This FAQ is intended for those considering having their
wedding recorded on video. It is based on my own experience
doing
event video and weddings. If you are the one doing
the recording, I have another page of
advice
for videographers.
Should
we have our
wedding recorded on video?
If you feel the occasion is a significant event in your life and you
would like to share it with friends and relatives who weren't there
(perhaps even future descendants), video is a good way to do it.
Video can record character, personality and emotion in a way
that
still
photos do not. At a recent wedding fair, a
presenter said: "I am holding two boxes. One contains your
great-grandparents' wedding photos, and the other contains their
wedding video. You can open only one. Which do you choose?"
The audience choice was unanimous, to the surprise of some-
everyone
chose the video.
Won't
the video
cameras annoy guests and ruin the atmosphere?
That depends. There are a wide range of video cameras, and video camera
operators. Believe it or not, it is possible to have professional
video unobtrusive enough so that guests do not realize a
videographer is present. For example, I normally work without any
additional light, and
people have commented that the photographers with their flashes were
much more noticeable
than I was. This can involve tradeoffs. While it is possible to
record in dimly lit reception halls, extra light can improve
the video image in these circumstances. You may prefer to have
additional light during the toasts and the first dance so that the
audience, as well as the cameras, can see people clearly.
My
brother has a video
camera, why not just put it on a tripod in the back and let it
run?
This is possible, but you may not be satisfied with the results. I have
done many event videos using a fixed, unmanned second
camera and the notes that follow are based in large part on that
experience.
First, remember
tripod legs stick out and if the tripod
can be knocked askew
by the foot of a passing guest, it
will
be, with virtual certainty, unless someone re-checks it after everyone
else is seated. Event coordinators have been known to move
unattended tripods. If you've found a good viewpoint, the photographer
may like it too and stand directly in front of your camera. Maybe even
on a stepladder.
Second, consider the viewpoint and zoom
setting: do you know exactly where everyone will stand, and where they
will move? You are probably setting up the camera while the room is
empty.
When the guests are all standing, what will the camera see?
At outdoor weddings, the parents / grandparents in the front row often
bring
parasols for shade, which may block your view completely.
Even indoors, an unwritten rule of events is that the tallest guest
will sit, or stand, directly in front of your camera.
Third,
how long does your battery actually run? Older batteries may not give
the expected service even if they appear fully charged. It's safer to
plug
the camera in, if an outlet is within reach, but arrange the cord to
prevent anyone from tripping
over it.
An unmanned camera in the back of the room will give you some video,
but as you would imagine, it is not as interesting to watch as a manned
camera that is skillfully framed and smoothly follows the subjects of
interest. The sound from the back of the room will have room
echoes and will not be very
clear. Without a good sound system, quiet speech from the front
of the hall will likely be difficult or impossible to understand. Even
if there is a good sound system, the recording will have room echoes
(if indoors) or very likely wind noise, traffic, airplanes etc. if
outdoors. The saying that "sound is more than half of the whole" is
widely held to be true in video and movie production. If you can
record
sound separately from a mic near whoever is speaking, either direct to
the camera or assembled later in editing, you will get a much better
quality video, but this involves more equipment and more time and setup
than just one
camera and tripod. For example, if the bride, groom and
officiant are in one location, readings are made from a second
location, and musicians play in a third location, that requires a
minimum of three microphones & associated sound gear to properly
record. Often a venue is accessible for setup only one hour
before the ceremony starts. Properly setting up and checking out
several microphones and cameras in this timeframe is not trivial even
if you are familiar with and have practiced with all the gear.
Our
friend has a
camcorder, perhaps they'd be happy to do our wedding video as a gift?
See the previous question above. Depending on what you want, this might
work. If you just want someone
to keep a camera in the back pointed in the right direction, and you
don't need to hear the vows, readings etc. clearly, this would
be reasonable. If you're looking for a video that's
interesting to watch and listen to, and your friend has all the camera
gear and sound gear, and is skilled and experienced, you might
get a great wedding video with clear audio and a logical presentation
of well composed and focused images. Just keep in mind that a
good quality full-length video will occupy several weeks of editing, so
be aware of the magnitude of this gift. If your friend does a
good
job, they will be focused on the camera, and will experience
your wedding as a camera person, and not as a guest. Some volunteer
videographers are put in an awkward position when members of the
wedding party treat them as hired staff. Consider the effect on your
friendship if the video does not meet expectations.
Another consideration- does your friend have two cameras?
Most
wedding videographers will use at least two cameras for a ceremony, for
example one camera showing a fixed-wide angle shot of the entire area,
with another for selected angles and closeups. Normally couples want to
see the entire ceremony, but it's pretty much inevitable that the shot
from a single camera is blocked or unusable at times, for any
number of reasons. Does your friend have several external
microphones and/or can record direct from the venue's sound system?
Is an edited video
worthwhile?
Why not just get raw tapes of the entire day?
Raw tapes are useful for archival purposes, but the edited video is the
one that you will want to show show friends and relatives. Of the many
differences between amateur and professional video, one of
the most
important is editing. A well edited video flows smoothly
from
start to finish, combining the best camera views and audio tracks at
any given time, engaging the viewer's attention and emotions.
A
highlight video compresses time to a concise view of the most
significant events, again flowing between them seamlessly.
People
remember quality productions, and want to see them over again. A more
common reaction to viewing straight unedited tapes is boredom or
resentment at the time involved.
How
can we insure the best video quality?
A professional videographer should use a modern video camera with 3
CCDs that delivers "broadcast quality". The smaller cameras used for
wedding and event video are not much larger than a typical
consumer video camera, and provide reasonable image quality in
moderately dim (if not "dark") conditions. Additional lights
can
improve the image quality in very dim situations. Large
shoulder-mounted cameras of the kind used by television news teams can
provide superior images under difficult conditions, but they are also
more obtrusive and may not be the first choice if your event is an
intimate gathering. A camera mounted on a tripod will give
the
most stable image and is preferred for the ceremony. Monopods or
hand-held cameras are most frequently used at receptions for the best
angles on dancing and spontaneous action. Shooting with a
moving
camera in a live event without recording shaky video does require a
skilled operator.
Using at least two cameras is particularly recommended for the
ceremony, since this
can provide good views of the entrance, ceremony and exit without
requiring a camera to be directly beside the couple. More
than
one camera angle also provides a much higher liklihood of a smooth
finished video since this is a "one-take" event and unplanned incidents
often happen, for example a
photographer, guest, or wedding party member may block one camera view
at times.
Is
it possible to record weddings in high definition video?
Yes, the latest Sony HDV cameras record video in a high
definition format (1080i). With good lighting conditions, you can see
significantly more detail from this type of video than is possible from
traditional "standard definition" (480i) cameras, and the clean and
detailed image from HDV
cameras is a noticeable improvement over older MiniDV cameras, even in
playback from a normal DVD. Note that weddings shot with HDV cameras
are normally distributed as traditional video on standard DVDs at this
time, since Blu-Ray / HD-DVDs are not yet widely available.
How
can we insure the best sound quality?
Camera-mounted microphones are simply inadequate for good sound at a
wedding ceremony. Generally a lapel mic is placed on
the
groom's jacket, which is connected either to a recording device in his
pocket or to a wireless transmitter that sends the sound to
the
camera. The bride, groom, and officiant normally stand close enough so
that all three are recorded clearly by this mic. Any readings
that take place should be covered by another mic. For a
ceremony with live music, it is best to record the music separately
with a third microphone that is closer to the performers and farther
from
incidental audience noises. For a reception with a DJ, the
best
sound will be recorded direct from the DJ's board or by a microphone
placed next to the speakers.
We'd like a
professional-quality wedding video, but isn't it too expensive?
Rates vary somewhat by region. In my survey of the San Francisco Bay
Area in 2005, advertised package rates for wedding videographers range
from
$600 for someone who has never done a wedding before, to $8000 for a
high-definition video package with "everything and the kitchen sink".
Lower fees are possible if you have video for the ceremony only. The
most popular packages seem to fall in the $1500 to $2500
range. In general the more expensive packages will involve more
material (childhood photos, "before" preparations, etc.) and more
editing
time (more camera angles, highlights recap, musical montage).
More than just the cost
of equipment, you are paying for the onsite camera operating and
postproduction editing skills needed to make a
quality video production of
your one time only event.
Should
we get DVDs? How long does a DVD last?
The old standby VHS tape is still sometimes requested, but is
quickly becoming obsolete. DVDs offer better video quality
than
tape, and can have menus and chapters for skipping directly to a
particular segment of your video. Currently, most
videographers
are
delivering wedding videos on DVD discs. If you do not
already have a DVD player, they are now available for under $50.
Since DVDs do not break or tangle like tape and there is no physical
wear during playback, they are generally considered to be
durable. In truth, no
one really knows how long they will last, since the recordable DVD
format
has only been
in wide use since 2001. For now, the best advice is to
get several copies, store theem properly, and
ask your videographer if they will provide a replacement if
needed.
What are some general wedding planning resources?
Here Comes the
Guide has a wealth of info for SF Bay Area
weddings.
By
Recommendation Only
lists established vendors in the SF Bay Area and Seattle WA.
The Knot is a
popular online resource. Some wedding vendors advertise on
Craigslist
in the creative services section.
Who
is the author of this FAQ?
John Beale does wedding and event video production in the SF Bay
Area with his company
Beale
Corner Productions.
Back
to wedding video
page.
