I'm quite fond of lists, so here's another one.

1. Main place I ache is in my left thumb. Why? Opening and closing the locks on the monopod the entire day, as well as often straining the thumb when I sling a backpack full of gear over a shoulder.

2. Feet definitely hurt. Perhaps in proportion to how mule-laden with gear I am that day. I almost definitely almost always bring too much gear with me.

3. Knuckles on right hand. Because the handgrip on the Mk3 is uncomfortably large for me. Mk2 is perfect. If I hold the Mk3 tight, as I'm wont to do, it puts strain in the wrong places.

4. Neck. In proportion to how much I've slung over it when going from place to place.

5. Stomach. Because it's quite possible I've eaten too much :). Really need to cut down on the on-the-road snacks, and on the pre- and post-wedding McDonald's debriefing sessions. I think I use food partly as a distraction, to take my mind off obsessing over shots I've done and shots yet to do.

I fit four cameras into one camera case, and three tripods into a larger case, it has made my life much easier. I would never go back to a backpack, though I really did love my Tenba Shootout backpack camera bag.

Adrian, you might start working out a bit. It is a huge help with shooting. Lat pull-downs, curls, etc., will build up your hands, arms, neck and back and your shoot will be MUCH easier. I speak from experience.

Also, don't build up your legs. Deep knee bends, every other day. Your ankles, feet, calves, lower back will all benefit and you will breeze through a shoot, and your feet will hurt less as well.

It takes only a week or two to really notice the difference of a workout routine.

I often feel like I've been run over by a truck (not that a truck ever ran over me but I suppose it must feel like that) I need to visit a physical therapist at least once year. Especially my shoulders and neck get all cramped up by the end of a wedding season resulting in blocked nerves causing painfull joints in my hands and slight loss of feeling, about 4 to 5 treatments solve the problem.
Think a lot is caused by my blackbird steadicam use and the endless hours of editing sitting in the same position. I also developped some painfull knees when I go up the stairs, should have that checked but been posponing it for 2 year now :)
I also get cramps in my lower legs right after a wedding when I"m sleeping, also due to the steadicam use because I walk with my legs slightly bend to eliminate that walking movement.
It can also happen that when I stretch my arms in the morning my muscles in my back "lock up", also because of the steadicam use as that puts a lot of strain on my back, don't know the English word for it but it' s very painfull (feels like a torn muscle) and can last about 2 days before it's gone.
But beside that I"m all good.

Noa, I used to be in bad shape after a shoot like you describe. Since I joined the gym, I can go out for a 12 hour shoot and the next day I feel great, maybe a little tired mentally, but my body feels great now.

I'm 56 years old. I see younger photographers who are wiped at the end of the reception. I actually go out clubbing after a wedding now if I have time to get home and drop off my gear, and if it's not too late.

Used to be it took three days to recover.

I use

1. 24 hr fitness - atleast once a week (dont know if that helps)
2. skinny knee pads
3. all black customized nike ID

Hey Jeff

You are a young 56?? I thought clubbing was for the kids not the oldies!!

The main issue at weddings is that you stand an awful lot..even at receptions it you are sitting you just might miss something. I guess legs ache (and of course feet) and hands are a good one too..my right hand is under the camera strap so those fingers get a bit stiff...Did one yesterday and off shortly to do another 13 hour session today...No I'm not going clubbing after midnight either..I'm 10 years older than Jeff too!

I remember Don Bloom saying that the best investment a wedding videographer can have is a good pair of shoes!

Chris

When the client says 'take a walk' don't get upset, he/she might be giving you good advice.

At least 3x30mins a week is minimum, rain or shine ... hail no :)

Cheers.

I ache at home, i ache in the car, i ache in the bathroom, i ache in bed...

Chris H and I are about the same age and after being on my feet doing preceremony stuff, standing at a Catholic Mass ceremony for about an hour, on my feet for the post ceremony, standing for about a half hour for the intros cake cutting and toasts before I get to really sit for a meal, my feet ache. I wear Dr. Scholls shoes with Dr. Scholls heel inserts which have helped me a lot but honestly, by the time I get into the car to go home I tired. Well not actually tired but my feet hurt.
Having been doing this for a long time I guess I'm not surprised that my body is breaking down a bit, glad it's just my tootsies. The funny thing is as long as I keep moving, I'm OK. During a ceremony, I flex my knees, Stand on 1 foot while I stretch out the other, shift my weight from one to the other, anything to keep from being bored and to help the circulation to my legs and feet.
Yep, the most important piece of equipment for me, is a good pair of shoes. I buy 2 or 3 a year just for shooting.

Josh, I agree with your comment. When I get home I can't wait to get my shoes off, change into some real comfy slob clothes and chill.

I keep myself fit, i love cycle racing, but I am still weary at the end of a wedding.
Its probably dehydration as I never drink enough water during the day and I often dont each much as i am too busy most of the day.
I do find weddings a great workout though. Im always on my feet for hours carrying lots of kit, and then often squatting or lying down filming low angle shots.
So yes, this morning as im typing this, my legs are weary.
But we had a great time filming yesterday and it makes it worth it when I look back at the great footage we got.

John.

Chris, I guess I am a young 56, for sure. I love dancing, and hate to miss out on a night out, wedding or no. I love the night life, and I like new music. It's why I had trouble finding a girlfriend my age, many of them are tired and out of shape. I actually like the newest hottest club music, not the tired old crap most people my age listen to, so I am definitely not normal for my age.

I do push ups and crunches before a wedding, and deep knee bends probably help more than anything. I cannot overemphasize the importance of doing core and lower body work. If a shooter only did 10 deep knee bends a day they would be amazed at the improvement in their endurance.

Hi Jeff

Wow! That's certainly doesn't place you in the same category as Don and I ...Technically you should be 25! .. Maybe a spunky girlfriend half your age is what you need who can keep up with you!

I got to bed at 1:40am today after starting the boys prep shoot at 11am the following day...for me that's a long day to be on your feet most of the time too!! I certainly couldn't go out clubbing tonight for sure! I need a little recovery time.

Chris

My feet are the only body part that usually kills me after day long shoots, besides that, nothing bothers me too much.

I don't think I could make it through the day without good shoes - this is my choice

Birkenstock London Shoes black Leather Art.-No: Narrow 066194 Regular 066196 (http://www.tobiasmayer.com/birk_single.php?I_ID=364&IC=4)

they are a German clog design that's been around for years - I wear the clogs everywhere but the closed in shoe is more suitable for weddings.

To pinch a line from Johnny Kidd. At the end of a full day - "I'm (Sh)aching all over"

Hello all,

The places I ache
Feet, back and triceps. The triceps from holding the camera or stedicam in my right hand most of the day. And of course my eyes get quite dry and tired from looking at the display on my camera.

As far as energy levels, it's always good to have a high carb meal the night before, something like pizza, pasta, potatoes. This helps top up the Glycogen levels. And then something quite large in the morning. a couple of bagels or a bowl of porridge to just top them up, from the night before. Drink a lot of water through the day. and nibble on food if you get the chance.
I avoid energy drinks (especially those with Caffeine in) as they just make me go all jittery and twitchy which isn;t great for filming. Also you get a high but on the swing side you get the low, which you have to counter by drinking more energy drinks, which makes you even more jittery. I find that eating the right food instead helps heaps more.

I do a lot of triathlons, and I ache just as much from filming a full days wedding than after I have just competed in 2-3hr triathlon.

Thanks DT

My foot hurts after a long day, other than that I am okay. I am 46 years old and have gout attacks from time to time. I shot a wedding once while having a gout attack, I literally have tears in my eyes from the pain while shooting.

Hi David

That's a very good point as most don't mention food and water! On a full wedding here I probably need to leave home at 10am (my weddings are never around the corner, always completely opposite to the suburb we live in) and then you often need to go right thru to anything as late as 9pm until the venue gives you a meal and that's often a "boutique meal" so the nourishment value isn't that great either. I have a decent breakfast but you still have the nearly 11 hour gap where you are working...!!

I take chess/biscuit snacks and plenty of water but it would be interesting to know if other have time to say, stop for lunch or if you eat on the run, what do you take with you?

Chris

I eat very lightly before a shoot. This is the opposite of what some people do. This gives me more energy, not less. I then find a high protein something, very low fat, between the ceremony and reception.

Food takes a tremendous amount of energy to digest. I eat low fat the day before, and the day of. I skate on the edge of hunger and I'm more alert, and I move much faster this way. I make up my eating on the day after.

I always keep Johnnie Walker black label in my Stainless Steel Pocket Hip Flask, This does the trick when I am getting tired. Always works.

stelios

Hi Stelios

...and when the DVD's are delivered the bride will ask you "Stelios, why were you filming the ceiling at the reception and lying on your back on the dance floor and singing?"

Alcohol would certainly give me a boost but I wouldn't like to watch my footage after finishing a hip flask of Johnnie Walker .... I could imagine the local paper saying "Local Videographer causes Chaos at Wedding" ..that would be me...I have to stay alcohol free!!

I would have thought that the answer would be high energy snacks ...Mmmmm chocolate bars for me!!

Chris

Snacks I take range from borderline healthy to outright junk. Sort of half-hearted gesturings towards health without properly committing.

Muesli bars, Le Snack cheese and biscuits, roasted broadbeans covered in salt, roasted chickpeas covered in salt, Nestlé space food bars, Uncle Toby's LCM bars...

Really should change. Not Jeff's age yet, but do wish I'll have half his fitness levels when I am.

I agree with Jeff, gym helps a lot, there is no way i could run for 2 hrs with the 15 - 20lb setup on steadicam for two hours non stop without my workouts, i do train every day and i do train heavy, well i am 50, so as heavy as my joints allow :), but i still bench my body weight, and do 40 min of cardio every day, if it's not my feet, i could film for three days in a row :)

That's a very good point as most don't mention food and water!
I take chess/biscuit snacks and plenty of water but it would be interesting to know if other have time to say, stop for lunch or if you eat on the run, what do you take with you?

Chris

I have a cooler packed with water and snacks, and I'm always munching in between locations. The client usually provide meals for us, so all is good. In the rare instance that we are not fed, I still have my trusty cooler full of fresh fruit, juice, water, sandwiches, and granola bars.

BTW I usually don't ache. I may feel tired, but don't ache. I try to play as much beach volleyball as I can during the week.

Hi Stelios

...and when the DVD's are delivered the bride will ask you "Stelios, why were you filming the ceiling at the reception and lying on your back on the dance floor and singing?"

Alcohol would certainly give me a boost but I wouldn't like to watch my footage after finishing a hip flask of Johnnie Walker .... I could imagine the local paper saying "Local Videographer causes Chaos at Wedding" ..that would be me...I have to stay alcohol free!!

I would have thought that the answer would be high energy snacks ...Mmmmm chocolate bars for me!!

Chris

Chris you are really funny. lol
Now seriously, Of course I don't drink at the job, but to be honest after 10pm when all the typical wedding things have finished (entrance, first dance,speeches, e.t.c) and it's only dancing, then I do really enjoy my whiskey with ice and soda, maybe 2-3 drinks, at this age ( I am 60plus ) I can take it.

Sorry to bump an almost month-old thread here, it's just an interesting topic and I want to chime. :)

The only place where I ache towards the end and after a wedding, is the webbing between my thumb and index finger on my right hand. I do a lot of handheld work and having four pounds of camera pressing against this one spot really takes its toll over a long day. Even like 2-3 days later that whole area is still pretty tender.

Anybody else have that problem? I know other videographers use harnesses or even have a hands-free setup. Plus I know my Sony V1U is lighter than a Z1, which I think is more popular for wedding videographers anyway.

Hi Bernie

That's a darn good point!! I also get a bit of a sore thumb and forefinger area soreness..I'm using a lot of handheld but on shoulder mount cameras but the right hand is the one that works the hardest..The cam is on my shoulder and my left hand usually grabs the EVF on the side but my right hand, thru the strap, is doing the hardest job which is keeping the camera frame vertical and also doing the main work on tilts and pans.

Dunno what your age is my with me I also have the added disadvantage of maybe some mild arthritis in my thumb ?? ...During receptions I'm running a camera handheld all the time (speeches has the 2nd cam on a tripod) so during that period I also have an ENG mount which is a sprung ball-head mounted rod under the lenshood that goes to a waist belt...That takes all the front weight away BUT the camera can still topple from side to side and my right hand again keeps the camera level so it's always working.

I'm doing two full weddings (both bridal preps right thru to reception end) back to back this weekend so I'm make a note of what hurts the most on Monday morning!!

Chris