Lets See The Video
Amanda Pressner
“When you think about it, there are really only three things that remain after the wedding has ended: the dress, the photography, and the video. All the other things - the cake, the flowers, the guests, and the music - are all gone. And when you consider that you probably won’t ever wear the dress again, and that memories sometimes get cloudy, the video will become one of the most important, tangible reminders you’ll have of your wedding day.”
Industry experts agree that while photos are a treasured keepsake, the most lasting impression is made by the video, especially since most couples rarely remember all the specifics of their special day. In fact, many couples are able to fully enjoy their wedding for the first time through the live re-enactment of the video.
Yet, the video is often the last part of the wedding that’s decided on. As if it’s an afterthought, some couples will assign the task of videotaping their wedding to Uncle Charlie, or a buddy from work, but there’s so much more involved than just holding a camera up to your eye and pressing the record button.
Video is very complex. Unlike photographs, which record only the sights, video also captures sound and motion. So, if the camera isn’t held steady, the angle is off, or the sound of the bride and groom are lost under a din of whispers, the entire feeling of the moment will be lost forever. There are no do-overs at a wedding. So, the once-in-a-lifetime memories of the entire day should be handled by a professional videographer who knows how to capture these special moments. And, it’s important to remember that you should always base your decision on the experience and professionalism of the company and not primarily on the cost.
To aid in making sure that every moment is recorded, some videographers will use multiple cameramen or place microphones on the bride, groom, and officiant. What most people don’t realize is that microphones are only designed to be used within a 12-foot range. So, with the sound playing such a key role in the videotaping process, it’s easy to understand why someone taping from 15 feet away with only one audio recording source could miss all the sound, even though it’s happening right there in front of them.
Using video to capture the events of the special day seems to be more popular than ever. Advances in video technology are allowing wedding videographers to become more creative and produce higher quality productions. As the technology has become more and more affordable, cameras have improved in picture quality. All of this results in more competition and a better product. Clearly a win-win situation for the bride and groom.
DVDs are the new standard format. They offer more room for creativity, and options. With DVDs you can include bloopers, outtakes; and other customized features, such as menu buttons, the use of black and white to create a mood, music-video style editing, or interactive components.
Also, although it’s pricey, you can arrange to have a streaming video live on the Internet, so that your first cousin in Anchorage who couldn’t physically make it to the wedding can be right there with you while you and your fiancé exchange your vows.
In a further nod to advanced technology, you could have your wedding shot using High Definition. Be careful though, besides being very pricey, some experts say the awesome clarity is almost too good, allowing the couples to see literally see every single imperfection.
Of course, it’s up to each individual couple to decide how they want their video done – whether stored on tape or burned to a DVD. Then the personal style of each cameraman comes into play, as well as their ability to determine exactly what the bride and groom want.
Although it’s up to the client to decide how much interaction they want from the videographer, it’s a good idea to get the guests involved as much as possible. Having interviews is a lot of fun for everyone, and makes for a great bonus on the video.
The videographer should keep the lowest profile possible, and not act if directing a movie on the couple’s special day. The most precious moments are often captured when people are doing their own thing.
So, after the videographer has compiled those hours of taped interviews and stories, recorded the ceremony that binds the husband and wife, captured
those once-in-a-lifetime moments when friends and family members are all present and accounted for, just how long does it take to put together the finished product?
Generally speaking, it takes approximately 30-40 hours of work to complete a project, between the initial taping, editing, and then copying to DVD. A typical 5-hour event will result in 8-10 hours of footage, including every frame captured by the different camera operators.
Each step of the process is very time intensive. During a typical 8-hour wedding, with a couple of cameras, you can easily end up with enough raw footage that the editing process may take well over 20 hours.
If you’re wondering what you can do to help make your videographer’s job easier and help him get the footage he needs in order to put together a product you’ll be happy with, the best thing you can do is to smile, relax, and have fun. It really doesn’t matter if a strand of your hair is slightly out of place, or if his tuxedo has a spot of frosting on the lapel, just enjoy yourself and it will show on the finished product.
Of course, letting the cameraman know ahead of time what is most important to you is also tops on the list. For example, you can ask your videographer to make sure he captures the look on your fiancé’s face when you walk down the aisle. Or your first dance as husband and wife at the reception. Since you cannot go back and re-shoot a missing moment, take the time before you get married to think about what you want captured on tape, and convey that information to your videographer.
Even though videotaping your wedding might seem like something you can delegate to your favorite in-law, you might want to reconsider just how long you’ll be keeping the finished product.
Your wedding video is a must-have. Couples will spend thousands of dollars on flowers, and they’re gone the next day. But a video’s value increases over time.It’s like inviting your future grandchildren to your wedding. It’s a gift you can give yourself and your family that will last a lifetime.