Five Tips for Amateur Wedding and Event Videography

A wedding is an event to remember for a lifetime. Some couples want to remember the event not just with pictures but with a video too. Sometimes though, hiring professionals for wedding and event videography can become very expensive. Some couples simply go for the cheaper option of having a friend handle the wedding and event videography. If you are one such friend and you are new in the world of wedding and event videography, you would do well to remember a couple of basic tips.

Communicate with the Couple
Before you even accept the amateur wedding and event videography job, be sure that your friends know your limitations ahead of time. Tell them how many times you’ve successfully done wedding and event videography and how far you can edit your film. Make sure they know that you can’t do fancy background and sound edits and the like. If they are okay with what you can do then proceed to ask them what they want.

Be sure that you discuss wedding details weeks ahead with the couple. Ask them about venues, activity time frames, preferred angles, editing preferences and important guest locations. This will help you plan for the right amount of film and other things that you need.

Visit Venues
An amateur in the world of wedding and event videography should never neglect to take a peek at the venues of the wedding event. This includes both the ceremony site and the reception site. This is the best way to plan such basic things as direction, timing, lighting placement and angles based on the location and lighting conditions of each site. Every wedding and event videography amateur should also make sure to check for power outlets ahead of time in case of emergency recharging. As an extra precaution, try to make some sample videos of rehearsals and check the sample videos for possible flaws in lighting and positioning.

Talk with the Photographer
You don’t want to get in the way of the photographer and vice versa. You also do not want to irritate him. As a wedding and event videography amateur, you should make friends with the event photographer and ask him nicely about his plans and his suggestions for you. Agree on taking turns at prime spots so that both of you do not appear on each other’s shots. Be sensitive to the photographer’s movements and positions on the actual event and move out of his way whenever possible.

Talk to Others
Aside from the couple and the photographer you should also talk to other people who will be indirectly involved with your wedding and event videography. An example would be the officiating minister or priest. Ask him questions such as acceptable videographer behavior in church. Is it okay to hang from the rafters? Will strong lighting ruin the solemnity of the event?

Bring Another Amateur
Talk to the couple ahead of time about having another person take some additional video shots if you are not confident about your amateur wedding and event videography skills. You may also just ask to bring an assistant along to carry your things if you think you can handle the videography part on your own.