Best Florida and Georgia Wedding Videographer Questions

Brides commonly ask if they should have their wedding recorded on video?

If your wedding day is as important to you as it is to most brides and you would like to share it with friends and relatives who weren't there and even your future generations then video is the best way to document it. Video  conveys information about your day that still photos cannot. A popular analogy is if you had only once choice to open one of two boxes with one containing your great-grandparents' wedding photos, and the other containing their wedding video. Which do you choose? Most would choose the video which includes the sound, images and emotions of their ancestors.

Many Brides think video cameras annoy guests and spoil the atmosphere?
In many cases this is true. There are a wide range of video cameras, and video camera operators. Believe it or not, it is possible to have professional video unobtrusive enough so that guests do not realize a videographer is present. We work without any camera lights, and most brides make the comment that photographers with their flashes, shutter noise and assistants were much more noticeable than we were. While it is possible to record in dimly lit reception halls, extra light can improve the video image in these circumstances. You should take careful thought in the way your reception is lit and have additional  accent lighting during the toasts and the first dance so that the audience, as well as the cameras, can see a much more accented and beautiful scene.

My brother has a video camera, why not just put it on a tripod in the back and let it run?
This is certainly possible, but more tricky than you might guess. I have done many event videos using a fixed, unmanned second camera, so here are some tips based on my experience with this situation. First, remember tripod legs stick out and if the tripod can be knocked askew by the foot of a passing guest, it will be, with virtual certainty, unless someone re-checks it after everyone else is seated. Second, consider the viewpoint and zoom setting: do you know exactly where everyone will stand, and where they will move? You may be setting up the camera while the room is empty. When the guests are all standing, how much will the camera see? Another unwritten rule of events is that the tallest guest will sit, or stand, directly in front of your camera. Third, how long does your battery actually run? It's safer to plug the camera in, but arrange the cord to prevent anyone from tripping over it.

An unmanned camera in the back of the room will give you some video, but as you would imagine, it is not as interesting to watch as a manned camera that is skillfully framed and smoothly follows the subjects of interest. The sound from the back of the room will have room echoes and will not be very clear. Unless there is a good sound system, quiet speech from the front of the hall will likely be difficult or impossible to understand. There is a saying that "audio is more than half of the video". If you can record sound separately from a mic near whoever is speaking, either direct to the camera or assembled later in editing, you will get a much better quality video, but this involves more time and setup than just one camera and tripod.

Our friend has a camcorder, perhaps they'd be happy to do our wedding video as a gift?

Depending on what you want, this might work. If you just want someone to keep a camera in the back pointed in the right direction, this would be reasonable. If you're looking for a video that's interesting to watch and listen to, and your friend has all the camera gear and sound gear, and is skilled and experienced, you might get a great wedding video with clear audio and a logical presentation of well composed and focused images. Just keep in mind that a good quality full-length video will occupy several weeks of editing, so be aware of the magnitude of this gift. If your friend does a good job, they will be focused on the camera, and will experience your wedding as a camera person, and not as a guest. Some volunteer videographers are put in an awkward position when members of the wedding party treat them as hired staff. Consider the effect on your friendship if the video does not meet expectations.

Is an edited video worthwhile? Why not just get raw tapes of the entire day?

Raw tapes are useful for archival purposes, but the edited video is the one that you will want to show show friends and relatives. Of the many differences between amateur and professional video, the most important one is editing. A well edited video flows smoothly from start to finish, combining the best camera views and audio tracks at any given time, engaging the viewer's attention and emotions. A highlight video compresses time to a concise view of the most significant events, again flowing between them seamlessly. People remember quality productions, and want to see them over again. This could not be said of viewing straight unedited tapes.

How can we insure the best video quality?

A professional videographer should use a modern video camera with 3 CCDs that delivers "broadcast quality". The smaller cameras used for wedding and event video such as the Sony VX2000 and Panasonic DVX100 are not much larger than a typical consumer video camera, and provide reasonable image quality in moderately dim (if not "dark") conditions. Additional lights can improve the image quality in very dim situations. Large shoulder-mounted cameras of the kind used by television news teams can provide superior images under difficult conditions, but they are also more obtrusive and may not be the first choice if your event is an intimate gathering. A camera mounted on a tripod will give the most stable image and is preferrred for the ceremony. Monopods or hand-held cameras are most frequently used at receptions for the best angles on dancing and spontaneous action. Shooting with a moving camera in a live event without recording shaky video does require a skilled operator.

Using at least two cameras is particularly recommended for the ceremony, since this can provide good views of the entrance, ceremony and exit without requiring a camera to be directly beside the couple. More than one camera angle also provides a much higher liklihood of a smooth finished video since this is a "one-take" event and unplanned incidents often happen, for example a photographer, guest, or wedding party member may block one camera view at times.

Is it possible to record weddings in high definition video?

Yes, the latest Sony HDV cameras record video in a high definition format (1080i). With good lighting conditions, you can see significantly more detail from this type of video than is possible from traditional "standard definition" (480i) cameras, and the clean and detailed image from HDV cameras is a noticeable improvement over older MiniDV cameras, even in playback from a normal DVD. Note that weddings shot with HDV cameras are normally distributed as traditional video on standard DVDs at this time, since HD-DVDs are not yet available.

How can we insure the best sound quality?

Camera-mounted microphones are simply inadequate for good sound at a wedding ceremony. Generally a lapel mic is placed on the groom's jacket, which is connected either to a recording device in his pocket or to a wireless transmitter that sends the sound to the camera. The bride, groom, and officiant normally stand close enough so that all three are recorded clearly by this mic. For an outdoor ceremony with live music, it is best to record the music separately with another microphone that is closer to the music and farther from incidental audience noises. For a reception with a DJ, the best sound will be recorded direct from the DJ's panel or by a microphone placed next to the speakers.

We'd like a professional-quality wedding video, but isn't it too expensive?

Rates vary somewhat by region. In my survey of the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005, advertised package rates for wedding videographers range from $600 for someone who has never done a wedding before, to $8000 for a high-definition video package with "everything and the kitchen sink". Lower fees are possible if you have video for the ceremony only. The most popular packages seem to fall in the $1500 to $2500 range. In general the more expensive packages will involve more material (childhood photos, "before" preparations, etc.) and more editing time (more camera angles, highlights recap, musical montage). More than just the cost of equipment, you are paying for the onsite camera operating and postproduction editing skill needed to make a quality video production of your one time only event.

Should we get DVDs? How long does a DVD last?

The old standby VHS tape is still sometimes requested, but it is quickly becoming obsolete. DVDs offer better video quality than tape, and can have menus and chapters for skipping directly to a particular segment of your video. Currently, most videographers are delivering wedding videos on DVD-R or DVD+R discs. If you do not already have a DVD player, they are available for under $50. Since DVDs do not break or tangle like tape and there is no physical wear during playback, DVD discs are generally considered to be durable. In truth, no one really knows how long they last, since the recordable DVD format has been widely used for only five years. For now, the best advice is to get several copies, and ask your videographer if they will provide a replacement if needed.