You just bought your new cameras and are ready to cover your first job. Will you and another cameraman cover the event with two cameras and still have questions about how to get started as soon as you set foot in the church? Know that each wedding is different to always become the same. Pure madness! Wedding history Regardless of religion and temple, 90% of weddings are practically the same, since the whole ceremonial comes from pagan rituals, and even the evangelical churches, for not knowing or ignoring this type of ritual, end up entering the glamor that a wedding generates, and embark on that wave. A simple example, so as not to stay here discussing religion, creed and other things that would escape the main subject, is the presence of the page and flower girl.
Do you know their purpose? Between the years 965 and 1008, with Christianity becoming an official religion in many countries in Europe, marriage resulted in a new format. The disappearing Roman empire gave way to the Germanic Holy Roman Empire, and with that came many pagan rituals mixed with beautiful ceremonies and which, over the years, became something common to society, even our contemporary era. The role of the page and the bridesmaid was nothing more than, if the shadow of evil came to bring misfortune to the new couple, they would be confused by the bride and groom, the little boy and the flower girl, and all the disgrace and plagues would be discharged into them, and not the new couple. Scary, isn’t it?
That is why I take my hat off when someone takes off all this formality, breaks protocols and seeks the original marriage, where there was no religious ceremony, because it was understood that the divine blessing for marriage was extended to all couples. So it was just the groom, the bride, his guests and a big party. This subject gives cloth to the sleeve. And a lot of mango.
But let’s get back to our conversation. Preparation
A good job of filming at a wedding ceremony is a challenging task. But without any mystery. The smart cameraman includes ceremonialists in his social network, who coordinate the entire event and make our lives easier. When they are professionals, they are concerned with putting all suppliers, photographers, videographers, musicians, celebrants, in harmony and synergy. After all, a wedding is always a great day for everyone. The big day
First thing. See if there are any restrictions on your work in the church or temple. There is no standard, each creates its own rule and these same rules can harm us. Also be aware of the particularities of each religion so as not to scold the celebrant during the event. Assess your freedom of movement, use of lights, tripod placement on the altar, etc.
After that, let’s go to the positioning settings.
A cameraman should stand next to the altar, with a tripod and this camera will be the “main one.” She who will receive all the captured audio that will be microphoned from the speakers and the cameraman should be monitoring this all the time. She will only record a few takes of the decoration, altar, pulpit details like candles, bible, saints, flowers, etc. If there is none of this, the record will be of the structure. It will also cover, in short takes, the arrival of the guests until the church is full. The second camera, which we call “support”, will cover the outside, recording the façade, the arrival of the guests, groom, ladies, groomsmen, etc. With it you will take a deposition from the groom, record the arrival of the bride in the car, etc. The Trumpets Sounded
The moment the wedding actually begins (the ceremonialist must give you a signal) the cameras must be turned on and remain so until the end of the ceremony. It will be important to adjust the timing when editing. The main camera will be immobile, registering the entire entrance procession, the one supporting the door, showing the entrance of each person, registering the procession up to the middle of the corridor and positioning itself again towards the entrance. Rest assured when the bride arrives. She will only get out of the car when everyone is already inside the church. So you can calmly record it by positioning yourself. As the camera should not be turned off, enjoy and show it getting out of the car, positioning yourself at the door to the entrance. Follow her from behind showing all the splendor of her dress. Bride loves it. But try to be invisible to another camera up front. If there is a mesanine, now is the time to go up there and take a plug from the top. Stay there until the couple stand before the celebrant and the wedding begins. Then go down.
The main camera will focus on the couple, but from time to time it should rotate and show the surroundings, parents, guests, celebrities. The support will be circulating the environment with different angles and different shots that will give a good dynamic in the production. Only at the time of the oath, alliances, signatures and blessings will both be positioned at different angles but focused on the same subject. In compliance with parents and godparents too, one covers the other. Stay tuned as soon after this moment the first kiss usually comes out and this scene cannot be missed. The Couple’s Exit
During the exit procession, the support camera will accompany the couple from the front. At this point, the cameraman must be good when walking on his back so as not to have balanced images. Much less fall. The main camera will follow the output in medium plane. Avoid the closed plan so you don’t get to show the other cameraman too closely.
The couple left, will there be rain of petals or rice, will they get in the car, toast? leave this to the backup camera. The main one will be recording the choir, or band, and the audio in full. Language of the Deaf Videographer
We know that during the celebration, we should not be calling each other, but communication is essential. If you do not have a radio communicator, some gestures will help you to exchange information between teams. Remember the names of the fingers when we were children? Minguinho, his neighbor, father of all, pierces cake and kills lice. In the order minor finger, middle finger, long finger, index and thumb. Let’s go back to childhood and still have the audacity to create a language. That of the silent cameraman.
First thing. Always watch your colleague. If you are in the main camera and need to move, wait for it to stabilize the scene and then move. To do this, just point at yourself and gesture with two fingers as if you were walking. It is the indicator and the father of all imitating little legs. Will you change the battery or tape? Look at your partner and close your fists so that he knows that you will need more time for some adjustment. In the exchange of rings or the wedding kiss, if you are in a favorable angle that allows you to have a perfect close-up, gesture pointing at yourself and with the same hand touching the thumb on the ring or the index finger on your lips. Your partner will understand that you will be the one to close the ring or the kiss. He will therefore make the plan medium or open.
Leaving for the Party
It is the role of the main cameraman, after the wedding ends and while the backup camera is out of the church, collect all the equipment and wait for the partner to return. As soon as he returns, collect everything and go to the reception. In this case I suggest to the cameraman who is hitchhiking, not to keep the camera and pay attention to the couple’s car on the way. These recorded tracks are interesting in production. If you can, arrange for the couple to wait and then follow the path, just a part, just for registration.
At the party, the two videographers immediately upon arrival, register the decoration quickly but in detail. I usually don’t go to the ceremonial before, since normally, in addition to not being completely ready, the candles will not be lit, the thematic lights will not be finished and when the party starts, the scenery changes completely.
Finished the decor? Visually divide the ceremonial into two. A cameraman begins to cover the arriving guests and the tables made up. The other goes against the couple who will be in an annex awaiting entry. At this point, be brief and register the new couple more relaxed, eating and preparing for the grand entrance. Be brief for two reasons: not to disturb the couple and why you should go back to the party and cover the other part of the tables and guests. All of this before the couple entered.
And the time is now. Couple’s Entrance
At the couple’s entrance, a camera is fixed where the bride and groom will speak to the guests. It is usually next to the dance floor. The other will accompany the entry path. At this time, it will also be important to record continuously and simultaneously, without turning off and pausing the scene. Both will go on like this even after the couple’s lines and the first official dance. Once this stage is over, the cameras can be paused because normally from there the couple goes to the sequence of photographs. In the Party mood
One of the videographers will accompany the sequence of photos. Right now, creativity is yours. Arrange with the photographer, after each flash, for the couple to look into your lens and interact with you. The other cameraman will be able to take a break, collect himself by going to the bathroom or drinking some water and then immediately record takes of the party’s movement, tables, dance floor, etc.
After the block of photos is finished, the videographers will be able to take turns, sometimes recording a little while the other rests and so on. The simultaneous only comes back in two or more songs when the couple goes out to the dance floor or when it is time to throw the bouquet.
In special moments such as interviews, tie cutting or other parallel events, the relay returns. There is no need for simultaneous recording. But it is important that both are aware of any movement outside the script. The best moves happen all of a sudden, like the groom’s friends throw him up, someone having a birthday and a congratulation starts to be sung by everyone. And so we go until the end of the party, or whatever is agreed in the contract. When the time comes for my team to leave, I usually catch some scenes of some guests saying goodbye to the couple, some people leaving the ceremonial, etc. To have a complete record of beginning, middle and end. Concluding
As I said, human behavior in rituals is always the same. Some more specific points may change, but in the end the dynamics of the videographers is the same. What will change in your final production will be the characteristics and personalities of your client, the personal taste of your music and the different faces in each event.
Furthermore, everything is the same for a daily challenge of doing differently.
