Photo provided by 2SwansPhotography
I'm pretty good at pissing off both photographers and videographers with what we do. But, I've seen enough behind-the-scenes video footage of weddings to know how to help you get the perfect wedding video, without ruining your wedding photos.
Getting the right photographer is a big investment and totally worth it. While a video is the only way to remember your grandma's words of wisdom, your first dance, and your personal vows. The last thing you want to do is have your wedding photos ruined by someone taking video.
The two big fears with getting a wedding video are:
- The videographer will be intrusive
- It's going to be boring and expensive
As you can see in the photo above, sometimes number 1 is correct. I'll tackle number 2 in another post. When hiring a videographer, you want someone who knows how to get the best shots without getting in the way.
Your friends and family will definitely be out there as well taking photos and videos on their smartphones or cameras. They're just as likely to ruin the photos as an inexperienced videographer.
Here are 4 Foolproof Ways to Protect Your Wedding Photography Investment
1. Ask your photographer where they will have their equipment set upThis way you can ask your guests to stay out of the shot. They can still get great photos and videos without blocking the photographer. If you want your guests to film the ceremony, there's a way to do it without ruining the photos. Ask a guest to stand by a speaker to get the sound and have another stand off to the side to get video of the same moments. They can always be edited together later.
2. Spend the money on a videographer with good equipmentI'm guessing that this videographer got all up in the couple's face so he could capture the sound - but that wouldn't be necessary with a simple microphone and a good lens. It's worth spending the extra money to ensure your videographer and photographer can both capture your special moments.
3. Make sure there is good communication between your photographer and videographerThe last thing you want is a smackdown between pros on your big day. With good communication, they can both set up their equipment where they need. Think of your first dance. The videographer needs to record your fancy footwork, while your photographer can capture that perfect dip for your album.
4. Wedding day portraits should be taken by the prosI've seen so many weddings where family and friends crowd the wedding portraits because they want their own copy of the pros shots. This just prolongs the marathon amount of time your wedding party has to stand there, while your guests' flashes could ruin the pro shots.
Your guests could be such a huge help by interviewing other guests for marriage advice during the cocktail hour, while you're getting portraits taken. They'll record things you might miss while taking photos, and these candid moments can be perfect in your wedding video.
Ariane Fisher writes at the WeddingMix blog about all things diy wedding video. To get useful tips for turning those photos and videos from your wedding planning, big day and honeymoon into a fun memento, follow her blog.