A good start would be to ask other brides/grooms.  Start with the ones you know and then consider joining web forums to get more opinions.  You can also ask videographers for a list of their recent brides you can contact.  It is important to cosider each opinion, whether they got professional services or not.

When you talk to recent brides they will most likely overflow with information about their wedding and the services they had.  Here is a list of some questions to ask recent brides:

• If you had to pick between photography or videography, which would you choose?
• Why did you choose to have professional videography?
• How did you find your videographer?
• If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently about your videography arrangements (if anything)?
• Were there any particular things you had in mind when shopping around for videography?
• What differences did you see between different videographers as you interviewed them?
• What “lessons-learned” have you come up with concerning your wedding videography?
• Do you know of any recent brides that wouldn’t mind answering these same questions?

After talking to several people, you will already start to develope a good idea of what you need to be looking for.  This will give you a great start on your own search for professional wedding videography.

Igor

 Are they cute or what?  The boys love watching themselves over and over on video…

This was filmed in HD format.  What can you learn from this?  Lighting makes a huge difference.  Igor filmed in dim lighting, so the quality is not  what it would have been in natural light or even a well lit place.  Think about that if your wedding takes place in the evening (and speak with your videographer about it).

Anna

I hope you were able to see a difference,  dispite all else.  Feel free to comment or ask questions.

Anna

If you are still unsure, please take a look at what video professionals have to offer.

Now I want to share a picture of Igor (he might kill me for this ) with his camera/glidecam.  Do you see the concentration?  It’s great; I love it!

Until next time,

Anna

But believe it or not, this is a golden opportunity for you to become a hero/heroine in this stressful situation. Once you understand what’s behind Bridezilla’s scary fire breathing, you can play a major part in dousing the fire.

The first thing you must understand is that planning a wedding is similar to producing a Broadway show. It involves coordinating people, places, and things with a military-like precision. If one thing falls out of place, the entire production can come undone.

Ok…that might be exaggerating the situation. Truth be told, when was the last time you saw a wedding come undone? (I’m speaking of the wedding…not the marriage)?

The great thing about these so-called “catastrophes” is that they usually become an amusing part of our family stories that our children and grandchildren beg to hear over and over.

These stories are funny because we can see them through the benefit of hindsight. But during the actual time the bride is planning the day she’s been dreaming about her whole life, every detail takes on an importance of monumental proportions.

Not only has she been dreaming about her perfect wedding, she has mentally rehearsed every detail at least 1000 times. The trouble is that the details included during this mental rehearsal reflect only the “perfect,” finished production. Her rehearsal hasn’t included planning and coordinating all the details that go into making it perfect.

Most brides have limited, if any, experience with event planning, so its easy to become overwhelmed when some of these details seem to be going wrong. So out bursts Bridezilla, with her fangs barred and eyes bulging, lashing out at anyone that gets in her way.

At this point you must be wondering how you’re going to become a hero in this scenario, given that you’re just videotaping the wedding.

Well, this is where that golden opportunity comes in. All of Bridezilla’s fire breathing is the result of not feeling in control. You can help Bridezilla come under control by demonstrating that you are a professional who has the details of the wedding video under control.

I know what you’re thinking… “But, I’m not a professional. I’ve just been asked to shoot my friend’s wedding.”

Well I’m here to tell you that you can easily become a professional by first understanding that shooting the wedding video is going to take more than just showing up at the church, with your video camera in hand. It means getting all your video production ducks in a row. If this sounds intimidating, relax. You just need a little planning that includes:

• Talking with all key wedding participants (e.g., bride, groom, minister, etc.) to know what’s expected
• Getting all your equipment together and making sure its runs properly
• Buying plenty of videotape cassettes and batteries
• Being at the Wedding Rehearsal
• Showing up early for the Wedding
• Staying focused

You can get plenty of wedding video production help online if you’re still feeling uneasy.

Just remember…you will only be stressed out if you’re not prepared. If you take the same, easy steps that professional videographer’s do, you will be relaxed and confident.

This relaxed, confident attitude is sure to be a source of reassurance to Bridezilla. Then watch her take her cue from you, transforming back into the beautiful blushing bride of her dreams.

For more professional Wedding Video Secrets, Click Here!

Have you volunteered to shoot a friend’s wedding out of the kindness of your heart?

Filed Under Pre-Production |

If you’re nervous about taking on this important responsibility, our list of the top ten wedding video do’s and don’ts will help you navigate through some tricky territory and come out the other end with a near professional result.

1. Do familiarize yourself with all the key participants

Communicate with bride and groom to establish what they want videotaped.

Talk to the minister and make sure that he knows and approves of you working at and around the altar.

Let any additional videographers know what’s going on and what is them.

2. Do make sure that you have all the equipment you need and that its in good working order.

How many cameras do you plan on using? Do you know how you will get them (borrow, rent, buy?)

You will need a sufficient number of audio and video cables, plenty of fully-charged batteries and blank videotapes.

3. Don’t miss the wedding rehearsal.

This will be your chance to become familiar with all operating systems including cameras, lighting and audio before the wedding takes place.

Decide where the best places are to put the cameras.

Be sure to find out if there will by any special ceremonies (e.g. lighting the Unity Candle) or props (e.g. floral canopy) that need to be a part of your footage.

Videotape pre-wedding interviews with the bride and groom (interview them separately).

4. Don’t forget to turn off the cameras’ Date and Time function.

Open the Menu function on the camera to turn off Date and Time. If your don’t, the date and time will be “stamped” on your footage and ruin the look of the videotape…and nothing yells, “amateur” louder.

5. Do be at the church or wedding venue one hour before the wedding gets started.

Pre-wedding footage requested by the bridal couple should be shot at this time.

Have a last minute confirmation check with any additional videographers.

Set audio and lighting levels and double check that all equipment is running properly.

6. Do introduce yourself and other videographers to the wedding photographer.

Let him know that you and your crew won’t get in his/her way.

7. Don’t use your camera to search back and forth for your shots.

Scan the room with your eyes, find your next shot, THEN move the camera directly there.

8. Don’t narrate the action while taping the wedding reception.

This is a big no-no and you will probably be embarrassed when you hear your off-camera narration. (The bride won’t be to crazy about them either.)

9. Do make doubly sure that you have all your videotape cassettes before you leave the church.

Guard them with your life!

10. Do remember to relax and enjoy yourself.

Its ok for you to enjoy the reception too. Take a break, have something to eat and drink until its time to start shooting the remainder of the reception.

Just remember…you’ll be scared and anxious only if you’re not prepared. If you follow these 10 do’s and don’ts, you’ll be relaxed, confident and looking forward to presenting the bride and groom a with a sure-to-be-treasured record of their special, once-in-a-lifetime event.

Click here to learn more professional Wedding Video Secrets.