TOP 10 TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WEDDING VIDEO

MAYBE YOU’VE BOOKED YOUR WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER, OR MAYBE YOU’RE STILL DECIDING IF YOU’D LIKE ONE (TRUST ME, YOU’LL REGRET IT IF YOU DON’T!)

I’VE PUT TOGETHER 10 TIPS THAT I THINK WILL BE SUPER USEFUL FOR ANYONE PLANNING ON HAVING A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER JOIN THEM ON THEIR BIG DAY. IT’S AN INVESTMENT, YOU ONLY DO IT ONCE AND IT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE GOING TO CHERISH FORVER, SO HERE’S HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE…

1. MAKE SURE YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER ALIGNS WITH YOUR STYLE.

LET’S START FROM THE TOP, PICKING THE RIGHT WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER FOR YOU. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE? THERE’S LOADS OF AMAZING WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS OUT THERE, SO MAKE SURE YOU PICK SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO DO YOUR WEDDING JUSTICE, WHO IS REALLY GOING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR STYLE AND IS GOING TO FIT RIGHT IN ON THE DAY. YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME ORGANISING YOUR WEDDING AND MAKING SURE IT’S PERFECT, SO YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU BOOK SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO BRING YOUR DAY TO LIFE.

I’M NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER, I’M BETTER SUITED TO COUPLES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY, MAYBE THAT’S YOUR CUPPA, MAYBE IT ISN’T. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY WORK TO MAKE SURE I’M THE RIGHT WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER FOR YOU. MAYBE YOU LIKE SOME OF MY VIDEOS MORE THAN OTHERS, THAT’S COOL, TELL ME WHICH ONES STAND OUT TO YOU SO I CAN GET A FEEL FOR WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT.

IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO MEET BEFOREHAND, EITHER OVER A ZOOM CONSULTATION OR LET’S GRAB A BEER IF YOU LIVE CLOSE BY! THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO BREAK THE ICE AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. USE THIS TIME TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE A VIDEOGRAPHER WITH YOU ON YOUR BIG DAY.

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET TO KNOW MY COUPLES BEFOREHAND, I ALSO LOVE TO HELP OUT WITH YOUR WEDDING PLANNING WHERE I CAN. I’VE MET SOME BADASS WEDDING SUPPLIERS DURING MY TIME AS A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PICK MY BRAINS AND SEND YOUR IDEAS TO ME. I LITERALLY LOVE HEARING ABOUT YOUR PLANS.

2. BOOK A PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER WITH A SIMILAR VIBE

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER, LOOK FOR AN ALTERNATIVE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER TOO. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER WORK SO CLOSELY TOGETHER ALL DAY, IF WE HAVE A SIMILAR STYLE, CHANCES ARE WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SIMILAR IDEAS FOR THE KIND OF SHOTS WE WANT, MEANING WE END UP BOUNCING CREATIVE IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER AND WORKING AS A TEAM. NOT ONLY WILL EVERYTHING RUN REALLY SMOOTHLY IF WE’RE ON THE SAME PAGE AS EACH OTHER, BUT WE’LL ALL END UP HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH IT, EVERYONE WILL FEEL AT EASE AND YOU’LL END UP WITH THE MOST BADASS SHOTS.

THERE’S SO MANY AMAZING ALTERNATIVE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS OUT THERE AND I’VE WORKED WITH A GREAT BUNCH, SO HIT ME UP IF YOU WANT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.

3. GIVE YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER A CLEAR PLAN OF THE DAY

ONE THING I ALWAYS GET FROM COUPLES IS ‘SORRY FOR BOMBARDING YOU WITH TOO MUCH INFORMATION’, LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS NO SUCH THING! HAVING A CLEAR BREAKDOWN OF YOUR DAY WITH TIMINGS IS ESSENTIAL, THE MORE DETAIL THE BETTER. NOT ONLY WILL THIS HELP YOU TO PLAN BETTER BY VISUALISING HOW YOUR DAY IS GOING TO RUN, IT’S SOMETHING YOU CAN SHARE WITH ALL OF YOUR WEDDING SUPPLIERS SO YOU KNOW EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

ON THE LEAD UP TO YOUR WEDDING DAY, I’LL BE IN TOUCH TO ARRANGE A ZOOM CALL WITH THE BOTH OF YOU SO WE CAN HAVE A GOOD CHAT THROUGH YOUR DAY AND I CAN REALLY GET A FEEL FOR YOUR PLANS, WE CAN CHAT THROUGH DETAILS SUCH AS TIMINGS, SPECIFIC SHOTS YOU MIGHT WANT AND ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. I’M CAPTURING YOUR BIG DAY, IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE, SO I WANT TO KNOW EVERY LITTLE DETAIL TO MAKE SURE I CAN BRING YOUR DAY TO LIFE AND DO IT JUSTICE.

AFTER THE FOLLOW UP CALL I’LL SEND YOU A QUESTIONNAIRE TO FILL OUT, THIS INCLUDES A FULL BREAK DOWN OF TIMINGS, WHERE I NEED TO BE, CONTACT NUMBERS AND YOUR WEDDING SUPPLIER LIST SO I CAN MAKE SURE I CAN TAG THEM IN ANY CONTENT I SHARE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE.

4. SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME FOR COUPLE SHOTS

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU’RE GOING THROUGH THE TIMINGS OF YOUR DAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME AWAY FROM GUESTS, BUT TRUST ME THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MINGLE AND HAVE A DRINK WHILST YOU GET YOUR ALL-IMPORTANT COUPLE SHOTS. I WOULD RECOMMEND FACTORING IN AROUND HALF AN HOUR FOR THIS AND IT’S SO NICE TO GRAB THAT TIME ALONE AND DIGEST THE DAY TOGETHER. EVERYONE IS GOING TO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ALL DAY, WHICH DON’T GET ME WRONG IS AMAZING, LITERALLY ALL OF YOUR FAVOURITE PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD ARE THERE CELEBRATING WITH YOU, BUT EQUALLY, IT’S SO NICE TO TAKE A LITTLE BREATHER TOGETHER, SO DON’T FEEL BAD FOR THIS!

TIPS TO GET THE PERFECT COUPLE SHOTS:

MY STYLE IS SUPER LAID BACK, I DON’T PARTICULARLY LIKE ANYTHING TO LOOK OVERLY STAGED, SO WHEN I TAKE YOU OFF FOR YOUR COUPLE SHOTS, LET’S JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT. I’LL GET YOU BOTH LAUGHING, WALKING, TALKING, GRABBING EACH OTHER’S ASS, SHAKING UP BOTTLES OF PROSECCO, HAVING A DANCE AND GENERALLY JUST BEING IN THAT MOMENT AND ENJOYING IT. YOUR WEDDING DAY IS A BIG OLD CELEBRATION OF YOUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I TRY AND BRING TO LIFE.

IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT I MAKE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN I’M GOING TO GET YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELVES. DON’T OVERTHINK IT AND JUST BE YOURSELF.

5. GET THE RIGHT CONFETTI & LOTS OF IT!

I’VE GOT TWO WORDS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW: PAPER CONFETTI, AND A SH*T TONNE OF IT. YOU THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH? GET MORE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO GRAB A BIG HANDFUL OF IT AND YOU’RE GOING TO GET THE MOST AMAZING CONFETTI SHOTS, TRUST ME. WHY PAPER CONFETTI YOU ASK? IT FLOATS IN THE AIR SO MUCH LONGER THAN DRIED FLOWERS, WHICH MEANS IT’S EASIER FOR YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER TO GET SOME SERIOUSLY AWESOME SHOTS. IT’S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS OF THE WHOLE DAY AS WHEN IT’S DONE RIGHT IT ALWAYS MAKES FOR INCREDIBLE FOOTAGE.

HOW TO GET THE BEST CONFETTI SHOTS:

FIRST AND FOREMOST: TAKE YOUR TIME. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, COUPLES END UP WALKING DOWN THE CONFETTI LINE TOO QUICKLY. REMEMBER TO SOAK UP THAT MOMENT AND ENJOY IT. SECONDLY, TRY AND STOP AROUND MID WAY THROUGH THE LINE FOR A CHEEKY SMOOCH, THIS SHOT OF YOU KISSING WHILST YOUR WEDDING GUESTS ARE THROWING CONFETTI AT YOU IS ALWAYS A GOOD ONE!

WHERE TO GET YOUR CONFETTI:

I’D RECOMMEND GETTING YOUR CONFETTI FROM PROPER CONFETTI, THEY HAVE AMAZING COLOURS WHICH WILL SERIOUSLY POP IN YOUR VIDEOS AND PICTURES AND IT’S FULLY BIODEGRADABLE.

6. BE AUTHENTIC

AS AN ALTERNATIVE WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER, I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. FROM YOUR DECORATIONS TO THE MUSIC THAT YOU PLAY, TO THE FOOD YOU SERVE, MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS WHO YOU ARE AS A COUPLE. DON’T LISTEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND GO WITH YOUR GUT AND I’M TALKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HERE. WHEN WE GOT MARRIED, WE SCRAPPED MOST OF THE TRADITIONS. WHEN WE SAT DOWN AND DISCUSSED WHAT KIND OF WEDDING WE WANTED, WE ESSENTIALLY JUST WANTED A MASSIVE PARTY WITH ALL OF OUR FAVOURITE PEOPLE, SO THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME AND SO MANY OF OUR GUESTS COMMENTED THAT THE DAY WAS ‘SO YOU’. WHY? BECAUSE WE DIDN’T THINK ‘WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT’S A WEDDING’, WE LITERALLY JUST DID WHAT THE F*CK WE WANTED. IGNORE AUNTIE SANDRA’S ADVICE, SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE’S TALKING ABOUT.

ANOTHER THING I’LL SAY ON THIS POINT IS REALLY THINK ABOUT THE SUPPLIERS YOU’RE USING. MAKE SURE THEY ALIGN WITH THE VIBE AND STYLE YOU WANT TO GO FOR ON THE DAY. PICKING GOOD, EXPERIENCED WEDDING SUPPLIERS WILL TAKE SO MUCH STRESS AWAY FROM YOU ON THE DAY, YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS.

HOW DOES THIS HELP A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER YOU ASK? IF YOUR DAY IS AUTHENTIC TO YOU, THIS IS GOING TO REALLY REFLECT IN YOUR WEDDING FOOTAGE. I CAPTURE AS MANY DETAILS AS I CAN ON THE DAY, ALL OF YOUR TABLE DECORATIONS, THE WEDDING VENUE, GUESTS MINGLING, THE SUPPLIERS YOU HAVE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. ALL OF THESE LITTLE DETAILS WILL REFLECT YOU GUYS AS A COUPLE AND THEREFORE YOUR VIDEO WILL BE YOU DOWN TO A T.

7. GET THE GANG TOGETHER

LET’S TALK GROUP SHOTS. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FAMILY SHOTS (FEATURING AUNTIE SANDRA). I’M TALKING ABOUT FUN GROUP SHOTS WITH YOUR BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN, YOUR PEOPLE. THE ONES WHO KNOW HOW TO GET THE PARTY STARTED, ARE LIKELY TO DO RIDICULOUS THINGS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND WILL EGG YOU ON TO DO THE SAME.

TYPICALLY THIS WILL HAPPEN LATER ON IN THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENING KICKS OFF (ONCE EVERYONE’S HAD A FEW SHANDY’S). TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS ALWAYS MAKES FOR AMAZING VIDEO FOOTAGE. THINK ABOUT WHAT PROPS WE CAN GET INVOLVED, SUCH AS SMOKE BOMBS, SHAKING UP BOTTLES OF PROSECCO, SUNGLASSES, MORE CONFETTI, YOU NAME IT! I USUALLY CARRY A SPEAKER WITH ME SO WE CAN HAVE A MINI OUTSIDE DISCO, FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A PLAYLIST FOR THIS BEFOREHAND AND WE WILL GET OUR DANCING SHOES ON AND CAUSE ABSOLUTE CHAOS. GETTING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO DO THIS IS USUALLY LIKE HERDING CATS (I’M NOW A PROFESSIONAL CAT HERDER), BUT THE OUTCOME IS SO WORTH IT AND WE’LL HAVE THE BIGGEST LAUGH.

8. INVEST IN EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

LET’S GET THE GOD DAMN PARTY STARTED, I LOVE CAPTURING THE EVENING CHAOS. ONE THING I’D HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO GET THE PARTY GOING IS INVESTING IN SOME GOOD QUALITY EVENING ENTERTAINMENT. FIND THE PERFECT WEDDING BAND WHO WILL NAIL YOUR FAVOURITE TUNES, SAX PLAYERS WHO WILL TURN THE DANCE FLOOR INTO A FESTIVAL, OR GET A BRASS BAND TO SURPRISE YOUR GUESTS. WHATEVER YOUR JAM, THIS ALWAYS GOES DOWN A STORM WITH WEDDING GUESTS AND IT’S GUARANTEED TO GET YOUR PARTY POPPING. YOU’LL PROBABLY ALSO CATCH ME THROWING A FEW SHAPES ON THE DANCE FLOOR. SORRY NOT SORRY.

9. DANCE FLOOR PROPS

THIS LEADS ME ONTO DANCE FLOOR PROPS, BECAUSE WHO DOESN’T LOVE A BIT OF FANCY DRESS? WIGS, INFLATABLE INSTRUMENTS, GLOW STICKS, LIGHT UP SUNGLASSES ALWAYS HELP CAPTURE SUPER FUN FOOTAGE ON THE DANCE FLOOR AND IT’LL WITHOUT DOUBT GET YOUR GUESTS INTERACTING WITH THE CAMERA WHICH ALWAYS MAKES FOR AWESOME FOOTAGE.

ALSO HAVE A THINK ABOUT YOUR FIRST DANCE AND HOW WE CAN GET SOME SUPER FUN SHOTS OF THIS. THINK ABOUT GETTING YOUR BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN TO FIRE OFF SOME SURPRISE CONFETTI CANNONS AND YOU’LL END UP HAVING SOME EPIC FIRST DANCE SHOTS!

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS THAT YOU WANT TO RUN PAST ME I’M ALWAYS JUST AN EMAIL AWAY TO CHAT ABOUT ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE. I LOVE GETTING CREATIVE WITH MY COUPLES AND CAPTURING SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNIQUE!

10. SOAK IT ALL UP

DON’T STRESS. YOU’VE DONE ALL THE HARD WORK NOW ENJOY YOUR DAY AND DELEGATE JOBS TO YOUR BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN, IT’S WHAT THEY’RE THERE FOR! SPEND AS MUCH TIME TOGETHER AS YOU CAN, KISS EACH OTHER AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE AND THROW EACH OTHER AROUND ON THE DANCE FLOOR. GRAB YOUR CLOSEST PALS, CUDDLE YOUR NAN, STUFF CAKE IN EACH OTHERS MOUTHS AND TRY AND SOAK UP EVERY SECOND, TRUST ME THE DAY GOES SO QUICKLY. I WANT TO CAPTURE ALLLLLLL OF THOSE SUPER CUTE CANDID MOMENTS, SO THE MORE RELAXED YOU ARE THE BETTER.

STOP AND TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AROUND AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND ENERGY YOU’VE PUT INTO YOUR DAY AND HOW MUCH ALL OF YOUR GUESTS ARE LOVING EVERY SECOND. TRUST ME, ALL OF THE HARD WORK WILL BE SO WORTH IT.