Bridal Buzz

Thanks to Jason Traub from Elixir Entertainment for answering today’s reader question:

We’re having a videographer at our wedding, what can we do to help make it best video possible?

At Elixir Entertainment, we don’t ask our couples to stage certain scenes or elements throughout the wedding day, instead opting to capture the day as it happens naturally. However, there are things that you can do on your end to help our process and ensure your video turns out in the best possible way.

First, we realize it sometimes feels awkward knowing you’re being filmed. Our goal is to shoot stealthily, but if you do notice a camera on you, try to ignore it and act natural. Editing definitely helps trim any less-than-perfect moments, and having faith in your videographer that he/she will absolutely make you look great, is important.

Lighting is a crucial element to videographers. We know it’s nice to have “mood lighting,” but for the ceremony, please make sure there’s a light source on the bride/groom/officiant. Same goes for the reception. If the party is inside a hotel ballroom for example, it helps to have ample lighting for the dance floor and the spot where the toasts will occur. We’d rather not have to use a light attached to our camera. Dark video turns out grainy and isn’t nearly as pleasant to watch as scenes that are well-lit.

The last key to a good wedding video is having an event planner coordinate with the videographer throughout the evening so we know the timeline and always have a heads-up on when certain things are about to happen. If the bride and groom are about to be enveloped by confetti, it’s nice to know that in advance so we can be positioned and camera-ready. Besides ensuring the smooth flow of the reception, which is a big benefit, the coordinators are valuable to both videographers and photographers in our communication with the clients, band, venue, etc.