Hello, I'm in the process of starting a Videography business doing commericals, weddings, and events. However, I'm making weddings the cornerstone of my business. I was wondering if any of you could toss some reccomendations at me for doing weddings... One book I've found that looks pretty good is the Wedding Video Handbook. Has anyone read it? But yeah, if anyone could tell me some books that have greatly influenced you, let me know... I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

D.C. Joseph

Hi Douglas, I've got The Wedding Video Handbook by Kirk Barber. It starts off with chapters 1-5 covering some camera technology and shooting techniques, nothing too in-depth though and certainly nothing you can't find here or elsewhere online.
Chapters 6 and 7 deal with the business aspect and marketing, again some sound advice but no revelations.
Chapters 8-13 cover things like planning ahead for the shoot, how and what to shoot and editing.
Last 4 chapters talk about your wedding packages, getting more money and business out of it and keeping your business afloat.
It comes with a DVD of some wedding footage the author shot, which is alright but from his descriptions in the book I was expecting something better.
It depends on what your skill and knowledge level is at the moment, for starting off it's a fine refererence to the key points of videography and business.
If you've read this board for any length of time though, you may find yourself skimming through it as you will probably already know most of the fundamentals. If so then you might be better off getting a more specialised book dedicated to camerawork and another in business practices.
I've heard of a book called 'Camera Command' which seems to be highly rated here although I haven't read it myself, plus there is a 'sticky' post under this section which gives information on training resources. Good luck ;)

One book I've found that looks pretty good is the Wedding Video Handbook. Has anyone read it?

I have also read this book, if you are an experienced wedding videographer you will find one or two things that are helpful and new, but if you have never filmed a wedding before, I would strongly recommend this book.

You can order the book from here:

http://books.elsevier.com/us//cmpbooks/us/subindex.asp?maintarget=&isbn=&country=United+States&srccode=&ref=&subcode=&head=&pdf=&basiccode=&txtSearch=&SearchField=&operator=&order=&community=cmpbooks

Regards...

My suggestion is to pay a visit you your local favorite priest, minister, or whatever they prefer to be known as and get a detailed, minute-by-minute breakdown of a typical wedding ceremony.
Then, visit a reputable wedding planner (that could take some significant research), and get an explanation of all (and I mean all) events that take place in the seven days before and including the wedding celebration.
Back this up by arranging an appointment with a meeting services coordinator of one of the most prominent hotels in your area and get the same detailed description of events from their perspective.
Back this up by printing the most comprehensive wedding planning checklist you can find online on one of the better wedding services websites.

When your research is finished, you will have made some contacts which will likely prove to be very beneficial.
You will also have a body of information which you must now translate into a standard shooting script, or storyboard that you can use as a basis for every wedding you shoot. Always ask yourself, as you put this storyboard together, at every change in camera angle, "Is this the best choice?", and "Where is the audio coming from?"

The end result will be your basic production concept, in so far as documenting the event is concerned. It will also be the basic outline for how you edit. Shooting is one thing, editing another. Revisit everything I have just mentioned from the perspective of editing.

Once satisfied, you should have two clearly and integrated concepts ready for adaptation.

Damien, Marco, and Waldamar, thanks so much for your responses, they're very insightful, and much appreciated,. I definitely plan on checking out the wedding handbook here soon. Thanks again guys, D.C. Joseph.