Cinematic Video For Weddings: Tips You Need To Follow

Time and again we have spoken at length about the importance of wedding videography. Behind every inspirational cinematic wedding video, there is an amazing wedding videographer who does magic with not just his or her state of art camera gears and lenses! Creating a cinematic wedding video that can inspire and help a couple relieve their biggest day, again and again, can be one of the best gifts you can give to them as a professional cinematic wedding videographer. What is a cinematic wedding videography style and what sets it apart? Cinematic-style wedding videography can turn any ordinary event into something truly magical. The experience becomes more about the small moments or occasions but more about making it look like a spectacle.

Cinematic wedding videos are perfect for large wedding events with hundreds of guests in stunning locations as well as in intimate surroundings with a small guest list. Creating a cinematic-style wedding video needs careful planning and direction. The wedding videography crew should be well equipped with preferably aerial filming equipment, slow motion shooting, and cinema-grade prime lenses for capturing cinematic wedding footage of all the events. In this article, we will talk about cinematic wedding video ideas that can help you to create wedding videos that will inspire and boost your professional videographer portfolio.

Cinematic Wedding Video Tips That Can Set You Apart:

Communication is the key

You should have a sit-down meeting with the engaged couple well in advance of the wedding date. Just like there are different wedding photography styles, there are also different wedding videography styles. Hence you should strive to learn what they are trying to convey in their wedding video. Do they want to be sure that you record particular moments? Do you need to be aware of any surprises or choreographed dances? Will the bride be donning earrings from her great-great-grandmother? Being prepared to record these moments will really set your work apart.

List the shots that are a “must-have”

As a professional wedding videographer, you will have a better idea of what you need once you have met with your clients. The art of wedding cinematography requires a keen eye for candid moments as well as being organized and getting the “must-have” wedding shots. You can make sure you haven’t missed any of the shots your clients will be expecting by consulting a wedding videography shot list. Big moments you can’t miss include the big kiss, the bride walking down the aisle, and the groom’s response. There will be “must have” wedding photos to take during wedding preparations as well. Creating the wedding video shot list is a great idea to have just in case and will help you visualize and remember the “must have” shots you need to get, even if you don’t refer to them on the day of the wedding.

Map out the rules

There are certain things you need to clear out on your end while creating the ideal wedding timeline from the videographer’s point of view. Ask the locations of the ceremony and reception if they have any rules or restrictions. It’s important to consider whether you will need to bring a zoom lens because many churches won’t permit wedding videographers in particular areas. Some sizable reception locations demand proof of insurance before allowing you to take wedding videos there. You must make sure everything is ready before you arrive.

Be prepared to record a love story 

All weddings are unique love stories. A love story is one of the best ways to look at a wedding video. You will be guided and directed by the story as you edit and shoot the video if you keep the narrative in mind. The beginning of a video can build tension by getting great shots of the wedding preparations. A moving and engaging structure will be added to the video by capturing important moments and emotions. What do the most romantic movie scenes sound and look like, in your mind? Consider how those moments are put together and try to replicate the effect.

Speak to vendors beforehand

Speak with a few of the wedding vendors, primarily the ones you will be collaborating with on the wedding day. Your key to success lies in your familiarity with industry vendors. Their recommendations may help in securing wedding videography projects in the future. Learn more about the wedding coordinator first. Request a copy of the wedding schedule as well as the other vendors’ contact information. After that, you can inquire about the DJ’s setup. Will they permit you to connect to their sound system so you can get back up audio? Are they bringing a sophisticated lighting setup for the reception? Check to see if the wedding photographer is open to working with you. Can you rotate for close-ups while shooting side by side? Getting to know everyone will make the wedding video shoot go much more smoothly.

Record raw feelings and emotions

Weddings are extremely emotional events. For the newlyweds, their families, and their friends. Your wedding video will have a greater impact and more lasting impact if you can capture these feelings. Usually, by concentrating on people’s reactions, you can capture emotions. For instance, capturing the bride as she walks down the aisle is crucial. But just as crucial as getting the groom’s reaction to her walking down the aisle, including his feelings and any tears he sheds. Since your wedding video clients typically do not have the time to see those reactions during the wedding, recording good-quality videos of teary-eyed friends and family can also be one of the best practices for portfolio updates.

Maintain agility and less videography gear

As a pro wedding video shooting tip, you should always carry a light load and be agile to catch all the actions firsthand. Weddings go quickly, and there are frequently memorable moments. While being everywhere at once is impossible, you can try. Moving swiftly and effectively will be made possible by keeping your equipment light and your body weight low. There are tips to protect your video camera gears so that they are not damaged during these celebrations as you would need to move fast while recording every moment. A wedding’s morning operations are fairly standard. While the bride and her bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done, the groom and his groomsmen socialize. You will then spend the remainder of the wedding running around. Therefore, it is best to place the bulky bag in a corner and take it easy on your back and shoulders. Carry only what you require. You have no use in having all wedding videography lens options available at once. Being ready with a video camera and two lenses can be enough. Make sure to have extra batteries and memory cards that have been formatted on hand. The worst scenario is having to tell the couple to delay throwing the bouquet because their batteries ran out. Find an outlet if necessary, and prepare a charging station for any batteries that have already been used.

Use video transitions 

Use cinematic visual techniques to make the transition between wedding video scenes interesting. It gives you the chance to crossfade to another scene in what appears to be a seamless transition by moving the camera in close proximity to objects, like tables and chairs or even people. When switching back and forth between the speeches and the preparation, use transitions at crucial points.

Importance of wedding videography audio

It goes without saying that all the tips and tricks for videography audio are related to recording original audio during wedding celebrations. In wedding celebrations, there is no second “I Dos.” If you fail to record key wedding events as they take place, you failed to perform your duty. It’s best to record audio from several sources. Does your camera record sound with any quality? If not, be prepared with external recorders. Instead of placing the microphone on the bride, try using a lavalier microphone on the officiant or the groom. You might be able to plug into the DJ’s soundboard if they are handling the sound. It is beneficial to have discussed this with the DJ in advance because of this. Remember that every DJ has different audio setups, so there is no assurance that you will receive high-quality audio. You should only use them as a backup audio source because of this.

Go for various cuts

Use hard cuts between scenes when appropriate, but keep in mind other kinds of cuts as well. Crosscuts, J-cuts, and L-cuts help the wedding speeches’ dialogue flow naturally into and out of the b-roll, resulting in a fluid edit overall.

Take standard wedding photos

On the wedding day, you might feel the need to try something new, but always remember to take traditional wedding photos as well. You can discover your personal style by experimenting, but keep in mind that couples want to see their vows, first dance, and cake cutting. Before you get all those cool transition shots, make sure the traditional wedding video shots are taken care of. Remember this wedding videography idea while preparing the ultimate wedding videography timeline.

Make it short

When it comes to re-living their own wedding, the couple can pay attention for a very long time, but not for too long. Keep the wedding cinematic video to under 10 minutes, and you will be in good shape if you can get the video to last between 3 and 8 minutes. There won’t be a shortage of material to work with, so you will need to be ruthless in selecting what to cut.

Maintain the stability of your camera

As per one of the main wedding videography tricks: A stabilized wedding videography camera is the first requirement. Going handheld won’t do the trick. Make sure you can quickly switch between your support equipment whether you use a shoulder rig, glide cam, monopod, tripod, or any other type of support. You can quickly switch while you are out and about by using the same quick-release plate on all of your gear. Are you used to shooting without a tripod? While at the ceremony, tripods are great, but they can easily get in the way elsewhere. You won’t have much room to work when you share a small hotel room with the entire bridal party, relatives, hair and makeup artists, and stylists. You can seamlessly continue shooting cinematic wedding videos if you can quickly switch to a monopod or glide cam.

Select the right wedding video music

If at all possible, decide on the music you will use before you begin editing, and make it the main focus of the video. It serves as a unifying force that inspires edits, rhythm, and tone. To ensure you have all the necessary licenses, use royalty-free music from different websites. Slow wedding songs like indie or country music are good choices for natural, documentary-style wedding videos. When combined with dramatic, upbeat cinematic music with powerful drums, cinematic wedding videos can be amazing. More emotional, story-driven films work well with instrumental strings.

Ensure that you record sufficient B-roll.

When editing, the B-roll will be both your best friend and worst enemy. Your work will be much harder if you don’t have enough. It’s simple to remember to take photos of the venue’s exterior but keep in mind that the wedding guest must also be considered while preparing for your wedding videography assignment. The bride and groom will want to see their loved ones in attendance when they watch their wedding video. During the ceremony, record videos of the wedding guests with a second videography camera. This video will always be useful for hiding any unpolished edits. If the photographer walks into your view of the couple at the altar, it’s also amazing to cut to the crowd.

Use color grading 

You can use color grading to give your video a specific tone. Lighter, bluer colors, less contrast, and saturation work well for weddings, but it depends on the setting and the film’s main goal. When filming near candles and other dramatic wedding lighting arrangements, try using light leaks to add cinematic lens flares.

Prepare for low-light situations

We all know about the importance of lighting in photography and videography. Being ready for all lighting situations is one of the more equipment-focused suggestions. If you are shooting outside during the day, there might be harsh lighting. Check these tips for taking photos on a sunny day. Lighting in indoor spaces can also be very un-cinematic. Keep your aperture open for a shallower depth of field and a more cinematic appearance by using ND filters to cut the light. Hence evening receptions can be a wedding videographer’s worst nightmare. No matter where you are, it will probably be dark. Venues turn down the lights after dinner is finished so the party can start. You and the DJ should discuss the DJ’s lighting setup, but you will still need your own lights to get some beautiful wedding video shots. Remember that the couple and their guests don’t want to spend the entire evening being blinded by video lights if your camera struggles in low light. Make sure to use lights sparingly when using them. Avoid ruining the atmosphere by leaving them on throughout the reception.

Shooting a wedding video can be an overwhelming experience. But your practice and preparation can help you get the best wedding footage for creating cinematic-style wedding videos that can leave a mark and get you booked again and again. To develop your own style and skill set you will need an unending amount of practice. The above-mentioned steps can guide you in the right direction if you are looking to venture into the world of cinematic-style videography. So get out and get shooting anytime you can and you will undoubtedly see progress in your wedding cinematography skills.