Introduction

I started Timeless Tales in 1996 because I felt that there were no true filmstyle productions for celebratory events. I was absolutely amazed at how slapdash the many "professional" wedding videos were. I resolved to make an impact and raise standards. Unfortunately, I met a great deal of resistance and ignorance. Hopefully, this article will help improve the situation somewhat.

Skills of the Videographer

Recording something as difficult as a wedding takes a great deal of skill and experience. Even with today's ultra-sophisticated camcorders, it's not just a matter of "point and shoot". There are a multitude of factors to take into account when recording a wedding. Most of them are technical, but a great deal includes planning and organisational skills, personality and a professional attitude. A TV cameraman, for instance, will be totally at a loss at a wedding, despite many years professional experience (although a news gatherer may fare better).

The reasons are that:

1. A wedding is a fast-moving and (except for the service and speeches) a fairly spontaneous affair - a special skill is required to be everywhere at once, to set up and break down lights and equipment quickly, to go with the flow, and yet not dominate the proceedings, nor get in the way.
2. Lighting and sound conditions vary enormously - the church is quiet and full of echoes, the light is indirect and with odd hues (from stained-glass windows, etc.) - while at night the band is overpoweringly loud (for sensitive microphones) and the light muddy and murky.
3. There is a lot of moving around - cameras need to be continuously re-positioned. A hand-held or shoulder camera is not really suitable for this kind of work. The Steadicam Jr is, but is not particularly stable on a tripod. Ideally, both approaches are required: tripod-mounted camera for traditional, long shots; the Steadicam Jr for motion, close-ups and dialogue. "Professional" or "TV" cameras actually fare quite badly in this situation.
4. There's a lot of "dead" time - when nothing really happens (e.g. the receiving line). This needs to be recorded faithfully, but can look exceedingly dull without proper editing. A video record of the day should be "storyboarded" as much as possible, with the editing process continuously in mind whilst recording.

Editing

The editing is where most wedding videomakers become unstuck. Many cameramen edit "in camera" as much as possible. In other words, they only shoot what is absolutely required and ignore the rest. The main disadvantage is that a lot of useful shots and cutaways (interesting alternative shots) are lost. Another is that a great deal of "dead" footage is left in.

A very simple edit, where untidy shots are cut out, only takes about a day to do. And you'd end up with a good 2 hours worth of footage, most of it the service and speeches. For a straight-forward record of the day, this is often adequate (but only for the immediate family). For something that is entertaining and watchable by a slightly wider audience, a lot more work needs to be done. The footage needs to be cut down to less than an hour, a storyline needs to be established, good music (which carries the mood and builds up excitement) is required. All requiring a great deal of creative input and craftsmanship.

Costs

Most people are misled into believing that a video is the same regardless of price and that an adequate job can be done for under £500. (I read in one survey that the average price for a video is =£350!) It is not possible to do justice to a wedding video for anything less than A3700. And that's only with one cameraman. It's strongly advised to ensure that there are two camera operators, and this could (should) add at least £200 to the price.

Concerning price, you should firstly compare a video with photography: a good photographer commands in excess of A3700 for a few dozen photos and at most a day's work (of course you're paying for his creative eye). A really good photographer charges at least A31200. Videomaking is a far more complicated skill, with motion, sound, continuity and post-production issues to contend with in addition to the usual lighting and framing issues. You should perhaps compare a video with your wedding dress: it's something you will cherish for the rest of your life and if you buy something cheap and nasty now, you will have a lifelong and inferior momento of your day - which can NEVER be recaptured, at any cost. If you are not prepared (or simply cannot afford) to spend the required amount on having a video properly produced, then I strongly advise my clients to dispense with a video and use their money more wisely (an extra day on honeymoon, a slightly more exotic location, a more expensive wedding dress that could double as evening wear...?)

You should also think very carefully about what the wedding really means to you. It is not, as most people believe, a "tying of the knot" or "public expression of a lifelong commitment", it is a bringing-together of two families (and this includes the close friends from either side). Yes, the ceremony is important, but the main fact is that many people have come a long way just to be with you. Very likely, you will never have a similar opportunity to have the same people together at the same time. You will want to remember the people, who they were, where they've come from, what they were like. In years to come, they will either not be with us anymore, or they will be living abroad (or you will be), or they will have changed (e.g. grown up). It's a factor we at Timeless Tales try to emphasise and bring out. Very often, the finished video contains a mere flavour of the ceremony. The bulk of the video is taken up with the people, and what they say or do.

Another point that you should keep in mind is that the day will whiz past. You will have very little opportunity to relax with everybody, and you will miss a great deal of the day, especially what happens while you're busy elsewhere (welcoming guests at the receiving line, driving in or our separately whilst your guests chat amongst themselves, during the taking of the photographs, etc. etc.) It's also sometimes interesting to peek behind the scenes, the hustle and bustle of the kitchens, the fussing with the flower arrangements... This is where a second camera is vital. But you will want to experience the other side of your wedding day - this time at leisure - in your living room.

Ask to See Previous Work

Things to look for when engaging a videographer (or videomaker) are whether he or she is prepared to send you a demo. I find it highly dubious if this is refused. If you visit the studio, you will be shown images on professional-quality equipment - totally unlike the quality achievable by your domestic VCR. (However, saying that, it's worth enquiring about DVD, the new digital format for movies. You can already buy DVD players for around £200.) You will also not have time to examine their material really carefully. It might all look good on first showing, but you may begin to notice the blemishes on subsequent viewings.

Simple things to check for on a technical level are:

1. Evenness of colour (watch the whites, which should remain white at all times, not yellowish, or bluish or reddish).
2. Make sure the images are constantly in focus - this is quite hard to achieve.
3. Watch carefully for camera wobble. In motion shots, this can be especially disturbing and can make you feel giddy. I recommend my camera operators not to move at all unless they are changing position or re-framing. (This doesn't apply of course with the Steadicam Jr.) Watch also for excessive zooming and camera movement. A mark of a true professional is that he sticks to simple shots (less is more).
4. Listen to the sound carefully. Is it clear, without hiss or distortion? Is the music appropriate (it may not be to your taste in the demo, but does it add to the scene, or is it just bland wallpaper music)?
5. Watch the special effects. If you notice them then they are being overdone. Special effects in video is like makeup: too much and too noticeable is cheap and tarty - tastefully used and it enhances the subject in a subliminal way.
6. Try to see how the video was edited. Does it look like there are lots of cameras, or just one very bored camera staring at the same scene for long seconds (or even minutes) at a time? Is there a sense of something happening at every turn? Are the cuts clean and precise, or does the camera seem to veer around, or change angle in front of you?
7. Don't take these rules as gospel. Rules are made to be broken, but only by a very experienced and talented professional. If it works then fine, but if anything detracts you from the actual subject, i.e. the wedding day, then it's amateurish - and what you should expect if you don't want to spend much.

Choosing the Producer

Choosing a video producer is quite tricky and you shouldn't always depend on whether a person is part of a professional organisation or not (although this helps). Some "professionals" are only barely competent. And, because you might not be familiar with the industry or the technology, it is not easy to know whether you're getting value. Everybody has probably had this experience when having your car serviced, or alterations done to your house!

Perhaps the most difficult aspect to consider is whether you get on, on a personal level. A video operator and team will be filming an intimate part of your life and recording the candid conversations of your friends and family. They will need to be sensitive to all concerned, in order to produce an entertaining and poignant document of a unique and personal occasion.

Consider all the aspects carefully. The most important ingredients for the success of your event will be the atmosphere of the chosen venue and the quality, stamina and vitality of your band. The most important momento will be your video. In each case, get the best you can possibly afford.

You will be spending a great deal of money by anybody's standards, so don't waste it. Spend it wisely and enjoy!

Gary Orman

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