Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

[savethestars]

Here are some questions for all of you who make money videotaping weddings:

1) How do you record the sound? Do you use an onboard XLR mic, boom mic, or do you record sound through the church sound system, or do you simply use the onboard camera mic and hope for the best?

2) Do you use one camera or more than one camera? If shooting alone, how you do cover the proceedings, (like the kiss or whatever), and still manage to whip around and get reaction shots?

3) Do you actually report your income, or do you stuff the money in your pants?

4) What does your pricing chart look like? Do you offer different kinds of packages? Flat fee? Or do you charge per copy? DVD or VHS?

5) Do you shoot in 60i or 24p?

6) Do you really make money or are you just kidding yourself?

7) Any horror stories? Drunk people at the reception threatening to break your camera if you don't get it out of their face, et cetera?

8) Most lucrative month of the year to shoot weddings?

9) How do you advertise your services? What sort of marketing package do you show prospective clients?


I hope you can answer these questions and share your experience and wisdom on shooting weddings.

Thanks a lot in advance!!!

 

[Michael_Nice]

Re: Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

I have only done a couple of weddings (not my thing but its a paycheck lol)

When I record the sound I will have a shotgun as close to the front as possible and then a wireless system on the groom if I cannot get a clean feed from the house system.

Most of the time I just shoot with one camera unless they want to pay extra for the second one. it works well, not perfect but it captures the ceremony

I give the client a few options as to what they want and then I will include one DVD or VHS copy with that price, more copies are seperate from the quote

haven't shot a wedding with the DVX (next one is in June) but I will probley just stick to 60i unless I shoot some b-roll in 24p at the reception

like I said I have only done a couple of weddings but they were profatible

hope this helps

 

[J.R. Hudson]

Re: Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

I dont knokw much about shooting weddings, but JUNE is the busiest time of year for weddings!

 

[David Jimerson]

Re: Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

The two weddings I've done, I put the wireless on the minister/priest. It centers the sound. Worked great.

Though, at the church, I'd see if you can plug into the church's sound system.

Also, if you're doing a multi-cam, the on-board mic on the camera toward the rear could be used to record ambient sound for a possible 5.1 mix.

 

[MIDIMan]

Re: Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

I do more weddings than I'd care to admit, so I'll take a stab at your questions.

[quote author=savethestars link=board=Events;num=1079124264;start=0#0 date=03/12/04 at 12:44:24]1)  How do you record the sound?  Do you use an onboard XLR mic, boom mic, or do you record sound through the church sound system, or do you simply use the onboard camera mic and hope for the best?[/quote]

I use two Samson UM32 wireless systems at most weddings. I put one mic on the groom, and the other on the minister. You can get by with a single mic, but I would always put it on the groom rather than the minister. The minister is used to public speaking, and will project their voice. The bride and groom will be nervous, and will usually almost whisper their vows. Micing the groom will allow you to clearly hear the vows.

2) Do you use one camera or more than one camera?  If shooting alone, how you do cover the proceedings, (like the kiss or whatever), and still manage to whip around and get reaction shots?

I've done 1, 2 and 3 camera ceremony shoots. You can't adequately cover a wedding ceremony with a single camera. I get the best results with one camera up front facing the bride, and the other camera in the back centered in the aisle.

3) Do you actually report your income, or do you stuff the money in your pants?

I operate as a business, and fully report all my income. When I hire people to help on various jobs, I report their income as well.

4) What does your pricing chart look like?  Do you offer different kinds of packages?  Flat fee?  Or do you charge per copy?  DVD or VHS?

We don't offer packages, but let brides customize their video. It's more profitable for me, and lets the bride pay for what she wants rather than being forced into a package. Everything is delivered on DVD. VHS has to be recorded realtime, but I can burn a DVD in a few minutes.

5) Do you shoot in 60i or 24p?

Up until now, everything I have filmed has been in 60i. I'm planning to film an entire wedding in 24P this summer.

6) Do you really make money or are you just kidding yourself?

I really make money, but many wedding videographers don't. Most people starting in the industry think that they can just show up and film for $300. They wind up delivering a horrible product to the bride, and the bride badmouths wedding videography as a whole. To be successful, you have to operate as a business, track profits and expenses, and budget based on your income.

7) Any horror stories?  Drunk people at the reception threatening to break your camera if you don't get it out of their face, et cetera?

I have never had a problem with guests at the wedding. When I was starting out, I had a bride that never paid for her video. I learned a valuable lesson about getting paid for my work up front. Other than that, I've never had a problem.

8) Most lucrative month of the year to shoot weddings?

May and June are my highest revenue months.

9) How do you advertise your services?  What sort of marketing package do you show prospective clients?

I'm currently advertising on a couple of local bridal planning websites, and we send demo DVDs to brides from those mailing lists.

Hope this helps...

MIDIMan

 

[savethestars]

Re: Masters of the Wedding Ceremony

Thanks MIMIMan and others...much appreciated.