Weddings are about love, joy, and indelible experiences. Therefore, so that a single moment does not go unital, it is important to prepare a clear-cut wedding videography checklist.
This way, your videographer knows exactly what you want. Weddings are usually crammed with all sorts of activity and you must decide how this will be captured during the day. That’s why, we have a complete checklist ready for you. Let’s dive in and make your day better!
Why Do You Need A Wedding Videography Checklist?
Checking out a wedding video is truly a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Every sprinkle of garland and every drop of tears shooting down the cheeks will be recorded and retouched later in the video footage.
This is why it is very important for you to encompass a well-crafted video checklist. The reason is simple, without a strategy, some of those precious moments will likely go unnoticed.
A checklist will help you and your videographer to zero in on the essential shots from when getting ready to the ending last dance.
This systematic method enhances the wedding video quality in that every joyful, sad, and emotional moment will be documented, thus eliminating the chance of missing out on any of them.
Additionally, it helps the videographer remain focused. This is helpful in documenting both the significant events as well as the little details that are special on the wedding day.
You should have a videography checklist if you wish to see the conjoined night once and for all, then gently again, and the third time, and so on.
The Complete Wedding Videography Checklist for Your Special Day: Pre-Wedding Preparations
In the checklist, you must keep pre-wedding preparations in mind. So, first things first, complete these essentials:
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Arrange To Meet Your Recording Artist
As for the videographer to meet your expectations satisfactorily, it is necessary to plan for the meeting session in great detail. For instance, specify whether it is cinematic, documentary, or somewhere in between.
Gallery posting should be conducted in a way that elements of desire can be posted quite easily. Most of these tasks will focus on reviewing the agenda, stressing focal events, and outlining logistics.
You are supposed to talk about the limits of your venue as well as the equipment they would like to use. With such a plan of action in place, your videographer will be appropriately briefed to execute your concept.
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Share Your Wedding Schedule
It is the best way to eliminate any lateness or unpreparedness of your videographer by handing him a detailed wedding schedule. Everything counts right from the very first glance till the first dance.
Given a complete wedding schedule, the videographer will be prepared for some transitions and thus make the best of every cherished instant. They will also avoid conflicts of time and dates with other service providers like the photographer or the DJ.
The big day will come and be well documented without any hitches, thanks to this planning thereof. Even the most mundane events will be witnessed most delightfully.
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Tour Of The Venue
To know the perfect shooting spots, the highlighting places, and where the lighting must be for these, you and your videographer must do a venue walkthrough.
Those who take the time to prepare for the big day by scouting out great places for filming will suffer no unpleasant surprises on the wedding day. Discuss the camera positions and plan the shots that are a must for all, including the entry shot and the outdoors shot.
This trip could also help to locate certain constraints such as no-drone zones or no-go areas. It is up to the videographer to know the best angles of your wedding if the surroundings and light are familiar.
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Arrange Sound Systems
It should be noted that speeches and vows, as well as toasts, all need very clear audio to be captured. Ask your videographer about how they would record sound.
Perhaps, they would connect to the sound system of the venue, or use some other recording devices. Make the necessary modifications while taking into account the infection intensity and spanning noise.
If you are acquainted with the audio setup before the event, you may avert all technical hitches and ensure that every single detail is captured aptly enhancing the overall texture of the wedding film.
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Collaborate With Other Vendors
For coverage that goes off without a hitch, make sure your videographer and other suppliers work in tandem. Tell your videographer to work in advance with your photographer, event planner, and DJ.
This way, the DJ will play a cue for the music to begin at the time of your entrance and the photographer will take a group picture so that at that time and critical points there will be no interference or overlapping.
With the help of their efforts, you will be able to document the entire day in all its glory where all the moments, sounds, and angles will be covered in tremendous detail of the day.
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Make A Shot List
A shot list helps you and your videographer to understand which remains or several remaining essences you wish your videographer to run to shoot and preserve.
Consider listing any specific photos you want taken, such as the first glimpse, the exchange of vows, or simply a photo of you with your grandparents. Think outside the box and turn in something different–perhaps shooting the wedding bands with some significant place in the background.
This way, the cameraman can schedule their day and be on the go so as not to miss anything. An annotated shot list will provide an extra dimension to your wedding film. They will add character and extra soul to your wedding film.
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Equipment Testing
To avoid any technical issues, it is important to do an equipment test before the actual day. Each type of camera, lens, and microphone has a certain purpose and your videographer needs to tick them off once again.
Confirm that the batteries used for devices are adequately charged and that there are appropriate recording memory cards for continuous endurance. In this pre-check, we should also make sure that any supplementary gear, such as drones or lighting equipment, is in good working order.
Ultimate filming of great footage will be in the mind of your videographer once the equipment is tested in advance to avoid any trouble at the last minute.
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Talk About Contingency Plans
There is always the need to talk about a contingency plan just in case the unforeseen occurs such as bad weather or some technical failure or disaster. If it rains, there is the need to address other locations to shoot or discuss indoor alternatives.
Ensure that your videographer has a couple of extra batteries and cameras in case something goes wrong. Talk about how they will deal with the last-minute changes or how the changes in the timetable will affect the meeting plans. You can relax knowing that your videographer has a wonderful plan B which would address any planned or unplanned event.
Wedding Day Videography Checklist
After the pre-planning, your wedding day comes. So you have to keep the right checklist in your hands. Here is a brief checklist that may help you:
Pre-Ceremony Moments
Every frame of the couple’s wedding carries its history, starting from the tender first sight and culminating with the joyous celebration. Keeping this in mind, here are some pre-ceremony moments you must capture to make your wedding video feel more realistic:
- Moments Before Wedding Ceremony
Those last minutes before the wedding bring all sorts of feelings from anxiety to excitement. These are the unscripted moments that one can capture a peek of the energy that’s boiling inside of them as well as the anxiety and preparations for the main event.
- “Getting Dressed-Up As The Bride And Groom” Moment
With the bride and groom getting ready and getting dressed, the cameras can pick up those sweet and playful moments. All sorts of behind-the-scenes photos capture their happiness, nervousness, and eagerness as they prepare for the day.
Little things such as a bride doing her hair and makeup or a groom adjusting his tie, all serve to add to the build-up. Also, it is a perfect time to capture some precious moments with friends and family members so that the video is more enjoyable.
- Dress, Rings, And Invitations
The wedding Day has several activities in which all words and deeds correspond to the couple’s personality and express their love story.
There is an elegance added to the film with the close-up of the garment, a ring, an invite, and other such articles. Some of these photographs that the young couple might lose in the hustle and bustle will however be important to catch how the wedding looked on camera.
- The Very First Look
Most people’s raw and immediate feelings bring themselves out at the first look and so it is also the highlight of the Day.
A perfectly fitting touch to wedding videos is the ‘couple’s first look’ photographs since it is intimately shared by the husband and wife and captures their inner emotions away from the guests. At least every individual couple will want to bring back this feeling of happiness, surprise, and love that responds to this alliance.
- Reactions Of The Guests
Capture the feelings of family and friends before, during, and before the marriage ceremony. The emotions of relatives and friends captured on tape in their joy, sadness, and tears add a lot to the wedding video. Intimate, natural moments like these help the newlyweds better visualize the day and what is important about their occasion for their guests.
- Notable Reception Moments
The reception is the key party, hence do not forget to capture any of the events that may take place there. The film cannot be complete without highlights such as the bride and groom walking in, the couple’s first looks, the cake, the venue, and more pre-ceremony moments.
Ceremony Must-Have Shots
For the wedding film to be everlasting in the hearts of the couple, rush for these shots to your videographer:
- Guests Arriving
The ideal atmosphere of the wedding is determined by the incoming guests to the location. Capturing their joyous well-being and bustle welcomes the day very well. While glancing at the policies, the guests will be waiting for the choir and ceremonial participants and will also take time moving around and back and forth.
It helps present to the couple in love how most of their friends behaved on that wonderful occasion, but the video record helps achieve it. It shows the joy and tension that all the guests bring that day without specific directions.
- The Bride’s Aisle Walk
Every inch of the aisle that the bride covers while making her dramatic appearance is a priceless shot and will remain alive in memory for a long time.
Until the bride gets to the altar, the videographer should ensure that he/she documents every single detail of the bride’s steps. Dimension is added to the video by way of capturing the reactions of the guests, her facial expressions, and the connection with her escort which is usually the father.
- Groom’s Reaction
Portions of the bride’s tilt stand, nervousness in the air, the groom’s every little reaction, their first eye contact, everything will touch your heart, even if it’s captured in clips.
Whether happy, teary, or in total shock, this picture dominates every important moment. The bride’s entry and the first fix of a fresh groom’s cheek will be ideally captured by a decent videographer.
This adds a personal and emotional touch to the movement because the video captures the groom’s emotions honestly and naturally so that the audience can never forget that day.
- Ring Exchanging And Vows
The highlight of the rites is in exchanging rings and the pledging of vows. At these moments, the videographer must film from an unobstructed viewpoint so that he captures the couple’s physical nuances.
When taking pictures of two people putting on rings, one should focus on their hands because it creates pleasant feelings. Since these moments are packed with both significance and meaning, it is only fair that they are done correctly and recorded so that they give joy over and over again.
- The First Kiss
One of the most discussed parts of the wedding day has to be the wedding kiss. It is good for the videographers to be stationed just before the couple so that they capture the best view of the wedding procession.
The cameraman has to get this angle in time because these moments always come and go and he must do it without any flaws.
- Overall Reactions Of The Couple
Record the behavior of the pair during intercourse the vows while pronouncing the parish, or during the whole act of permission to marry.
The true and deep emotions that cannot be rehearsed, a look, a smile, or a drop of a tear are what combine the young couple close.
Reception Must-Have Shots Ideas
Getting the reception footage down to the last detail will mark this wedding couple cinematographer’s jocular masterpiece for all times. Every videographer covering the reception must remember to take these shots:
- The Couple’s Arrival
One of the features of the reception that is quite thrilling is the couple’s entrance. This is such an invigorating and cheerful shot regardless of whether the couple walks up holding hands or comes prancing to the head table.
A videographer should focus on capturing not only the couple’s faces but also the feedback of the guests by alternating medium and close angles. Typically the wedding highlights video will place this shot around the opening of the ceremony for attention-highlighting purposes.
- The Premiere Dance
Offering privacy and romance in any wedding ceremony is having the first couple dance after being declared husband and wife. To illustrate the emotions of the couple’s bonds, pictures should be shot from all angles.
The couple moving with soft expressions on their faces while guests’ response shots are all over the room trying to capture every detail, is the smoothest eye-catching shot you will ever get.
The beauty of the completed film depends on how well the equipment can capture the smallest movements and slightest changes in the expression during the couple’s dance ceremony.
- Pronouncements And Messages
Wedding speeches are often emotional with couplets and lighter moments. The responsibility and authority to record the bride, groom, and their immediate family, especially the best man and the maid of honor cannot be ignored.
The cameraman has to connect the mics in such a way that the audience can be able to hear the reactions of the couple as they respond while listening to various comments.
- Focusing On The Cake-Chopping Process
Another official highlight of the wedding video will of course be the cutting of the cake which is intended to please the guests and those watching the reception on video.
The videographer must also ensure that a close-up shot of the couple as they cut the cake. During this happy moment, there’s a lot of laughing and fun interaction so it’s prudent to take shots from all angles.
- Garter And Bouquet Toss
Recording the couple’s involvement in the traditional garter and bouquet tosses should be filled with thrill and jubilation.
The cameraman will need to capture the image of the garter or bouquet as it is released by the bride or groom, and the audience vying to grab the flower or cloth. With a wide shot, you can imagine the astonishment and the excitement of the catchers.
- The Party Moment
As the clock’s hands move towards the latter part of the day, the dance floor becomes the main focus of attention. In order to capture the real celebratory mood of the occasion, the guests need to let down their hair and have fun.
The most useful video clips that are taken at parties are the ones taken when no one knows the camera is on and people are simply enjoying dancing.
Additionally, the final product can be enhanced by capturing group dances, special performances, and unexpected events.
- The Exit Of The Couple From The Reception
It would also be regrettable on the part of the videographer if the couple’s planned leave was not captured, especially if they had sparklers, fireworks or a beautiful getaway vehicle.
If there is one thing that is missing from every wedding video it is the leg-sweeping images depicting the couple saying their goodbyes to guests alongside shots of their beaming faces.
End Of Night Shots Checklist
In creating a wedding film, capturing the setting sun marks the end of the wedding day. This is why every videographer should include these shots towards the end of the wedding documentary every time:
- The Last Farewell
Among the many highlights of the night, one that truly lasts forever is that of the goodbye, more so, between the couple. Whether the newly married couple walks into a sky of sparklers, fireworks or rose petals with all their guests, this scene is the peak of happiness for any wedding ceremony.
Both long shots where all the action of the audience is seen and brief shots of couples departing should be done by the video operator. This can be termed as the closing piece for the whole video production as it brings about emotional sensation by indicating their new beginning as a couple.
- Post-Event Photos Of The Venue
Most times, people like taking photographs of the wedding venue as the guests leave in the course of making a wedding film.
Typical end products of this nature contain photos of the reception area, which is devoid of guests and much action, but with remnants of the jubilant event including honey lighting, unused flowers, and still-life decorations.
Taking pictures of the location after the event gives the audience enough time to reflect on all the happiness that transpired throughout the day. This adds a calm and peaceful aspect which is quite opposite to the loud, jubilant celebration.
- Farewell To Guests Or Last Dance
The emotional value of the last photo or video of the bride and groom with their family and friends before they go may be a beautiful keepsake.
Swaying, one of them head to head, one calling a sweet goodbye as they bond away another special transition. Such moments in the video are sad, intimate, full of emotions and brightness, and the best ways to finish great.
Viewers can also encompass and fully enjoy the last events that took place on the wedding day which will include the happy couple and their guests with images including both wide-angle views and close-up angles.
- Leaving The Venue
The documentary-style ending of the wedding, including pictures of the couple cleaning up or walking away from the venue gives more insight and helps to explain how the day culminated.
It improves the narrative in the sense that viewers get to see how, in real terms, the last scenes of the wedding were unfolding. It could show the couple packing their things, sharing their last private moment, or jumping into their car- seemingly on the run.
- Clips Of The Venue At Night
The last scene of the film takes on a ghostly view when done at night when the venue has subtle light and a very calm atmosphere. Aspects of the storyline can be filmed in the last two parts of the plot when it was outdoors either using sunshine, moonlight, or artificial illuminators such as bulbs.
These clips serve as the peaceful finale of the wedding day videos easing the viewers from the noisy atmosphere of the day into the silence of the evening’s narratives.
- Wrap-Up From The Behind-The-Scenes Crew
The presence of the wedding planner and the videography team towards the end of the wedding film showing them collecting their gear or extending their best wishes to the couple makes the wedding movie more real.
This exemplifies the teamwork that went into making that particular day a day to remember. To achieve that documentary feel and reflective twist at the end of the video, this content can be added to the closing scenes or credits of the video.
Audio Checklist: What To Capture Clearly
As much as filming a wedding involves recording images, audio is equally important. To make sure that all wonderful occasions are well captured both in terms of speaking and other music, there seems to be a need to record the wedding cleanly. Focus on this when conducting a wedding film:
- Audio For The Vows And Ceremony
Another very touching moment of each ceremony within a wedding is the vow exchange. Couples revel in the feelings evoked when they play the recording of their vows.
In the same vein, to enhance voice recordings of a bride and the groom, sound interfaces in their lavalier microphones will be applied by the video shooter.
The officiating minister’s words, in this case, the backbone of the entire ceremony, should be captured as afforded accurately.
- Toasts & Speeches For Receptions
Wanted reception speeches are extremely difficult to achieve with a lot of sound accompanying them from throughout the venue.
For instance, the best man’s toast and that of the father of the bride cannot fail due to the professional wireless mics that will be used.
With reaching stories, jokes, and great audio sources such as hidden microphones around your audience, it is easy to capture quality sound.
- All-Natural Sounds
Orthodox methods of filming a wedding are about going beyond simply shooting the couple and their closest relatives in silence. In the beginning, let’s quite understand the process of wedding videography, which includes attention to detail and creative interpretation of all of the events throughout the coverage.
We all know that at every wedding there comes a moment when the bride and groom both take center stage accompanied by the wedding party. These are the moments where natural audios suit the best, which is why you must use natural sounds in these cases.
- DJ And The Dancing Music
As it is often difficult to control the volume of the live music played during the party, it becomes very imperative that the audio of the band or the DJ is well recorded.
Excellent audio, particularly the music at such events, should also be included. Besides, the cutest moment in the wedding reception is the moment for the dancers to get out onto the center stage and indulge the audience.
- Spare Recording System
Never erase any information without first copying it onto a spare recording. Additionally, for redundancy’s sake, always use more than one recorder and consider recording the audio separately from the video.
If it becomes necessary to record speech regardless of progress over climate, a backup microphone comes in handy. This takes care of the extra sound when recording the wedding and helps maintain the quality of sound throughout the event.
- Non-Load Bearing Structural System
The backyard could be enhanced with natural sound effects such as nature, which could include, the sound of the birds tweeting or the sound of the waves breaking when the wedding is held outside.
A more fun option is to record the ambient sounds during the wedding while making sure that there are special microphones that are used for such purposes. Though finely shaded, such details will improve the overall picture.
Drone Footage And Unique Angles
Shots made from above the venue along with other non-standard angles enhance the magnificence of the wedding day. These ideas add a modern approach, creativity, and beauty to the wedding slideshow which makes it unforgettable for the couple. Here is how these different techniques can enhance the final product:
- Viewing The Site
There is no angle of a wedding location that compares with that of a drone photograph. Non-aerial film provides a sweeping view of the place unlike photographs taken from the ground which concentrate more on the people than the place.
Drones can make any place look glamorous such as exotic beaches, grand cathedrals, and thatched cottages! Incorporating these low and wide-angle shots barely above the heads of guests at the finale or preamble of the film thrills every couple.
- Creative Angles
The creative points of view have a special ability to transform ordinary events into astonishing things. Just like any other kind of footage, wedding videos can be boring from a creative perspective.
Other than that, several ways exist whereby wedding videos can follow. To add some drama and emotional effect, it’s possible to film special moments such as the couple’s first kiss or the couple walking down the aisle from above.
- Capturing Candids
It’s also feasible to capture unposed shots by means of using drones and other creative angles. Videoing can capture reality, bringing out how people interacted and the festivities themselves thanks to drones.
It works particularly well for events held outdoors, in which people can move about easily. To avoid staged emotions and make the video more authentic include distance shots or unusual perspectives.
- Smooth Transitions
Mistakes are prevented through the use of drones and other innovative camera angles, which is ideal for enhancing transitions between sections of the wedding day activities.
For instance, the video is appealing and the camera progressively departs from a distant view of the venue to close the newly wedded couple.
It also helps in joining different time frames of the wedding day; in which it helps in joining the preparations bit and the final aspect of the wedding where the couple dances.
- The Main Attractions
In this case, it is possible to capture some of the venues’ features, including the gardens, fountains, or buildings, on drone footage. To add creative control, decorating elements such as lighting, table settings, and flower arrangements can be emphasized in some creative perspectives.
These shots, which add finishing touches to the video, improve the promotional quotient of the event by showing how elaborate the preparation was. This way, the couple in love sees their wedding and everything fits perfectly.
- Recording The Big Leap
One must always note that it is the grand farewell on a wedding day. The goodbyes are made cinematic as the couple is captured flying away in some drone shots whether it is a sky full of sparklers or a vintage car.
The best first-person view will let the audience squeeze their heads above the people’s commotion and take several pictures of the happy couple who just left the party on a sissy jetpack.
Continuing in this manner at that point increases the drama and emotion of the end.
- Using Drone Video For Editing
Endless post-production opportunities exist with all the figures beamed from the drone. Leverage these drones creatively and get them as effective placers within the conventional narrative structure.
People creatively and interestingly combine several shots of the same narration employing aerial view with skilled shooting.
Additional Tips for Working with Your Videographer
The beauty of the film rests in the strengths of the communication and thorough preparations taken when faith is instilled in them. Here are suggestions to help you have an enjoyable and less cumbersome process with your videographer:
Communicate In Depth About Your Expectations
Engage your wedding videographer a bit more days before the wedding by revealing what is in your head. Explain in what way you would like pictures: which moments, angles, and so forth should be blocked.
More narrative, standard, or film-like, which direction do you tilt? If at all the videographer is to know how the wedding, as an event, and you, as an individual, are to be brought out in the final product, he needs to understand exactly what is needed from him.
Create A Timeline Of Key Activities
Purchase a detailed timetable from your videographer. Of course, there is the ceremony, first dances, first glimpses, and any speeches that may be present.
This will help the videographer better coordinate their shots as they will note what they need to capture and how as well as timing of many events.
Apart from enabling them to maintain quality video whichever time they capture, this scheme also enables them to get ready for changes in weather during the day.
Greeting Important Persons
With the help of your videographer, recognize key friends and family members. By doing so, it is assumed that such pivotal exchanges like the emotions of your parents or the tears of joy of the friend which you consider the best are forever captured in a film.
If you go ahead and give them a list of the important people or guests they might focus on during the most important scenes thus avoiding scenarios where people you care about do not appear in the final product.
Have Faith In Their Knowledge
Although you should make sure to inform the videographer of your ideas, you should also believe in their skills and techniques. From lighting and angles to the type of videography and equipment, they are experts.
Just give them a bit of freedom to vent out their creativity and they might be able to capture a shot that was beyond your imagination.
Since they have a lot of work history, they can show you how your love story should be shot in a way that will rock your video more than you ever thought it could.
Keep Them Updated On Unexpected Events
Alert your videographer ahead of time and communicate that a flash mob or pyrotechnics is one of the elements in your plans. In this regard, it allows them to prepare for the use of the most appropriate and possible camera angles and other equipment that will be needed to record the unplanned event.
Knowing what to expect helps them capture distinctive and memorable moments of your wedding in a better manner.
Ensure Proper Audio Set-Up
Every film has pictures, and every picture has a story, but all of them must be telling that story with the right pictures. Confirm with your videographer that he can operate the sound system and microphones properly.
Advise them on the timings for speeches, vows, or toasts so that they can prepare the required audio instruments. Sounds make a film more interesting, and more appealing to watch, and revealing all that and more priceless words will always be remembered.
Plan Mobile Filming
Your cameraman should blend in with the décor and not be the main focus of attention. It would help you to have them coordinate with you on where to shoot during the more intimate parts of the ceremony or the reception.
They will manage to catch the enchantment without interfering with the event itself in any way. The guests will be more relaxed and thus the wedding film will be more realistic as the natural emotions will add to the recording.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What comes in a wedding video?
When it comes to a wedding video, there is often a short film, which usually takes 3-5 minutes, that summarizes everything that happened on the day of the wedding. This video uses clips of activities which are the preparation for the ceremony, the ceremony itself, the photoshoot, the reception entrance, and the first dance.
What is traditional videography in wedding?
Traditional wedding videography, as the name implies, is the capturing of the events as they are taking place and no element of narration is involved. It is a longer version with no cutting and joins, where every aspect of the wedding day is put on film from the beginning to the end.
What is the best format for wedding video?
There is no singular kit format that constitutes the best provision of audiovisual and video performance of the wedding. The most popular formats are also teaser, highlight, feature, full-length documentary, and ceremony cut. Each of these formats has its length and content scope their choice is preferred by the couple.
What is storytelling wedding videography?
Storytelling about the couple often brings emotion to the shutterbug and the desire to capture different feelings of lovers and their parents, rather than the rote occurrences of the events.
It has photos that cover the simple things such as smiles, and warm feelings exchanged as well as happy tears.
Bottom Line
Weddings are all about capturing events and documenting the day and those present on that day but also focus on preserving the memories and feelings that were experienced on that day.
Let it be the case that you have decided to go for the conventional way of doing the video recording, cinematic approach, or a combination of it all, ensure that the videographer in question knows your approach using the wedding videography checklist.