Outdoor Wedding - Any Tips edDV?

[daamon]

Hi edDV,

I'm doing an outdoor wedding soon, for a friend, and was wondering if you had any tips?

My biggest fear is if it's windy - I don't have access to a radio / boom mic, and I'll probably be on my own. If I pull my finger out, I may be able to pic up a decent mic from one of the ones you've previously recommended - if not, it'll be the one that comes with my Canon XM2 (GL2 in the US).

Also, I have access to two DV cams and two tripods. I've seen you say a number of times that you use one as a B-roll for wide shots. How / where do you position the second camera? What considerations are there? An obvious one is to make sure that I and / or guests don't walk in front of it too much...

Anything would be useful. Cheers...

And, of course, others are welcome to pitch in suggestions. Thanks.

[julitomg]

If you don´t have any extra sound equipment(boom, wireless mic, etc..)then your best chance to get decent sound is to get close to the source of it. If your camera has manual sound level, keep it in manual(and always use headphones)...You say you have access to two cameras, will you have someone to operate the second one or you´re planning to leave it in a fixed position? In a wedding, usually the priest´s speech is usually important as well as the "I do"´s from the marring couple. You might like to get close to where they are, about 3/4s by one side (facing the priest)in a position where you can zoom in and out to a variety of shots(from a close up of the priest to a trheeshot and being ready to catch the parents or best man giving the ring and stuff), if your second camera is to be let in a fixed position, keep it near, but facing the groom and bride in a composition that includes them and as many of the close relatives that sit or stand behind them. If you have someone operating it coach him to give you either wide open shots or pannings on the crowd or close shots of faces(specially family)listening at the ceremony. He can do that during the priest longer speeches but he´s to be ready to zoom in closer to the couple before they make their oaths, put the rings, kiss, etc... and to keep perfectly still at those precious(from an editing point of view)moments.
I´m not familiar with taping weddings so I don´t know if what I just said is nonsense for someone with more experience in that field, if that ´s so I apologize in advance...

[edDV]

Hi edDV,

I'm doing an outdoor wedding soon, for a friend, and was wondering if you had any tips?

My biggest fear is if it's windy - I don't have access to a radio / boom mic, and I'll probably be on my own. If I pull my finger out, I may be able to pic up a decent mic from one of the ones you've previously recommended - if not, it'll be the one that comes with my Canon XM2 (GL2 in the US).

Wind can have bad effects. Try to have a slip on windshield handy.
http://www.bealecorner.com/vx2000/wind/VX2k-wind.html
http://www.equipmentemporium.com/ShockmountsWindscreens.htm

Also, I have access to two DV cams and two tripods. I've seen you say a number of times that you use one as a B-roll for wide shots. How / where do you position the second camera? What considerations are there? An obvious one is to make sure that I and / or guests don't walk in front of it too much...

Go to the rehearsal and plan your shots. If you don't have a second operator, find a shot that will work any time during the service. For me this has been a rear side high shot (over the heads of standing audience) or a rear high shot that covers the wedding party and has the preacher-priest in view.

This is my B-roll shot that I can always use in the edit while the main handheld camera is being repositioned or reframed.

For example the main camera might have this shot plan.
1. Wedding party entering and walking down aisle
2. Side view from tripod of bride and groom.
3. Side rear view of any speeches
4. Audience shots (can also be used as B-roll if needed)
5. Rear view of wedding party departing
6. Receiving line after service.

If you have an operator for the second camera, you can have them reposition during the service for alternate fixed tripod shots but don't let them pan-zoom live unless they are trained. You want that camera to be your safety shot during edit. You don't want both cameras being framed and focused at the same time.

[thecoalman]

My biggest fear is if it's windy - .

There's a setting for the mic for wind.... pg 56 in my manual. Better than 128...

Might not be appropiate for a wedding though, it states low sounds will be lower which is obviously something that might be an issue.

[edDV]

My biggest fear is if it's windy - .

There's a setting for the mic for wind.... pg 56 in my manual. Better than 128...

Might not be appropiate for a wedding though, it states low sounds will be lower which is obviously something that might be an issue.

Pros use the "furry" squirrel tails to cut wind noise but still maintain frequency response.
http://www.gkgraphics.com/home/reviews/camcorder_accessories/audio_technica/at822/imag...d/IMG_2463.jpg

[daamon]

Hi all,

Thanks for taking a look and for posting tips / suggestions. I think that's enough to cover me for this wedding - no doubt I'll learn more from the day and improve from there. Cheers!

@ edDV: Thanks for the links. The first was interesting reading. If I find time, I may conduct my own experiment so that I get a good set up for my specific mic.

Also, thanks for the "shooting plan" and guidance on the B-roll camera.

pg 56 in my manual. Better than 128...

Indeed...

[daamon]

Hi all,

I thought I'd report back on the outcome...

Well, I used two cams: my Canon XM2 for the main footage and an old Sony (single chip) DCR-SC100E (my original DV cam that bloody well got me hooked into this sodding game ) for wide shots and B-roll.

I also had a new mic on the XM2 instead of using the one that comes built in. It was a Rode VideoMic, costing me AUS$200. It was fitted with a dead cat / squirrel / koala that cost about AUS$50.

Having this new mic was a definite bonus - the audio quality was definitely superior to the in-built, and even though the effective ranges are probably comparable, coz the new mic is directional I got more of what I wanted and less of what I didn't.

The dead animal helped too - being outside there was a bit of a breeze that blustered every now and again, but no sign of it on the audio and the voices were all clear still.

Both cams were on tripods, with me at the wheel on the XM2 and the Sony just framed and turned on.

As it was an outdoor wedding, I did a few shots of the bride inside and getting ready to come out. In the meantime, the 2nd camera was running at the same time to get crowd / groom waiting etc.

She exited, which I shot, and then I legged it to the "altar" so I was positioned to get her coming down the "aisle". I had to reposition when she arrived, and the B-roll footage came in really handy to cover this, as well as getting her walking past the cam down the "aisle".

Even though I used it in a simple setup, the B-roll cam proved its worth. There were two problems:

1) As it was an old single chip cam with no manual adjustments, the picture quality was noticably inferior to that of the XM2. I had to do some jiggery pokery in Premiere to get it looking a bit more acceptable.

2) Coz it was outside, there was nowhere to elevate the B-roll cam - even on a tripod with the centre stem fully extended I still got heads in the way.

But, lessons learned and a very happy bride and groom. Thanks to all for your help - it paid off!

[edDV]

Thanks for the feedback.