Everything has its first time, and if you plan to make a wedding film, you will experience a lot of “firsts” over the first wedding weekend. A first kiss, first dance, and first piece of cake all occur. Where will you position your cameras to capture each special moment? Will every shot require lighting? How do you plan to handle the audio? This guide will cover event priorities, equipment requirements, and typical bridal and husband and family expectations.
What qualifications are necessary to become a top-tier wedding videographer? We prepared this massive guide after consulting the industry’s top experts.
Weddings: Why?
Likely, this has already happened: someone approaches you to record their wedding after learning that you produce videos.People could want to hire you for this if you are skilled with video.
If your first wedding video was successful, you might be asking, “Should I be doing wedding videography?” In a field where speculative projects and the expectation that someone will pay for my movie reality prevail. A legitimate option for a filmmaker to make a living is as a wedding videographer. And you can learn from it.
Develop Your Style for Wedding Videography:
As a filmmaker, you want to produce innovative wedding videos that stand out. It would be best if you ascertained your wedding style to do this. The five various types of wedding videography in Canada are listed below:
- Documentary:
One of the five primary types of wedding videography is the documentary. The most genuine is this. A videographer that employs this technique will document your special day naturally, without setting up or choreographing specific scenes. Then, this video is edited together, potentially with readings or interviews from the couple or their family. The documentary format is probably not for you if you want your wedding video to look like a Hollywood blockbuster.
- Traditional:
Similar to traditional wedding photography, traditional wedding videography puts a lot more emphasis on the significant, scheduled moments of the big day. We’ll go over the ceremony, toasts, and reception in great detail in an approachable manner. Although this kind of wedding videography is a little less popular now than it once was, it will always have a place since it is timeless.
- Cinematic:
With this wedding videography approach, you may anticipate that your big day will be most appreciated on a big screen. The cinematic look is typically combined with certain documentary/storytelling aspects, including sweeping wide shots, drone work, and dramatic slow-motion sequences. Let’s say you two don’t care about beginnings, middles, or ends.
- Storytelling:
As we indicated in the introduction, videographers frequently combine various styles of wedding filming to develop their own. And storytelling is an excellent illustration of this because it often mixes the couple’s preferred aesthetic with a compelling narrative. This movie is more concerned with how these two got where they are now in their relationship, how they met, and the proposal.
Things to Consider Before Starting Your Career in Wedding Videography in Canada:
Each banquet hall and wedding reception venue is unique in its way. Every wedding party member, from the best man to the flower girl to the bride’s father, has their quirks, requirements, and wishes that must be accommodated.
The groom’s family covers the cost of the wedding album and film. Your client will protect the difference no matter how much the inflation rate has increased in the intervening years. Always remember that their requirements will determine the scope of your work’s size and the quality of your final product. As a rule, wedding planners report to more than one superior. You should still consider the family’s needs even if you provide a package. The couple may be interested in underwater wedding coverage or footage of foreign tourists arriving at the airport. One never knows when saying “yes” to an offbeat request could lead to a dream job and shoot.
A wedding typically follows a strict schedule, with predetermined activities, decorations, and personnel. Costs for the rehearsal dinner? Is it okay to record the bride and groom before the ceremony? Do they want you there for the party, or just for the formalities? Having a limited budget will restrict your choices. Assure the customer that they are aware of the scope of your capture and the associated costs. After going over every detail and possible outcome, you and your partner will sign a contract to build your plan.
A reliable assistant can be invaluable while photographing a wedding. They have many abilities, from operating a second camera to monitoring media and charging batteries. There will be attacks, staging, and shifting of locations. A bigger crew and a third or fourth camera may be necessary. It is essential to upload and store gathered footage. Sometimes they’ll keep a record of the videos they’ve downloaded.
Checklist Time!
You’ll need skilled labor and the right equipment. Two comparable camcorders on stable tripods are an excellent start wedding videography in Canada.
A third handheld camcorder is great for productions with the workforce and budget.
Video projects need good lighting to work. A compact lighting kit like the Impact Quality 300 2 Light Kit, Smith-Victor KT750LED 2-Light Umbrella Kit, or uLite 3 Light Lighting Kit can meet most of your lighting demands. Weddings provide unique photo possibilities. Thus, where you place most of your lights is essential. Use reflective surfaces like walls and ceilings to amplify your source’s light and indirect lighting like softboxes and diffusion for direct illumination.
Lights can ruin the mood, so turn them off in most cases. The Genaray LED-5300 120 LED Dimmable On-Camera Light may be handy for cocktail hour interviews. Customers should discuss this before the wedding. Scouting ahead is necessary to make lighting and other decisions.
Audio planning will take the most time throughout your wedding photography—record ambient noises like guests oohing and aahing at the bride’s entrance or toasting the happy couple. A shotgun microphone on board or a Zoom H6 or Tascam DR-40 strategically placed can record the audience. Digital recorders are handy in various scenarios. The couple can film unscripted statements at the reception feast or vows on the altar or lectern.
Developing Business Contacts:
You’ll need to get in touch with the other vendors and service providers involved in the wedding and your crew. If there is a wedding planner, they can help you out. There’s bound to be a photographer whose requirements are practically identical to yours. Get in touch with them in advance or at the very beginning of the wedding day.
Carefully Examine Everything:
Even in the hours before the guest arrives, there is always a lot to do. You’ll need as many attractive pictures as possible to effectively use cutaways and a montage.
If you want to capture all of the preparations for the big day, it’s better to have one handheld camera at each place. Take in as many specifics as you can. Capture the bridesmaids’ hair, makeup, ribbons, and footwear. A stunning addition to a video that will stand out is the arrival of a twelve-door stretch limo or a military group in full dress uniform.
Crew:
Some video production companies will use as many as four camera operators, two lighting and sound assistants, and one Same Day Editor.
These are the key points you need to keep in mind if you want to start your career in wedding videography in Canada. Good luck!