Ever shoot a Christening? at DVinfo.net

William Smyth · November 5th, 2008, 07:10 AM

We recently had a request to shoot a Christening. Is seems pretty simple, but I'm concerned that there won't be enough things going on to make an interesting video. The family is Catholic, so it's basically a Catholic Mass with baptizing at the end. So far so good, but based on Christenings I've attended the reception consists of a blessing and the people eating. Not very visually interesting.

What kind of stuff could we add to make the video more entertaining?

Noel Lising · November 5th, 2008, 08:09 AM

Treat it like a wedding shoot. Get shots of the baby's dress, veil, mom dressing up the baby, shoes, all the details. Shot with the God parents, mom & dad, etc.

After that you got nothing else to do but document the event. On a brighter note the priest is usually not that strict in terms of movement.

Hope this helps.

Colin McDonald · November 5th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Allow for the possibility of the baby screaming all the way through the Baptism when planning the shoot. (Happened once to me.) A lav on the priest lets you salvage most of the event and a shotgun facing the congregation will pick up singing and responses (the organ will take care of itself). I know of no software plugin which will mask a determined infant.

It the child is really hollering the priest will tend to back off from him/her a bit and that helps, but there comes a point when you are really going to hear it as the actual Baptism takes place.

May this not happen to you!

November 5th, 2008, 07:10 AM	#1
William Smyth Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 153	Ever shoot a Christening? We recently had a request to shoot a Christening. Is seems pretty simple, but I'm concerned that there won't be enough things going on to make an interesting video. The family is Catholic, so it's basically a Catholic Mass with baptizing at the end. So far so good, but based on Christenings I've attended the reception consists of a blessing and the people eating. Not very visually interesting. What kind of stuff could we add to make the video more entertaining? __________________ www.williamsmythvisuals.com

November 5th, 2008, 09:26 AM	#3
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	Worst case scenario Allow for the possibility of the baby screaming all the way through the Baptism when planning the shoot. (Happened once to me.) A lav on the priest lets you salvage most of the event and a shotgun facing the congregation will pick up singing and responses (the organ will take care of itself). I know of no software plugin which will mask a determined infant. It the child is really hollering the priest will tend to back off from him/her a bit and that helps, but there comes a point when you are really going to hear it as the actual Baptism takes place. May this not happen to you!

November 5th, 2008, 08:09 AM	#2
Noel Lising Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 789	Treat it like a wedding shoot. Get shots of the baby's dress, veil, mom dressing up the baby, shoes, all the details. Shot with the God parents, mom & dad, etc. After that you got nothing else to do but document the event. On a brighter note the priest is usually not that strict in terms of movement. Hope this helps.