Review the Event Schedule

When you’re hired, request a conference schedule from the event coordinator. If it’s early enough that this isn’t yet prepared, make sure to get one in the weeks before the event. This will help you plan out your shots and get a feel for the general flow, keeping you from feeling overwhelmed on the night of the event. 

You can work with the coordinator to understand what their expectations are for the event footage. Namely, you’ll want to highlight any segments on the schedule that they are particularly interested in capturing and what they’d like you to skip over. You should collaborate on a general goal or narrative for the video, ensuring you get the proper shots during actual filming. 

Do a Practice Run

They say that practice makes perfect, and this couldn’t be more true for corporate event videography. Especially if you’re new to filming corporate events, the setting, lighting, and sound considerations are much different from the casual events you might be familiar with. For instance, the lighting at these events will typically be darker than at weddings or birthday parties you might have filmed before, which can take a bit of an adjustment to get used to.

If possible, see if you can access the venue on the days leading up to the event. This will give you ample time to prepare and ensure you have all the right equipment to capture quality video. 

Stabilize Your Shots

While this might seem like a no-brainer, it’s also easier said than done – especially if you don’t plan for the proper equipment. Stable footage is easy on the eyes and helps you appear as a true professional. 

When preparing for the event, make sure you have a tripod or monopod for still shots and a three-axis motorized gimbal for filming on the move. Consider renting this equipment if you don’t have the money to purchase it outright, which you can see as an investment in your career.  

Shoot B-Roll

During filming, don’t forget to capture B-roll content! Your future self will thank you when it comes time to edit the footage. This includes getting candid shots of event set-up, attendees filing into the venue, group mingling, and more.  

B-roll can add another dimension to your final product and keep the video from feeling too monotonous. Plus, it offers a great way to capture the buzz and excitement of the event outside of the keynote speeches. Not to mention, it provides an easy way to transition between different segments of the evening and fill in any gaps for a more cohesive narrative. 

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Written by Bailey Schramm in partnership with Faxage online faxing services.

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Pre-Production: Planning Makes Perfect

A successful event video starts long before the first frame is shot. Here’s where meticulous planning separates the amateurs from the pros:

• Understanding the Event: Delve into the details of the wedding. Research the location, its culture, and potential logistical challenges. Talk extensively with the couple. What’s their vision for the video? Are there specific moments they want captured? Do they have a preferred style (cinematic, documentary, etc.)?
• Shot List and Storyboarding: Create a shot list that outlines the key moments you’ll capture, from getting ready to the reception. Storyboarding goes a step further, visually planning your shots to ensure a cohesive narrative flow.
• Location Scouting: If possible, visit the wedding venue beforehand. Familiarize yourself with the lighting conditions, potential shooting angles, and potential audio challenges (e.g., ocean waves, wind).

Gear Up for Success: Essential Equipment

Destination weddings often involve travel. Pack light but smart:

• Cameras: A versatile camera body with the ability to shoot high-quality video is essential. Consider a mirrorless camera for its compact size and excellent image quality. Pack a backup camera body in case of unforeseen circumstances.
• Lenses: Pack a range of lenses to capture everything from wide panoramic shots of the venue to intimate close-ups of the couple. A good all-around zoom lens will be your best friend, but a prime lens for low-light situations might also be useful.
• Audio: Capture crisp audio with a shotgun microphone mounted on your camera or a separate audio recorder with a lavalier microphone for the couple. Consider wind protection for outdoor locations.
• Tripod and Stabilizer: A sturdy tripod ensures stable shots for ceremonies and speeches. A handheld stabilizer helps smooth out camera shake when capturing dynamic footage.

• Drone (Optional): While regulations vary, a drone can capture stunning aerial shots of the wedding venue and surrounding landscape. Ensure you have the necessary permits and are comfortable operating a drone safely.

Capturing the Magic: Techniques and Tricks

Now comes the fun part: filming the wedding! Here are some pro techniques to elevate your footage:

• Lighting is King: Natural light is your best friend, but be prepared to adapt. Use a diffuser to soften harsh midday sun, and bounce light with a reflector during shade. For low-light situations, consider using an LED light panel.
• Shot Variety: Avoid static shots. Move around, experiment with different angles, and incorporate close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots to create a dynamic visual experience.
• B-Roll is Your Best Friend: B-roll footage refers to supplemental shots that set the scene and tell a story beyond the main action. Capture details like the venue décor, guests arriving, cultural elements, and scenic beauty of the destination.
• Audio Matters: Pay close attention to audio quality. Monitor sound levels throughout the event and adjust accordingly. Utilize a separate audio recorder with a lavalier microphone for clear dialogue capture.

• Capture the Unexpected: While sticking to your shot list is important, be prepared to capture candid moments and unexpected reactions. These often become the most treasured parts of the final video.

Capturing a Wedding: Embrace the Uniqueness

Destination weddings add an extra layer of complexity and opportunity:

• Cultural Sensitivity: Be respectful of local customs and traditions. Research any cultural sensitivities regarding photography or videography.
• Embrace the Location: Showcase the unique beauty of the wedding destination. Capture the local landscape, architecture, and cultural elements that set this wedding apart.
• Be Flexible and Adaptable: Travel throws curveballs. Be prepared to adjust your plans due to weather changes, unexpected logistical challenges, or limited access to certain areas.
• Capture the Journey: A wedding is more than just the ceremony. Document the couple’s journey – their pre-wedding exploration, interactions with guests from different backgrounds, and the overall experience of celebrating in a new place.

Post-Production: Weaving the Story Together

The editing room is where your raw footage transforms into a captivating narrative. Here’s where the magic happens:

• Organize Your Footage: Import your footage into your editing software and create a well-organized system for managing clips. Label clips clearly, categorize them by event segment, and utilize color coding or markers for easy access.
• Assemble the Rough Cut: Start by stringing together your footage in chronological order. This rough cut will serve as a foundation for your final edit.
• Storytelling Through Editing: The true art of videography lies in crafting a story through editing. Look for emotional moments, natural transitions, and opportunities to use pacing to build anticipation. Don’t be afraid to experiment with creative cuts, slow-motion effects, and B-roll footage to enhance the narrative flow.
• Color Grading: Color grading establishes the mood and visual style of your video. Explore different color palettes that complement the wedding theme and destination location.
• Sound Design: Clean up your audio by removing background noise and ensuring dialogue clarity. Add subtle sound effects that enhance the atmosphere of the video, and incorporate music that complements the overall mood.

Wedding Specifics in Post-Production

When editing a wedding video, remember these points:

• Showcase the Location: Throughout the editing process, weave in B-roll footage that highlights the destination’s beauty. Use creative transitions to connect these shots to the main event, creating a sense of place and immersion.
• Incorporate Local Elements: Include subtle audio elements like traditional music or sound effects that nod towards the local culture.
• Capture the Journey: Use your footage to tell the story of the couple’s journey, from travel to pre-wedding activities and post-wedding celebrations. This adds depth and personalizes the videography beyond just the ceremony itself.

Additional Tips and Considerations

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Client Communication: Maintain open communication with the couple throughout the editing process. Share rough cuts and solicit their feedback to ensure the final product reflects their vision.
• Delivery Formats: Offer your video in a variety of formats, including high-resolution for online sharing and a compressed version for easier sharing on social media.
• Marketing Yourself: Showcase your wedding videography skills by creating highlight reels or short teasers that showcase your work. Share these on your website and social media platforms to promote your services.

By following these techniques and embracing the unique opportunities presented by a wedding, you can create a video that captures the essence of the celebration, the beauty of the location, and the love story that brought everyone together. Remember, event videography is an art form. Don’t be afraid to experiment, find your own style, and most importantly, capture the magic of the moment for your clients to cherish for years to come.

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It is the act of capturing social and special events by a videographer. Videography and wedding events are much more similar, but there is also what is called wedding videography on its own. Event videography is an option of the wedding videography and it encompasses the video documentation of social functions such as anniversaries, contests, proms, parties, concerts, fashion shows, Church activity and so on.

Before, Videography is seen as the business of documenting weddings only. But today, we can see that people have gone as far as creating more innovations to widen the opportunity in the markets by offering other services. The art of event videography is somewhat similar to today as it was back then when camcorders were first introduced. However, the main difference lies in the improved video camera technology and the equipment.
Event Videography is all about connecting people. When shooting an event video, it is always important to get some key shots, and mix them up; some of the key shots can be exciting moments aside from placing too much emphasis on a subject so that you can form an interesting piece.

There are key basic things you need to keep in mind before embarking on any activity of shooting for events. They are grouped into two categories; first is the techniques used during the capturing videos and the second is the basic/manual or preparation tips used before the initial event starts.

Category 1

Ensure To Capture And Form A Sequence In An Event

When you are filming an event, you have to first think about what shots to get, so that you can build a little sequence. So most times in building sequence; you can starts from the middle then end. To break this down, a shot can be taken showing a speaker walking on stage, then another shot with a close-up with the speaker and expressions on how he communicates, then next one is the reactions; how does the crowd or audience reacts, and then finally the conclusion. All these shots have to be properly sequenced for proper viewing; otherwise, you lose the significance of your presence as a videographer in any event.

Capturing Catching Moments From Audience

Videographers try to anticipate when a joke is coming from a speaker, then they position their camera on the crowd/ audience, to capture moments like laughter, smile, and so on. They do these by holding the frame for maybe 30 seconds, making sure the audience is going to laugh, then capture the moment; that’s what makes the video of an event much better, interesting and enjoyable to watch. So after Videographers have already captured the primary role; which is the speaker; they quickly hold some frames on different people and find the right shots to put them in between the live viewing, so this helps with your sequencing.

Category 2

Preparation

When preparing for an event, make sure you visit the venue beforehand so that you can observe for yourself what you will need to aid you in having a better shot. If you are expecting a large crowd, note that you will need more cameras and more hands, also take things like natural light and artificial light into considerations, because you need to look out for things like a light if you will be shooting indoors. You also need to look for spots to mount your tripod stand so that you can get great shots.

Aim for Quality Rather Than Convenience

In videographer, quality plays a better role than convenience. People prefer to use Camcorders since and can be recorded directly to a DVD, no realizing that they record far lesser data and even create digital files that can be hard to edit. Most video recording devices made available in the market nowadays have automatic features that do work well for the most part. You might want to make use of cameras that have manual override instead.

Checking the Equipment

Make sure your equipment is in good shape and that they are complete in order not to leave an important gadget or accessory at the studio. You can carry along with you things like tape, battery power, external microphone, and earphones; you will need to help you in monitoring the recorded audio.

Developing Your Shooting Techniques

As a videographer, you need to constantly build on your shooting techniques. Apart from the experience or skills you have, you need to repeatedly evaluate your techniques and go out there to see for yourself the latest trends used by co-videographers. There is a need for constant improvement. Reading books alone will not be enough. It may help to watch the news and observe how station staff shooters, along with editors, cover live happenings. There will usually be mixes of shots: establishing shots for overviews, medium shots for introduction, and close-ups for details.

Entertain Multi-Camera Shooting

You have to consider buying many cameras, because sometimes you may be required to shoot n event with a very large crowd; here you will need multiple cameras such that it allows you to capture as many great moments as possible. Above all, note that it’s mandatory for you to yet, hire assistant shooters to help you with your work when shooting an event because it’s not possible for you to capture exciting moments perfectly at the same time while focusing on a subject.

The Industry

Filming of events is not an easy job and needs more professionalism in the handling of equipment. If you have interest in making a career in this path, you have to know if you really want to get into the industry, because acquiring clients for the first jobs can prove very difficult; as you may send thousands of emails and at the end of it all, you will get no call ups.

However, it is the real contacts that you have that may pave way for your very first client; so you can say to be successful in the industry, you have to have to be affiliated with people connected to the clients. Also, note that most clients you will get are from word of mouth because there are many more videographers out there looking for clients just like you. So do not expect to blend in the industry immediately by just buying yourself a camera, get yourself some contacts and then boom! no, it doesn’t work out that way. What it means is that you will have to do an internship or work for an established company at the beginning so that you can build your profile network in getting started.

Today special and discrete moments are now typically mostly captured and recorded with the use of spy cameras and even dashcam when it comes to extreme sports like Moto GP and so on. Event videography goes beyond shooting footage for weddings; there other niches of occasions that we all need them for today.

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