How to Film Weddings: Eight Key Steps to Follow
Weddings are no time to make bad decisions – especially for videographers. Since you only have one take on most shots, you will want to pay close attention to the following steps for how to film a wedding. Not doing so could mean missing that memorable Kodak moment.
Get the Gear
You should pick the right camera, tripod, filters, etc. When you go to a wedding you will need to be able to take shots in a wide variety of locations and conditions. You’ll have to be able to shoot regardless of what the weather does and what the guests do, so pick gear that gives you plenty of versatility.
Practice and Rehearse
Just like the bride and groom, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the venue and practice taking shots from every position and angle possible.
Get Up Close and Personal
You need to be near the bride, groom and their guests at all times. If you can’t hear what they are saying, you are too far away.
Make Full Recordings
You can always edit and cut in post-production, so when you are starting out it is best to have a full recording to work from. As your skills and experience grow, you’ll learn what you need and what you don’t.
Get Ready to Move
Travel light and move fast is the motto of the best wedding videographers. You have to be nimble and able to move quickly through the wedding venue.
Keep it Real
The video should be natural and capture the genuine flow of the evening. Staged shots are far less appealing than capturing images of friends and family having a fun time as if the camera weren’t even there.
Get the “Must Have” Shots
The bride walking down the aisle, the groom sweating bullets, the first kiss, the first dance, etc. These “must have” shots need to be in the video and so you will want to make sure that you know exactly when, where and how they are going to happen.
Follow the Light
When it comes to tips for filming a wedding, no tip is more important than paying attention to the lighting. Make sure that you know the light conditions in each space and be ready to create light if you need to.
We encourage you to contact our Media Schools in Illinois, Ohio, Colorado or Florida when you are ready to learn how to shoot a wedding video in our video production courses. Our schools can give you the skills and training you need to create wedding videos that the happy lovebirds will enjoy watching anniversary after anniversary.
