DIY Wedding Video Tip | Don’t Leave Out the Best Part – Give Me Some Handles!

You know we love DIY Wedding Video.  It’s the main feature of our company.  We also know that not everyone who picks up a video camera understands how to get the best possible footage.  So we are always looking to provide tips and tricks so you end up with the best possible wedding video.  Today we’re going to talk about adding handles to the video scenes that are shot.

Handles are that little bit of video at the beginning and end of each scene that our software program uses to create transitions.  If you don’t include  a second or two before or after the main part you want to show, you’ll end up with an abrupt change or cut out part of the scene – yikes!  Our Apple Pro Certified editors can work magic with your DIY video, but we can’t defy the laws of physics (yet!).

• First, tell your video shooters to look at this post and others on this blog for quick and easy tips.

• Two, explain what a handle is and ask them to hit the start/stop button with enough time before and after what they are trying to record.

• Three, if you’re really ambitious, have them look at this post for a detailed explanation of handles with videos that shows what a difference they make.

• Four, relax, even if all the videos your guests take aren’t perfect, that is part of the charm with DIY wedding video.  It focuses on the personal, intimate, and spontaneous moments of your big day and not everything will be according to script.

Here are a couple of easy tips to use that will automatically cause your video scenes to include handles:

• If you’re asking a question of someone, tell them to smile before and after they speak.

• Pan into and out of the focal point (but don’t overdo it!).

• Start recording before important moments are about to happen – the vows, first dance, toasts, etc.

Happy shooting!