Videography: From Wedding Trend, to Wedding Necessity

Your wedding comes and goes so quickly. You definitely don't want to forget even the little things! While photography is beautiful and very important in a wedding, a video allows you to see, hear, and relive your the day. By hiring a videographer, you can experience your most special moments again, and even see moments you may have missed on the actual wedding day. Check out these top four reasons why a professional videographer should be a must in your wedding planning:

Don't Miss A Thing - Once the big day arrives, there is always a flurry of activity that makes the day seem to fly by. With so much going on, it can be difficult to savor the special, little moments, like the groom putting on his tux or the bride seeing herself in the mirror for the first time. A good wedding videographer can serve as your eyes and ears while you're celebrating!


Will & Charis - Tulsa, OK from Vélos Films on Vimeo.

Get Lasting Quality for Posterity - Let's face it, as advanced as the latest iPhone technology is, it is still no match for a professional. iPhone footage can be shaky, doesn't allow you to zoom, and doesn't pick up sound well. For a video that you will likely show your children some day, you want it to be as high quality as possible!


You make me happy from David Ruzicka on Vimeo.

Let Your Guests Celebrate - If you rely on a family member or friend for video, they likely won't be able to spend much time with you or enjoy the day themselves. Plus, you'll likely hear their laughs, talking, and cheers in the background. Hiring a professional who can devote the day to videography allows you to enjoy the day with the people you love!


Sarah and Allan from Senderey Video Productions on Vimeo.


mike // megan - breakers beach from 618 Studios on Vimeo.
A video is a great way to remember a special toast or moment.

Be a Movie Star for a Day - Worried that a wedding video will just be too cheesy? Gone are the days of ‘80s graphics and clipart. Today’s wedding videos often take a photojournalistic or even a movie trailer approach, integrating current music, interviews with the bride and groom, and comments from family and guests.


dead hearts: The Wedding of Victoria and Jason Evigan from Lightfield Lewis on Vimeo.

A wedding video can have a modern twist so that it reflects your creativity and style.

After watching these wedding videos, having your own is hard to resist! Share the links to your wedding videos with us below.....

Angela & Owen - Same Day Edit // Houston from 31Films on Vimeo.


*Sarah Madonia contributed to this article.

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Stop Before You Shoot! Tips for Capturing Good Video Footage of Your Wedding

Welcome back Mike Fisher from Storymix Media, who will be guest blogging about tips for shooting good DIY video footage at your wedding.

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In our last guest post, we explored the reasons for capturing video of your wedding. If you have opted for getting the video shot by a non-professional, we have advice for making sure your cameraperson gets the scenes you want and the best results possible.

The key to getting the important shots and scenes for your movie is planning beforehand.  If you have a game plan, you are much more likely to be ready when those great moments present themselves. Here are some tips:

General
1.    Know thy equipment.  Be sure to understand the functionality and features on the camera.  A Flip cam will have very different capabilities than an expensive camcorder.

2.    What extras will you need?  Extra batteries, tapes, and flash memory cards aren't sold at the bar.  Prepare the night before.

3.    Key shots list.  Make a list of the important moments you want to capture. Here are some shots you'll want:

• Walking down the aisle
• Vows
• First kiss
• Leaving church or venue
• Entrance into reception
• Best Man's toast and Maid of Honor's toast
• First dance, father-daughter dance, mother-son dance
• Bouquet toss
• Guests - don't focus just on the couple, but go easy on the guests' toasts
• More than ceremony and reception - your wedding experience also includes the rehearsal, bridal shower, honeymoon, etc.  Try to include those moments too if possible.

4.   Don't forget the "b-roll."  Take shots of buildings, scenery, banners, signs, invitation, food, shoes, etc.   

Shooting Video
1.    Two cameras are better than one.  Multiple angles and more coverage will result in a better final edited movie.

2.    Nice and easy.  Be conscious of how quickly or slowly you pan and zoom.  A nice smooth movement will prevent your viewers from getting seasick due to the jerky to and fro common in home movies.

3.    Have tripod, will travel.  Using a tripod will make it much easier to get great video shots.  If you know you'll be shooting from one spot for a while, your legs and arms will thank you.  There are also great table top tripods available on the market that are easy to travel with and do a fine job keeping your footage still and smooth.

4.    Film near a stereo speaker at the ceremony.  If you have more than one camera, position one camera near a stereo speaker.  Even if you can't get good video, the audio can be added later with the appropriate footage.

5.    Get a lot of closeups of the couple and guests.  Catching facial expressions and emotions makes for great video.

For more detailed tips and explanations for producing good quality video footage, check out our blog: www.My-Photo-Video.com.

In our next guest post, we'll discuss the questions to ask if you decide to hire a professional videographer.

November Giveaway!

As part of these great tips, Storymix Media is offering their Custom Wedding Video Wedding Mix package to one lucky reader.  This $200 value product is great for turning your DIY raw video into a great 20-30 minute highlight movie that will be a treasured keepsake.

To enter, simply leave a comment to this post by November 21st with an e-mail address to contact if you win.  You will receive an additional entry if you follow us on twitter and send us a tweet. We will randomly select a winner on November 22nd.  If we don't hear back from the winner within one week, we will randomly select a new winner.  No purchase is necessary to enter.

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