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If you have a question to ask Nishi, Night Day's professional video editor, email her! These tips are based on the questions she hears most often...
Sound quality is just as important as picture quality; if you have ever tried to watch a video with poor sound, you know how frustrating it can be. It's a good idea for your videographer to use a small, wireless microphone (usually concealed on the groom) so that the vows are recorded loud and clear. Remember to ask about editing style. Make sure your videographer's style suits your taste. Don't be seduced by a lot of dazzling animation and special effects - it might not be the look you want (it might even distract from what really should be the main attraction - YOU!). And it might look cheesy in the years to come. Remember... classic simplicity never goes out of style. Many videographers (myself included) can offer you an option between a 4:3 and 16:9 image. You might be wondering what the difference is: 4:3 is more "square" (like traditional TV) 16:9 is "rectangular" (mimicking traditional film) A lot of my clients don't like 16:9 because it leaves black bars at the top and bottom of a "square" TV screen. But if you think you will be purchasing a 16:9 TV somewhere in the near future (as newlyweds often do), then that will no longer be the case. Personally, (and this is just my personal/professional opinion!) I prefer 16:9 because it gives my cameramen more room to compose their shots more artistically, for a more cinematic feel. Without getting too technical and boring, 3 CCD means that the camera has three chips. Three chips produce much clearer and more accurate colours (even in low light) than one chip. Most consumer cameras only have one chip. Low-light situations come up frequently at weddings because it is often beautiful to the naked eye (but a challenge for the camera). That's why it is my professional opinion to insist on a 3 CCD or "three chip" camera for your wedding video. Choosing your own music soundtrack... I'm always a little surprised when brides and grooms don't want to choose the music for their wedding video because they don't have the time or don't want the bother. It's not that I don't want the "extra" task, it's just that it's your wedding video and it should be personal! Besides, as a video editor, your choice in music tells me a lot about your personalities and what tone your video should take: Traditional? Lighthearted? Romantic? Zany? Funny? Conservative? So choose your music and choose it carefully! Uploading your wedding video... If you have a lot of friends or family who were unable to attend your wedding or at least enjoy your wedding video, you can look into uploading your video clips to the Internet. I often use YouTube or iFilm because it is free and easy to use. The only problem is that the image quality is compromised compared to what you experience on DVD. However, if this doesn't make you "wig out", it's a nice way to share! It's also a great way to get client approval if they don't have time to come into my office to approve the edit of their video before we burn to DVD. Recent advancements in technology have made camera equipment and editing software very affordable. The downside of this is that now there are a lot of wannabes calling themselves "cameramen" and "editors" when really they are just "guys with a camera and some software." How do you tell the difference? Experience. The ideal cameraman has experience shooting not only weddings but documentaries and live television. These are the people who really understand the art of "anticipate and respond," which what you want because when it comes to your wedding, there are no second takes. A lot of wedding cameramen edit their own work, but editing is a craft in itself so a truly professional crew might have a separate person who edits. Make sure that the company you hire to do your video is good at both shooting and editing. Check references. Where did the crew members go to school? Are they credited on any TV shows or films? Look them up on IMDB or similar sites. A DVD with a printable surface looks cleaner and more professional than a DVD with a peel-and-stick label on it; ask your editor if s(he) has a printer that can print images and graphics in full colour directly onto your DVD (all the way to the hub or "hole" for best results). Some wedding videographers use a crane in their shoots. They might look big and impressive, like you have a real professional film crew but there are a few things to consider. Personally, I don't use a crane in my wedding shoots, and some pros will disagree with me, but in the end it is about personal taste and I only provide what I feel in my personal gut to be the best for my brides and grooms. Reasons I don't use cranes: 1) Cranes are obtrusive. I mean, how can you not notice crane in the middle of your wedding? It's hard to look/feel natural and enjoy the moments of your wedding when there is an obvious contraption looking down on you. 2) Cranes don't get spontaneous shots: if something terrific and sudden happens at the other end of the room, by the time the cameraman and camera are detached from the crane and headed over there, the moment is lost. What you need in this situation is a trained, light-on-their-feet camera-operator that understands the art of "anticipate and respond." 3) While an overhead crane shot is impressive in feature films, its appeal is rather limited in a wedding situation. As for the fluidity of a crane, it's nothing a steadicam-certified camera genius who moves with the grace of a ballet dancer can't handle. If you are not sure whether to go with a one camera or a two camera shoot for your wedding, here are a few things to consider: 1) If you have a lot happening in separate locations, for instance, if your culture has a lot of "bride preparations" and "groom preparations" before the wedding ceremony, you should consider having 2 cameras. 2) Having 2 cameras at the same locations is an extra bit of insurance that no spontaneous moments will go missed... it also means a more dynamic and fluid edit because there are 2 sources of footage for the editor to cut between. 3) While you might need 2 cameras for the preparations and the ceremony, you might only need one to cover your reception... check with your videographer if this is an option because it could save you some money. A lot of people ask me how long their edited wedding video is going to be, and with good concern. On average, a 12 hour shoot day will render approximately 6 hours of footage (double that if you have 2 cameras). While it is nice to "have everything" in there, who wants to sit through 6+ hours whenever they want to revisit their wedding? A good editor should cut it down to about the length of a Hollywood movie: 1.5 - 2 hours (less if it is a small wedding). You can always ask for the "raw" (uncut) footage on DVD as well so you don't have to feel like you are missing anything. I always make a raw copy anyway, because I like to back up EVERYTHING (you learn these things after being an editor for 7+ years) so giving an extra copy to my client is no problem. The Pros and Cons of HD (High Definition) Pros - it looks fantastic no doubt about it, you can see every little detail. This could also be a Con, though, if you have a cosmetic flaw or a zit, etc. Cons - It costs more. It would cost more to shoot and so the cost would probably have to be absorbed on some level by the consumer. The other Con is you need an HD deck and TV set to get the HD effect, which also cost more. Furthermore, your parents or anyone you share your video with will also need HD equipment. This might be an issue, particularly if you are sending your DVDs overseas. Is SD (standard definition) leaving us any time soon? I seriously doubt it. It has been around forever. Only a fraction of the consumer public is willing to put up the extra cost for HD decks and TVs so I don't think SD is going to disappear. But it all comes down to what is important to you. My advice is get a sample of a wedding video from the vendors you are interested in and if the HD knocks your socks off and you are willing to spend the extra money, go for it. Otherwise, you could spend the extra cash on more cameraman hours in SD or even a second cameraman and get more coverage. When I mention to my prospective clients that I usually get the videographer to tag along with the photographer for the park photos, it sometimes raises a few eyebrows: "why would we need a videographer at the park? We're just posing for photos!" they might ask. The park photos often happen after the ceremony and before the reception, so it's actually a nice break in the day when the couple is often EXTREMELY relaxed because the ceremony is now done and they have a fabulous party to look forward to. It's also a time when it's usually only them and close family and friends (i.e. the wedding party) so there are a lot of good laughs and good vibes going around... which makes for a lot of special moments that can be edited together into a love walk and couple/family/friends montage. Don't undervalue this magical part of your wedding day! You can have screen captures made from your wedding videoand put onto a CD. They won't be photo quality, but they will be good enough to share online! How many hours does it take to create a wedding video? The answer to this will vary from videographer to videographer. We easily spend 50-60 hours coordinating, shooting and editing a wedding. Add more if it is a multiple day affair. It is a good idea to ask this question; if you do the math and it turns out your vendor is making less than minimum wage creating your video, be suspicious! Are they really putting in the time to a good job? |
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