How to Film a Wedding Videography, Complete Guide

Written in Feb 2021 by Mark, a truly wedding filmmaker in Melbourne

I’m Mark, a Melbourne wedding videographer filming wedding almost 10 years. I have trained more than 10 wedding videographers in our studio. Some of the lucky ones are innately talented, or they have cinematography skills and media experiences in University. When they see one thing, they can develop new creative ideas and also, they are self-taught.

However, in the real world, most of us are average intelligent and even ordinary. In my ealier teaching of the wedding videography course, most of the methods are oral based. Sometime, students felt they learnd the skills, but they can’t use the skill in real wedding or even using on the wrong way without consciousness.

Meanwhile, there are less resources to teach the beginner wedding videographer a comprehensive wedding videography knowledge, from the basic theory to the proper gears to use. Most of the online contents are the solely piece by piece.

Therefore, I decide to create a complete guide of teaching how to film a wedding in a practical way. You could learn the wedding videography skills and wedding itinerary step by step. In addition, throughout my 9 years of experience. I would give 5 tips to avoid your potential mistakes that you will encounter in the real-world wedding filming in the future.

I have paid the heavy debt on my own mistakes on filming a wedding. If you can learn my mistakes, you would have less complained brides.

The outline of filming a wedding day in Melbourne

As we known, the wedding has 5 parts.

• groom preparation
• bride preparation
• ceremony
• wedding photo locations (bridal party photo)
• reception

Regarding to the ceremony and reception section, the wedding videographers don’t need or have no opportunities to give any directions on these two sections. The method of wedding filmming shall be documentary.

In contrast, the bride’s and the groom’s preparation and the location, it requests us to give couples clear direction, for instance, what they need to do next, where to put the lighting in a proper location, even you might need to help the groomsmen to tie a tie and pin a pocket flower.

Video tutorial groom tie a tie and pocket flower

In fact, most of the wedding couple book both wedding photographer and videographer. In a conventional mind, the wedding photographer gets higher priority than wedding videographer, hence as a wedding filmmaker, you have less time to give the couple directions.

Moreover, during the wedding photo location or ‘so-call’ bridal party shoot, bride and groom put higher expectation on their photography. This mean the wedding videographer shall film the wedding film in an effective way and learn how to capture the candid moments while the wedding photographers give the couple direction.

In the next chapter, I’ll start from the groom get ready.

How to film the groom preparation in wedding videography

A typical wedding day is start from the groom’s house. There are two reasons that the wedding videographer shall start from the groom get ready.

1. The groom and groomsmen shall arrive the ceremony before the bride.

2. The bride and bridesmaids need more time to do makeup and hair in the morning.

I’d suggest you to arrive the groom’s house earlier. I personally arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the actual starting time.

Normally, the groom preparation wedding videography would take 45-60 minutes. Sometimes, it can be longer due to there are traditional activity in the morning. For instance, Lebanese and Macedonia wedding, they have lots of dance during the morning.

On the wedding day, the time is always constraining, so arrive earlier could get you some extra time to check your cameras, look around the groom’s house layout, you can know which spot is good for groom’s portrait shot later on. Also, arrive earlier would give the bridal party a good impression in their first sight.

Remember, the skill of a wedding videographer is just a part of filming a great wedding, human connection plays an important role on the wedding day. As the wedding videographer, you need to build up a solid rapport with the bridal party in the morning, it is fundamental condition to ensure the bridal party willing to trust you and incorporate you.

The gears of wedding videographer for the groom preparation

1. One camera or two cameras
2. A zoom lens, advised 24mm-70mm, a prime lens 35mm and 70mm-200mm if you have second shooter, 100mm if you have time to film a close up shot
3. Monopod, Shoulder Rig
4. Steadicam or Gimbal
5. On camera microphone
6. Camera air blower
7. Dressing code

One camera or two cameras

Why I suggest to bring one or two cameras. One camera set is compact, however if you have two cameras, then you can have different range of lens attached to both cameras, for instance, 24mm-70mm or 70mm-200mm. You can save time to swift different lens, also it avoids the dust fall on the camera senor when you change the lens.

24-70mm: I would say the 24 mm – 70mm f/2.8 are the most practical lens for the entire wedding, particularly for bride and groom preparation. The 24mm – 70mm zoom lens almost has the capacity to cover most situations for groom get ready.

24-70mm f/2.8 Sony G Master

The 70mm-200mm is the lens for close up shots if you want to capture more natural reactions from bridal party, the telephoto lens would allow you to capture the bridal party reactions without getting too much attention from the bridal party. However, I’d suggest you to use the 70mm- 200mm only when you have 2 videographers, as the 24-70 mm is still more verious and safety chose for one wedding videographer.

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8

Likewise, the prime lens, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm are only considered to be use when you have 2 wedding videographers. There is no doubt the prime lens provides better quality image than the zoom lens. However, using a zoom lens is more effective and practical for one wedding videographer.

100mm macro lens, this lens would rarely use unless you have a decent time for groom preparation shoot. Due to the weight and the long focal length of the 100mm macro lens, it can be quite shaky if you use it handheld or on a monopod. In order to deliver a smooth and steady footage, you need to set the 100mm macro on a tripod, that means you need to concern the time of the groom get ready.

Monopod VS Shoulder Rig

You can use either monopod and shoulder rig for groom get ready film. The monopod is steadier and shoulder rig is more flexible and agile. You can move backward and forward, bend down your knee and change the level naturally when using the shoulder rig.

Using monopod would be lack of the movements compare to the shoulder rig.

Steadicam VS gimbal

Steadicam is mechanised and the gimbal is electronics, auto calibrate sensor. The Steadicam, like HD2000 take less time to set up, and it is also good for wet weather. The gimbal’s image is smoother if you want to achieve a long cinematic shot.

The Steadicam and gimbal shall be used in different situation.

If you want to have a smooth long shot for architecture and reception setup, the gimbal is a better option. Sometimes, the gimbal can achieve similar dolly and slider results with quick setup.

DJI Ronin M

However, if you want the footage has natural breathing effect then Steadicam is better. The movement of the Steadicam is more natural, sometimes the gimbal is way too steady, which will generate a mechanic movement look.

On camera microphone

Most of the cameras have internal mic or so-called built-in mic. However, the sound quality is poor. If you want to capture a clear bridal party’s voiceover, you can consider to have one on camera mic, the sound quality will be much better. The rode brand provides series of great value and top-notch sound quality mic.

Rode Video Mic Pro

One thing you shall keep in mind is, always check whether you turn on or off the mic when you insert the mic into 3.5 jack input of cameras, also the connection is not loose. Regarding the fast pace of wedding filming, the wedding videographer often forgot to turn on the mic. Therefore no sounds recorded.

P.S 3.5 jack audio cable is easy to loosen than the SLR cable

Camera air blower and clean kits

The camera air blower can get rid of the dust on the camera sensor, specific on the mirrorless camera. The dust on the camera sensor would create several black spots in the footage which it is hard to clean up in post.

The wedding videographer shall use the air blower to blow the dust away from the senor when they change the lens.

The other clean kit, like the lens cloth is use for cleaning the dust on the lens, an unclean lens would get unwanted ghost flare in the footage.

The appropriate dress code for wedding

Generally, you shall wear a formal dress to attend the wedding respectfully. The sloppy and sneaker doesn’t fit the wedding vibe. Specifically, a formal urban wedding would request the wedding videographer to wear black suit. You could wear some causal dress for rustic wedding which it depends on the wedding style.

The process of filming the groom preparation and wedding videography checklist

1. Groom and groomsmen accessory (wedding rings, suit, shoes, invitation card, pocket flower, cufflinks, watch, gifts to groomsmen and etc)
2. Groom and groomsmen have causal time, play game or drink
3. Groom and groomsmen change dress
4. Groom portrait photo/video time
5. Groom read letter written from bride
6. Family photo
7. Groom and groom leaving the house

Pro tips of groom get ready for videography

• Arrive at the groom’s house 5-10 minute prior to the starting time
• 1-2 minute ice break with groom and groomsmen to let them feel relax
• Spend 45-60 minute for groom’s preparation
• Find a clean room/space and natural lighting for groom get ready
• Help the groom and groomsmen tie a tie if they don’t familiar with tie and pocket square
• Use the gimbal or Steadicam if you want to create cinematic shot for the groom

Groom and groomsmen accessory

Wedding videographers in Melbourne normally spend 45-60 minute in groom’s house. We shall allocate time wisely during the groom get ready.

After one or two minutes simply chat with groom and the guests, the wedding videographer can spend 5-10 minutes to take accessory shot, including the wedding rings, shoes, suit, shirt, pocket flower etc. I don’t suggest to spend too much time on filming the accessory unless the groom has specific requests on certain accessory, like luxury water or cufflink.

Reasons are simply:

Reason one: The groom wants to capture more footage of him and his family, when you film the accessory, you might not be in the groom’s field of vision. And the groom doesn’t know what you are doing, it would raise his nervous if he can’t see you for a long time.

Reason two: Majority of wedding highlight video is constructed by human activity and emotional expression. The accessory shot is just a small part of wedding, the focusing point shouldn’t be the accessory.

When we film groom’s accessory, try to use the monopod to ensure footage is steady. For the groom’s suit, we can hang the suit on windows and sometimes they hire suit mannequin. Both of the situations, we can locate the suit close to windows to get a natural light source.

We can have a middle range shot and also some close up shot of the suit’s texture, pattern and even the logo of the suit if the suit is handmade or expensive brand.

For the watch, wedding rings and luxury accessories. We can use the Macro lens to take some extreme close up shots if we have time. In additional, we shall find a clean and elegant surface to place the accessories in order  to make the accessories stand out from the background.

We can use either the natural light (side light from the window) or the video light to create dramatic shot of accessories.

Some LED light can change different colour temperature from 2800K-6000K.

One thing we shall keep in mind. No matter how busy of the wedding day is, when we film some expensive or the important meaning accessories, for instance wedding rings, and watch, we shall be very careful. We can’t lose or damage the wedding rings, also don’t place the wedding rings on a dangerous position.

We shall put the rings back to the boxes and return to groom or groomsmen’s hand when we finish the shot.

Groom and groomsmen have causal time, play game or drink

Before the groom and groomsmen get the dress on, they would have few minutes free time to socialize and have fun. They normally wear smart causal dress when they have leisure time.

Every wedding, the groom and groomsmen are different. Sometime, they play footy, poker, golf and video games. We can encourage them to drink beers or sprites to get some relaxed video footage.

In the 5-10 minutes of the leisure time, we can use 24-70mm lens to capture more candid footage and no interfere them.

Groom and groomsmen change dress

In Melbourne, the groom has 3-4 groomsmen in an average size of bridal party. Sometimes, groom doesn’t have groomsmen or in contrast, a huge bridal party, for instance 10 groomsmen.

When the groom has standard size of groomsmen party, to get a good shot of changing dress (shirt, belt, tie, suspenders and suit), we shall find a clean room/space with good lighting.

We normally prefer the groom to stand beside the window, because the window provides a natural side light to create a nice profile on the body and face. However, sometimes the furniture such as dining table, beds are too close to the window, therefore we can’t take the full body shot of the groom, as the background may be too complicated or messy.

For some wedding, the groom has huge groomsmen party and there is no enough room to fit all boys or sometimes they would block each other, we can ask them to go to the backyard, front garden to get some footage.

When we have a good location for the groom and groomsmen party, we can keep a proper distance to capture the candid footage of the groom and groomsmen change dress. At the same time, the wedding photographer also takes the photos of them, we shall share the time with photographer and respect each other.

When the groomsmen party change the dress, we shall capture the footage from different angles and some close-up shots. Before we move close to the groomsmen and we shall get a permission from the photographer to avoid the blockage to his angle. We can have whisper to the wedding photographer or eye contact when we intent to do any action, this is part of wedding videographer and photographer’s etiquette.

Groom portrait photo/video time

After all groomsmen got dress, we can ask the groom to take some portrait shot. Likewise, we shall find a space with clean background with good lighting source to take the groom’s single portrait shot.

Normally, a plain wall can be used for the backdrop when we take the groom’s portrait shot, however we can add some interesting elements to create some contrast in the background. For instance, we can add some indoor plant to bring the nature in the shot. The green colour is supplementary colour in order to bring a neutral look in the shot, however we shall not make too complicated colour in the background.

Regard to the lighting of the groom’s portrait shot, we can create a dramatic lighting to emphasis the groom’s face profile. To achieve the low key or so-called Baroque light effect, we can narrow down the window curtain to create shaped and concentrated light to illuminate groom’s face and body. At the same time, the concentrated light dimmed the background and the background is darker than the groom, therefore the groom can stand out from the background.

The option of curtain, if the wedding videographer want to create a low-key light for groom portraiture video, the thick fabric of material would be great. In contrast, high-key light is good for bride portrait photo, I’ll clarify the theory and method in the next chapter.

To avoid a dull video footage during the groom’s portrait shot, we can give the groom some direction instead of standing alone nearby the window. It might be good for the photography, however a good video requests some movement.

We can design some movement for groom, for instance, wear the cufflinks, check the watch, pour the whisky into nice glassware. There are lots of opportunities to make the shot vividly. But we need to make sure the groom feels relaxed and comfortable.

Groom read letter written from bride

Sometimes, the bride would write a love letter to groom and groom would read the letter before the wedding ceremony.  It is quite romantic moment to capture the groom read the bride’s letter, you might see the scene in lots of love movie.

We can capture the letter’s writing by close up shot and groom’s face expression by invisible shot manner. The telephoto lens, for instance 70-200mm zoom lens or 85mm prime lens is good lens to capture those moments. A rule of thumb, keep some distance to capture the groom reads the letter.

Some groom read the letter silently and some groom read the letter with voice. If the wedding filmmaker wants to capture sound of reading the letter, and if the groom feels comfortable, we can set the lapel mic on groom’s jacket before he starts the reading. Therefore, we get more clear and crisp sounds.

Lapel microphone

P.S. not all groom get to read a letter from bride and some couple with delicate emotion would write the letter to each other, so we can ask them whether they would read a letter during the bride and groom preparation.

Family photo at the groom house

The wedding videographer and photographer always allocate 5-10 minute for family photo before finishing the shoot at the groom’s house.

The wedding photographer always organize the family photo, like groom with parents, groom with sibling and groom with groomsmen. The wedding videographer can film this part beside the photographer and it is not necessary to give the direction from the videographers.

The wedding videographer can capture some half body and full body shot for the family photo. It is not requesting too much technique for wedding videographer, so I won’t write too much for the family photo at the groom house. This time is inclining to manage by the wedding photographers.

Groom and groom leaving the house

After we finish the family photo at the groom’s house, in most wedding that mean we had done all of the tasks for the groom preparation. However, everything has exemptions.

For some traditional Lebanese wedding and lavish wedding, the groom’s family would hire drummers to come to the groom’s house to celebrate the wedding before they heading to the ceremony.

Sometimes, the groom would hire some luxury car, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini or Harley Davidson bike in front of groom house.

To achieve the cinematic shot, the aerial (drone) would be better to use when the cars arriving the groom’s house. Sometimes, they will even do a burn-out to release the smoke and rumble the engine to make a loud exhaust noise.

If there are only one wedding videographer and don’t have time to set up the drone. In a compromising way, you could use the gimbal, for instance DJI Ronin S to create cinematic and smooth movement.

The conventional shoulder rig or monopod is hard to produce the cinematic motion shot compare to the gimbal and drone.

How to film the bride preparation wedding videography

Regard to the gears to carry on for the bride preparation, there is not much different we use on the groom preparation. We can even say we use same gears, cameras and lenses when we go to the bride’s house in general.

For most of the wedding, we head to groom’s first then to the bride’s house.

And why?

1. Groom need to go to the ceremony 30 minutes earlier than the bride
2. Bride and bridesmaid need more time to do hair and makeup

Compare to the groom’s preparation, normally 45-60 minutes. We spend 1.5 hours at the bride’s house. In fact, girls always take more time than the boys in real life and bride would spend relatedly longer time to get wedding dress than groom.

The process of filming the bride preparation and wedding videography checklist

1. Bride and bridesmaid accessories (engagement rings, wedding gown, shoes, invitation card, bouquets, jewellery, perfume and gift to bridesmaid and etc)
2. Bride’s makeup close shot
3. Bride and bridesmaid have causal time, have fun and open champagne
4. Bride and bridesmaid change dress
5. First look from father of bride
6. Bride portrait photo/video time
7. Bride read letter written from groom
8. Bride give the gifts to bridesmaid
9. Family photo

Pro tips for filming the bride’s preparation

• Suggest bride and bridesmaid to finish makeup and hair before the videography starting time
• Take more angles of shot for the wedding gown and details of dress and represent the wedding dress with decent wooden hanger
• Have champagne shot before the bride change dress
• Have the bride wear the shoes footage when the bride wear robe instead of wedding dress
• Find clean and spacious room for bride getting ready
• Ask whether the bride want the first look shot from her father
• Encourage the bride to keep movement during the bride’s single portraiture session
• Create the high key light for bride’s portraiture
• Leave the bride house earlier to the ceremony (advised 30 minutes before the bride departure)

Bride preparation video tips

Filming bride and bridesmaid accessory

Generally speaking, the bride keeps better organize manner than the groom, specific on the wedding day. Some bride would place all accessories in a nice layout or place everything elegantly on a table.

If the bride didn’t gather all accessories together and the accessories are scattered in different room. We can ask mother of bride or maid of honour to find all accessories. On the wedding day, the bride would be quite busy for her makeup and hair, normally the bride is the last person to get makeup and hair.

We would take 5- 10 minutes to take shot of bride’s accessories and bridal gown. The most 3 key elements of bride’s accessories are her engagement ring, shoes, dress. We can spend less time on her other stuff, for instance invitation card, flowers and etc.

To save time and create nice combination of accessories, we can put two or three stuffs into one shot. For instance, flower and shoes can be a good combination.

The engagement ring, shoes and dress are definitely key element for bride, normally bride invest more money on these three assets.

The wedding gown can be place on hanger or mannequin. For the hanger of dress, the nice wooden hanger is better look than plastic one. You can ask the bridal party whether they have wooden hanger to replace the cheap look plastic hanger.

The wedding videographer can place the bridal gown and bridesmaid’s dress next to the window. You can take the video footage of bridal gown itself, alternatively you can also ask the bridal party stand beside the dress to take some candid videography footage.

Except the wide angle of the dress shot, you can take some close up shots of the dress details, such as beading, fabric and lace.  Some dress has more details in the front, some dress has more details at the back, some of the dress train is also part of wedding dress.

If the wedding videographer get some knowledge of wedding dress, for instance, different wedding dress silhouette, you can understand where is the best angle to film the dress and where is highlight of the wedding dress.

For the rest of bride’s accessories, the wedding videographer can shoot the footage in the same way to the filming of groom’s accessories.

For the priority of the accessories, a rule of thumb, the wedding videographer can spend more times and efforts on the bride’s accessories other than bridesmaid’s accessories, which it has more value and meaning to the bride.

Bride’s makeup closeup shot

At the pre wedding consultation, I always suggest bride to finish the make-up and hair for all girls including the bride’s 30 minute before the wedding videographer arriving time.

30 minutes buffering time is to allowed the bride has some extra time just in case the makeup is running behind the original plan. Before the bride see the wedding videographer, she can be chilled for a moment and have a cup of coffee.

If the MUA is still in bride’s house when the wedding videographer arrive, the wedding videographer can take some close up shot of bride doing the make-up and as well as some middle range of shot.

In other situation, if the MUA and hairdresser left the bride’s house already, and bride still want to have some makeup shot, we can ask one of the bridesmaid to do some retouch on the bride. However, it is not necessary to take some pretend makeup shot if the bride doesn’t have this specific requests.

Bride and bridesmaid have causal time, have fun and open champagne

Before the bride and bridesmaid change the dress, they can have some small chat, relax and chilled. At this period of time, the bride and bridesmaid would wear robes or so-called pyjamas. The bridal party always stored a bottle of champagne in the fridge.

The bride or one of bridesmaid can shake the champagne a little bit and open the bottle. If some bridesmaid is pregnant and is not proper to drink alcohol, therefore she can drink some soft drink instead, which it shares similar colour with the champagne.

The time of opening the champagne is advised to do before the bride change the dress, sometimes the champagne can splash everywhere and spot on the bride’s dress and some champagne liquor are colourful, then it would make unpleasant colour on the white wedding gown.

Bride and bridesmaid change dress

After arriving the bride’s house within 30-40 minutes, it is a time to allow the bride and bridesmaid to change the dress. As a male wedding videographer, we normally wait outside of the room while the bride and bridesmaids change dress, however if you’re a female wedding videographer, so you have privilege to get into the room when the bride change the dress and get more intimate videography.

For most of the male wedding videographer, we can get into the bedroom when the bride almost get dress and leave the last part of getting dress, for instance the last button hole and raise the zip.

To get more balance of composition of the image, some bridesmaid can knee down in front of bride to fix the train and some bridesmaid can knot the button hole or zip at the back of bride.

In the last bit of bride getting dress, the mother of the bride can help her daughter to put the veil on. While the MOB can also put the jeweller, for instance earing, neckless, bracelets on the bride.

First look from father of bride

Sometimes, the bride wants to get a reveal shot from father of bride. We can ask the father of bride to wait outside when the bride change the dress. When the father is going to enter the room, the wedding videographer can stay at the bride’s side but not too close.

We can therefore capture the father of bride authentic expression when he enters the room and have a first look at his daughter. It is most touching and sweet moments, the bride and father of bride would hug each other and tear out, we can use the focal length between 70-100mm to capture this candid moment.

Bride portrait photo/video time

The bride video portrait session is quite similar with the groom portraiture shot. However, there is still some differences and tips for the bride.

Lighting- in contrast to the groom preparation, we create the low-key light by the thick curtain to narrow the light source from the window.

To achieve the glory and purity of look for the bride, also most of bride wear white or off-white (ivory colour) wedding dress, the high key would be the great light source for the bride’s portrait shot. We call the cinematography consistent.

On the other side, the high key is able to soften the bride skin and create nice skin tone. We can use a thin curtain to create a soft and daylight of colour temperature.

The background– we can keep the background’s colour as simply as possible. In addition, to get full body shot of the bride, the bride’s dress is always larger than the groom because of the train. It is requested a decent space for full body shot, we can move the furniture away from the light source-windows.

To get a candid wedding videography, we want the bride to spin around or walk around, we can get different angles of the dress and the video footage would seem natural than keeping the bride standing on the same spot.

A bouquet is perfect prop to provide a contrast with the bride dress. The wedding videographer can ask the bride to hold her bouquet close to her body to get some portraiture video. In addition, we can ask the bride to play the flower petal so that we can get some natural movement of the shot.

I would ask the bride to use her left hand to touch the flower petal, because the bride put the engagement ring on her left hand, we can capture her ring while her finger is touching the flower petal.

Bride read letter written from groom

Sometimes, bride would read the letter from the groom before leaving the house. Personallys, I don’t suggest attach a lapel mic on bride, because the black lapel mic can’t be seemed as invisible. And it is not convenience for a male wedding videographer to attach a lapel microphone on the bride body.

The wedding videographer can focus on the bride’s face expression when she read the letter from groom.

As a delicate mind of wedding videographer, we can prepare some tissue if the bride tears out.

Bride give the gifts to bridesmaid

Some bride would prepare gifts to all bridesmaids, the wedding videographer can film these moments in a candid manner.

Family photo at the bride’s house

At the last 10 minutes at the bride house, the professional wedding photographer would allocate around 10 minutes for the family photo. At this time, the limo car driver would urge the bridal party outside.

As a wedding videographer, we always need more time to set up than the wedding photographer at the ceremony, because the wedding videographer needs to set the audio and set two cameras, one camera mount to the tripod and the other camera set on the gimbal or the monopod.

Therefore, we shall leave 30 minute earlier than the bride departure. In the meantime, we shall estimate the traffic and how hard to get parking at the ceremony.

P.S. The church and reception venues always keep the reserve parking for bride’s car. Unfortunately, no reserve parking for wedding videographer and photographer.

So, the last bit of family photo is more important for the wedding photographer. The wedding videographer can skip this part if you find the wedding is behind the schedule and parking at the ceremony would be a problem, you can leave earlier.

How to film the wedding ceremony

The camera and gears use for the wedding ceremony

1. Two cameras
2. A zoom lens, advised 24mm-70mm and 70mm-200mm
3. Monopod, tripod and gimbal if you can set up quickly or if you have two videographers
4. On camera microphone, lapel mic and sound record device

Two cameras: we always suggest to bring two cameras during the ceremony, it is allowed the wedding videographer to capture the footage from different angles. One camera set at the end of aisle with the tripod to have a wide angle shot, it is so-called the main camera

The second camera is to capture the close up shot, for instance, bride and groom’s face expression, bridal party and guests’ reaction. We call the second camera’s footage as cutaway shots.

The lens to use on the wedding ceremony: The practical lens we would recommend is 24-70mm F2.8 (24-105 mm F4) or 70-200mm F2.8

The 24-70mm lens can incorporate with the main camera, this will allow it to have decent 24mm as the wide-angle footage, also on the other side of 70mm which can have some tight shot

The 70-200mm is a great lens to capture close up and guests’ reaction shot during the ceremony without interfere people’s attention. Simply because the 70-200mm can keep a long distance to capture the close up shot.

The telephoto lens also provides the further blurred of the background, the image is more concentrate people’s face expression and soften the background.

Tripod, monopod, and gimbal: These 3 gears are most frequent gears to carry on the ceremony.

• Tripod provides a long recording, solid and steady video footage
• Monopod provides little bit flexible and relatedly steady video footage (compare to handheld)
• Gimbal provides a cinematic video footage at some certain moment, bride walking to the aisle at the beginning and bride and groom walk down the aisle together at the end of ceremony

Tripod

Audio devices for the wedding ceremony

• For the microphone on the camera, the external mic would be much better than the built-in mic on the camera, however we also consider the mic on the cameras as a reference sound, its because the sound source still have distance to the recorder and the echo and also environment noise can’t be ignored
• Lapel mic would be a essential and effective device to capture the groom’s voiceover during the ceremony
• Dedicated recorder, Zoom H4 and H6 are popular recorder in the market, you can also find similar products within the price range, in order to get a good quality of sound.

Zoom H6 recorder

To ensure we get connection to the celebrant’s PA system, we shall prepare different cables connection, such as RCA audio cable, XLR, quarter inch cable or even 3.5mm jack audio cable.

RCA cable

quarter inch cable

XLR cable

3.5mm jack audio

Quality of different devices is

Dedicated recorder > lapel microphone > on camera mic > built-in mic

The process of filming the bride preparation and wedding videography checklist

1. Wedding ceremony decoration, interior and exterior of the church, set up tripod and audio devices
2. Groom and guests mingling
3. Bride’s car arrives at the wedding ceremony
4. Bride and bridesmaid walking down to the aisle and capture groom reaction if possible
5. Celebrant speech and bridal party and guests reaction
6. Bride and groom exchange the vow and rings
7. First kiss
8. Sign up the marriage certificate
9. Bride and groom walking down the aisle together at the end of ceremony
10. Bride, groom and guest mingling and congratulations
11. Family photo after the ceremony

Pro tips for filming the wedding ceremony in Melbourne

• Arriving the ceremony 30 minutes before the bride arrive
• Set the main camera on the tripod and set up the lapel mic on groom suit
• Avoid the mirrorless or DSLR camera overheat at the outdoor ceremony in a summer day, you can place the camera under shade or put something to cover on top of cameras
• Set the main camera at different spot in Orthodox and Catholic
• Don’t step on the alter in Orthodox church
• Main wedding videographer stand beside the wedding photographer when the bride and bridesmaid walking down the aisle
• Use telephoto lens (70-200mm) to capture g 3uest’s reaction
• Avoid walk across in front of guests too often
• Avoid the main camera block the view of guests
• Stand at the middle aisle when the bride and groom have first kiss
• Use the Steadicam to film the bride and groom walk down the aisle at the end of ceremony
• Check whether get back the audio device and pack up all gears to wedding photo locations

Wedding ceremony decoration, inside and outside of church, set up tripod and audio devices

No matter the wedding videography starts the half day (starting from ceremony) or full day wedding videography package, the professional wedding videographer always arrives the ceremony (church, beach, garden and etc) 30 minutes prior to the bride arrives.

Traditionally, guests and groom would arrive the ceremony 30 minutes before the bride come. It is quite similar to the wedding videographer arriving time.

We shall set the main camera on the tripod and sound devices; you never know when the next second the bride would appear.

If you’re the one as a whole wedding videography team. Congratulations, you have to do all multi task by your own hands. It is more likely you would see the groom and celebrants arriving when you arrive the church.

There are two ways you can set the audio devices to get a clear and crisp sound instead the sound from the camera built-in mic.

Sometimes, the celebrant would bring their own PA speaker, you can ask whether they allow you to get input sound from their speaker, you could use the RCA, 3.5 mm Jack and SLR to contact the celebrants PA and test the audio level before guests get seated.

Celebrant PA system

The backside of PA, you can find the audio output

Alternatively, you could set up a lapel mic on groom’s jacket. Make sure the lap mic cable is hided inside of thegroom’s jacket, otherwise the wedding photographer want to kill you because they would spend lots of time to clean your ugly mic cable in the post work.

One more thing shall be taken care of is you shall put your Zoom H1 or wireless transmit to the groom’s side pocket or jacket pocket but not on the groom’s pant back pocket.

Zoom H1n

Wireless mic

Why not put the sound device into the groom’s pant back pant?

After the first kiss in the ceremony, the bride and groom would set on the chair to sign up the marriage certificate, if the fragile sound device is still placed in the groom back pant pocket, your sound device would be damaged.

In a nervous atomosphere, rare groom would remember to take off your sound device from his pant back pocket when he signs up the marriage legal paper.

Digital sound from the celebrant’s PA speaker VS the sound from lapel mic attached on groom jacket?

The Digital sound from the celebrant’s PA system is definitely much better than the lapel mic sound. The digital sound is direct and no compressed sound. However, the lapel mic is gathering the sound from a small circular area. Because the bride still keeps some distance from the groom, the voice over still not that perfect balance though we can equivalize the volume in the post work.

However, if the wedding videographer can only set up one pair of sound device in a short preparation time, I would strongly recommend videographer to set the lapel mic on groom first. If you have extra time or you have two wedding videographers, you can set the external recorder to the PA system.

Why?

Because the groom and bride would stand close each other when they change the vows, therefore the wedding videographer can get both of bride and groom voiceover.

In contrast, if you only set up sound from the celebrant PA system. Sometimes, some unusually celebrant standing spot is far away from the bride and groom, so the celebrant’s mic can’t reach the bride and groom area, then the sound from the celebrant’s PA system would fail.

I’d filmed on wedding, the wedding celebrant set his mic on the stand, however the stand has quite a distance from bride and groom. When the celebrant’s been told, he stands close to the mic. On the day, the celebrant voice from the speaker is loud and clear however the bride and groom voice’s volume are quite low.

In fact, this situation is not happened quite often. Celebrant always use their mic close to the bride and groom when they change the vow. However, after experienced this kind of issue, I always set a lapel on groom’s jacket first.

Control something you can control, don’t rely on your hope on some uncertainty situation or people.

After asserted those basic setup (audio and main camera), we can film guests and groom mingling. Also, we can take ceremony decoration details shot. We can even use the drone to film the church exterior and beach if the area is allowed to use the drone. To use drone permission apps before you use the drone.

After we get enough footage from the pre ceremony, the wedding videographer can go outside to wait for the bride’s car arrive.

How to use your main camera for ceremony?

 Before the ceremony start, we shall clarify where and how we set up one main camera, which it keeps rolling throughout the ceremony. The ceremony can be last approx 30 minutes to 3 hours (Hindu wedding)

Regard to the wedding ceremony, to make it clear and easy to understand, I define the wedding ceremonies into two major categories.

1. Not similar with Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony
2. Greek Orthodox and similar with Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony

First of all, the category is nothing relate to the religious, only to indicate the wedding videographer how to set the main camera in a practical way.

First one which it is unlike the Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony, that category includes the catholic, garden, beach, function, Hindu wedding ceremony. You can set the main camera at the end of aisle and try not to block the wedding photographer and guests views.

Second one, Greek Orthodox and similar wedding ceremony, such as part of Lebanese, Serbian, Croatia, Macedonia and Egypt wedding. You have to set the camera on the corner of altar.

For the most civil wedding ceremony and Catholic is quite easy to understand, the main camera is set at the middle of aisle that can capture the wide angle of footage of the entire ceremony.

On the other side of Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony, most of the time, the bride and groom face to priest and altar, if the camera is set by the end of aisle, the main camera would only capture the back of bride and groom in most of the time, as the main camera, it can’t be accepted apparently.

As a professional wedding videographer, you shall know what is the wedding cultural background in order to avoid hassle and mistake on the wedding day.

How to film the outdoor wedding ceremony in Melbourne?

 As we all known, the Melbourne weather can be extreme hot in some certain day. If the wedding ceremony is held outdoor and temperature would be quite high. One thing we have to be aware, the mirrorless and DSLR can be overheat compare to their encounter, traditional video cameras.

The consequence of overheat of the camera during the ceremony, is that the continuous working of the camera can be immediate shut down during the ceremony. It would cause the wedding videographer miss some important moment in the ceremony.

If the wedding videographer can’t place the main camera under the shady. In this urgent situation, you can borrow someone suit to cover on the top of the camera to avoid the direct heat from the sun and also try to borrow some light colour suit from the guests or some alternative cover.

I experienced several times of camera overheat situation, this way can save the camera and your footage for the ceremony in most circumstance.
This way can also apply to a wet weather, try to find something to cover the camera to avoid rain inside the camera body, in order to keep the camera work regular as it can.

Camera waterproof cover

Bride and bridesmaid walk down

There is no doubt that bride and bridesmaid walk down the aisle is a key moment of the wedding ceremony. You shall raise your 100% concentration for this moment.

If you are one wedding videographer crew, you shall stand beside the groom side or wedding photographer. Normally, the groom would wait the bride at the end of aisle. The best lens to capture the bride and bridesmaid walk down is 24-70mm, it can capture the close up and wide-angle video footage without change the lens.

The camera’s setting at the beginning of ceremony

You can probably try to capture some groom’s reaction when the bride and bridesmaid walk down the aisle. The good chances to capture the groom’s face expression are the gap between each bridesmaid. When the bride is walking to the aisle, the camera shall always focus on the bride and her father.

On the other side, if you have two wedding videographer or even more, the main wedding videographer act as the sole wedding videographer, the second wedding videographer can capture from the back of bride with gimbal, therefore the second camera can capture the wide angle of dress train to create some cinematic footage.

During the wedding ceremony

In the beginning of wedding ceremony, the celebrant would say some love story about the bride and groom or the priest would read the bible. As we mention earlier, the main camera set on the tripod would place by the middle of the aisle and keep rolling.

Cameras’ setting during the ceremony vow

Therefore, the wedding videographer can capture guests and bridal party reaction first. While wedding videographer shall try to capture the close up shot from the bride and groom’s parents and important family member, if you are not clear who is bride and groom’s parents, you can capture the first row of guests, the parents and intimate family always set on the first row.

All the guest’s reaction shot shall be filmed before the vows.

The vow is always start from the groom and the groom always stand on the right side. The wedding videographer can use the tele lens to capture the groom from the left side (bride and bridesmaid side) read the vow.

Later on, the bride would read her vows, we can move to the right side (groom and groomsmen side). However, we shall avoid to walk across from the guests too often, we shall move from the back of guests as possible.

After read the vows, the bride and groom would change the ring. It normally starts from the groom, so we stand on the left side of ceremony to capture groom front face and some hand’s close up shot when he put the ring on bride.

After the groom put the ring on the bride, the bride would put ring on groom’s finger. By this time, we shall go to the middle aisle instead of filming the bride’s side face closeup.

Because we already capture the front face of bride when she read her vow, also after the both of bride and groom change the ring, the celebrant or priest can announce them to have a kiss in any second.

The wedding videographer shall go back to the middle aisle to get ready for the first kiss. Try to capture the first kiss with main and second camera. The two cameras enable us to capture the first kiss, it would be the most important moment for the entire wedding.

Sign up the marriage certificate

This part is straight forward to film, but we shall move our main camera away from middle aisle, because after they sign up the marriage certificate, the bride and groom would walk down the aisle, your main camera can block the way, if you forget to move away the main camera on the tripod.

The two witness, bride and groom would write their name on the paper, you don’t need to have any fancy videography movement, just film this moment completely and steadily.

Because the signing up would last 3-5 minutes, you can use the main camera keep rolling and by the chance, you can change lens and monopod to the gimbal for the groom and bride exit the church and garden.

The end of wedding ceremony

In the end of wedding ceremony, the bride and groom will walk together into the aisle, sometimes the guest would use the flower petal to throw on bride and groom, it is a beautiful moments to film with the slow motion.

In most of the modern video camera, the default set of the framerate can be 50p in Australia, you can slow down 2x in the post work. However, if you have A7Siii or FS5ii, you can have 100p or even 200p to get some super slow motion when the guests throw the flower petal on the bride and groom.

The mingling after the wedding ceremony

In-betweens of the ceremony finish and family photo, the bride and groom would have 3-5 minutes mingling with guests, some wedding’s mingling can be quite long. The wedding videographer can capture the guests hug, kiss, handshake and congratulations to the bride and groom.

It is not necessary to capture all congratulations and mingling, however you shall still film some mingling after ceremony. First, the mingling can be the transition for the wedding video highlight, secondly, you got paid from the bride and groom, you shall not smoke and play mobile during any time of the wedding day, always keep attention and ready to film.

You can use part of the mingling time to pack up your camera and gears for ready to go to the next section – wedding photo location.

Family photo after the ceremony

After the ceremony, the photographer would organize the family photo, the first one is group photo that means every guests in one photo, and then the family photo from the bride and groom side.

As the wedding videographer, you don’t need to use too complicated technique film the family photo, just keep rolling. However, you shall assist the photographer to organize the family photo. Sometimes, the guests would go to the toilet, wander and get some drink and food after the ceremony, particular, this situation can be occurred often if the ceremony and reception is at one place.

You shall help the wedding photographer if you find the guests don’t listen. No matter the wedding photographer is your team mate or its just the first time you met each other, you shall help him organize the family photo and later on he or she would give you some help when you need.

How to handle the emergency during wedding ceremony

In last of this chapter, I want to give you some emerged solution which you would encounter in the future wedding videographer’s career.

What if my main camera and backup camera both die at ceremony?

If it happens in the beginning of the wedding ceremony, you could try to borrow the camera from the wedding photographer or guests who has some decent cameras.

If there is no camera you can borrow and it is more likely you would miss whole ceremony footage. First of all, drink bottle of water and use the rest of water to spray on your face to calm down and talk to yourself, don’t worries, Mark had written this guide to save my wedding videographer’s career.

You can look sophistically to put your smart phone on the tripod. Trust me, if you don’t show the nervous on your face, the bride and groom won’t notice you use smart phone to capture their wedding ceremony. Who the hell care which camera do you use for filming the ceremony?

Moreover, the modern smart phone resolution shall be useable for the ceremony in a good light condition.

At the bottom line, you shall not give up and try your best to capture the ceremony. The bad quality video of ceremony is much better than nothing. In the same time, you could contact Tree studio to get some assistance, we always have staff wait at the studio just in case any emergency happen.

What if the wedding photographer late for the ceremony?

Sometimes, the wedding photographer can be stuck on the way or car accident. As the wedding videographer, we shall try to contact the wedding photographer at the first time and get to know how long the wedding photographer can be arrive at the ceremony.

If the wedding photographer is coming soon, the wedding videographer shall appeal the bride to await the photographer come if it is possible.

If the wedding photographer is more likely to miss all ceremony or the wedding can’t be wait. If the wedding photographer is your workmate, you could try to use your spare cameras to capture some key moments, for instance, the bride walks to the aisle, first kiss, sign up the paper, etc.

In the worst scenario, the 4k cameras footage can be taken some screenshot for the wedding photography of the ceremony.

How to film the wedding photo location (bridal party shot)

After the ceremony, the bridal party would go to the wedding photo location onsite of wedding venues or offsite the wedding photo locations.

One thing we shall notice, the wedding photo location can be organized before the ceremony if the wedding doesn’t have too much time for the daylight, specific in a winter wedding. Or the bride and groom don’t want to leave too much gap between the ceremony and reception.

Regards to film the wedding photo location (bridal party shoot) for wedding videographer, it is shortest chapter I written in the wedding videography guide. Because the wedding photographers have an absolute privilege to choose the location and fully in charge of guiding the bridal party during the photo locations.

Generally speaking, the wedding photographer take up to 70% time during the wedding photo locations time. You can also seem the importance of wedding photo location to the photographer from the name of wedding photo locations.

As the intermediate level of wedding videographer, you are not requested to in charge during the wedding photo locations. Most of time, you would ask the bridal party to do the thing again after the wedding photographer get his or her photos.

To achieve the motion of cinematic of wedding video instead too much boring still image, the wedding videographer can ask the bridal party to have some movements after the photographer’s direction, for instance, walking together.

What gear shall the wedding videographer bring on for the wedding photo locations?

First of all, we shall understand what is wedding style and what does the bride and groom expect. If the bride and groom want to be chilled, relaxed in a rustic country wedding. We can keep our cameras and gears as minimum therefore we can easily to move between each spot, compare to photographer’s compact setup, the wedding videographer normally have more heavy gears like tripod, monopod, shoulder rig and etc.

If the wedding is held in the city and the bride and groom expect to watch a cinematic wedding videography style, we can then carry on the drone and electronic gimbal ( the electronic gimbal provide smooth cinematic footage, it can replace the conventional dolly which it using in a movie).

One thing, we need to check out before using the drone, whether the weather is allowed and whether the certain location is granted to use the drone. You can download the CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) app here.

In the limited length of wedding videography guide, I can’t disclose all information how to film the wedding photo location for a cinematographer.  For the advanced wedding videographer, you can attend wedding videographer workshop, this wedding videography VIP course, you can learn more advanced skills for filming the wedding photo locations.

Thank you for your sponsor. Your financial support can help us to provide more free content continually for wedding videographers in Melbourne.

Any donation even a small donation, you could contact Tree studio, all your donation would be returned to Melbourne local community.

The top 20 wedding photo locations in Melbourne recommend for wedding videographers

1. Parliament House

Address: Spring Street, East Melbourne

Filming a Wedding Location Video at Parliament House

2. South Melbourne Town Hall

Address:  Fishley St, South Melbourne VIC 3205

3. RMIT University

Building 20, RMIT

Address: 325-343 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000

RMIT design hub address

Address: Building 100, Victoria St, Carlton VIC 3000

4. Melbourne University

Contact: 8344 4490

Old Arts: building 149

University of Melbourne, Old Arts Building, College Cres, Parkville VIC 3052

5. Fitzroy Town Hall

Address:  201 Napier St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

6. Victoria Barracks

Address:  256 – 310 St Kilda Road Melbourne

Contact: 1300 333 362

7. Labassa Mansion

Address:  2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North VIC 3161

Contact: (03) 9527 6295

8. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

Address:  9 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053

Contact: (03) 9270 5000

9. Royal Botanic Gardens

Address: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra 3141

10. Albert Park Lake

33 Lakeside Dr, Albert Park VIC

11. Fitzroy Garden

Address:  Lansdowne St, East Melbourne VIC 3002

12. St Kilda Botanical Garden

Address:  11 Herbert St, St Kilda VIC 3182

Contact: (03) 9209 6777

13. Hosier Lane

Address: Hosier Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

14. Australian Center for Contemporary Art (ACCA)

Address: 111 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006

15. Spice Market

Address:  Beaney Lane off Russell Street,Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia (adjacent Grand Hyatt Melbourne)

Contact: (03) 9660 3777

16. National Gallery of Victoria （NGV）

Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006

Contact: (03) 8620 2222

17. Luna Park Melbourne

Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182

18. Chanel Melbourne City

Address: 140 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

Contact: 1300 242 635

19. Princes Pier Port Melbourne

Address: Pier St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Contact: (03) 9209 6777

20. Gem Pier Williamstown

Address: 1 Syme St, Williamstown VIC 3016

Contact: 0435 200 157

Bonus: Kamesburgh Gardens Brighton

Address:  78 North Road, Brighton, VIC

Contact: (03) 9599 4444

If you want to learn more, here is wedding photo location guide in Melbourne.

Also, here is top 100 wedding venues in Melbourne.

How to film the wedding reception?

Finally, we come to the final chapter of the complete guide of wedding videography. If the wedding photo locations in the last chapter is not seemed too important for the wedding videographers. Conversely, the wedding reception is extremely important part to the wedding videographer.

In fact, we found lots of couple request the wedding videographer to stay longer than photographer in the wedding reception, therefore we can know that the wedding videographer gets more anticipation than photographer in the wedding reception.

There are two obvious reasons. First, the wedding videographer can capture the voice of speech, it is a good thing to memorized the wedding day. Secondly, the bridal waltz, guests dance, some traditional wedding elements can be represented better in a moving image.

First of first, let us discuss which camera, lens and gears shall you bring on for wedding reception.

The camera and gears use for the wedding reception

1. Two cameras or more cameras for big wedding
2. A zoom lens, advised 24mm-70mm and 70mm-200mm, 16-35mm
3. Monopod, tripod, slider and gimbal if you can set up quickly or two videographers
4. On camera microphone, sound record device
5. Led light and light stand

The camera and gears list in the reception is quite similar with the gears list in the wedding ceremony.

The number of cameras: the wedding videographer shall bring at least two cameras, because during the speech and first dance, it is advised to use two cameras to film the wedding formalities from different angles.

For a bigger wedding and multiply wedding videographers, you can consider to bring more cameras to capture the wedding reception from different angles. In a large wedding, you can even use the wireless radio to contact other wedding photographer in a distance.

The lens for the wedding reception: The 24-70mm and 70-200mm is still essential and practical lens for the wedding reception, the reason I add on 16-35mm because sometime we want to capture the ultra-wide angle of reception, for instance the florist set up the hanging flower on the ceiling of reception, the wedding photographer can take a portrait, vertical composition photography. As a wedding videographer, we can only  use some ultra-wide angle lens to capture entire view of the wedding reception.

Moreover, if the dance floor is too small and we want to capture the full body of the bride and groom’s dance, the 24-70 might not be wide enough to capture the full body image and it can be cause of complains. I would unfold more details of guideline of first dance in later of this chapter.

Monopod, tripod and gimbal: The tripod is a practical gear to capture the speech and first dance and the monopod is good gear to use for cutaway shot (guests reaction shot), the gimbal can create a cinematic video footage for wedding reception decoration (before guests get seat) and first dance.

Camera slider: the slider is use quite often to obtain a smooth horizon movement for details shot before the electronic gimbal came out in the market. The slider can capture the cake, centrepieces, table setting and etc in the reception. It is always to set on the tripod to change different level, so if the time is constrained, you can use the gimbal to instead it.

Audio device: you shall bring an entry level camera mic to get a slightly better quality reference sound if the dedicated recorder doesn’t work.

And an external sound recorder zooms h4 h6 with comparable cable such as XLR, quarter inch cable or even 3.5mm jack audio to connect with the DJ sound platform. You shall bring a headphone to check the audio level.

Monitor headphone

DJ mixer or platform

Backup audio device: if you can’t get audio input from the DJ mixer directly, you can use a small recorder, such as zoom h1 to wrap up on microphone which speaker would use for the speech. To make it look nicely, you can use professional black gaffer tape from a camera shop or some cheaper tapes from Bunnings Warehouse.

Gaffer tape

LED Light: there are two types of light the wedding videographer can use. One compact and small LED which it can be mounted on the cameras’ shoe mount slot. Normally, the camera’s shoe mount is use for the flash. We can also use the shoe mount for a small LED light.

On camera LED light

During the speech, we also need to mount the microphone on the shoe mount. As we know, each DSLR and mirrorless camera only has one shoe mount, in this circumstance we can use the dual cold shoe mount, therefore we can mount the LED light and mic on the camera at the same time.

The other type LED light is large and place on a solid light stands. It can provide an intensive light compare to the small LED light mounted on the camera and it can also provide the light source from different angle which it allows the wedding videographer to create more cinematic light design.

LED light on stand

sand bag for light stand

One thing we need to keep in mind, you can turn off or dimming the light during the guests’ dance, because some guest would complain the light is too bright and even sometimes the DJ want to create some dark environment for the guests.

The process of filming the wedding reception for wedding videographer in Melbourne

1. Filming the wedding reception decoration, such as centrepiece, cake, hanging flowers, table setting, chair, furniture, bridal table, vinyl floor with couple initial name, guest list board, wishing well, flower wall. 
2.   Finish the preparation work before guests enter the function room. The preparation work includes the get and test the audio from the DJ platform or reception in house sound system, set up the tripod and lighting and get the reception running sheet from the wedding MC.
3.  Film the bridal party introduction or some traditional entrance, for instance Lebanese grand entrance.
4.  Film cutting cake, first dance and speech
5. Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dances
6. bouquet and Garter toss
7. guests dance and etc
8.  goodbye to everyone

Pro tips for filming wedding reception:

• find the wedding MC or DJ when you arrive the wedding reception and get the evening running sheet
• check the 3 essential formalities time, for instance, cake cutting, speech and first dance, if there is no gap between the important formalities, you shall ask the MC to give 1-2 minutes break to set up light, tripod and changing the lens

Understand what will happen in the reception from the MC running sheet

• Use at least one wide angle lens to capture the full body shot at the first dance
• Set the off-side light at the speech, for instance, if your main camera on the left side of bridal table, the LED light shall be placed on the right side of bridal table, so that we can get some rich dimensional image
• Check the audio by a headphone instead of looking the recorder indicator, I’ll explain why you shall use the headphone to check the audio in the later of this chapter
• Use at least two cameras for the speech and first dance and Lebanese grand entrance
• Fold your monopod leg when you don’t use to avoid guests are stumble by the monopod leg and also place your tripod and camera in a safe area when you have dinner
• Never complain the food, if the guests forget to order the food for you, you could contact Tree studio and don’t make conflict with bride, groom or reception manager

If you complain the food and make them feel ashamed, they would naturally complain your work and service after the wedding

Learn to negotiable your right in a polite way, most couple would provide you food.

• Don’t drink alcohol even the guests invite you to drink alcohol, you can say you are alcohol allergy
• Say goodbye to the wedding couple and ask them whether they still want you to stay longer. If the time is over 30 minutes, the wedding couple would pay you extra half or one hour

Don’t leave the reception without notice either of bride and groom

Filming the wedding decoration

Most of the evening wedding receptions start from 6-7 pm, before the wedding reception officially start, it can be also called bridal party introduce. The wedding videographer has around 30 minutes to take the details shot, however you would have less time if the wedding is behind the schedule or a tight wedding timeline.

The wedding videography decoration checklist is here:

• centrepiece,
• cake
• hanging flowers, flower wall
• table setting, chair, furniture, bridal table
• vinyl floor with couple initial name
• guest list board, wishing well

If you still have time after taking the details footage of the wedding reception and do the preparation of setting the audio, light and main cameras, you can go to the foyer to take some guest mingling video footage.

In some lavish wedding, the bride and groom would come to the wedding reception before guests enter the reception room, and they want to take some videos and photos with the reception decoration. The dance floor would be covered by vinyl floor with the bride and groom initial name, you can ask the couple to stand in the central of dance floor to take some video.

30 minutes before the reception, the staff in the reception would provide canape, you can grasp some canape if you feel hungry because the wedding videographer and other crews would be last the person to be provided food at the reception.

Do the preparation for the entire of wedding reception

During the 30 minutes canape time, the bridal party would go to the bridal suite to have rest and retouch the makeup. The wedding videographer shall use the time effective.

You need to meet the wedding MC and DJ to get the wedding running sheet and get clear idea of each reception formalities start time. If some important formalities are back to back without the gap, you shall ask the MC gives some time to change the lens and move the tripod and lighting stand.

You shall try to get good connection with wedding MC. They would give you lots of help for the evening.

The next important thing is to set up the audio for the wedding speech later on. You can get a digital sound directly from the DJ mixer and wedding reception in house sound system. Most of time, the bride and groom would use the DJ mic and speaker, however sometime they can also use the sound from reception. You shall know which sound source you shall get from.

The most popular external sound recorder is Zoom H4 and H6, you can also find some similar price range on other brand. When you connect the DJ mixer, you shall use the headphone to check the input audio level, so please prepare your own headphone to leave in your camera bag.

I would suggest you to set the audio in -6 to -12db to avoid the pitch sound, it can also reduce the unpleasant buzzer noise from DJ mixer.

There are two major factors to effect on the purity of your sound recording. You can control the recorder’s gain and DJ mix amplifier. You can twist your recorder gain knot and DJ mix output sound volume to approach -6 to -12db range, so don’t boost one side of gain too much otherwise you will get some humming noise.

When you check the recorder sound volume, most of recorder front face has the sound volume indicator. You can simply keep the indicator to show the green bar. You would get pitch sound if the indicator reaches the red colour.

Recorder indicator

However, you shall not only trust the recorder indicator, sometimes the indicator shows you a proper range but in fact the sound is electronica noise, you shall ask the DJ to test the audio.

The audio setting and test shall be finish before the wedding reception start because the Melbourne DJs don’t have time to help you to test the audio when the reception starts.

In some situation, the DJs don’t want to give you the audio output or you can’t connect to the sound system, you can use black tape to wrap the recorder or lapel mic on the microphone. But it can be seemed a backup plan for audio.

The rest of the preparation work is to set the LED light and tripod, it is easy job and I’ve explained earlier in the guide.

Bridal party introduce and Lebanese grand entrance

After all the guests seated, the MC would spend 3-5 minutes to do some house warming. Then the wedding videographer shall be standby for the official bridal party introduce.

Normally, the parents would walk in first and then each pair of bridesmaid and groomsmen and last is bride and groom. Sometimes, they can make the firework when the bride and groom enter the room, you shall take attention on the exposure, you can pre-set the exposure one stop lower than normally exposure for the firework.

For some Lebanese, Turkey and Egyptian wedding, they would hire 4-10 drummers to beat the drum and play the music before the bride and groom enter. And they can keep the dance around 15-30 minutes in the beginning of wedding reception, it is quite dramatic and important moments for their culture. It can be call grand entrance for Arabic wedding.

Lebanese grand entrance dance

You shall keep rolling whole process of grand entrance. Normally the wedding couples would hire up 2 wedding videographers. So, one wedding videographer use the gimbal to capture wide angle and moving footage and the other videographer can use the 24-70mm to get some safe shot or some reaction shot from the guests.

But if you are only one person to capture the Lebanese grand entrance, you shall capture this part in a conservative manner.

The 3 formalities in the wedding reception

The cake cutting, speech and first dance would be  the most essential 3 formalities for the wedding reception, these three formalities have similar priority position as the wedding ceremony. You shall not miss or making a major mistake for 3 essential formalities in the evening. Let’s discuss one by one.

The cake cutting would be the easiest part in the 3 formalities, you can use the tripod or monopod to support your cameras, if you want to get some cinematic movement, you can use the gimbal.

The speech: first of all, you shall get to know clearly, how many speeches do they have, how many rounds does include in the speech list?

Most of the speech would be finish in one round, however in some exception case, the speech can be split into two parts and entrée or main course can be filled in the middle of the speech. If the speech has two part, you shall be taken your attention twice.

During the speech, you can set the main camera in front of bridal table and the position can be slightly left and right side towards the bridal table.

To get more cinematic light, you can place your light on the horizonal opposite position with the main cameras.

The second camera with the telephoto lens can capture the bridal party, parents and guest close up reactions.

The first dance: Normally, you shall set two cameras for the first dance. The main camera capture the wide angle to the first dance and make sure you can capture the full body of the bride and groom from the main cameras.

The second camera can be used on the gimbal to get some moving image or getting a tele lens to capture the close up shot. Both manners are fine and it depends on which wedding videography style do you want to represent to the audience.

The light setting for the first dance: you can set the major LED light on the lighting stand and place on the diagonal opposite position to the main cameras.

You can place one small LED light on the main camera, normally one wedding videographer would stand back the main camera to operate, the wedding videographer can be captured the footage from the second gimbal camera footage.

However, if you use a small LED light mounted on the main camera, on top of glory Led light mounted on the main camera would minimum the videographer disturbs who is stand behind the main camera.

A rule of thumb, the wedding videographer shall try not to being captured from other cameras.

The gimbal using for the first dance: the first dance would last 3-5 minutes or one song. The Steadicam or gimbal operators are allowed to go 360 circles 2-3 times in the beginning of first dance and you can also approach the bride and groom dance closely to get some more dramatic movement.

But you shall not take too much time, because the wedding photographer also need to take some wide angle of first dance, if you want to get some close shot by gimbal, please do decisive and straightforward and leave some time for the main video camera and photographer.

If the dance is designed chronography, at the climax of music, the bride and groom would spin, dip or lift the bride at this time, the gimbal operator shall be ready for the key moments.

Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dances

You can use quite similar way to capture the Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dances like filming the first dance.

But during Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dances, the DJs always use slow and romantic music for this section. Therefore, instead of gimbal, you can use the monopod to support your second camera to get less moving footage.

The traditional dance for the wedding videography

If your wedding videography coverage is still not finished in this part, lots of wedding couple only pay the wedding videographer until the three formalities finish to manage their wedding videography cost.

As a big or traditional wedding, for instance, Greek, Lebanese and Italian, the bride, groom and their parents want the wedding videographer to capture their traditional dance. The wedding videographer shall capture all the traditional dance. You can use the tripod dollies on the dance floor, the dollies can only be used on the smooth floor.

Tripod dolly

For some certain community, like Serbian, Croatia, Macedonia, the guests would dance whole night. Furthermore, the parents of bride and groom in this cultural background would request the capture every second of dance, that means you have to keep rolling the camera throughout the whole dancing part.

The standard of length of live footage would be 1-1.5 hours, yet some traditional wedding live footage can be up to 5-8 hours. You shall not only ask what the bride and groom expect but also their parents.

Rest part of wedding reception

Normally the wedding formalities would finish at 9pm-10pm. In some situation, the bride and groom want to put the 3 formalities in the beginning of reception because they want to leave more time for dancing or the wedding reception finished earlier because the bride and groom consider their guests need to work next day.

In fact, the finishing of time at 9-10 pm is more reasonable in majority of weddings, because the reception normally finishes at 11pm-12am. So, the couple leave approximate 2 hours for the guests to rock on the dance floor.

In the last two hours of wedding reception, the wedding videographer would experience more dance, bouquet and Garter toss, goodbye to everyone. There are not much I would teach you, just keep nice working ethic, don’t smoke outside and drink alcohol.

The bride and groom invite you to capture their wedding day not invite you to have fun in a pub.

At the end of day, you shall say congratulation to the bride and groom and ask them whether they still need you to film anything. Make sure you get clear confirmation with bride and groom then you can leave the wedding reception.

You would also check you pack up everything, specific your audio recorder, sometimes the wedding videographer forgets to get back the recorder which it is connected to the DJ’s mixer and the batteries would be drained out when you get it back next day and it would have chance to lost the speech in your recorder.

Bonus: wedding videography behind the scene video of Dylan & Dayna

Real wedding of Dylan & Dayna

How to use this ultimate wedding videography guide?

I suppose you would get some insight of wedding videography skills when you read the article till here.

To get comprehensive of wedding videography knowledge, I’d suggest you read the wedding videography guideline 3-5 times and each time of reading you would learn some new knowledge which you didn’t notice at the first reading and get further inspiration when you film your first one or two wedding by yourself.

This wedding videographer guide can be seemed as a handbook and guideline. I used my last 9 years wedding videography career to provide you the clear direction and call attention to something you might make some major mistakes in the future.

However, you shall not just stop learning the knowledge and imitate blindly, there is no absolute truth in world therefore you shall have your own judgement. If you accept blindly without your own thought, you would be fooled, that would be not my intention to written this guide.

Reading this guideline would be a great starting point, I believe if you keep pursuit the truly art of wedding videography. Your artist wedding videography will be superior than me one day, it accords with the universal and natural law.

‘Reality is a historical process’ said by Georg Hegel (1770-1831)

In the end, let me mention the people who contribute this complete wedding videography guide. Thanks for Harry to provide the technique support from Moments to life, real wedding case study from William.H, wedding information summary by Seth and article proofreading from Calvin.K. Without all talented and enthusiastic people behind, I will not able to produce this quality of work.

If you have your own opinion,  point out anything we can improve in next version, you can contact me here, or you want to be part of members of wedding videographer in Tree studio, I’m sure you would encounter me at one of crossroad in Melbourne in an earlier spring.

Written by late Summer 2021 by Mark