Shooting wedding videos can be a very challenging and a stressful process. There is a huge difference amongst a good videographer and a great one, it isn’t about having the best gear or camera. The big difference is yourself. You must be the kind of person that the couple wants to have present on their wedding day? A good videographer understands the desires of the couple and captures the essence of the day it will make a massive difference in the final video product. A videographer has the honourable responsibility in making sure they don’t just capture perfect shots, but they also shoot amazing high points of the wedding day to remind a couple of their big day and the generations to come about that one special day. Presented here I am going discuss the tips on how to shoot the perfect wedding video.

Speaking with your bride and groom before the wedding is very important. Having a sit-down meeting more than once is even better. You and your clients need to have the same understanding of the finished product and what it will be like. Get a good feel for the video. What certain moments do they want, you to capture and will there be any surprises that will help the final video to stand out. Sorting all these things out before the day will ensure you do not miss anything that would be important to the couple.

Having the right gear will make or break your wedding video. There are no second takes on the wedding day. Have light gear which will make it easier for you to switch stabilisation gear. A camera and 2 lenses are perfect for running around, you will be hardly noticed as you will be moving around capturing the moments of the wedding day. Just remember it is a long day on your feet so pack light gear and avoid bulky gear.

The sound is one of the most important parts of any wedding day. It is best to have a few audio sources as backup. If your camera doesn’t capture good quality sound, then have external recorders ready to go. Try to avoid putting a mic on the bride’s dress, instead go for a lavalier microphone so that you can drop it into the groom’s pocket during the ceremony.

There are some moments of the wedding day that people will expect in the video, so it is important to cover the base for the video. Some of the classic and traditional shots would be the bride getting ready before the ceremony, the bride walking down the aisle, the vows, the kiss, first dance, cutting the cake, and many more.

Having enough B-Roll coverage is very important. Not having enough will make your job much harder. Shoot more than you think you need but don’t shoot unless you think you are going to use the footage in the final video. It is easy to capture the exterior of the venue, but you can’t forget the people coming to the wedding. The bride and groom want to see their family and friends in attendance. Have an extra camera shooting parts of the crowds at the ceremony. It will come in handy to hide any parts you may want to edit.

When it comes down to lighting the reception for the wedding is always a challenging environment to shoot in. You are stuck in a low light scene when the venue dims the lights down, the DJ’s light set up, but you have no choice but to adapt to the situation. Prepare your camera and lenses so that they work well in low light. Any extra lighting you need should be put in the corner of the room where you may need a bump of light. If your camera doesn’t work well in low light, a lot of the guests don’t want to be blinded by the light all night.

Going handheld with your equipment is a big “no”. A monopod is the wedding videographer’s best friend. A wedding happens fast, the shots are firing, speed and accuracy are so important. The monopod gives you more ability to move, setup, and shoot at lightning speeds. The tripod is perfect for the ceremony, but you may find it will get in your way. If you are in a small hotel room with the complete bridal party, you won’t have a lot of room to work in. They are often used in slower paces like the ceremony or reception. You need to be able to switch between support gear such as monopod or glide cam to be able to keep shooting efficiently.