Hello folks
I'm new to wedding videography so I wondered if anyone knows of a list of "things" to record on a wedding day.
I mean, is there an official (you should record this) list like, speeches, the arrival, taking vows etc..
Thanks
I am only an amateur at this game but I recently did a video for some friends. I sat down and worked out a storyboard with them which I copy below as a starter for this discussion. I am sure that some of the professionals can improve on this and I look forward to hearing from them. The one problem I had was persuading the happy couple to let me edit it down. They wanted to keep every little detail, even the mistakes! So it came out at about 1 hour long. If I did it again I think I would do more editing "in camera" so that there wasn't so much choice when it came to the post production editing. Shorter shots etc.
Storyboard
Shot 1 Bridegroom & Best Man at Registry Office.
Shot 2 Guests arriving
Shot 3 Bridesmaids, Brides Mother (& Chauffeur) arriving
Shot 4 Bride & Father in car
Shot 5 Ceremony
Shot 6 Candid shots of wedding photographs at Registry Office
Shot 7 Bride & Groom in car from Registry Office
Shot 8 Bride & Groom in car arriving at reception, (possible extra photographs at reception)
Shot 9 Cake Mock-Up shots
Shot 10 Line Up
Shot 11 Guests at tables etc
Shot 12 Speeches
Shot 13 Cutting the cake
Shot 14 Presentation of flowers etc
Shot 15 Bride & Groom first dance
Shot 16 General dancing etc
Shot 17 Bride & Groom leaving
Hope this helps.
Doug
Try not to break it down to individual shots. Thats the photographers job. Better to think of the day as individual scenes, that vary according to type of wedding and venue. Scenes to consider.
Arrive at the church 1 hour before the ceremony. Take the following:-
Outside and inside of church
Church sign
Guests arriving
Bridal party arriving (inc cars)
Bride with dad
Bride and dad coming down isle
Full service (can be edited later)
Signing the register
Bride and groom down the isle
Photo shoot
Arriving at hotel
Intro line up of guests
Cutting the cake
Speeches
First waltz.
Take at least 3 batteries and 3 1 hour tapes.
Use lights when allowed Eg. for line up and speeches + First waltz.
Use external Mic for service and speeches. I use a radio Mic on a table top stand, so i can hide at the back of the hall.
Ask lots of questions on the day.
Is it a full mass or a blessing?
Is the speeches before or after the meal?
When is the cake cutting?
Any surprise speakers i should know about.
Where's my money? ETC.
Be prepared with all the gear and knowledge you require, and good luck.
Will you get rich doing weddings - NO
Will you enjoy the work - PERHAPS
Will you loose all your hair - GUARANTEED.
Oh. Never allow the couple to sit with you during the editing. They don't have a clue how it is done and will always come back with changes. Anyway, we all get shaky bits and some out of focus shots we don't want the couple to see. If you take it out they won't know it was their in the first place.
Hope this is of some help.
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Mike
Also remember to get the Bride, Groom, Bridesmaid(s), Bestman, Minister/Priest names correctly spelled if you are adding titles etc.
Harry
I add a guest list at the end *providing* it's supplied to me either on floppy, or via e-mail, with the guests listed in order required. This way I copy/paste & can't get any names wrong!
You must ask the couple if there are any "specials" planned, to make sure you include those. You may need to ask them both privately and separately, to avoid spoiling any surprises one has planned for the other.
Examples we have come across include:
caricaturist drawing the couple/guests,
roulette table in the reception,
wigs for those in the disco,
"special presentations" to the bride,
present-giving to those who helped,
bouquet throwing,
"Best Wishes" book for guests to sign,
fireworks, etc.
and, of course, a variety of "musical background entertainments" during the reception or the service such as:
solo instrumentalist,
solo vocalists,
ceilidh band with a caller,
string quartets,
jazz band,
salsa disco instructor, etc.
It is also important to ask the best man (again privately) about any "specials" he has planned during his speech, so you are ready to capture anything extra that is visual.
Usually these are all evening/reception events, so this assumes you are not part-timers who leave while it's still light!