first wedding rant

Bob Zimmerman · July 1st, 2003, 09:42 AM

Dont worry about it. Learn from your mistakes. You were not getting paid alot and the bride and groom knew you were not a pro.
I always get with the wedding photographer and make sure we don't get in each others way. I go for all the main shots. If you can get all of those you are doing pretty good. That's one reason I get with the photographer. They have all the pictures the bride and groom want. I like to make the video a story of what went on that day. Not any interviews, just all the events of the wedding day and always get lots of video of the bride and groom. Don't worry about grandma and aunt jane. They are not paying for the video.

I try not to use a light. One wedding the lights were all left on till some of the dances and then they really made it dark. So instead of the XL1 I just grabbed the Sony I have with nightshot. It looked kind of green but I got the shot and the bride and groom never said anything. But I think the best way is just ask them to keep the lights up until you get the main shoots.

Then edit, edit, edit

Rob Wilson · July 2nd, 2003, 04:48 PM

Ok, I've had plenty of "challenges" but also one that worked to my advantage. Happened at my brother-in-laws (drafted to shoot it for free) wedding. My wife (his sister) was the "Best Person". As such she was second to walk down the isle. She arrived next to her bro an he asked "You've got the ring, right?". Since I had him mic'ed I heard her wispered "NO" response but no one else did. I yanked the ear buds, framed a decent shot of the arriving attendants and sprinted for the ring (hotel room about 200 yrds away). By the time I got back, the bride had just begun walking so all eyes were on her as I went around the side and handed the ring to my wife. The three of us were the only ones that knew about it till after the ceremony and we all shared plenty of laughs. Guess it shows that monitoring your audio can pay off in more ways than one!

Hans Henrik Bang · July 4th, 2003, 10:45 AM

Regarding length:

I also just did my first wedding shoot. Still doing post, since it is in my spare time, but I figured I would go for 2 cuts. A long one that will probably only interest the B & G at about 1,5 hours, and a version they can show to family and friends at about 40 minutes.

From what I have heard, when the bride has seen 2 hours of footage from her day, she will immediately ask: "where is the rest?"

Hans Henrik

July 1st, 2003, 09:42 AM	#16
Bob Zimmerman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 888	Dont worry about it. Learn from your mistakes. You were not getting paid alot and the bride and groom knew you were not a pro. I always get with the wedding photographer and make sure we don't get in each others way. I go for all the main shots. If you can get all of those you are doing pretty good. That's one reason I get with the photographer. They have all the pictures the bride and groom want. I like to make the video a story of what went on that day. Not any interviews, just all the events of the wedding day and always get lots of video of the bride and groom. Don't worry about grandma and aunt jane. They are not paying for the video. I try not to use a light. One wedding the lights were all left on till some of the dances and then they really made it dark. So instead of the XL1 I just grabbed the Sony I have with nightshot. It looked kind of green but I got the shot and the bride and groom never said anything. But I think the best way is just ask them to keep the lights up until you get the main shoots. Then edit, edit, edit

July 2nd, 2003, 04:48 PM	#17
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Ok, I've had plenty of "challenges" but also one that worked to my advantage. Happened at my brother-in-laws (drafted to shoot it for free) wedding. My wife (his sister) was the "Best Person". As such she was second to walk down the isle. She arrived next to her bro an he asked "You've got the ring, right?". Since I had him mic'ed I heard her wispered "NO" response but no one else did. I yanked the ear buds, framed a decent shot of the arriving attendants and sprinted for the ring (hotel room about 200 yrds away). By the time I got back, the bride had just begun walking so all eyes were on her as I went around the side and handed the ring to my wife. The three of us were the only ones that knew about it till after the ceremony and we all shared plenty of laughs. Guess it shows that monitoring your audio can pay off in more ways than one!

July 4th, 2003, 10:45 AM	#18
Hans Henrik Bang Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Frederiksberg, Denmark Posts: 133	Regarding length: I also just did my first wedding shoot. Still doing post, since it is in my spare time, but I figured I would go for 2 cuts. A long one that will probably only interest the B & G at about 1,5 hours, and a version they can show to family and friends at about 40 minutes. From what I have heard, when the bride has seen 2 hours of footage from her day, she will immediately ask: "where is the rest?" Hans Henrik