If you ever want to know how a bride feels about a particular issue, just ask her and she’s usually happy to tell you. The Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA), wanted to know how brides felt about wedding videos so they hired a wedding industry marketing firm (Breakthrough Marketing, Inc.) to survey 500 brides, nationwide, who were married in 2005.

A whopping ninety-eight percent of surveyed respondents said that they would recommend to future brides to have their wedding videotaped. Given this result, however, it is surprising to note that only 29% of these respondents actually used a professional videographer, while 98% hired a professional photographer.

Additionally surprising was the discovery of a major shift in attitude about the importance of a wedding video…AFTER the wedding. When asked, before the wedding, to list their “Top Ten” wedding services, only a little more than fifty percent of respondents placed wedding videos on the list. However, after the wedding, that percentage jumped twenty five percentage points to 75%

Brides who didn’t have their weddings videotaped by anyone, made up 38% of respondent brides. An obvious level of regret may be interpreted from the fact that sixty-three percent of these brides now either somewhat or strongly recommended that future brides hire a professional videographer.

When asked, “Would you have hired a professional videographer if any of these services were available to you?” thirty-five percent of brides who did not have their weddings videotaped said they would have hired a professional videographer had these services been available to them; 45% of brides who had their weddings videotaped by an amateur said they would have used professional services if the services were available; and 60% of brides who spent over $30,000 on their weddings said they would have used the services of a professional videographer had these services been available.

Those brides who reported using a professional videographer expressed their belief that video is better at capturing a moment in time where family come together for a unique purpose. The wedding video then becomes a piece of family history that can be shared with family members not fortunate enough to be there…like children and grandchildren.

Note: Results of this national survey, conducted by Breakthrough Marketing, Inc., are based on telephone interviews with 500 brides who were married in 2005. For results based on the total sample of brides, there is a 95% confidence factor that the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.75 percentage points.

If your wedding video consists only of raw footage shot by friends and relatives because your budget had no room for professional videography services, don’t despair. You can still have a beautifully edited video by doing it yourself or hiring a video editor.

In either case you can save substantial time and money by first organizing the footage yourself with the help of a secret tool called “logging.” Logging is a process whereby you review/playback the footage and write down or “log” the starting and stopping times, per the time code, of your preferred shots.

You can make your own log sheets simply by taking blank pieces of paper (8 1/2 x 11) and drawing grids containing rows and columns. At the top of the page you can have rows and columns in which you insert basic information about the program you are editing.

For example, you will want rows for the name of the wedding, the date, the name of the cameraperson, and the videotape cassette number. This is important if the footage comes from more than one camera that used more than one tape. This way you will know who shot the footage and which videotape cassette your are logging. Don’t forget to have a place where you can number your log sheets (e.g. Page ___ of ___). This helps to keep you from getting lost when you have multiple log sheets/pages.

Now add about twenty-five rows, divided into four columns. Head the columns as follows: “Action” “Start” “Stop” “Comments”.

As you play back the tapes, write down the specific action you are viewing (e.g., “entrance of first bridesmaid,” or “mother of bride being escorted to seat,” etc.) Write down the time code when the action starts and then write down the time code when the action stops.

Most newer digital cameras place an automatic time code on your footage. (The time code isn’t really “on” your footage, but is a part of the playback display.)

However, if you’re using VHS or another analog format, before viewing the footage, be sure to reset the video player’s counter to 00:00:00 for each tape before you begin logging.

You will also rate or “comment” on each one of your log entries according to its suitability (e.g., “don’t use,” “must use,” “so-so,” “really bad”), or any other notes that you wish to remember about a particular shot.

Once the logging is complete, and you have selected all the shots you want to use, you will have a blueprint for editing the video. This “blueprint” will have the added benefit of substantially reducing the time you or an editor spends in the editing suite. Since most professional editors charge by the hour, this can result in significant cost savings.

Video editing is the process of building a video program, shot by shot, by electronically cutting and splicing the raw footage, in order to tell a story in the most seamless, compelling and entertaining way. Editing allows you to keep the good and dump the bad, thereby creating a finished product that is more than the sum of its parts.

Picture the footage as a very long chain. The footage, like a chain, is made up of individual shots or “links”. You select and assemble the shots or “links” together to tell your story.

Video editing is a very creative and exhilarating process. However, you might want to resist the temptation to channel Steven Spielberg, by getting carried away with effects like too much slow motion, or using every wipe and dissolve in you editing program’s arsenal. Remember… this is about the bride and groom and not about you and your burgeoning editing talents.

Whether you decide to edit the footage yourself or hire a professional editor, using the secret tool, “logging” will put you well on your way toward having a beautifully edited wedding video that you will treasure forever.

Olivia Romero is an independent video producer with over 15 years experience writing, producing, directing and editing. Olivia and her partner, Tony Jones, teach couples how to save money by producing their own professional-looking wedding video. It’s easy and fun! To learn more, visit Wedding Video Secrets.

Here is a very funny compilation of people fainting during weddings.

Are you thinking about coming to the rescue of a couple that can’t afford a professional wedding video, by offering to shoot it yourself? Or, are you thinking that since you own the most up-to-date, high-tech video camera, offering to shoot the wedding will make a great gift?

After all, your new camera should help to make the production a “slam dunk.” Right?

Well, I’m here to tell you that we’ve been asked time and time again to fix these well-intentioned “slam dunks,” that ended up being embarrassing disasters.

Don’t get me wrong…I think that today’s personal video camera technology is quite remarkable. It’s obvious why someone would want to own one. These cameras are affordable, easy to carry around and are operated on the principle of ”point and shoot.” It’s only logical that the prospect of shooting a wedding would seem quite doable.

That being said, however, you can have the easiest to use video camera in the world but it’s a big step to shooting the type of wedding that the bride and groom will treasure. As my colleague,Tony, is fond of saying, “just because you can light the stove doesn’t mean you can cook.”

Shooting a wedding is more complicated than “point and shoot.” But the good news is that it’s not that much more complicated. It is “doable!” All you need, besides your camera, is a little strategic planning and making sure you also have some very important, but easy to gather equipment and supplies. You CAN do it yourself and have a wedding video that you will be proud to present to the bride and groom.

Here is a list of those all-important equipment and supplies:

1.Tripod(s)

It doesn’t matter if use VHS camcorders, DV Cams or film cameras, but a tripod is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will be using during the shooting of the wedding. Using a tripod ensures that your shots will be stable while giving you controlled flexibility to perform smooth and simple zooms and pans. Don’t worry about having to run out a buy a tripod. Rentals are easy to locate and are surprisingly affordable.

2. Microphone (Hand-held or lavaliere)

Another piece of optional equipment you may want to rent or buy is an external microphone. A microphone plugs into the camera through the external mic input jack and allows you to capture better audio and gives you better range with your camera.

3. Camera and Microphone Batteries

Each camera and microphone should have two, fully-charged batteries. If you don’t have power, your camera and microphones are useless. Two batteries insure that if one battery dies you’ll have a backup.

4. Audio/Microphone Cables

Using audio/microphone cables will increase the range of your camera by allowing you to access the church’s sound system, if available. Ask the audio control operator to give you an audio feed to your camera. Plug one end of your audio cable into the Mic Level output and the other end into your camera. You can also rent these cables quite inexpensively.

5. Headphones

It’s important to check the quality of the audio that you are receiving by having someone speak into the microphone while you listen through headphones. There will be a headphone jack on your camera that you can easily plug into. Adjust audio levels as necessary. You can purchase headphones as cheaply as $9 at your local Radio Shack.

6. AC Power Adapters

Running your camera on electricity saves your battery power. If it’s convenient, plug your camera into a wall outlet. Make sure the cord is long enough for your purposes and remember to avoid creating a tripping hazard. All you have to do is attach the cord securely to the floor by completely covering its length with duct tape. This is called “dressing” the cord.

7. Duct Tape, Markers, Pens and notepad

These small supplies will prove invaluable for helping you get and stay organized. Duct tape comes in handy when dressing power cords or attaching wireless microphone receivers to the leg of your tripod. You can also duct tape your audio cable connections so they can’t be accidentally pulled apart.

Markers and pens are important for marking/numbering your videotape cassettes and taking notes.

8. Videotape Stock

It’s critical that you have sufficient videotape stock. If you run out of tape just as the exchange of rings or some other important part of the ceremony is taking place…well I probably don’t need to tell you how bad that would be.

To determine how much videotape is sufficient, ask the couple how long they expect the wedding to be, and then purchase enough videotape to cover twice that length of time.

For example, if the bride tells you she expects the wedding to last one hour (60 minutes) then purchase enough tape to cover two hours (120 minutes) for each camera you will be using. Chances are this is going to give you enough videotape for the wedding AND the reception. And if you don’t use all the tape…no harm done. It’s better to have too many tapes than not enough.

9. And…Something to carry all this equipment (camera bag, duffel bag, backpack, etc.)

This just makes everything easier on you. If you have all your supplies in an easy-to-carry bag you won’t be scrambling to find something you need, or increase the chance of losing something important.

Just remember, anyone can use a video camera. It takes something special to create a professional-looking wedding video. Taking the time to do a little planning and having all the right tools is something special. You will then be ready to shoot a wedding video.

In our video production business we get asked, time and time again, to fix and improve disastrous, do-it-yourself wedding videos. This usually happens when couples can’t afford to hire a professional wedding videographer and are forced to rely on friends or family members to shoot the wedding video.

Unfortunately, these couples’ hopes for a memorable record of one of the most important days of their lives end up in disappointment. Despite the fact that these couples save money on the wedding video, the personal cost ends up being much higher than expected.

Please don’t misunderstand us. Using a non-professional to shoot the wedding is just fine. Where we are left shaking our heads is when we see avoidable mistakes that result from the biggest, most obvious mistake: lack of communication.

A wedding is the type of event where you only get one chance to videotape it and get it right. So in order to raise the odds of success, good communication MUST be maintained between the videographer and all the key participants in the wedding. Your wedding video is doomed if this doesn’t happen.

Good communication starts with the bride and groom. It is important that they discuss and make decisions about exactly what they want captured (videotaped) on their wedding day. Don’t assume that the videographer will automatically know what is and isn’t important to record.

Since this is the couple’s wedding video, they can choose to record just about anything they feel is important.

For example, some couples like to videotape their wedding day breakfast; or visiting an elderly relative at the retirement home before heading over to the reception.

These are fabulous moments to have on tape. However, if they don’t communicate these plans to the videographer, these special moments are lost. Remember: if you don’t shoot it you won’t have it.

The person shooting the wedding video is the next key participant who will be required to communicate with a more extensive list of key participants.

Of course, communicating with the bride and groom to know exactly what they want is the most important responsibility of the videographer.

Additionally, the videographer should be sure that the couple also provides him/her with the following information:

1. The exact start time of the wedding.

Believe it or not, we’ve seen wedding videos that started AFTER the bride’s walk down the aisle…because the videographer didn’t show up on time.

2. How long the wedding ceremony is expected to last.

This is important because if you know how long the ceremony is expected to last you will know how much videotape you need to buy. The rule of thumb is to buy enough tape to cover TWICE the length of time that the ceremony is expected to last.

For example: If the wedding is expected to last one hour (60 minutes) then buy enough tape to cover two hours (120 minutes) FOR EACH CAMERA being used. This will probably cover the wedding and the reception.

We’ve seen wedding videos that stopped at a critical moment because the videographer didn’t have enough videotape. Just remember that its always better to have too much videotape than not enough.

After communicating with the bride and groom, the videographer should make sure that he talks to the minister or person conducting the wedding ceremony…preferably at the wedding rehearsal.

This conversation should include letting the minister know where camera positions will be established and making sure that this meets with his/her approval. No matter how beautiful the shot, the videographer should never interfere with the wedding ceremony.

The videographer should also get permission for placing a microphone on the minister. (This is just common courtesy).

The videographer can also ask the minister give him/her a two-minute “start” cue in order to be ready to roll tape.

If more than one videographer is being used, the videographer in charge needs to clearly communicate with them so that they know exactly what is expected of them.

These additional videographers need to know exactly when and where to show up; when to roll tape, and what they are responsible for capturing with their individual cameras.

Just about everyone knows how to use a video camera. But just knowing how to use a video camera doesn’t mean that you can turn your camera on and expect to produce a professional-looking wedding video.

However, you CAN produce a professional-looking, do-it-yourself wedding video if you remember the importance of avoiding the biggest mistake that can ruin everything: lack of communication.

For more professional wedding video secrets, Click Here!

When you’ve volunteered or have been asked to videotape the wedding video of a friend or family member, the pressure can be enormous…expecially if you’re dealing with the dreaded “Bridezilla.”

But believe it or not, this is a golden opportunity for you to become a hero/heroine in this stressful situation. Once you understand what’s behind Bridezilla’s scary fire breathing, you can play a major part in dousing the fire.

The first thing you must understand is that planning a wedding is similar to producing a Broadway show. It involves coordinating people, places, and things with a military-like precision. If one thing falls out of place, the entire production can come undone.

Ok…that might be exaggerating the situation. Truth be told, when was the last time you saw a wedding come undone? (I’m speaking of the wedding…not the marriage)?

The great thing about these so-called “catastrophes” is that they usually become an amusing part of our family stories that our children and grandchildren beg to hear over and over.

These stories are funny because we can see them through the benefit of hindsight. But during the actual time the bride is planning the day she’s been dreaming about her whole life, every detail takes on an importance of monumental proportions.

Not only has she been dreaming about her perfect wedding, she has mentally rehearsed every detail at least 1000 times. The trouble is that the details included during this mental rehearsal reflect only the “perfect,” finished production. Her rehearsal hasn’t included planning and coordinating all the details that go into making it perfect.

Most brides have limited, if any, experience with event planning, so its easy to become overwhelmed when some of these details seem to be going wrong. So out bursts Bridezilla, with her fangs barred and eyes bulging, lashing out at anyone that gets in her way.

At this point you must be wondering how you’re going to become a hero in this scenario, given that you’re just videotaping the wedding.

Well, this is where that golden opportunity comes in. All of Bridezilla’s fire breathing is the result of not feeling in control. You can help Bridezilla come under control by demonstrating that you are a professional who has the details of the wedding video under control.

I know what you’re thinking… “But, I’m not a professional. I’ve just been asked to shoot my friend’s wedding.”

Well I’m here to tell you that you can easily become a professional by first understanding that shooting the wedding video is going to take more than just showing up at the church, with your video camera in hand. It means getting all your video production ducks in a row. If this sounds intimidating, relax. You just need a little planning that includes:

Talking with all key wedding participants (e.g., bride, groom, minister, etc.) to know what’s expected

Getting all your equipment together and making sure its runs properly

Buying plenty of videotape cassettes and batteries

Being at the Wedding Rehearsal

Showing up early for the Wedding

Staying focused

You can get plenty of wedding video production help online if you’re still feeling uneasy.

Just remember…you will only be stressed out if you’re not prepared. If you take the same, easy steps that professional videographer’s do, you will be relaxed and confident.

This relaxed, confident attitude is sure to be a source of reassurance to Bridezilla. Then watch her take her cue from you, transforming back into the beautiful blushing bride of her dreams.

For more professional Wedding Video Secrets, Click Here!

My sister was getting married. And she asked me, her professional videographer sister, to produce her wedding video.

Her request made me very happy…for a couple of reasons:

1. I didn’t have to buy her a present (I’m a terrible shopper/gift-giver.)
2. I could show off my professional talents to her new husband and his family…making my sister proud.

So getting into professional videographer mode, I double and triple-checked all my equipment so as to leave nothing to chance. I bought extra batteries and videotape cassettes. I ran a last minute sound check to make sure that I was going to capture clear sound.

I knew from experience that there were going to be wonderful moments that my sister and her groom wouldn’t be able to see on their special day, so I made sure to tape them.

Some of these special moments included my sister and her attendants getting dressed in their wedding finery; all the special out-of-town guests arriving and sending personal greeting to the couple; the groom’s son lovingly tying a bow tie on his dad; and a hilarious, off-the-cuff interview with the judge who was conducting the wedding ceremony. (That was a bonus!)

The setting of the ceremony was my sister’s beautiful back yard. I scouted and found an excellent camera location, making sure that I wouldn’t block anyone’s vision.

The big moment finally arrived! My sister’s maid of honor made a slow, but lovely entrance which help to build the anticipation.

Then the music changed and my sister began her momentous walk toward her new life.

I was suddenly overtaken by a tsunami of emotion. I couldn’t stop crying and shaking, which almost caused me to drop the camera.

I image that you’re reading this in stunned disbelief. I, the consummate PROFESSIONAL videographer, was HOLDING the video camera.

I made the #1 mistake that should be avoided at all costs: I didn’t put my camera on a tripod.

Regardless if you use a VHS camera, DV cam or film camera, when you’re videotaping a wedding, a tripod is the one piece of equipment that you simply cannot do without. A tripod gives you CONTROL, stability and flexibility to perform simple zooms and pans.

As you can see, below, I ruined my sister’s big moment. And there is NO WAY to get it back.

My sister and I laugh about it, now, but I can tell that it still bothers her. I know that it still bothers me.

The moral of the story: This is a mistake that could have easily been avoided. A wedding is the type of event where you only get ONE CHANCE to get the video right. There are no re-takes.

So don’t do what I did. Don’t forget the tripod.

You may not have such a forgiving sister like I do.

For more professional wedding video secrets, Click Here!