When filming a wedding I get bored with these. They are predictible, unexciting, and the photog will give the client a better product of the exact same thing.

I wouldn't shoot them at all, but I have nothing better to do, and I don't want to look like a slacker to my clients.

Do you guys film them?

hey Dana,

Yup you're right. It's one of the most boring parts to record. But - we film them just the same,

1. for safety and more importantly
2. what we actually shoot is the hugging, back patting, kissing, light banter and giggles in between poses. We go in tighter for these shots. During editing, you can use the shots straight up at the prereception part or use them as cutaways if any of the family members make a speech.

Hope this helps.

We try and keep those lists as short as possible so there ae fewer photos to take, but we do film them either way. Just ecaue an event is borig and predictable, doesn't mean you coverage of it needs to be the same. We don't focus on getting every single family combination but rtaher just try to get some creative shots and candis that we can tie toether to lead into the fun part of the photosession afterwards.

We don't focus on getting every single family combination but rtaher just try to get some creative shots and candis that we can tie toether to lead into the fun part of the photosession afterwards.

This is my approach to this. We film the families and a little of the wedding party photos at the church, but then follow along for their more fun and exciting photo session (usually outdoors). We have gotten some amazing stuff from doing there. I throw it all together in what we call a Photo Session Montage. If we do Wedding Party interviews, they are all mix in here as well. Turns out great, and most clients absolutely love this part.

Suggestion... It is boring to video the entire bridal party posed and smiling for a photo. But before the break the position, keep the camera rolling and have them do something fun. I always have the bridal party turn and look at B&G while they kiss. There are a few things you can do here to make the video portion "not so boring", and its simple stuff that takes a second or two!

keep the camera rolling and have them do something fun. I always have the bridal party turn and look at B&G while they kiss. There are a few things you can do here to make the video portion "not so boring", and its simple stuff that takes a second or two!I respectfully disagree with this practice. Were I a photographer and had somebody interupting my poses I'd certainly take issue with this. I know firsthand this is why some photographers try to keep their sessions private and closed to me.

If you're going to do any recording of this event and think it's too boring to record it quietly without interfering consider scheduling your own 15 minutes with the wedding party either before or after the photographer does his. I prefer to do it before because I can help "round up" the party for him and they generally stay put so he can finish.

I respectfully disagree with this practice. Were I a photographer and had somebody interupting my poses I'd certainly take issue with this. I know firsthand this is why some photographers try to keep their sessions private and closed to me.

I apologize, I didn't proofread what I wrote... It was supposed to say that I do this after the photographer is done with a pose, and before they actually move (break the pose). I have never run into a problem with photographers becoming upset with me for this. I actually have experienced the opposite, they are snapping photos of my directed shot.

I should add, that I try to read the photographer and couple ahead of time, and if I do feel this would be a problem, I just quietly film without piping in. I also try to explain to the photographer my intentions ahead of time, so they know its coming.

Just didn't want you to think I was constantly interrupting the photographer while they work... I try to practice quite the opposite.

It depends with us. If the b&g do not want it, we don't film it. Since we typically run multiple cameras, I'll usually set the back one on the photo session and tear it down last. One of our more recent ones turned out very nice, mainly because of the church background went very well with the colors etc.

This is one of those areas that is very difficult to navigate sometimes because traditionally the photographer has priority, unless you're a package deal.

To me, if I was getting married, I would want it filmed, because some of the more meaningful stuff happens between the pictures.

It was supposed to say that I do this after the photographer is done with a pose, and before they actually move (break the pose). I have never run into a problem with photographers becoming upset with me for this. I actually have experienced the opposite, they are snapping photos of my directed shot.Yes, I figured you meant that. You must work with a different breed of photographers than I do. Mine have a script and a time table to adhere to and don't need guests (or me) disrupting it. And this theory of photographer and videographer holding hands and working together harmoniously for the benefit of the client sounds good but is sedom practiced IMO. We merely "tolerate" each other a lot of times. Given the choice, I think 100% of them would chose "no interruptions" during the formals which is rightfully theirs to direct (but not exclusively theirs to shoot).

So I still think the best "works-every-time" solution is to carve yourself out a chunk of time well before the wedding day just like the photog does and schedule it - preferrably communicated by the B&G just like they tell you when he's going to start. Or just shoot it "as is" from the side without saying a word.

The ceremony and reception is another story of course.

And I can't believe I'm sticking up for photographers becase a lot of them are indeed arseholes. :)

I would want it filmed, because some of the more meaningful stuff happens between the pictures.I agree. A good photographer can loosen them up too so they can get "whacky" at times.

It's also those little sound bites that can make or break this footage.

I disagree with the idea that the shots will end up just like the photographers. If the photographer is doing a group shot, then they are not able to also do close-ups of everybody as well. My philosophy is faces, faces and more faces.
I also stay completely out of the photographers way.

I'm going to start bringing it up when we sign the contract, letting them know that I won't be filming each of the family combos, but will be looking for the in-between fun.

I like the idea of using those clips during the toasts. We've found toasts to be strangely unpredictible. People never stand where they are supposed to, and it's hard to film without blocking a ton of people, so in the meantime it's easy to lose essential coverage -- even with two cameras rolling. I might start using pose clips both as a backup and a nice cut-to.

A thought re the formal photos from a newbie (4 weddings).

I don't think a video of the formal photos is anything like what the photos are like. You have all the movement and jostling to get in the photo, and have a different angle and zoom - and then the 'freeze' for the photo and the relaxation and dispersion. Also no one is looking at the video camera.

Most of the video I've got of such times has been really lovely, and clearly different to the photographers. Might only end up using a couple or so seconds from the footage for each one, but to my mind it has its place.

I almost always tape the session but there are a couple of things here. 1) I work with the same photogs a lot so they know my style and I know theirs. For the most part we all work very well together. 2) I look for the stuff in between poses, the bridal party sitting around waiting, the parents doing the same and yes, I will give some direction to the couple and the bridal party BUT only when the photog is done with the pose. Some of the stuff can be a lot of fun.

Don

This is where I shine, I get involved and make them do things for the video. I become a motion photographer. I try to balance the time so the photographer is able to get the traditional shots out of the way and then, we go to town creating moments and action shots that work for both video and photography. This has also been one of my great networking secretes. A lot of the photographers have enjoyed working with me because I am able to create shots they never would of tried and they get to shoot some things from a fresh perspective. It also takes some of the pressure of them having to come up with ideas and usually, we are able to get a decent groove on where we fed off each others eyes and creativity.

I have removed most of my videos off line but here is an example of how I approached weddings (hey, that past tense sounds good)
www.dmbvp.com/video/button.wmv

David,

You Canadians, I tell you what... You have some ingenious ideas. Thank you for sharing. I bet that client was happy.

BTW, what do you mean by past tense?

David,

You Canadians, I tell you what... You have some ingenious ideas. Thank you for sharing. I bet that client was happy.

BTW, what do you mean by past tense?

Thanks.

Over the last couple of years I have tried to do less and less weddings. I thought I could handle making it about 25% of my business. The plate seems to fill up just the same with other jobs and I have found the other jobs easier to do with less stress. As a result, I pulled the plug fully on weddings and have forwarded any inquiries to some local peers.

Do you mean corporate work? I can see the stress part; I just really enjoy doing weddings.

Do you mean corporate work? I can see the stress part; I just really enjoy doing weddings.

Sorry for getting this thread off track.

I have been cleaning house for the last couple of weeks and getting rid of clients and tasks that I didn't have the energy for. I have been trying to reduce my work load and the amount of work coming in ( kinda backwards isn't it) and then last week I shot Anthony Robbins and Bob Proctor http://www.bobproctor.com/default.htm
and I really got honest with myself and I see that I have lost site of my goals and this isn't where I want to be. Somewhere along the line, video became work. It's like waking up one day and not being in love with your wife. In order to get my love for video back, I am getting rid of all the things I hate about it. I don't care if I make a living anymore with video or not, I just want to enjoy life first and foremost.

Once again, sorry for getting this thread off track. You can PM me if you like.
dMb

Not to sidetrack this thread anymore but I must say, it's sad to see you leaving dMb. Your work has always been innovative as long as I have known of it. I can remember viewing your work in awe several years back when I had just started in the industry. Best of luck with your new path.

Patrick

Sorry for getting this thread off track.

I have been cleaning house for the last couple of weeks and getting rid of clients and tasks that I didn't have the energy for. I have been trying to reduce my work load and the amount of work coming in ( kinda backwards isn't it) and then last week I shot Anthony Robbins and Bob Proctor http://www.bobproctor.com/default.htm
and I really got honest with myself and I see that I have lost site of my goals and this isn't where I want to be. Somewhere along the line, video became work. It's like waking up one day and not being in love with your wife. In order to get my love for video back, I am getting rid of all the things I hate about it. I don't care if I make a living anymore with video or not, I just want to enjoy life first and foremost.

Once again, sorry for getting this thread off track. You can PM me if you like.
dMb

Dave, believe me when I say I hear you.

Theres comes a point in ones life where one must decide on where they're going and for me, it was to knuckle down get the work out and get back to teaching video fundamentals.

I can safely say that over 90% of production companies here in Australia are either untrained or unskilled for this line of work.

Hopefully with that I can fall in love again with what I do but as it stands, my work is just that, work, and the art of what I do is somewhere in there amongst the bread and butter.

Sadly here in Aus, the art is NOT what people want and this is due to the fact that the industry itself is falling over itself trying to compete.
In turn, value of the product has decreased as have peoples expectations of the art within the work itself.

With this degradation of value, the value people put on service providers is nonexistent, and respect is thrown out the window.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours mate.
If you feel like a chat, drop me a line to djpadre@hotmail.com

cheers
P

As for the photoshoot stuff, I shoot it in HD then offer stills of those images to the client at a cost. I sometimes use the candids as transitional pieces to the photoshoot.

Your work has always been innovative as long as I have known of it. I can remember viewing your work in awe several years back when I had just started in the industry. Best of luck with your new path.

Patrick

Thanks Patrick,

I have been very impressed with your workmanship and marketing over the last year or so. Whatever I may of done for this market years ago, people like you have long surpassed.
If we move to St.Catherines (it's on our list of possibilities) I may hit you up for a job ;)

David

Hopefully with that I can fall in love again with what I do but as it stands, my work is just that, work, and the art of what I do is somewhere in there amongst the bread and butter.


.

Thanks Peter,
It's good to be understood.
Is that hotmail your msn?

If so, I will add you to my contacts.
David

Thanks David,

That is a great compliment to hear from somebody like you. Housing in Niagara Falls right now is pretty amazing. We just did a wedding for the owner of a building company and through that relationship we have seen a ton of their work- it is amazing what you can get down here compared to how little you can get just a little closer to the GTA.

Patrick

Thanks David,

That is a great compliment to hear from somebody like you. Housing in Niagara Falls right now is pretty amazing. We just did a wedding for the owner of a building company and through that relationship we have seen a ton of their work- it is amazing what you can get down here compared to how little you can get just a little closer to the GTA.

Patrick

I know, we have been looking around Canada and are considering selling here.
The "Alberta Advantage" has been good and the value of our home has more than doubled in the last couple of years. It is hard to find anything under 400k here and most nice homes are 500 and up.

We have been looking at Southern Ontario and Nova Scotia as nice places to relocate. If we decide to go that route, this is home and it's not easy to leave.

Can this thread get any more side tracked?? :)

Dave, yup, thats my MSN mate.

In regard to property prices, the OS market is amazing compared to Sydney, To find a decent place here, you have to move at least 1 hour from the central CBD and property worth considering (i.e. big enough for a family and home based studio + theatre) are no less than $600k.

Average about $750 for a 4 bedder and large enough living areas which can be converted for business.

I have a US client who actually sold one property here for $450k and bought three homes (of the same size as the original in Aus) in Pittsburgh, sold those for $210k each, made a cool $130k and is now having that "dream wedding"

Maybe we should start looking at getting out of Aus.. lol

Sorry moving off topic.

Back to it...

Going back to the family portrait sessions you will come across some photographers who loath the idea of you filming "their' compositions.
I had one photographer tell me that video was going to make Photography redundant. With that, throughout the day he deliberately tried to ruin my shots among other things. I just took it as inexperience and total fear of video technology.

He was an arrogant newbie with next to no idea about weddings but to rub in his fear of the video guy taking his job, I mounted my 580EX onto my A1 and started taking shots.
I love subtlety...

In any case, we are there to do a job, and if photo sessions are a concern for you as a service provider, its always wise to discuss this with the client beforehand.

In my case, as I'm a solo shooter with multiple cameras, I tell them that once the photographer begins doing the non-family formals, THAT is when I break down my other cameras and prepare for the photo location session.

Clients are ok with this, as are photographers.

I generally film the formal family photos. My main aim is to catch the candid moments that happen in between the posed shots.

From that footage, I edit together a fake '8mm film' section using some up-tempo jazz music.

It works well as a fun transition from the slower, romantic ceremony section into the bridal party photo session.

Peter - Don't get me started on housing affordability in Australia - even up here in little old Toowoomba, QLD the prices are crazy. Also try getting a home loan as a small business owner :( It's not easy.