3 Takeaways from Filming My First Wedding
I recently had the opportunity to film my first wedding. Today I want to share my top three takeaways from the day, but first, some backstory.
A few weeks ago, some friends reached out to me and asked if I could film their wedding ceremony. We hopped on a quick call to discuss details and then I got to work. All in all, I had about 10 days to prepare everything and make sure I was ready. I have spent the past 2 years soaking up as much knowledge about video productions, but filming a wedding was a whole new experience. Here are my top three takeaways from the experience.
Audio is as (more?) important than video
Remember when I said I have spent years learning all about video? It turns out, if the audio isn’t crisp and high quality, the entire video will feel amateur. With that in mind, I knew I needed to focus on capturing audio from multiple sources to ensure I got what I needed. I ended up capturing audio from 3 sources:
Lav Mics: I used RODE Wireless Go II microphones for both the groom and the officiant. These mics were placed in their jacket pockets and clipped to their lapels. They send a signal that can be captured by a camera, but also have an internal backup so that if a signal is lost, I still captured the audio I needed. I did not mic up the bride as her voice would be captured by the groom’s mic.
Zoom H1n Recorder: I attached this recorder to the DJ’s set up to capture all the audio that went through the sound system and to the speakers. This allowed me to get recordings of the musical performances, intro music, and outro music. This is a great way to capture audio, but it should be used as a backup because as the videographer, I did not have full control over the sound levels.
Camera Microphone: This is the final backup. I use a Rode Videomic Pro+ attached to my camera for this mic. This is mostly used to capture ambient sounds and a last resort backup. The quality is not as high as the other two, but it is always good to have options while editing.
Capture the Moment, Don’t Create It
Throughout my time filming, there were TONS of moments to capture. A wedding day is full of them! I want the bride and groom to focus on their day together, not to feel like actors trying to get the perfect take. In that vein, I feel that it is important to try and capture authentic moments, not try and create them. It is much more meaningful to have a video of the groom laughing with his groomsmen than to have 10 takes trying to fake that moment.
I realized that with a day filled with so many important moments, it was easy to just keep rolling and capture the next fun shot. I didn’t feel like I needed to go back and ask the coupe to redo something multiple times. At the end of the day, I want them to watch this video and remember the day they had, not the 10 times they clinked glasses to get the perfect shot.
Relax and have fun!
The day of the wedding was stressful to me. On top of it being my first wedding, I also was leaving the next morning for an international trip, and I showed up at the venue only to realize I was at the WRONG WEDDING. Once I got my gear setup and rolling, I had a realization: the wedding party will take their cues from me.
If I am feeling stressed and nervous, people will respond to me differently than if I am relaxed and enjoying myself. I noticed this firsthand as I got in a groove and started enjoying myself. People were smiling and relaxed! It feels so simple, but even in a situation where I have to be focused and perform, staying relaxed and calm allowed me to get better results than when I was stressed and worried about everything turning out.
I felt honored that I was a part of creating something that will allow a couple to remember their wedding day for the rest of their lives. Those two years of practice helped me prepare and execute, and I can’t wait to sit down and edit.
