Wedding videography is an incredible way to capture the magical moments of a couple's special day. From the first look to the first dance, wedding videography allows you to relive the beauty, emotions, and excitement of the day for years to come.
However, just like wedding photography, wedding videography also requires a unique set of skills and knowledge to make it a success.
To ensure that your wedding videography is flawless, there are some essential do's and don'ts that every wedding videographer should know.
Here, we will discuss some of the most important do's and don'ts of wedding videography, which will help you capture the perfect shots, create a stunning film, and make your clients' day one to remember for a lifetime.
Let’s get started!
10 Do’s of Wedding Videography
Meet with the couple: Meet with the couple before the wedding day to discuss their expectations, preferences, and the schedule of events. Be friendly and personable with them. You never know when they or one of their wedding guests will refer you to someone else who is getting married.
Be prepared: Bring backup equipment, camera, extra batteries, memory cards, and any other essential gear. Make sure you know if you need to bring your audio or drone equipment as well.
Dress appropriately: Wear something comfortable that isn’t too flashy. Something with pockets is always a good idea so you can have an extra battery and SD card always on hand. You will also want to wear comfortable shoes and at least have a hair tie in case you need to tie your hair back out of your face.
Be early: Arrive early on the wedding day to set up and get ready before the couple and guests arrive. A good rule of thumb is to arrive 30 min before the couple tells you to be there. That way you can set up your equipment without being rushed and you have time to go introduce yourself to the parents of the bride and groom and bridal party members.
Be organized: Have a shot list and timeline of events in mind. Looking regularly at your phone can look unprofessional, so try to remember as much without having to look at your notes.
Work with the Photographer: Overall, yes the photographer will generally take the lead. However, as videographers we need movement. A good way to work with your photographer is to let them put the couple into a pose and then you give cues for subtle movements in that pose. For example, if the photographer has them go nose to nose, you can cue “okay now rub noses and give me a little giggle.” This way you aren’t stepping on the photographer's toes, building on what the photographer is doing, and getting the shots you need.
Communicate effectively: Communicate clearly with the couple, wedding party, and other vendors to ensure you are all on the same page. Be clear and concise. Most people hate family photos, so you can help the wedding photographer by being positive and saying thank you to the wedding guests for their patience.
Edit professionally: They will be looking at this video for many years to come. Edit the footage professionally to create a cinematic and engaging wedding film that tells the story of the couple's special day. Don’t try to include any trendy or crazy editing styles. Keep it natural, and simple while still highlighting the best aspects of the film. Here is a great editing team if you need to outsource your editing.
Be Clear on What you are Providing: There are a lot of different types of wedding videos. For example a documentary wedding video vs a highlight style video is very different. Be clear of what and how you will be capturing their day and what audio and drone footage is included. The worst thing is to provide a wedding video to the couple and they thought you were recording their vows. Provide examples of your work beforehand so they know what to expect.
Have fun: Enjoy the day and celebrate with the couple, but remember to stay focused on your job and capture the best possible videos.
10 Don’ts of Wedding Videography
Be late: This is literally the worst thing you can do. Remember to set your backup alarms. Make sure you know exactly where and when to be there. Your tardiness can cause stress and bad feelings during the rest of the wedding day.
Be unprofessional: Whether you like it or not, you are judged as soon as you walk into the venue. Look, talk, and walk professionally. You never know who is watching and if a big future client is sitting right next to you.
Be disorganized: Do not be disorganized or forget essential equipment, as this can cause delays and missed opportunities for important shots. Plus, wedding guest just get frustrated by this and it can cause contention.
Use a Wide Angle Lense on the Bride: If you use a wide angle lens and do a horizontal pan on the bride it makes anyone look fat and unflattering. Don’t do this. Instead use a 50 mm lens and do a vertical pan or zoom out pan.
Be rude: Do not be rude or disrespectful to anyone, including the couple, wedding party, guests, or other vendors.
Miss important moments: Do not miss important moments, such as the first kiss, first dance, or speeches, as these are crucial moments that cannot be recreated. Be ready for those moments.
Create a Video that is 60fps with a Hand Full of 24fps Shots: Consistency is key. The video should flow. When in doubt just keep it consistent.
Be uncommunicative: Do not be uncommunicative or fail to provide clear direction to the couple, wedding party, or guests, as this can result in confusion and missed shots.
Overuse special effects: Do not overuse special effects or transitions, as this can detract from the natural beauty and authenticity of the footage. Keep in natural and timeless since couples will be looking at this video for many years to come.
Break the contract: Do not break any terms of the contract, including delivering the final product late, providing poor quality footage, or violating any other agreed-upon terms.
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