1-Camera wedding – where do I stand?!
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- This topic has 1 reply, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 5 months ago by
sphark.
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- September 25, 2008 at 6:51 AM #37369spharkParticipant
Hello All,
I’ll be filming my first wedding next week. It’s actually a same-sex ceremony. (Has anyone done one of those?) It’s a 1-camera job and they’re not having a rehearsal. My question is, where do I stand to capture the best video?
(I already have the lav mic and shotgun, and I’ve read many great tips here so far – I think this is my only remaining question. Then again, the more tips, the better!)
Anonymousgenerally at the front of the alter is the best position to get all the “action” Just remember people will stand during the procession..set your tripod as high as you can and point your viewfinder/monitor down to see it. shoot over their heads if possible. I have been shooting for 15 years and have not done a same sex wedding yet. I know I will get the call one day and I hope I am already booked! Not that there’s anything wrong with it… :-]
Do you have a good light for reception? plenty of battery for it…Thats where you run into lighting issues. bring spare camera batts,extra tapes, etc. expect the unexpected.
Good Luck!! shoot plenty you can cut it out later, but you can’t go back in time.
Harry
Robglasseye pretty much hit the nail on the head. I don’t do weddings, but I did one for a family friend once. My video teacher from high school, who i still keep in touch with, said ideally you want one camera shooting down the center isle framed with the bride, groom, and priest. Then you have a second camera on the bride. In your case though, maybe you have 2 brides…or no bride. Now that’s a brain teaser.
arbyIt shouldn’t matter that it’s a same sex wedding the charcters you are portraying are still the same. If you must do a single camera wedding, take the traditional wedding approach shooting down the center isle framed with the bride, groom, and preacher. Make sure you makea list of special ceremony events (i ejoining hands, therings, the kiss…etc) you want to emphasize. Let the bride, groom, preacher know in advance that right after the ceremony you want the principle parties back at the alter (or whereever) and your going to recreate about a minutes worth of cut-in video to augment the real ceremony. Then use your list as a guide anddirect the action you want to take place. Don’t forget to incorporatedigital still pictures into these staged shots. They makegreat title pages for thefinal product. Be the director of your video not just a technician.
spharkAwesome information and tips thus far. Thanks so much for making a scary experience slightly more comfortable!
AnonymousMy suggestion to you in the long run is this. EQUIPMENT FAILS! So if your one camera has problems during the shoot, gets dropped kicked, or champagne spilled in it, you are going to have problems. Rent a back-up to have on hand. I always have one more piece of equipment than I need in every category. Need 3 lights? I bring 4. Need two cameras, I bring three. I can’t tell you how many times that strategy has saved my butt from issuing a full refund to the bridge/groom due to equipment malfunctions. NEVER TRUST YOUR REPUTATION TO ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT!
Oh, and good luck with the wedding!
