When you film a lot of weddings, you become experienced in noticing the things that go well and those that don’t go quite as well. These are often little things that could be corrected very easily, but just require being told beforehand! This is why I’ll often try to offer a little guidance to couples throughout the day to make sure things look fantastic in the final video.
Here are 5 such scenarios and my advice to make each part of your day look amazing on camera.
- Brides, allow your bridesmaids to be almost seated by the time you start walking. This will give a totally clear view for the photographer and videographer to track you all the way up the aisle without being blocked.
- Tell your photographer / videographer to inform guests not to throw confetti in your faces! It makes couples flinch and that’s not particularly attractive! Guests should throw it up so it comes down slowly – and that looks really pretty. However, there’s always a few who will try to throw it directly in your face…
- Following on from that – bride and groom: try to smile whatever happens with the confetti – it’s most likely not going to blind you or choke you!
- Save some confetti – it may come in handy for more photo/video moments later.
- During speeches, it’s good for video when speakers stay where they are rather than wandering around (as some like to do). If there’s a microphone, putting this on a stand and designating a ‘spot’ for people to stand to give their speech solves this. It means the cameras can stay glued to the speaker, and to the couple which cuts down on ruined shots through having to reframe or follow the speaker.
- Allow time for video setup when lighting is required. If you’re cutting the cake right before or right after speeches, there might be a certain amount of panicking induced in your videographer as they try to rearrange their cameras and lights to accommodate everything that’s happening. Do the cake once for real for all your guests so the videographer can film that wide and with minimal gear. Then when everyone is done taking pictures, you can make another cut for some close ups and a kiss etc.
- Consider having someone designated as a Master of Ceremonies. This doesn’t have to be a man in a fancy red suit hired from the venue. You can just find someone you know who’s a confident speaker, maybe quite charismatic, and let them do it. It’s a good idea because it means all the speech givers get introduced properly, and also they can rouse a cheer or applause for the person who just spoke. All too often, things just fizzle in and out. People need telling what to do!
- The low down on Sparklers… They’re a great thing to have because they kind of mark the end of the night – especially for photo and video people who usually aren’t staying to the end of your evening party. When is the best time for sparklers? Dusk or blue hour. This is when the sun has just gone down but there’s still light in the sky. This way, the cameras can still see things! Of course in Winter, you don’t have the luxury of choice as it will already be dark hours ago. In which case, allow time for the setting up of some lighting too. Another tip, which I’d urge you to test with your chosen sparklers – is try lighting them from the bottom so they burn upwards!! You can also give everyone 2 sparklers so they can light one from the other and extend the time the sparklers run for. You can also get long burn sparklers but they tend to be less bright. Do a couple of walks from one end of the sparkler tunnel to the other so the photo / videographer have more chances to get some good stuff – oh and tell your drunken friends and family to keep out of the tunnel so they don’t spoil the official photo and video!