customizable, or you can build your own from scratch. They also offer a free trial if you want to give it a try.
Audio will also play a big role in recreating the moment. Consider using music behind your edit for extra effect. If you are creating a “trailer” style recap of the event, you may want to opt for music only instead of trying to mix in sound from the event that may not be ideally captured.
Think about your clients and the overall theme when choosing music. Again, you want to invoke joy, romance, and excitement. But make sure you understand the taste of the couple and look for music that is both current and timeless.
Perhaps a simple piano piece will be the perfect backdrop, or maybe it’s something more like an indie-folk anthem that captures the spirit. Either way, find music that fits your look and story and edit to the music to enhance the overall emotion.
Consider adding graphics as a way to tie together your visual narrative. Something as simple as a set of elegant titles can set the right tone for the video open.
Or perhaps an overall graphic theme will put all of the pieces into place to create a more cohesive look and feel.
Adding in graphic elements also makes it easier to mix video with still photos that you may take or get from the photographer.
Remember that when shooting a wedding video, your job is to build a visual representation of not only what happened at the moment but how it felt. Use a combination of good planning and quick thinking to capture the very best moments. Then use music, graphics, and color grading to build a beautiful time capsule of the event.
