Beginner wedding videographer « Videomaker Community Forums

japaboston
Member

I need help, about the whole wedding package, please help.
I'm very interested in getting into a wedding videography. I don't have a lot of experiences so I decided to work for established business in my area to learn first and then to start my own business. I have some video and editing experience. I own Canon GL2, and I'm working with Vegas 5 editing system.
After reading a lot in here I decided to sell my Canon GL2 and get Sony PD170. Can anyone please give me an advice on what kind of equipment I should consider for the video light (brand, power...) and wireless mic system (brand, how many mics do I need, where to buy it)?
Also can someone please explain to me how would the digital voice recorder work. Is it separate from my wireless mic system and I would use the recorded sound when I edit?
Many Thanks, I appreciate every advice,
Patrik

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

So much is dependent upon your budget. What style of wedding video do you intend to produce? There are three styles - Documentary, Journalistic and Stylistic. Of course, you could get picky and break things down to dozens of styles, but these are the basics.

It's a great idea to work for an established videographer for awhile before going it alone. Stylistic videographers can often get by with a single camera and wireless set, if it's a simple ceremony with only the officiant and couple speaking and no music or singing, etc. - IF the officiant will be very close to the couple at all times when he is speaking. In my experience, this accounts for a small percentage of ceremonies where videographers are hired.

If the ceremony has more activities or if you're doing journalistic style, etc., you'll really need more cameras and more microphones. And I'm just begining to touch the surface on gear. Our first DVD in our wedding videography course is mostly spent on this topic. Being practical and realizing that most of us work on a budget - especially when just starting out, we break things down into levels of what you really need to just get started, and the priorities for adding more gear, etc.

A digital recorder can be a great asset, but I notice you said "digital voice recorder". These are generally lesser quality than a professional digital recorder and usually only offer mp3 file types. While mp3 might be alright for most voice situations, the problem is that we often must do some sort of work on an audio file and when you edit a compressed audio (or video) file, the quality drops quickly and noticably.

In short though, we use digital recorders in a variety of ways. If I have a singer and violinist (for instance) performing next to each other, I may mic both and connect into the DR, eliminating the need to mess with radio gear and freeing up two camera inputs.

Or, in a free-wheeling reception where a handheld mic is being passed around for toasts, etc., we'll tap directly into the DJ sound system.

Posted 5 years ago #
japaboston
Member

Thank you for your help,
I don't mind to spend whatever I need to spend for the proper equipment, but I'm just starting and learning so I think I'll get one , or two wireless mics to start with. I do like to be as good as possible, so I will look into the digital recorders, so my wedding DVD's will have great audio. What kind of digital recorders would you recommend?
What would be the general advice of yours about on video light (brand, power...)?
Thank you again very much for your help. I appreciate this forum a lot, because all of us can learn from each other.
Later on I might be interested in the wedding course you have mentioned. Is there some more info about this course?

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

I've been using 50 watt Bescors with barn doors. Battery is heavy and no way to diffuse light without bouncing - that's the main drawbacks. We're looking into buying more lights and reviewing what's available again (haven't researched them in two years).

There are a lot of great options that are above the average wedding videographer's budget, (and ours). We'll be looking at the $100 to $350 range.

Posted 5 years ago #
poppa_bear42330
Member

Ok I offer this advice. Get a camera that films well in most lighting levels. The GL2 in my opinion would have been a good choice but the other camera I'm sure will work as good if not better. The reason bing you will not be able to light most weddings the way you would a regular shoot. Seems the bright lights tend to tick off the bride on her special day. That and it is just plain hard to light larger rooms with out massive lights to start with.

That aside I highly recommend a lapel mic for at least the minister. If one is all you can afford to start off with like I did then mic the minister and let the bride and groom know. Make sure your mic is a good one and can pick up the bride and groom even from several feet away. Ideally three mics or a really good shotgun mic will work also though depending on your sound set up it might not be possible to aim the mic with out crossing several guest too. That would mean picking up their sound too.

I started out with a camera, one lapel mic and some hand held mics I already had. I would do the main wedding, a highlight tape with the wedding music played in the background with video and some stills and then a complete wedding video photo tape provided they supplied me with the pix. I did not do photography so that last tape was up to them. It was my "free gift" though so most gave me copies which I returned with the tapes. All this was before the day of home user computer editing and the cameras were no where near as advanced. I just played with the shutter speed until I got a good shot and left it there.

Anyway I hope I helped some. Granted this might not have been the answer you were looking for but any info is useful info to someone.

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Well, I really hate to disagree with my friend, poppabear, but I gotta do this -

A GL2 has a Lux rating of 5. A VX2100 has Lux of 1. There is a TREMENDOUS difference between my vx2100s and my FX1 (Lux-3). A 5 Lux cam is NOT a wedding camera. So the very reason that poppabear suggests the GL2 is the reason not to use a GL2.

As for miking - again I strongly disagree. First - you should mic both minister AND groom AND musicians, singers, other persons speaking, etc. But assuming there is only minister and couple and assuming your second mic dies five minutes before the ceremony - then mic the groom.

Why the groom and not the minister? Because the minister is going to speak loudly and clearly and will easily be picked up on the groom's mic (though it may sound fuzzy and unclear depending upon the distance from the mic).

Many grooms and brides speak with meek, shy voices that would not get picked up as clearly at a distance.

The argument for miking the minister is that he does most of the talking. True. But not being able to hear the couple is a no-no.

Posted 5 years ago #
japaboston
Member

Thanks PoppaBear and Thanks Hank,
at this stage I appreciate every advice, cause I'm new to the weddings. I bought pd170, with wireless mic system and on video light Anton Bauer ANUL228 UL2-28 Ultralight-2 On-Camera Light, 28" PowerTap Cable.
I got everything from B&H and it should arive next week. I think there is only 1 mic, altaugh I'm not sure. There were 2 small boxes on the picture, but only one box had a mic attached.
Well I will work for established videographer first, so I'll get my money back, learn a bunch and then decide to buy more mics, or whatever I will need.
What do you guys think about the equipment I've got?

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Didn't have tiem to checkout your mics and light, but you just can't get a better camera for weddings!

I assure you that you'll never regret that choice! Good luck, and let us hear how things go for you!

Posted 5 years ago #
japaboston
Member

Thanks Hank,
I'm looking forward to start and I let you know about my first wedding. Thanks for all the advices

Posted 5 years ago #