Wedding videography setup...help!

Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

disjecta,

No problem, Yeah I never understood why people don't want to tell how much they charge?! Oh well...

Weddings are a lot of fun, very stressfull, but fun. I think the biggest thing is knowing that this event, the most important day of their lives... there's no retakes! So I always say, get it from all angles (as many as you can anyway) and the more people you have working for you the better. I have used one person before, with three cameras(two operators, 1 stationary) But I'll tell you lately I've been using 2 other opperators besides myself, and it's great because each of us are always ready to catch something that one of use might not see.

Pookiehead,
Thanks for the info on the lighting! That helped me a lot, as I've been considering doing something different than I've been doing in the past. I've gotten lucky most of the time, but I'd rather be totally prepared for any situation...

Thanks,
Vince
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

Mount what? the lights and all? CAREFULLY.

Cool Lux Sound and Light bracket. put that in the hot shoe. looks like a "Y." I believe I got it at BH.

I also have a shockmount for the boom.
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

Are YOU editing it? If that is the case you need to do everything you can so that you don't hate yourself while you edit.

shoot lots of cutaways. LOTS because you will need it for editing. exteriors, decorations etc.

have a back up audio of some sort of if you can. that way you have good audio, despite the fact that you will be moving here and there...

if you move. which you probably should ( discreetly)

EXPLAIN that the one-camera aspect of it will force you to edit according to what shots you were able to get with the one camera. I've only shot one weddding one camera, so I'm trying to remember. It really makes editing a pain. The tradeoff is usually the audio. Becuase you don't have shots to cover a camera move, you either need a cutaway or you have to kill the audio.

DO NOT MOVE ON THE VOWS. decide where you will be and make sure you are at the spot for the vows/rings. no one wants to see anything but the bride and groom here. and the THING THAt will make them happy is the cleanest shot you can get. and the best audio you can possibly deliver. THE BEST angle is always of the bride, if you have to choose ONE angle. Well, maybe I'm biased, but the video usually ends up meaning more to her than the groom in the long run anyway.

Remeber that the bride and groom always turn around and face the crowd at the end. where will you be for that?

on the tripod- FOR SURE. if you have to shoot the whole thing on the tripod to get that still shot for the vows, then do it.

i use a monopod and switch between that and handheld. I let my partner get the awesomely still and consistently good back shot.

lastly, for God's sake, don't get in the way of what's happening naturally. make friends withe the photographer before and tell him/her where you will be. If he/she is very amatuer--watchout, you may end up with his/her back in your lens at the worst possible time. if he/ she is an ---hole, then you will have the same problem also. there is no cutaway for that. you may be allowed to move around, but that doesn't mean you can block people's view. on the other hand, you have to know that one guest's slight annoyance at you never outweighs an important shot that the couple will want for the rest of their lives.

good luck.

the last I will add..wedding videography is a very expensive venture to get into because you need TWO of everything. the higher dollar clients will force you to think about THREE.
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

I have a 100a right now and will most likely purchase a pd-170, so I could do a two camera shoot. The problem is...since I'm just starting out I don't have the money to hire a 2nd camera operator (or know anyone I trust enough to do it).

How realistic would a two camera shoot with just myself be?
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!


If you can't afford having someone stand there and guard your jewels, then you are not charging enough. Don't let anyone think they should pay you miniumum wage..OR LESS. If you are that new, then practice on your own so that you make enough to be paid for decently for it. How much does a plumber or grocery clerk make in your area? If you are charging less than that hourly to do your work, then rethink.

You risk someone knocking down your camera or running off with it.

not a pretty picture.

I would not recommend it. Beg someone to stand there for an hour, if you must. The psychological trauma from someone knocking over your camera will cost you more than hiring someone to stand there. Have you ever been an an auto accident? You don't forget that sound.

if you must, block off your second camera with a partition or barrier. sandbag, whatever.

Disregarding how much better your shooting will be with a partner, the major issue is security. You will have moments by yourself where you cannot look after your stuff. get locks then. You walk over to check your batteries. --and miss something that you were contracted to shoot. not good.

lastly-the PD-170 seems to be a really fine camera..but you know you are buying all separate batteries for that...it adds up.
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

Yeah, I agree with everything Pookiehead said!... The bad thing about a one camera wedding, is that if it fails, and it does happen... You are in trouble! I always have a back up camera rolling through the whole ceremony from a wide perspective. I try to put it up in a balcony if possible or at the back of the church on a high tripod. Now, if you can't afford to hire a professional camera opperator, then how about a friend? Offering to pay a friend $50-$100 to watch your gear and help load and unload, set up, etc. for at least the ceremony is an option. I've personally done that, and never had a problem getting help. Don't get me wrong, a professional camera opp is the best, but in a jam, this will work and protect your equiptment!

I've heard of a ring of thieves in the New York area, that were hitting wedding videographers weekly! It's so typical, leave your camera for one second, and it's gone.. They are professionals, they look like guests, they wait for the opportunity, and then they grab your gear... So protect your it! I can only imagine the sickening feeling...

Vince
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

Thanks for the replies -- they're a big help. I haven't shot my first wedding yet so any advice I get is appreciated. I want to call viedographers in my area and offer to help out for free to get some experience, but I'm afraid they'll just see me as competition and refuse.

I see what you're saying about the limitations of using a single camera. I'll use the DVX to get a wide shot at the ceremony and have my girlfriend tag along to watch it until I can find an actual camera operator.

I'll operate the PD-170 and use that solely at the reception. I like the low light capabilities on it. Plus, I'd rather keep the wear and tear off the DVX since I bought it for narrative filmmaking, rather than events.

Again, thanks for the help.
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

Hi Pookiehead! Thanks so much for all the help you have offered. I have a question for you... What type of a contract do you use for weddings? Would you be willing to share it with me? It would be a huge help. Any tips in this area?
 
Re: Wedding videography setup...help!

[quote author=disjecta link=board=Links;num=1088625841;start=0#7 date=07/01/04 at 16:17:27]I'm just curious, what is the going rate for wedding videography these days? I know it depends on a number of different factors but, assuming you already have your own gear, how much do you make from an average sized wedding?

Disclaimer: I know there is not one answer but for those of you who have done it, give me some examples of what was involved and how much you got paid.[/quote]

I have been doing them on and off for several years. I have 2 packages. One is basically a 2 camera shoot, the other is 3 with a few extras. I do not nickel and dime customers and basically offer full packages from the start. My current prices are $1995 and $2795. I am located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I shoot with a DVX100A, DVC200 and VX2000. Many times my second shooter will use his DVC200 and/or a PD150 as well. Although I like the look of my DVX a lot. The Canon 19x lenses we have on our DVC200's are a great advantage at venues where we have to place ourselves at a distance. The Sony's are an advantage to us at lower lit receptions and such. We do use on-camera lights though, as no camera gives great results in low light IMO (acceptable, but not great). I use a NRG Varalux and my second shooter uses a Frezzi.

Hope this helps,

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media
 
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