Shooting my first wedding... Need some suggestions!

T

Trent Morrison

Active member
Well, I'm shooting my first wedding on Saturday, and I'm having trouble getting some things figured out in my head. So, I though I may be able to get some help on here.

It's going to have to be a one camera shoot. Because I haven't got access to another decent camcorder.

Audio...
I have an old wireless transmitter and reciever. But, it doesn't have XLR out. I couldn't find the right kind of adapter at Radio Shack, although I'm sure they must exist. But I don't suppose I'll be able to scrounge something up within the next day. Do you think a Rode NTG-1 mounted on-camera in the balcony of the church would give me acceptable audio?

I figure I'll shoot the ceremony from a tripod in the balcony inside the church. But I would think I'd have to be down on the floor for the shots of the bride & groom coming down the aisle and what-not. It doesn't seem like you'd want to be looking down at the back of their heads during this part.
Can I just run up into the balcony real quick-like and throw the camera on the tripod after they've all walked to the front? Or should it be okay to just shoot everything from the lower level so I don't miss anything.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Trent
 
Well, what I've noticed and that you should beware of is photographers. They are definitley going to get in your way of the big kiss. I know you only have the one camera, but are you being paid well? If you are, see if you can get a film student or someone with a DVX or similiar cam to come out for $100 or something. That way you can have one person mounted on top, shooting from the balcony and you can be doing all the run n' gun stuff on the ground.

Better chance you won't miss the kiss, a little security and have a few different angles to play around with so it doesn't get too boring.

Just my thoughts,

Kegan
 
Hunter007 said:
someone with a DVX or similiar cam to come out for $100 or something. That way you can have one person mounted on top
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just to clarify, you are still talking about the wedding and not the honeymoon, right?

but yeah, someone shooting up in the balcony while you run around is a good idea.
 
even if its not a dvx...

also, rather then lock yourself in the balcony...I'd stay on the floor...you'll have better opportunities to move around and get different angles. If its a Catholic wedding, you will have tons of time to bail on a particular spot.

Contact the photographer. Let them know who you are and that you'll be there. They've got a job to do but if you meet them they will more inclined to respect your needs as well.

If you don't have a wireless mic and can only mount a mic...you are going to have to get up close to them to get their vows. There is a good chance the Church will have monitors and an audio system (get there early to find out) but why take any chances? Get the dramatic shot of the bride walking down the Aisle...but as soon as you can plant yourself close to the action (another reason to contact the photographer...don't want to step on his or her toes)....

One more thing...be sure to trust your audio levels...if your headphones are picking up the audio just fine but your levels look low, make sure they are touching the reds....
 
stay on the floor in the center aisle, crouch down about halfway down and get face shots of the processional and bride, then move to the tripod and place it in the middle of the aisle after the bride passes. hopefully the type of ceremony will allow you to ask the couple and celebrant to face each other during the vows, in which case you can zoom in on the couple nicely. then slide a little out of the way during the recessional. alternatively, try to get permission to film everything from behind the altar. I know every catholic church I've been in lets me do this.

most churches have sound boards and wireless systems, and CD or cassette recorders, use that if you can. mic the groom and the celebrant and you will pick up the bride just fine.

the key to a good wedding video is excellent audio.
 
The photographer is a friend of mine who actually got me the job. Apparantly the videographer they couple had hired wasn't able to do it, so they had to find someone else at the last minute.

I really appreciate the tips. My confusion's cleared up a bit now, yet I'm sure the near future will hold further questions from me.

Thanks!
 
Hey Trent - not that you sounded worried, but one camera on a wedding shoot of average scope and size can be VERY effective, and, dare I say it, possibly even better than two. I've shot ~50-60 weddings over the last couple years and while a second cam can be nice, it's not at all necessary.

I've got to run, but I'll try to post some tips this evening.
 
Trent Morrison said:
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
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Here's my advice: Do a search. This site is chock full of threads about wedding & event videography. Here, I did your work for you:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=100051&highlight=wedding

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=64115&highlight=wedding

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=99473&highlight=wedding

There's way more, just search "wedding".

And good luck, I also have to shoot one tomorrow!
 
A shotgun from a balcony is not good enough :Drogar-Kriz(DBG): Trust me I know from experience. You need to be alot closer if you want any audio, or you need to use lavaliers or something on the groom & officiant if you want good audio. If you can't do any of these then just let the bride and groom know the audio is going to be poor unless they give you more money. The best parts of my wedding videos are the montages anyways, and those are 90% music anyways.
 
You can usually rent a decent lavalier microphone (and most likely the adapter) from any pro video/audio store in town for around $30-50.
 
Even if you don't hire somebody you should still do a 2-cam shoot. You can just set up a cheap consumer camera on a tripod in the back so that you can always have the safety to cut to it if you have to do a quick camera move.

Hiring somebody to help you is definitely better, though.
 
Agreed. I may do that tomorrow if allowable. If the company I'm shooting for wants the B-roll static cam, they got it. If not, whatever.

Also, I forgot to add: For audio, I highly, highly recommend the Sennheiser Evolution G2 100 Series lavalier kit. $500 well spent.
 
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