wedding videographers...how do you do yours?

[Red96TA]

I'm looking into getting into wedding videography as a part time gig...how do I go about getting into this profession?

When you film, how many cameras do you use? what angles (of course, the best shot is probably standing up in their face, but how to stay discreet and film), how do you handle audio?

What is the base charge for the service? Do you charge more for fancy NLE work...how much? How many disks do they get for the 'base' service? Do you prefer to retain the copyrights, or do you let them make as many copies as they want?

wheh...

[Conquest10]

I'm stupid didn't read right.

[Grimey]

I'm stupid didn't read right.

Thought he was talking about porn? :P

[rallynavvie]

Good wedding or event videography is expensive. Local videographers that I work with have in the least a Sony DSR-250 or Canon XL-1 for a camera, several have at least a couple of these and some use the big boy's DSR-500. Audio is done with a DAT or DA88 recorder with mics generally on the left and right of the center of the action with DA88s doing some extra tracks and surround use. They use some sort of timestamp synch device that I've never really understood. With the better cameras you can get decent stereo recordings through them onto the DVCAM tape itself, but usually not camera-mounted mics. Shoulder-shooting is out unless a client asks for it as an artsy touch so make sure to get good fluid-mount tripods.

I looked into being an event videographer but I spend my money on computer equipment so camera equipment was just too much on top of that. And add to that my limited time to actually shoot it just wouldn't have worked out for me. I just buddied up with videographers to do their post-production work and DVD mastering since I have far better authoring equipment and resources than they do. You can do one or the other well or both mediocre, unless of course you have the cash and time to invest into both.

[northcat_8]

Most of the time people have an uncle or someone film it and I just turn it into a DVD for them. I edit it of course and add music and transition it and all that.

If I am filming I like to use 3 cameras. For the actual ceremony, I like to have one viewing the face of the groom, one viewing the face of the Bride and then one either behind the couple facing the preacher or behind the preacher facing both bride and groom.

I then splice the film together like a soap opera feel, where the preacher is talking to them and I cut back and forth to the bride and groom, etc, etc.

Charge is dependent on time spent. I'm pretty cheap and well below market value with the cost. I usually only charge around $200 if I shoot the video. $40-$50 if I just do the DVD.

I personally hate filming weddings, they always suck. Maybe if the bridesmaids were going to go 5 on 1 with the videographer, then that would be cool, but that rarely happens.

[thayne]

I wouldn't charge less than $800 for 90 min of finished video

[Supreme2k]

Whatever technique you follow, make sure to copy protect your DVDs!

[aanaravs]

I use 2 camera for a wedding. A Canon XL1s and a Canon GL2. My basic plan is to leave one camera in the wide mode and I use the other one to take closeups and stuff. I also use a wireless mic system that I put on the groom to get good audio. I charge about 1500 dollars for 3 copies and the TRT is generally about 90 minutes.

[lordsmurf]

Whatever technique you follow, make sure to copy protect your DVDs!

[rallynavvie]

I use 2 camera for a wedding. A Canon XL1s and a Canon GL2. My basic plan is to leave one camera in the wide mode and I use the other one to take closeups and stuff. I also use a wireless mic system that I put on the groom to get good audio. I charge about 1500 dollars for 3 copies and the TRT is generally about 90 minutes.

This is par for most of my videographers. I think they double what I charge them for mastering. I have connections that they can't beat on pressing discs and having them screen-printed but I generally don't mark up my costs much on that. Most of my cost is in post-production. The ones I like the most are the ones that do their edits in Premiere and give me the footage and saves to encode and master on my systems. When AE is involved it can save them a few days in rendering sometimes. I do need to find a better steady-shot filter for Premiere Pro if anyone knows of one.

I also have a sweet little deal set up with some local stores where they sub jobs out to me that they can't do in-house.

[northcat_8]

Wireless mics are a must.