Behind the Scenes of Wedding Videography: What Couples Don’t See

“Behind the Scenes of Wedding Videography”

  Zach Johnson from HBZ Media

Photo by: The Gowans Photography 

1. From your perspective as wedding videographers, what are the moments of a wedding day that couples usually never get to see?

As a wedding filmmaker, there’s a whole different experience that the couples aren’t seeing that we do. The moments capturing the getting ready with the opposite significant other. Moments the bride, or groom is in the room (that they’re not even realizing is going on) is their flat lay being organized, groomsmen struggling to get their boutonniere on and bridesmaids setting up their girl for success in the corner. Other moments that ring a bell are, the prep before the ceremony, the set-up of the reception as each fork and knife gets placed on tables. Guests greeting each other in the ceremony area. The band rehearsing their songs. The laughs and cries and tears rows beyond their site line.  The planner racing around to make sure everything is timely. The list really can go on and on!

2. What happens behind the scenes during the morning preparations before the cameras officially start rolling?

Before the cameras officially start rolling, make-up and hair is being done for the girls and the guys usually just finish a round of golf, or start on the sandwiches ordered for the room.There is excitement, fun and nervousness scattered throughout the light chatter in the rooms. Before we click record, we always make sure we greet each room without our cameras in hand to say hello and introduce ourselves to the bridal party and the bride and groom. When we first started it always felt like we met the couple for the first time, but now because of the multiple pre-meetings we have it feels like we are seeing our very own friends get ready for the biggest day of their lives.

3. Wedding films often look calm and cinematic, but what is actually happening around you while you’re capturing those beautiful shots?

My mind is racing anytime I’m shooting, especially on the wedding day. The phrase “there are a million ways to do something” could never be so true here.

“Let’s get my wides.”

“Am I back far enough?”

“Did I set the scene?”

” I’ve shot frontal for the past 25 seconds, time to switch vantage points.” 

“Let’s think of a motion shot, what will be the most impactful”

“Make sure you let the couple be themselves”

“Did I shoot enough of the location”

“Don’t forget your close-ups, those are what we need”

“Can’t forget about the guests, that’s a great angle of them right here”

“Change focus”

“Switching rooms, change white balance”

“Next lens, let’s go to the 70-200”

But around me is a consistent glimpse of humanity: people laughing, kids playing, moments happening, drinks ordered, tears falling,  guests reminiscing on old times and time passing all together. 

4. How does a videography team coordinate with photographers, planners, and other vendors throughout the day?

We coordinate with other vendors with the mindset that we are all working towards a common goal. That we are there for the couple and will do our best to work in unison because that’s how it should be. I think there are all moments each vendor can shine during a wedding day and the communication between vendors is so important so that everyone has the chance to do what they do best and execute.

Photo by: EDon Productions 

5. What are some challenges you regularly face during weddings that couples may not even realize are happening?

We consistently make decisions toward providing optimal coverage. With two videographers, oftentimes we are compromising by only going to the most important scheduled item, sometimes two. Also, with so much equipment, we are always looking for the best ways to stay organized. I was taught “stay light, but heavy”. Bring enough gear to capture moments beautifully, but don’t let it weigh you down to the point you aren’t as mobile and free to create. At the end of the day it comes down to being efficient.

6. Have you ever experienced a moment where something went wrong behind the scenes, but the final film still looked perfect?

When I first started, I accidentally left a bag at a previous location. Luckily I was able to have someone retrieve it for me by the ceremony and it didn’t impact much equipment for me. The film is still one of my favorites I put together at the time. 

7. When filming emotional moments like vows or speeches, what is happening behind the camera that couples don’t see?

While vows, or speeches are happening, we’re constantly making micro-adjustments. Mostly working on in camera settings as we are usually fighting the change from being sunny to cloudy in a snap of a finger,  A lot of the work is invisible communication too. Subtle eye contact or small hand signals between myself and my second shooter, or checking out an additional camera angle.. We’re also trying to keep our composure and our shot locked in because a lot of the vows and speeches hit us right in the feels.

Photo by: Breonna Wells Photography

8. What is one type of moment you always try to capture, even if couples didn’t specifically ask for it?

I always try to capture cocktail hour and more specifically cocktail hour interviews. I love putting these messages in the films because of how dynamic it makes them. It’s not just receiving the same perspective from the couple and their family, but potentially their friends and other loved ones as well with unique stories and humor. We are slowly, but surely moving towards a split of cinematic and reality tv style films.

9. Are there any funny or unexpected situations that happen during weddings that never make it into the final film?

Haha usually a lot of banter and loud performances from the groom and groomsmen that don't make it to the final film. 

10. What does a typical wedding day look like for you from start to finish?

Morning/ Getting Ready/ First Look
We’re arriving early, flying the drone and grabbing location shots. We say hello to the bridal party and couple. We try and keep it light-hearted and fun up until the first look and let it be an interrupted moment for the couple when the time comes. I work with my second actively throughout the morning to try our best to get a good jump on the day.

Ceremony
We’re setting up 4 to 5 cameras while capturing the ceremony location filling up. We are really moving at this point because it is extremely time dependent and there is a lot to get done. Mic’ing up the groom and officiant. Locking in our shots and settings. Going back and forth between the ceremony area and where the bride is hidden.

Portraits

One of the only times of the day where we are vocally calling the shots. We’re aiming to get our hero shots of the couple and individuals. Everyone is in full stride at this point and the photographer and I are collaborating on creative shots while also being cautious of time. I like to find ways to  avoid the couple being stiff by having them move and have fun.

Reception 

Once we get into intros, dances, speeches it’s just constant adjustment. Different lighting, different energy, things moving quickly. We come with a gameplan each time because it can be easy to fall behind when it’s one event after the other. 

Party
Once the dance floor opens, it’s a rush. We’re in it and present. It’s the culmination of everything coming together. Videographers and photographers sometimes like to keep their distance on the dancefloor. We like to think of ourselves as part of the party. We are in there and active.

Photo by: The Gowans Photography 

11. After the wedding is over, what does the editing process look like behind the scenes?

Oh man, the editing process is not for the weak. Like any creative editor, the process can feel like a wave. Real high with everything going right, then real low when I’m figuring out the story, or a problem, or a solution to something that needs to be figured out. It’s a lot of: coffee intake, taking a day or two away from the screen, sincere attention to detail, living life a little more outside the edit, then getting right back to it. Editing a wedding is a marathon. Especially for us because no film is cookie cutter. Outside of some things we like to do at every wedding, you can look through our weddings and note that none of them are exactly the same. It’s a challenging, but rewarding process because each time we are creating new and from a different perspective. 

12. What part of the wedding day is usually the most intense or demanding for a videography team?

I will always say this. The most intense part of the wedding day for video is the transition from the ceremony end all the way up to entrances for reception. Depending on the situation, a lot of times we’re unable to bring our lights into the reception area before the ceremony starts. My second shooter is usually hauling all of our lights and bags into the reception hall. Setting up the lights. Finding out where we can’t put them. Getting detail shots. And oh before that breaking down all cameras from the ceremony. And the tripods. And setting them all up for entrances/first dances/speeches. While that is going on I’m following the couple and then shooting portraits. I of course try and aid my second as best as I can for set-up. But I’m also doing couple portraits and depending on if a first-look was done then full bridal party, family shots and shooting the venue with our camera and then my second will come out and fly the drone as sunset approaches. Phew. It’s a ton of work in general, but to do it right takes extreme hustle and experience.

13. What do you think couples would find most surprising if they could see the full behind-the-scenes process of creating their wedding film?

I think they would be surprised at how much thought and brain power goes into picking music for the wedding film. Especially our process where we don’t just pick a song(s) that is good enough, but that will be a driving force in the film. A lot of times we pick an intro that sets the tone, a main song that is more sentimental, a transition song at the end of the ceremony and party song to wrap it up. Each wedding film is unique, so there could be a film with just one song, or one with five.

14. Why do you think video is such an important way to preserve the real atmosphere and emotions of a wedding day?

Video checks the most (of all shooting media formats) of the 5 senses in our body. We can see it and we can hear it. Although not physical, I think more than photo, you can emotionally feel it. You can take in the sights and sounds as well as the love story as a whole. Photo will always be non-negotiable. But I believe video should start to be higher priority for couples as a must have. It hits in a different way. Also, having access to all the raw footage after is unbelievable and a different experience for witnessing the unfiltered moments that happened. I always try to remind myself and my team that the wedding day is one that only happens once. You can’t get it back. I think that outside of the people and vendors, what makes a wedding day is this simple fact that it is one sacred day that can’t be recreated. Video is the best way to preserve all the emotions of the day.