looking great on camera is an art form - but its not that hard!
Follow these ten simple tips to make sure you look amazing in your wedding film.
1. BOOK the best videographers you can afford
“Yeah duuuh!” you’re all thinking, but choosing the right photographer can be a minefield. How do you know who’s good and who’s not? How much is right to spend? Will an awkward guy who films bingo games in the seniors home make a compelling, breathtaking film of your wedding? Probably not so likely....
A great film company might have a higher price - but a lower cost
What does that mean? Well if you pay $1000 to your neighbor with the camcorder to film your wedding, but never watch it again because it BORES YOU TO TEARS, you're not getting much value from that $1000 are you?
Now if your best mate hires a company to produce her wedding film, and it costs $5000 - but the film is amazing - and it gets watched over and over and over again over the years -Do you think she ended up getting a better deal?
Do your research. Wedding blogs are a great place to start. Pricing fluctuates massively depending on the Location, experience and what kind of coverage they offer, but as a rough guide I’d certainly never recommend someone spend under $2000 on a wedding film package.
2. HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT
If your Film Company offers an engagement shoot as part of the package then take it! They are a great way to not only practice in front of the camera but to get to know your cinematographer before the wedding day. They’ll also be able to find out how you look on film and you’ll get some cute shots of the two of you to include in your wedding film. Tailored Fit Films offers a FREE engagement session with every enquiry. Use it!
3. TRUST THEM
Of all the wedding cinematographers I know, one of their biggest gripes is when a client hands them a detailed shot by shot list of every single thing they want filmed – the dress hanging in front of the window, the shoes, bride getting into her dress, dad looking proud… you get the idea. Trust your cinematographer. They’ve been doing this a lot longer than you and they will be well aware which shots to get… and if not, refer back to point 1. and book someone else!
Obviously if you have something particularly sentimental or unique that you’d like filmed (maybe a piece of jewellery passed down through your family or a DIY project that you spent days on) then be sure to let them know, but don’t hand them a blow by blow list of every single shot you want. Allow your cinematographers to do their job and to be creative. They’ll enjoy the day more which will result in better photographs.
4. THINK ABOUT THE LIGHT
This is another thing that couples tend to not consider (or not even know they have to consider) but be aware that the light changes throughout the day and different light will result in very different films.
For example, if you’re having a winter wedding it will likely start to get dark around 3.30/4pm, therefore you really need to have your ceremony early in the day to give your cinematographers a fighting chance to get some great portraits and your group shots done before the light starts to fade. Even better, they might offer you the chance to do a ‘first look’ (where you see each other before the ceremony and get your photos taken then). If you’re not superstitious about seeing each other beforehand, this is a great option too.
When looking at venues think about the light in each room. Is the bedroom you’re getting ready in small, pokey and cramped? Are the ceremony room walls covered in dark wood with small windows? Remember, cinematography is essentially painting with light and if there isn’t any, there’s only so much your cinematographers can do without using videolights.
5. THINK ABOUT THE CEREMONY
Your ceremony will undoubtedly be some of the most important parts of your film. Most couples I speak to after their wedding say they were surprised just how much they cherished this part too. It also flies by in a nervous blur and you’ll likely not remember a whole lot about it, so this is doubly important.
Unfortunately, a lot of vicars, priests and registrars won’t allow ceremony photography, or will insist that the photographer stands at the back of the room the whole time.
As a cinematographer this is gutting to hear the morning of the wedding so if you really value these images, make sure you speak to whoever is officiating your ceremony to find out if there are any limitations beforehand.
Another thing to consider is to politely ask your guests to not take photos during the ceremony (you can do so in the order of service). Guests holding up mobile phones as you walk down the aisle or flashes going off throughout the vows are only going to be distracting for you and other guests (and/or ruin the professional shots).
6. BOOK A MAKE UP ARTIST
You want to look your best on your wedding day and a professional make up artist will help you do that. I didn’t have one for our wedding and it’s one of the things I wish I’d prioritised. If you’ve never had your make up done by a pro, you’ll be shocked at what a difference they can make!
Don’t go mad on the spray tan (the oompa loompa look is never attractive) and don’t try any new remedies that could likely cause a reaction or break out in the run up. Similarly, if you’re having a pre-wedding pamper session like a facial, do it at least a week before the big day. Post-facial spots are never fun.
7. GET CREATIVE
Your cinematographer is not just there to snap away aimlessly. Wedding cinematographers are a super creative bunch so be open to their ideas and again, trust them! For your portraits, listen to their ideas and don’t be afraid to walk off that beaten path a little bit. Set aside as much time as possible for this part of the day. The more time the cinematographer has, the better the results will be.
8. LEAVE ENOUGH TIME
As I said, time is of the essence and the more time your cinematographer has the better. They are the experts so ask them how long they think each element should take. Group shots for example are notorious for taking longer than you expect. Having to round up a half-cut usher or a camera-shy aunt for the photos can take a while so make sure your cinematographer has a list of names and if possible delegate the task of helping round people up to a trustworthy usher or bridesmaid.
I asked some cinematographer friends of mine about timings and in an ideal world this is what they said would be pretty much perfect:
Getting ready: “Having about an hour and a half with the bride before the ceremony would give me enough time to photograph all the details of the dress, shoes, jewellery etc as well as take some informal photos of everyone getting. There’s always a mad rush before the dress has to go on and I like to have about 15-20 mins after the dress is on to do portraits of the bride with bridesmaids and mum before I dash off. Sometimes this goes out the window because time goes quicker than people expect and its a shame to lose those shots.”
Bride and groom portraits: “For a couple shoot I like to have at least an hour. A good tip is that there is usually a bit of down time between dinner and the evening reception too. This is a good time to get a few extra photos and the light is usually yummy as the sun is starting to set. The couple have often had some wine and are a lot more relaxed by this point too!”
9. FEED THEM!
Contrary to popular belief, cinematographer are people too and people need food or they get very grumpy indeed. After working on their feet for eight hours straight I don’t think it’s too much to ask to send some grub their way.
Your cinematographer will usually ask to eat at the same time as you do (no-one needs film of themselves stuffing their faces). The wedding staff are often fed last, but if you ask for them to be fed at the same time as the wedding party they’ll be done and ready to cinematographer your speeches directly after the meal.
9. Be Natural :)
Your wedding film isn't canned - Tailored Fit Films strives to bring your day to life on the big screen, but we don't want to force or fake anything. So be real, let your personality shine through, and RELAX! Its our job to make you look good - and the best thing you can do is just enjoy your wedding day, and stay in the moment.
A huge thanks to Kat from Rock n Roll bride for provideing these tips, and Camera Hannah for the photos :)
Happy Planning!
Ryan
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Ryan Breitkreutz is the founder, Director and Producer at Tailored Fit Films - filming weddings from Sydney all the way to Canada. Visit www.tailoredfitfilms.com for inquiries or to watch a film!
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