I agree with Space Racer, high pressure, stressful, and practice… I set up three stationary cameras to get shots that I know I cannot get during the ceremony. Usually, two facing the congregation from angles to cross the center of the platform to capture candle lighting, communion, vow exchange, etc. Use a real person to frame the shot (usually multi-level platforms mean that persons will not always be framed the way you want, so go wide, and post-edit). The third camera is centered in the rear of the church to capture the entire event at the front of the church.
I always try to capture at the highest frame rate and resolution possible, you can “down-convert” later. Because I use slow-motion and pan-zoom effects in editing, I like to have “more on my plate” to work with.
Biggest problem for me has been the contractual understanding between the couple and myself. What are their expectations? Okay, and at what cost? Editing could go on forever, but at what cost? When is enough, good enough for the price agreed to… Samples with prices are good to have available to show them. Try to get an agreement with the photographer to use some of his stills, too. And don’t forget about the music and singing – copyrights, copyrights, copyrights.
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