Steal the
Show
Photos and memories will certainly preserve your special day, but in order to capture the authentic atmosphere of this special occasion, quality videography is a must. Kirrily Ireland chats with Glen Mackay, story seeker at The Right Vibe, to find out how you can get the most out of your wedding video.
Image Credit: Director’s Edge
After all the planning and organising, plus the many months, or even years, of anticipation leading up to your wedding day, the actual event often goes by in a flash. If you want to enjoy those precious memories, you’ll want to use more than just your eyes to take it all in. Make use of a videographer to get all your beautiful moments on film, meaning you can relive the magic for years and even decades to come.
Shoot Your Shot
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, so it’s equally important you get to know all of your vendors before the day arrives. This includes choosing a suitable videographer who is willing to adapt to your vision and showcase you and your partner’s personality; whether you’re extroverted and excited, or sweet and affectionate. Catch up for a meeting, or a few, so they can get a good idea of who you are, and you can best understand if you might be a good match.
Mackay also advises you do your research since different companies will offer different services. You’ll want to be clear on exactly who and what you’re getting on the day. “There are some videographers, for example, who don’t place an emphasis on capturing the live audio on your wedding day or have the right skillset to ensure everything is captured clearly. Similarly, the use of popular music in wedding films by different studios – some properly license their tracks, whilst others use music that is illegal.” Consider how many videographers you’d like on the day, too. One will feel a little less obtrusive but two can split up and cover more area, taking footage of the guests mingling whilst members of the wedding party are having their photos taken.
Possibly the most important thing of all, is whether or not you will get along with the videographer. As they’ll be shadowing you the whole day, it’s going to be significantly less stressful if you feel comfortable around them, and trust that they will deliver. “We as creative suppliers are often with our couples longer on the
day than they are with each other, so it’s important that everyone is on the same page and gets on, can have a laugh or crack a joke… otherwise, it may be awkward and that’s not good,” Mackay explains. One size won’t fit all in this case, so shop around first.
Although your videographer will be with you almost every minute, they should blend into the background. The best moments are the candid ones and it’s difficult to act normal with a camera constantly visible. “You don’t want to notice your photographer nor videographer during the most intimate moments of the day,” Mackay says. Make sure your videographer-of-choice is able to remain discreet, leaving you to enjoy time with your nearest and dearest.
Lights, Camera, Action
In Mackay’s experience, a wedding film is all about capturing genuine moments. “The best moments on a wedding day will happen organically – so we’re not about setting up staged shots that are fake and unnatural,” he explains. “We’re there to soak in the moments and capture the realness of a day that goes by so quickly.”
In order to relax and simply enjoy the day, you’llneed to put faith in your videographer to get all the significant parts of the wedding on camera, including those hidden gems that happen more naturally like a shared look between you and your significant other or a relative’s eccentric dance moves. “Weddings are a live event and there’s no second take, so for us it’s pretty important to ensure the key elements of the day are captured authentically,” Mackay says. If you’ve done your research and become well acquainted, handing over your trust should be easy.
Remember it’s your videographer’s job to take direction, applying the style and approach you discussed in previous meetings, meaning you can relinquish some of the control and focus on having a good time.
One imperative thing to note is that your photographer and videographer must be able to cooperate, since they do such similar tasks and are both key players in capturing the ceremony and reception, in addition to the photo shoot in between. “Couples often treat looking for both vendors as separate tasks,” Mackay warns. “[It’s] counterintuitive to pair a relaxed and candid videographer with a photographer who brings seventy-two lights and props on the location shoot.” Ideally, you’ll find a videographer and photographer who have worked together on previous weddings and have a similar vision. The day will flow much more smoothly and your video and photos will turn out better.
The Final Cut
After the big day is done, your videographer will take all the wonderful footage and put together a video, which will become a beautiful keepsake for you to treasure. Nowadays it’s more common to receive a four- or five-minute film that tells a narrative, from the couple getting ready on the morning of with their friends and family, the first look of the bride in her dress and everyone’s reactions, to the ceremony, the reception, the cake cutting and the dancing. Audio from the vows and the speeches, plus sweet moments of the lovebirds holding hands and sharing a kiss, are woven throughout, each element reflecting the full essence of the special day.
Music is often added to the production to set the tone and give it a sense of emotion. “For us, music is never an afterthought and it’s as important as the vision that’s captured – so we are fortunate our couples entrust our ability to select the score that best reflects their day and the story that’s being told on film,” Mackay says. A wedding film will stick with you long after the final speeches and last dance. Make it count with a reliable videographer and you’ll have no problem cherishing and reliving those precious memories whenever you please.