Keys to a GREAT WEDDING FILM
Wedding Film Do’s + Don’ts
Face it, weddings are complicated. They are jam-packed full of unforgettable moments, emotional highs (and sometimes lows), and are non-stop. Often this leaves the bride and groom little time to breathe, let alone relax. Things have a tendency to run behind. Small stresses can add up till it seems disaster is looming ahead.
As a wedding filmmaker, my goal—aside from creating a epic wedding film that the couple will love—is to keep the shooting as stress free as possible. Over the years, I’ve discovered through experience and discussion with other wedding filmmakers certain things I wish the couple knew when they were planning their wedding, things that would not only help relieve stress on the day of the wedding, but also make the film much more likely to be stunning. I’ve created a list of things to consider when planning the wedding that will make it more likely the wedding film turns out stunning.
Planning the day with the Videographer: When you are planning the day of the wedding, it helps a ton to get the videographer’s impute. In many ways, when we create a wedding film, we put together pieces of a puzzle. Music, Vows, prep, highlights, first look, first dance, prayers, Etc. Often we need time for certain types of shots. Sometimes we need multiple takes to get what we need. If you allow our input when you plan the day, we can let you know if there is enough time at each location to get the shots we need.
Prep Location: We often film the bride and groom getting ready. These shots turn out best if it is a well lit location that is free of clutter. Rooms with large windows that let in soft light are especially great for cinematic shots.
Audio: Audio is half the film. Bad audio makes a bad film. I try to capture the vows live to use in my highlights. However, there are times when audio just doesn’t work: the wind blows and muffles the sound or something goes wrong with a mic. I like to record the vows separately at a different time to use with the video just in case the actual vow audio has a problem. Try to plan a time where you can record audio with the videographer. It doesn’t have to be long, but it is definitely worth it.
Picture time: All weddings have them—Pictures: The family portraits. The bride with the bridesmaids. The groom and the groomsmen. But too often, it consists of everyone standing still while smiling. That’s great for photos, but will make a dull video. Try to have each person of your bridal party or family come up with something fun to do to make the shoot more exciting: High-fives, Hugs, belly bumps. Something with movement that will make the moment fun.
Detail shots: Often we need to get shots of the rings, the shoes, the Bouquet, etc. However, since time is short and there is so much to do on a wedding day, having a box with the items needed so that both the photographer and videographer can get those shots quickly can save time and allow us to move onto getting other important shots, which in turn makes the whole party feel less stressed.
Be Unique: Some of the best wedding films are those that have something that set them apart. Does your family have a tradition that you do for the wedding? If not, do you want to start one? Do you have a specific love poem that you want to read to your fiancé? Small touches like this go a long way to make your Film special.
Don’t Overthink it: At the end of the day, if things don’t work out as planned, relax and take a deep breath. The fact of the matter is, we are all at the mercy of fate and mother nature. I know of one wedding where a tornado came through and destroyed almost everything. They considered cancelling the wedding, but decided that they were going to push through. In the end, their wedding became a metaphor for life and marriage. Storms are going to come. It isn’t always smooth sailing. But they weren’t going to give up. In many ways their wedding became that much more significant because of the storm. So if things don’t go exactly as planned, don’t sweat it. Things can turn out extra significant when they depart from our expectations.
These are just a few tips that can help relieve stress on a wedding day and help take your wedding film to the next level. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions about thing that will help make your wedding film extra special.