Wedding Grabs DVX100A

Kevin Briggs

Kevin Briggs

Well-known member
Hey all,

I just finished shooting my first attempt at a professional wedding video. I got some great audio as well with some sennheiser wireless mics. Used a couple filters in tandem and Magic Bullet warm max filter here and there. I was pretty impressed with what the camera can do given the right settings. I compressed the images down quite a bit for dial up users, but they still look pretty good.

What do you guys think?

The server for the images is down for a bit, so I uploaded the highlights clip to another source:

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=PetersonHighlights

BLOOPERS VIDEO


http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Bloopers71

Everything was shot handheld except for the ceremony.

I need input on the do's and don't in this video. The thing I see that is different from most highlight reels I've seen is it seems my video has no real flow or story. I think I have just jumbled together some of the better footage. This is my first attempt at editing any wedding period. Also do most of you include the highlight reel in the DVD you give your clients? I am prepared to make a lot of changes. I don't think the music is right...too sad. Also I have some tweaking to do on the audio in the end dancing segments. I'm kind of a perfectionist and there is just something that makes me think it could be better.

Thanks in advance -Kevin
Filters/MB Basic Warm Max
boy.jpg

Filters Only
BrideGrandma.jpg

Filters Only
bride2.jpg

Filters/MB Basic Warm Max
bride3.jpg

Filters Only
bridemaid.jpg

Filters/MB Basic Warm Max
flowers.jpg


1scottboy.jpg


flowers2.jpg


bridedance.jpg


2family.jpg


3boygirl.jpg


4boys.jpg


6picture.jpg


7car.jpg


8leaving.jpg


bubbles.jpg


Scott_Rachel_Wedding_010_si.jpg
 
Can you tell us what filters you used on-camera? Looks like ProMist to me! Did you shoot a lot of tests for filtration in-camera versus MagicBullet options? Thanks in advance for your reply.

I'm doing a wedding for my wife's college roomate in September and it's about time for me to get my game on!

e
 
Looks great..Pro...I think they must have been very happy. I don't do wedding vids myself but it's nice to see them being done right.
J.P.
 
overlandfilms said:
Can you tell us what filters you used on-camera? Looks like ProMist to me! Did you shoot a lot of tests for filtration in-camera versus MagicBullet options? Thanks in advance for your reply.

I'm doing a wedding for my wife's college roomate in September and it's about time for me to get my game on!

e
Click to expand...

Hey Overland,

Your exactly right. I used a Tiffen ProMist 1/2, and a Tiffen Soft/FX 3 filter. One was screwed right on top of the other. That is why you see some of the top filter in some of the pictures. This only happens when your 2 filters deep and zoomed out all the way. I didn't shoot any tests vs magic bullet. I was able to go to a local Tiffen dealer though and get some invaluable advice. On his web site (http://dvestore.com/products/tiffen_filters.html ) he's got some great tutorials for some of the products he sells.

Here is the filter tutorial: http://dvestore.com/theatre/index.html scroll down to the bottom right.

I got the filters on Thursday and shot a little bit of footage on Friday at the rehearsal. The wedding was this last Saturday 6/4/05. The two filters did a great job smoothing out the harsh edges and giving a nice dream like/soap opera look. These filters really make lights and white garments glow. I used the Magic Bullet (basic warm max) filter to give some of the clips more texture.

Thanks for the compliment JP!

-Kevin
 
I messed up big time with 60i. I assumed I was shooting 30p. I didn't know it was 60i until I got home. Believe me I wish this wasn't the case. Does anyone know a way to combine the fields to make it 30p?

-Kevin
 
Looks really good. Some of those shots look alittle over exposed but other then that next time try shooting 24pa and make a real 24p DVD that will blow there socks off. Also a trick I use to do when I shot videos was shot some of the reception in 60i and put it into a 24 time line so you get some really smoth slow motion good for the money shots. (and I'm not talking about shooting the honey moon even thought we all know that is where the money is)
 
Kevin Briggs said:
I messed up big time with 60i. I am so new to this camera that I forgot to save the scene file before I shut the camera off. When I turned it back on I assumed I was shooting 30p. I didn't know it was 60i until I got home. Believe me I wish this wasn't the case. Does anyone know a way to combine the fields to make it 30p?
Click to expand...

Are you using Vegas? I've got the Ultimate S plugin with RealPak-1 from VASST...it does the 30p (or 24p) conversion. Celluloid with RealPak does it, too, I'm pretty sure. In either case, I think it might be David Jimerson's RealPak that actually does it. (That's what I get for buying everything at once...no clue which is which a times)

Dan
 
GenJerDan said:
Are you using Vegas? I've got the Ultimate S plugin with RealPak-1 from VASST...it does the 30p (or 24p) conversion. Celluloid with RealPak does it, too, I'm pretty sure. In either case, I think it might be David Jimerson's RealPak that actually does it. (That's what I get for buying everything at once...no clue which is which a times)

Dan
Click to expand...

I'm using premiere pro 1.5. I think I'm gonna just settle for 60i. It looks ok for the most part.

I posted a link to the video highlights edit on the 1st post. I'd like some constructive critisism from you guys.

Thanks -Kevin
 
I think it turned out quite well, especially for your first time.

Like you said, the music was a little off... you could try to insert some acoustical stuff in there... or saxaphone stuff like kenny g. Those types of music are usually good for slow montages like that.

A second thing I might suggest is increasing the sound clips of the "best wishes" clips, with fade in's and fade out's with those to blend better.

Also as stated above, the frame rates. you accidently shot in 60i, not a big deal because your client will most likely not notice the difference.

The footage and editing looked really good, keep up the great work!
 
Thanks dj

I'll try some instrumental stuff and repost after I re-edit. I did fade in and out the best wishes clips but it was over a span of 10 frames, so maybe I'll increase this and do a crossfade so the "best wishes" audio doesn't come in so abruptly. I am really happy with the footage that I've captured. I just don't feel the flow with how I've put the footage together. Thanks for the compliments and constructive critisism.

-Kevin
 
Hi Kev,

Not bad at all for a first attempt. Here's a few tips:

- Practice the "rule of thirds" for framing shots. Try to avoid placing the subject dead center. Study movies and look at where the eyes are framed up. Google "rule of thirds" and see what you can find for examples.

- Ride the exposure manually. Expose for the subject's flesh tones, let the background blow-out the highlights if need be. Watch this QuickTime movie in the top right corner at http://dvcreators.net/products/sav.html

- The Steady Stick may help with stabilizing some of the shakey footage, otherwise, try tucking your elbows firmly against your stomach. Note your movements, try to be super smooth, robotic even.

- Try editing to the beat, cut with the flow of the music. Tap your foot, get into it.

- An on-camera light can help fill in some of those shadows. Try placing diffusion in front of the light to mellow it out.

- Crop black edges when doing PiP, try feathering them if you can with soft edges.

- Another cool filter might be a Center Spot to simulate the shallow depth of field look. The Pro Mist and Soft FX combo you used really looks great with weddings.

Overall, very good, keep shooting and learning. Don't beat yourself up over being a perfectionist, your stuff will look better everytime you learn from the last time. Remember we're having fun here!

One other thing, at first it's okay to spend a lot of time editing a wedding video, but maybe someone who does a lot of them will chime in, you'll want to make it very cookie-cutter and minimalize time spent to make it worth your while. That is, unless it's for family, they'll always get ya :)
 
Kevin,
Nice job for your first try!

My only advice would be to not get too caught up with what other wedding videographers are doing stylistically. Develop your own way of shooting and for post. Be original!
Sylistically, so many wedding videographers seem to be drinking from the same well, if you know what I mean. SOOO many look like bridal store commercials shot through a lacey gauze, with a generic adult contemporary soundtracks. LOL! I try to be as original as I can on each project.
ProMist Filters and Magic Bullet are great if they are used carefully in the right places. They should compliment your footage, where your "filters" are unnoticeable.
Your camerawork looks solid. Your on your way! You'll get better everytime you shoot.
 
Ouch, gotta remember the thirds rule. That one interview, I think it was one of the moms, it totally took me out of it because the framing was so wierd.

But other than that one nitpick, its not too bad. Looks like they had a faily extravaganet wedding (we don't have spotlights during out weddings). How did they like the final product?
 
Guy_Cochran said:
- Ride the exposure manually. Expose for the subject's flesh tones, let the background blow-out the highlights if need be. Watch this QuickTime movie in the top right corner at http://dvcreators.net/products/sav.html
Click to expand...

Under demos...This is one of the best clips for beginners like myself to watch. I had the camera set on auto everything. :) I wish I would have watched this demo before I shot the wedding. I had quite a bit of "blow out" from the light coming in through the windows, and I could only do so much in post before the image started looking like crap.

Guy_Cochran said:
- An on-camera light can help fill in some of those shadows. Try placing diffusion in front of the light to mellow it out.
Click to expand...

The reception was horribly lit with only candles and these wimpy 40 watt ceiling lights. Then I had these huge windows ruining a lot of my shots due to the camera being on auto exposure/iris. The reason I had my camera on auto was because I was moving around getting lots of footage where the focus and lighting was changing constantly. I didn't want to put a light on my camera because I didn't want to blind anyone or make them feel uncomfortable. I think that l.e.d. bar with a diffusion filter and the variable intensity knob would be the ticket.


Guy_Cochran said:
One other thing, at first it's okay to spend a lot of time editing a wedding video, but maybe someone who does a lot of them will chime in, you'll want to make it very cookie-cutter and minimalize time spent to make it worth your while. That is, unless it's for family, they'll always get ya :)
Click to expand...

Well I hate cookie cutter anything. I want everything I do to stand out or look different from the "norm". I agree there should be some balance between cookie-cutter and too much time editing. I think I will focus on getting artistic footage so when I do follow some kind of formula it looks better than the standard "I just want to get paid wedding video".

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

-Kevin
 
slimjimmed said:
Kevin,
ProMist Filters and Magic Bullet are great if they are used carefully in the right places. They should compliment your footage, where your "filters" are unnoticeable.
Your camerawork looks solid. Your on your way! You'll get better everytime you shoot.
Click to expand...

I agree totally. I had the 2 filters on all day long! I was reading some posts on Video University.com and most videographers prefer to capture the cleanest video possible without any filters etc, so that in post they have a clean footage to add digital filters effects etc. I think the filters on camera gave me better looking footage for the "look" I was going for just because optical looks better vs digital filters in post. Plus the more tweaking done in post the more render time, and the lesser quality of video from the generation loss however small it is. Am i correct in what I have said here?

toilet_bob said:
How did they like the final product?
Click to expand...

They are on there honeymoon right now. I have 1 more week before I give it to them. That's why I'm asking for critisism so I can re-edit some parts. I am doing this for free so I really don't care if they like it or not. I do want to use it to get some more work though.


-Kevin
 
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