What Makes A Great Wedding Film
A genuine, classic, and timeless wedding video is one that captures the essence of the couple in focus; real moments coloured by the location, atmosphere, culture, and emotions of the couple and their family celebrating the special day. Knowing what to film, how to capture each moment, and what adjustments to make while filming and editing greatly influence the quality of the final version of the film each couple receives. In this article, I’ll summarise the fundamentals of what I think makes a great wedding film, and some of the key considerations I think play a big part in making sure the final wedding video you receive from me, is one you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Most modern weddings have a lot in common with an actual film set. Some are independent features with a small cast and funded on a shoestring budget; others are big-budget blockbusters with a cast of thousands. Regardless of where your wedding fits on this spectrum, one thing is for certain, many things are happening on the day, both in full view and behind the scenes that contribute towards making your wedding day unlike any other.
As a wedding videographer, my task is to capture those intimate moments that make your day unique, and those bigger memorable moments that make your day special. Knowing what moments to capture is one thing, knowing how to capture them in ways that create a great film is another thing entirely. So let’s explore some of the considerations I think play an important part in capturing the wedding story of you.
Planning
Knowing as much as I can about the wedding day you have planned is not only a great way for me to get to know you both as a couple, it also helps me get a clear understanding of the kind of story you will want to capture, the opportunities and challenges the day may present and the kind of equipment I will need to capture the day perfectly.
It’s for this reason, I always recommend scheduling an initial meeting as early as possible in the wedding planning process. To this end, we can meet up for a coffee, a beer at your local, or even a casual call if you live a busy life or are out of town.
Lighting
There is no greater villain to a wedding videographer than the common warm-white downlight. The top-down lighting casts unflattering shadows on faces and the yellow hue clashes with blue sunlight that comes through windows.
The solution to this could be one of the easiest decisions you make all day. Simply turn off the lights and plan to do as much morning preparation as possible near your windows. This means make-up/hair and when you’re putting the final touches on your suit or dress. Take a look at the difference it makes in the examples below.
Window light - Notice how natural lighting creates soft shadows and beautiful looking skin. The contrast creates a depth of scene which is far more flattering and cinematic.
Unedited - A textbook example of blue sunlight clashing with yellow indoor light. Also take notice of the ‘panda eyes’ shadows due to the top-down nature of the downlights.
Candles, Sparklers, Confetti
I couldn’t tell you why but tiny flickering lights in the background always look beautiful on camera (Hey Siri, play Fireflies by Owl City).
Having candles is an easy way to achieve this and makes things feel a little more romantic. Even fake LED candles can do the job and can be hired for a reasonable price. If your venue has fairy lights or festoons, that’s a great option too. Some other affordable ideas are to have floral confetti ready for your ceremony exit and sparklers (get the long ones) for your reception exit.
Great Speeches
A well-written speech can transform your wedding video from a simple montage to a genuine story, but they don’t always happen. In my time as a wedding videographer, I’ve heard every kind of speech there is. Emotional, hilarious, yawn-inducing, and cringe-worthy.
To ensure your guests’ speeches don’t end up like the latter, send them this fool-proof template I’ve come up with for great dialogue for your wedding film (written from a bride’s friends/family’s persecptive):
Describe your relationship with the bride and their persona
Confess your first impressions of the groom followed by your opinion of them now
Explain why you think those 2 people are perfect for each other
Add any kind of personal story, whether emotional or funny, and I promise it will be a great wedding speech.
Dialogue: The father of the bride delivering a great speech that follows the template.
Acting Natural
This is an important topic which I plan to dedicate a whole blog post to. Almost all my couples will admit that they feel anxious about being on camera especially during the couple shoot . As a rule, I believe you should do your best to ignore the camera and just be you.
My approach to cinematic wedding videography is based on keeping things simple; preferring to capture real moments as they happen rather than asking you to act out cheesy scenes. Other than the odd bit of guidance or if I think something is really looking terrible on camera, I will let each interaction and the emotions they elicit play out naturally. This allows me to soak in the location, atmosphere, culture, and emotions and let this translate through my work. The camera simply becomes an extension of my experience.
Closing Thoughts
In practice, wedding videography is about being in the right place at the right time to capture each memorable moment, from bridal and groom preparations in the lead-up to the ceremony, the reading, vows, ceremonies, and kiss that make up the wedding itself, all the way to the speeches, first dance and everything else in between that makes your celebration one to remember. Whilst what I’ve covered here is not an exhaustive list of considerations, I hope it gives you a sense of the bigger and more subtle considerations I bring when I’m given the honour of filming a couple’s wedding day.
Because I really only have one shot in each moment to get it right, I believe it’s my professional experience alongside the trust and partnership I develop with you as a couple that ensures the final edit of your wedding film is one that tells your story.
So if you’re looking for a videographer for weddings, please check out my portfolio of some of my latest films and if you like what you see, please leave me message. I’d love to hear about your wedding plans and discuss how I can capture your special day into the film of a lifetime.
