Lights, Camera, Action!

Set the Scene for a Successful Wedding Video

By Beth Kujawski

Depending on your point of view — and your budget — a wedding video can be an essential or an extravagance. But consider this: Your wedding day, the most important day of your life, likely will be one big blur. A wedding video provides instant replay, your chance to relive your wedding again and again.

Take care to pick a videographer who will capture your wedding day in the perfect way.

"I actually didn't plan on having a videographer record my wedding," says Christine Klima, a Chicago marketing professional who plans to marry her fiancé, Bill O'Connor, this fall. "We were trying to keep costs down and didn't feel we'd really get much value out of it."

Friends and family members urged them to reconsider. "They had their weddings taped... and they were really glad they'd done it," says Kliman. The recent deaths of both her parents also influenced her decision. "We decided it was important to capture the people we care about on film, rather than simply in photographs."

Of course, a visual record of a memory that's meant to last a lifetime should be as perfect onscreen as it is in your mind. So take care to pick a videographer who will capture your wedding day in the perfect way.

Choose Your Style

You'll need to decide exactly what you want your video to be. A straight cut, a chronicle of your day in real time, will result in a finished product several hours long. One camera captures events as they unfold, and there is very little editing of the finished product.

A documentary-style video, containing interviews with the bride and groom and friends and family, presents your wedding as more of a story. You might choose to hire the videographer to capture events surrounding your wedding and incorporate the footage into the final piece. This approach requires considerable editing, since the finished product is typically no longer than one hour

You might also hear the terms "nostalgic" or "love story" or "concept" when researching video options. These collections usually center on your lives both before you met, including childhood photos, and the runup to your big day.

Klima and O'Connor are having a video like this produced before their wedding to be played at the wedding reception. Afterward, it will be edited into the video of their wedding day, creating a complete chronology of their lives before they met through to the day they begin their lives together as husband and wife.

In the end, you must know what look you're going for and convey your vision to the videographer. According to Jeremy Schultz, president of Chicago-based videographer Imagic Imaging, one of the biggest mistakes couples make when it comes to video is "not knowing what they really want, and asking the videographer to guess at what they might like."

If you're uncertain about the best approach and you've never dealt with a videographer, ask for advice and take your time. Just make sure everyone is clear about your expectations well before the big day arrives.

Factor in photos

Depending on where you live, you might find a studio that offers both photography and videography. Assuming you like the work, there are several good reasons to consider this one-stop-shopping approach. You'll have one less vendor to deal with, and if your still photographer and your videographer are accustomed to working together, they won't get in each other's way. Their work will be complementary and you'll have a more unified-looking wedding album and video.

Trust your gut

Just as with your photographer, it's important that you feel comfortable with your videographer. Referrals are helpful to point you in a general direction, but do your own homework.

"Do not trust someone because it is a referral. Make your own choice," says Schultz. When interviewing candidates, be sure to find out who will be in charge of filming your wedding and see samples of that person's work. It's best to see at least one complete video from start to finish instead of a "clip reel" of highlights from many weddings. You want to get the best idea of what your video will look like, so ask everyone you interview if they've shot any weddings where your wedding is being held.

Pay attention to the sound quality and lighting on the sample videos. No matter how much or how little you're spending on your video, lighting will make or break the end result. "Video is nothing but lighting captured on film. Make sure your church and reception hall are both well-lit during important events," says Schultz.

Details, details, details

Once you've decided on what kind of video you want and who you want to help you create it, hash out the creative details. Are there special shots you've seen in friends' videos that you want to include in yours, for example?

Now is absolutely the perfect time to talk about music. If you have a special song you'd like to use, talk to your videographer about it. Some pieces of music are simply harder to edit to than others. For that reason, your videographer may ask you to select from his or her library of music. Music will play a big part in your finished product. Get this detail ironed out early.

Recruit a family member who can help the crew identify certain people you want to be sure to include. In the same vein, you should also see the raw footage of your wedding and point out any special scenes or people who are "must-haves" in the finished product. If you're interested in owning it, be sure to ask your videographer if your raw footage is included in your package, or if it's available for an additional fee.

Wise up on technology

There are some basic points about the technology of video you should know.

Almost all videographers today use digital cameras, so your main camera concern should be one camera or two. For a straight cut, one camera is the norm. If you've decided on a documentary-style video, two cameras should be required. A good videographer can capture a lot with one camera, but they can't be everywhere at once. Two-camera shoots allow you to capture both the main event being filmed as well as reaction shots, all of which will be edited together later. For example, with two cameras, you'll be able to have one camera capture your first kiss, while the other camera captures your mom's sweet probably weepy smile. One camera or two, make sure your crew brings along back-up equipment "I always make sure I have two cameras recording the same information in case of equipment or human error," says Schultz.

Microphones are the other important element of the day. You'll want to be able to hear your vows, after all. Wireless UHF (ultra-high frequency) mics are the standard these days. If your wedding is indoors, the groom will be wired (behind his boutonniere, usually) but not the bride. The groom's mic will be sensitive enough to pick up anything the bride says. If the space is large and prone to echoes, mics should be placed appropriately to pick up sound on the podium, for example. If your wedding is outdoors, everyone should be wired groom, musicians, officiant, etc.

But footage is just the diamond in the rough. Editing is what will make your video sparkle and shine. "Bottom line, editing makes the purchase," says Schultz. "Make sure the video production company spends time editing product."

These days, most production companies are putting their finished products on DVDs. You can still get videotapes, of course, even if your event was recorded digitally, but keep in mind that tapes will deteriorate with time and copies made from the master tape will lose some quality in the transfer. DVDs last longer, are harder to damage, and can be dubbed with no loss of quality. In any case, be sure to have a master tape or DVD that you keep in a safe place.

The bottom line: Cost

Oh, but what is this memory going to cost, right? Well, you should plan to spend about as much on videography as you spend on photography. Variables will affect the price: How long the videographer will be with you gathering footage, the talent of your videographer (and editor, if they're not the same person), and the technology used to capture and process your video. Plan to spend at least $1,000 for a wedding video, but understand that the high end of the price range can get very high: $10,000 isn't unheard of, and you'll be able to spend more than that if you have more than that to spend.

Action!

Chicago-based videographer Jeremy Schultz offers these suggestions for making affordable video look more like a million bucks:

• Look for videographers who use MINI DV cameras. The technology allows editing at a lower cost with little quality lost.
• Independent companies can offer services that match that of corporate specialists, sometimes at a lower price. Check trade boards, schools, newspapers.
• Be upfront and honest with your videographer. Tell them exactly what you are willing to spend and exactly what you would like to receive in return
• Be open to cost-cutting solutions.

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