Secrets to Getting Great Footage – Insights from a Wedding Planner

Today we have a guest post from Camille, wedding planner extraordinaire from Chicago. Thanks for the great insights Camille!

DIY Wedding Video: Secrets to getting great footage

You’ve decided to go the DIY route for your wedding video. With Storymix’s WeddingMix, you know you’ll get a fun, professional finished product for an affordable price. But first, you have to get the best footage you can. As a wedding planner, I always believe the key to getting those memorable shots is preparation. Here, I’ll share some secrets of the trade so your own DIY cameraman (or camerawoman) will be prepared to capture those great shots.

The first step is choosing your cameraman. While you’re 12-year old cousin may be all too eager to volunteer for the job, for him, the appeal may be playing with a new gadget rather than creating a beautiful video for you. A youngster may not have attended many weddings and may not be familiar with the important must-see moments. It’s best to choose someone responsible, who knows the ropes of wedding day but won’t be busy greeting guests or doing other wedding activities.

Once you’ve decided on your DIY cameramen (you may have multiple cameras if you work with Storymix), let them know what to expect. Give him your wedding day timeline in advance so he knows where he needs to be to get the classic shots. The timeline should be a very detailed schedule of the day where each “mini-event,” from the first dance to the cake cutting, is assigned an estimated time.

Next, you’ll want to think about the content of your video. What do you want the video to include? A good video doesn’t just record the day, but it tells a story. One way some pro videographers create the story behind the footage is by interviewing the bride and groom separately beforehand. Your DIY cameramen can do the same, asking “how did you meet” or “what was your first date” or “when did you know she was the one” and “what do you love about the groom.” You can then incorporate snippets of the interviews throughout the wedding video. Not only will these accounts create a touching storyline full of memories, but it can also be quite funny when the first date stories differ!

Remember, one reason to have a video is to capture the moments that a simple photo cannot. You’ll want to capture not just the sights but also the movement, sounds, spontaneity, and words of the day. So, inform your DIY cameramen to grab a spot during the ceremony where the camera can actually “hear” your vows. Positioning by a speaker can help.  Tell them to avoid just following the photographer. It doesn’t add much to a video to just get footage of the bride and groom posing for their formal shots as flashes go off in the background from the photographer. You’ll want to get footage of Grandma disco dancing, the Bride being unexpectedly lifted in her chair by the Groom’s friends, and of course those zany toasts.

Another reason to have video at the wedding is to film those close to you for posterity. So, you’ll want to identify important family members for your DIY cameramen, so they know who to catch on camera. Down the line, you will have their words recorded to look back on and your future kids will enjoy seeing family members they may have never met.

Giving your DIY cameramen the proper information before they start filming will help ensure that you get great footage that can be edited into a beautiful video that you’ll want to watch.  And remember that they are your guests and you want them to have a good time too.  So encourage them to pass the camera around after they’ve gotten the key moments you want.  It will make it even more fun for everyone.

Want more secrets to planning the perfect wedding? Learn more at www.CamilleVictoriaWeddings.com or register for one of our wedding planning tea parties.