The Wedding Video
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Modern technology has recently (well in the last decade or so) made a wedding item that used to be the exclusive domain of the rich or the well connected, the wedding video! Back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, you had to hire a professional to come in to tape the wedding, and then convert the recording to either 8mm film or VHS.
Now, with recent advances, a simple camcorder or digital camera has a low enough price to be in the reach of anyone. Using an USB cable, the entire recording can be transferred from the camcorder or digital camera to a computer then burned onto unlimited amounts of DVDs. Better yet, the entire wedding can be uploaded to Youtube for family and friends to enjoy around the world.
How to Make a Great Wedding Video
Many of the tips for making a great wedding photo can be carried over to making a great wedding video. There are, however, a few extra steps you need to follow. When scouting the wedding hall, you also need to have your helpers do a sound check. To make a sound check, have someone stand at the altar and start speaking in a clear voice while making sure to project as if they were giving a speech. Review the recording to see if they can be heard.
Just as important, make sure to review the recording for possible environmental sounds, such as a loud ceiling fan or a loud air conditioning unit. If this recording is to be the “official” wedding video, check to see if something can be done about something as simple as a ceiling fan (ie turn it off). If it’s a loud AC, that may be something you just have to deal with; a crowded church in the middle of June makes air conditioning a requirement. Look into repositioning the camera to get a better sound if possible.
What NOT to Do
- Be on the move. Nothing screams motion sickness than the roving cameraman. Remember the Blair Witch Project and all that running through the woods?
- Getting up in people’s faces. During the reception, it’s common to talk to guests and ask them to record something for the happy couple. Fine, but don’t shove the camera up into their faces. Leave room around the person in the viewfinder to see the people surrounding them to see their expressions. You can get some priceless moments from guests interacting with each other about what they’re talking about.
- Play By Play. The wedding is the bride’s day. Remember that. It’s not about your color commentating about anything and everything. Also, making jokes, off color or not, while taping the event is a big no-no.
- Have no power back-ups. The camera is plugged into the wall, and someone accidentally trips and unplugs it. The video camera shuts off because you didn’t have a full battery installed. It happens. Have a fully charged battery in the camera just in-case. This leads to my next and last point.
- Stay with the camera. I have seen this happen. Someone sets the camera to record and goes to sit down and enjoy the wedding. The wedding takes too long or they didn’t set the camera to the proper setting, but the camera only records 3/4ths of the wedding, shutting off right when the vows are about to exchanged. I kid you not. If you’re going to record the wedding, do it right and stick with the camera.
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