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Updated July 2010
This section has been designed to assist wedding videographers in deciding what equipment to purchase for filming weddings and other celebratory functions.
We have written this article to assist customers who regularly telephone us for advice on what equipment would be suitable for filming weddings. You will find as you read on that we recommend certain camcorders and accessories to suit all budgets. Our new website offers wedding videographers the option to build package deals that are suitable for their budget. We also offer some tips for filming based on our 30 years of filming experience in the wedding and corporate industry.
There are a few things to consider when filming a wedding.
There are three camcorders that we recommend for filming weddings.
Sony HVR-S270
Sony HVR-Z7
Sony HXR-NX5
The Sony HVR-S270 is a shoulder-mounted camcorder offering an interchangeable lens and the use of ‘V’ mount professional batteries. Filming with the Sony HVR-S270 camcorder eliminates the necessity to use a steadicam. You can also use 3 hour tapes.
The Sony HVR-Z7 is a good camcorder for filming weddings. The large flip-out screen is conveniently fitted at the top of the camcorder. The Sony HVR-Z7 has an interchangeable lens and comes with a Sony HVR-MRC1K Memory Recording Unit to allow filing to a compact flash card as well as DV tape.
The Sony HXR-NX5 is one of the latest camcorders on the market. The Sony HXR-NX5 is the first camcorder of its class to feature a built-in GPS locator, high quality Linear PCM audio recording and new Active SteadyShot stabilisation technology. The 128-GB capacity of the optional HXR-FMU128 provides continuous recording for approximately 11 hours in the highest FX 24-Mbps mode (21-Mbps video data, 3Mbps audio and other data). Despite its huge capacity, the Sony HXR-FMU128 integrates neatly with the Sony HXR-NX5 - attaching directly to the back of the unit.
You must always take a back-up camcorder with you to a wedding to allow for any eventualities.
Recommended Tripods.
The Vision KH2511 tripod is a good light weight tripod for use with either the Sony HVR-Z7 or the Sony HXR-NX5. The tripod is supplied with a multi-function lanc controller which is very useful for filming especially during the wedding vows and speeches. The fluid head ensures smooth panning.
The Manfrotto 503HDV525Pkit would be ideal for use with the Sony HVR-S270 camcorder as it is more suitable for heavier camcorders. You will need to use a tripod plate with this camcorder such as the Sony VCT-U14.
It is very important to get the sound right when filming weddings, especially during the vows and speeches. Sound is also the most difficult thing to get right, so you should allow time to practice when using new microphones for the first time.
Assuming you take our advice and purchase either the Sony HVR-S270, Sony HVR-Z7 or the Sony HXR-NX5 camcorder you will have the benefit of XLR inputs. When using either these camcorders, you Canon will need to use an additional microphone as both XLR inputs will need to be used so that sound is recording on the left and right channels. This is our recommendation:-
Sennheiser EW112 PG3 Kit - for recording the vows
Sennheiser SKM 100-845 G3 - microphone for recording the speeches.
Portable lighting is very important when filming the drinks reception and the first dance. The Citytek CT-LBPS1800 is a dimmable LED light and is perfect for wedding receptions. The LED light is powered by NP type batteries which avoids the necessity in using battery belts or heavy batteries.
We recommend using headphones whenever filming a wedding. This will allow you to make adjustments when necessary and alert you to any audio problems such as battery failure.
The Sennheiser HD25-1 11 headphones are recommended.
Well, we are now getting to the end of the section that deals with equipment. All the products mentioned in this article you will be able to see on our web site. Please call us on 0844 8117890 for further assistance should you have any questions in relation to the above information. Below is some information that you may find interesting explaining how to film weddings.
You only get one chance to capture a wedding. It’s a one off live performance and its got to be right!
Make sure to go to the wedding fully equipped. If necessary, make a list out of all the items you are taking with you and tick each item as you pack ready to leave. The same applies when packing everything away after the wedding. You would be surprised how many cameramen leave things behind. Even small items like tapes and cables soon add up. Take one bag for your camcorder(s) and one bag for your accessories.
You will either be required to start filming at the bride’s home or at the church / ceremony venue. If you start at the bride’s home, there is a good chance that family and friends will be there. Try to get the bride’s parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents to say a few words to the bride and groom by way of a brief video message. They will ask you what to say and simply suggest that they wish the bride and groom all the happiness for the future in their own words. Use the Sennheiser SKM 100-845 G3 microphone or similar and hand it to the family member before they speak.
Remember to film the bride having her make-up put on. Use mirrors when possible to film reverse angles. Most importantly, film the bride walking down the stairs for the first time in her wedding dress. This is also a good time to use a portable light. Use a tripod if possible and get some nice steady shots of the bride. Using a tripod will assist you in being able to get some nice close-ups and these wll look great in in the highlights at the end of the film, especially in slow motion.
Leave the house in plenty of time to allow you a chance to get to the church / ceremony venue and film your establishing shots before the groom arrives. It is not necessary to film the bride leaving the house, but it is essential to film the bride arriving at the church / venue.
At the church / venue, set up your tripod and film the outside. Once you have filmed the outside shots, use your tripod to film the inside of the church / venue. Many weddings are now civil ceremonies which are held at the reception address nowadays. Take your time to film a few nice shots of the empty church or room for civil service, flower arrangements, church ceilings etc.
Once the establishing shots are complete, you must prepare yourself to film the groom arriving and the guests. Get the lapel microphone ready. Always use Duracell batteries as they do last the longest. Most other batteries will not last the whole day. Make sure you use new batteries every time you film a wedding – you cannot afford to be let down by this minor detail. When the groom arrives, ask him if he would mind if the transmitter was placed inside his jacket pocket. Explain to him that the lapel microphone will pick up the vows nice and clearly. Usually, the groom will be delighted to assist. Place the lapel microphone on the groom’s jacket, on his right hand side about ten inches below his mouth. The microphone will also pick up the bride’s voice during the vows as well as the vicar’s. In fact the lapel microphone will prove to be very useful for all the church service with the exception of the hymns.
Take a few shots of the groom and his best man and then go back into the church to set up your tripod. You will normally find that there are rules relating to where the tripod can be placed and sometimes you may have to sign a form acknowledging the church rules – this will be provided by the bride and groom after they have booked you. The vicars/priests are not at all interested in how well your video comes out but you want to try your best for the happy couple. You will often be asked to stand in a totally inappropriate place to film and you will simply have to do your best. Make sure that you have room to stand behind the tripod to pan. If you are not happy with the area you have been allocated for your filming, try to find a better location and ask very politely if you can place the tripod in that area. You may be lucky. Civil ceremonies can be much more flexible, don’t be afraid to ask!
Once you have secured your tripod, you will now have to film the next part without a tripod. Always keep in the back of your mind that the bridesmaids will be arriving any moment and try to film their car driving up to the church. More importantly, remember to look out for the bride’s car. You will not be forgiven if you miss the bride arriving. Once the bride is out of the car and walking towards the church, she will stop to have a final photo and wait for the introduction by the vicar. This is a perfect time for you to make your way back in to the church and set your camcorder up on the tripod. Do some final sound checks and make sure that the lapel microphone on the groom is working and that the camcorder microphone is working. You are now set to film the wedding service.
During the vows and exchanging of the rings, try to get some nice close-up shots especially when the rings are placed on the fingers.
Normally the signing of the register takes place at the end of the ceremony although this is not always the case. Be prepared to take your camcorder off the tripod to film the register being signed. You may be asked not to film the actual register.
Once the register is signed, the service is normally concluded. Sometimes there are some addition prayers before the bride and groom leave the church. Make your way to the other end of the church, film the bride and groom walking back down the aisle and leave. The photographer will also be there and this is his priority so try not to get in his way. He will ask the bride and groom to stop half way down the aisle for a photograph as well as stop just before they leave the church to turn round for another photo.
Make your way outside and try to film the bride and groom leaving the church. If possible use your tripod from now and throughout the photo shoot. Try to get used to using a tripod whenever possible as you will get better shots. Stay for 10 - 15 minutes, standing at a distance, to get some long and close up shots of the photograph session. Find out if confetti is going to be thrown as this is also good to film especially when you can use this shot in slow motion during the highlights of the DVD.
Leave the church and allow yourself plenty of time to get to the reception to film the establishing shots and the bride and groom arriving. If you do not have an assistant, you need to allow about 30 minutes to set up your equipment in the reception area. Film the bride and groom arriving. The photographer will then take the bride and groom away to take some photographs of them on their own. This is an ideal time to get your tripod and set yourself up to take some nice film of the bride and groom. Film from a distance and use plenty of close-up shots. These will be useful for when you edit your highlights at the end of the DVD and also for capturing some good still images for the DVD box. The photographer will then arrange for the guests to have their photographs taken and this will probably last about 40 minutes or so.
Prior to the guests being invited in to the reception, spend a short time using your camcorder on a tripod to film the empty reception room, tables, wedding cake etc. It is a nice idea to film the menu and table plan. These shots will go very nicely with romantic music during the post production stage. Set the microphone up on the head table and if there is a toastmaster ask him to let you know what the timetable for the reception is and to keep you informed with several minutes notice. It is getting more and more popular these days to have speeches before the meal and you should try to establish how many speeches there will be and who will be making them. Once again if there is a toastmaster you can instruct him to move the microphone along the head table on your behalf in between the speeches. Once the guests have entered the reception room prepare to film around the tables and some video companies even ask guests to say a few words of congratulations to the bride and groom into the microphone. The rest of the day is easier to deal with as most of the formalities are out of the way and normally it is only necessary to film the first dance and about 30 minutes of extra dancing to finish off the video. During the first dance use a portable light. It may be a good idea to remember to take a small step ladder with you so that when you are filming the dancing in the evening you will have height which will help you film guests dancing on the other side of the dance floor and will save you having to walk around the dance floor with a camera. It is best not to use a tripod for filming dancing and never use a dolly as the floor will not be smooth enough and this will ruin the video.
When finishing off the filming end your last shot on a flower arrangement or a picturesque ceiling light or something else that looks attractive as this shot will fade into the highlights.
When editing your film, make sure you remember to switch audio channels when the hymns are being sung as you would not want to hear the Groom’s voice as he will probably be singing out of tune. We suggest that you end the DVD with about 5 - 7 minutes of highlights.
Many videographers call us and explain that they film weddings or would like to start filming weddings with a two camcorder set up. Our advice is to try and avoid using two camcorders at a wedding. Using one camcorder correctly will produce a superb wedding DVD and the editing will be much easier. You will remain more inconspicuous and work more efficiently with one camcorder. As explained earlier, you should however take a back-up camcorder to get you out of trouble if your main camcorder fails.
For further assistance or advice, please contact us on 0844 8117890.
