What Equipment Do You Need For Wedding Videography?
Getting started in the industry of wedding videography is not as tough as it may look; all it takes is a little networking, some marketing of your services, and a collection of high-quality equipment to get your business off the ground and rolling. Let us help you create the most magical day of your life.
When someone engages you to photograph their wedding, they are entrusting you with preserving a memory of one of the most meaningful days of their lives (no pressure or anything). When I first began working as a wedding photographer, I panicked at the thought of not having all of the necessary equipment. What if my machinery suddenly stopped working? Worse yet, suppose the illumination was really terrible. Countless what-ifs can be asked of a wedding. Get ready for anything and it will help you out immensely. You may feel intimidated by the sheer quantity of equipment required to shoot a wedding video. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite tools for capturing the special day.
We wrote a list of everything We might need because of a methodical photographer. We ‘ve refined the understanding of what matters most over time, so the list is constantly evolving as I add and remove items. The list ensures that I don’t overlook anything vital to the task at hand and that I don’t have to strain my back carrying unnecessary items.
This list might serve as a starting point for your own wedding photography equipment preparations; you may find that you require additional or less items as time goes on, as was the case with me.
Camera
You’ll need a camera more than anything else if you want to capture wedding footage. A whole article could be devoted to cameras, covering topics like which cameras are ideal for new businesses, which are the best for under a thousand dollars, and which are the most important to consider before making a purchase. If you’re looking to save money, opt for a lens instead of a camera. The necessary auxiliary tools are the subject of today’s post.
Just have a spare camera and lens on hand if you’re worried about your primary camera breaking down. You need at least two cameras to capture all the special moments of a wedding on film. With three, you’ll have a backup and two people to shoot with.
If you have the manpower and funds available, a third handheld camcorder is a great investment. Having cameras that capture the same format, are well-matched, and are appropriately balanced is extremely beneficial when editing the final result using video from all accessible sources.
Lenses
The pace of a wedding day can be fast if you’re working alone, so it’s helpful to have more than one quality lens at your disposal. Initially, We spent money on wide-angle, zoom, and prime lenses to cover all my bases. The current usage of each is as follows:
Having a wide-angle lens at the disposal allows me to take landscape-style shots of the exterior of the venue, and I also find it useful as a backup angle during the ceremony and speeches.
To capture the entire ceremony and reception, including the exchange of vows, speeches, first dance, etc., a zoom lens is my go-to on the big day. Being able to stand back and still get those important close-up images allows me to be the “fly on the wall” that most couples love us for being. Check out our comprehensive list of wedding videographers to hire the professional support you need to make your wedding film the best of the year.
Prime 55mm is my go-to lens for wedding preparation shots because it produces sharp, detailed images with a pleasing bokeh background.
The 24-70 f/2.8 is my go-to lens because it serves as both the wide-angle and medium-telephoto zoom. Because it allows for both wide and close-up shots, this focal length is ideal for bridal photos and photojournalism. Since the aperture is fairly large, I have some leeway in low-light situations.
These aren’t necessary, but they’d be appreciated. The wide-angle lens allows you to capture expansive scenes, from crowds to intricate architecture. Shooting in low light is a breeze with the prime lens, and the resulting depth of field is straight out of a movie.
Drones:
The drone of choice for weddings is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. While not quite as portable as the Mavic, they can be set up in a flash and deliver vastly superior video quality. It also has a variable aperture, which is a really cool feature.
DJI Mavic Pro – The Mavic is still a fantastic choice if portability is a priority. Although the image quality isn’t quite as high, this option has a far wider focal range, is easier to carry around, and can be stored in any kind of camera case.
Never go to the skies during the day without protecting your camera with a Polar Pro ND filter. You may get these for your drone, and they’re of the highest quality.
Tripod
As the gold standard for steady video, the tripod is a must-have. Many consumers mistakenly believe that they need the newest and greatest stabilisation gadget to get the best footage. You can improve your video in more ways than we can list with just a good tripod and fluid head.
One more perk is that you can leave a camera on a tripod and focus on other images while it takes its own. It’s also a wonderful helper during the actual event itself. One camera viewpoint can be set up on a tripod in the venue’s back corner and left to record while another is set up.
When you need a little more stability but don’t have a lot of light, a solid tripod will come to the rescue. As an added bonus, it aids in low-light situations and image compositing. The light stands are helpful as well since they provide a stable platform for your speedlights, allowing you to direct light where you need it. When working with light stands and speedlights for a picture, shoot-through umbrellas are extremely helpful.
Monopod
You need a way to steady your other camera while filming, as your first camera is already set up on a tripod and capturing the ceremony. A monopod is one of the best (and usually less expensive) choices.
There are several situations in which a monopod would prove useful. They can serve a variety of purposes and are small and light. Some carbon fibre monopods can support a staggering amount of weight. In a matter of seconds, you may change from a low-angle image to a high-angle shot by just adjusting the height.
Moreover, they are excellent for navigating congested areas. You may capture stunning footage despite working in a confined area and then be out of the way in no time.
Because of the freedom to move around and rapidly stabilise, They plan to spend most of the wedding day on my monopod, from which they will capture all of the day’s keyframes. If you have multiple cameras, the tripod will come in handy for occasions like speeches and the ceremony, but if you only have one, you’ll need to be quick on your feet while maintaining stability. This is where the monopod comes in handy.
Handheld Stabiliser
The Steadicam, Glidecam, Grip Handles, Merlin, etc. are examples of such devices. Any stabiliser that doesn’t go over your shoulder and doesn’t need batteries or a computer to work would fall into this category. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that they’re portable.
During the ceremony’s reception, handheld stabilisers are most useful. Fabulous dance footage is captured by them. The dancing floor is large enough for you to move in and out of it as you choose. The handheld stabilisers are especially useful for taking portraits since they allow you to move freely around the subject and photographer.
A word of advice: don’t follow the bride down the aisle holding one of these. Having a camera or cameraman in the way of the ceremony is one of the worst possible things that may happen. To paraphrase: “This is not your time!” Don’t get in the path! You are not invited to the wedding and should focus on taking photos instead.
Please take note that 3-axis gimbals were not included in this group. 3-axis gimbals are excellent for movies and independent films, but they aren’t the ideal choice for a wedding. Gimbals are not always the ideal option, and there are several reasons for this. The MoVI and Ronin are too big to use on a dance floor without drawing attention to yourself.
The Zhiyun Crane V2 3 Axis Gimbal has gone from an occasional accessory to a nearly permanent addition to my camera setup. A tripod mount is included on the bottom, allowing me to rest them on a tripod when my arms grow tired. When it comes to lighter systems, We find that They favour the Crane (think Sony A6500)
Also highly recommended for systems weighing more than 3 pounds is the Moza Air 3-Axis Gimbal (A7SII or GH5 with Speedbooster). They really appreciate the addition of the dual handle.
One that works well in confined spaces is the Manfrotto XPro Monopod since it is lightweight, compact, and less obtrusive than other options.
A personal preference is the Manfrotto 755XB Tripod, as it has a bowl that makes setting the tripod to the proper height a breeze. Extremely portable and reliable. You deserve to have a Top Wedding Video of your big day, and we can help you choose the best videographer for the job.
Audio Gear
We became interested in wedding videography for the stories it might tell, and good audio is essential for telling a couple’s tale. They realised this need early on, and so They purchased professional-grade audio gear that was also intuitive and easy to use. Here is a rundown of the circumstances in which They employ the following:
The Tascam DR-10L is set up to record the groom’s vows, and because the pair is so close, it also records the bride’s vows.
In the event of a ceremony sound system, They will connect the Zoom H4N Pro to it as a backup audio source, as well as connect it (with the DJ’s approval) to the soundboard at the reception. For the sake of being completely prepared, Usually, contact the DJ in advance to find out what kind of cables you need to bring to the reception.
The Rode VideoMic Go is always attached to the primary camera as a backup and to record ambient noises (like the cheers of the bridesmaids when they first see the bride in her attire). It’s also useful for post-production audio mixing because of the matching it facilitates. The PluralEyes programme allows me to sync the audio, and the Rode Mic ensures that the sound is of high enough quality for the software to identify it.
The specifics of sound recording will vary with the camera model. DSLRs are typically used to record wedding videos, thus having several audio sources is essential. It’s possible that a conventional video camera will come with its own microphones or will feature an XLR port for external microphone connection.
Be sure the microphone is turned on if your camera has one. It’s always wise to have a backup plan, even if you don’t intend to use it. In addition, it will facilitate editing by allowing you to better sync the footage.
Use a microphone with your DSLR camera if you want decent sound. It’s important to remember that a microphone attached to a DSLR is not the optimal choice. Optimal audio capture was not a design priority while creating these cameras. Treat it as a safety net.
A cordless lavalier microphone is your best bet for capturing high-quality audio without drawing attention to yourself. Having a lavatory attached to the officiant and a second lavatory attached to the groom is the optimal solution. The transmitter is small enough to fit in their pants pocket.
The officiant is usually the safest person to use the restroom if there is only one available. The entire ceremony is conducted with only their words. You should inform the officiant that you need them to stand quite close to the couple so that you can hear their vows.
Never try to affix one to the bride. No one would spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a stunning white dress just to have you affix a bulky black transmitter to the back of it.
The most time and effort you put into planning your wedding photography will probably be spent on developing a detailed strategy for recording audio. The guests’ appreciative “oohs” and “ahs” as the bride walks down the aisle, as well as their clinking of glasses in a toast to the happy couple, are ideal examples of ambient sound to record. The shotgun microphone onboard is probably sufficient for covering the audience, but a Zoom H6 or Tascam DR-40 placed strategically could also be useful. In many situations, a digital recorder will prove to be invaluable. It can be set up on the altar during the exchange of vows or on the happy couple’s table at the reception to record any impromptu toasts.
Slider
When shooting b-roll, a camera slider works like a charm. You may snap it onto a tripod and move freely about the event space, snapping shots of the setting and the details. Just a little bit of motion added to static footage can greatly increase its entertainment value.
You can steal the guestbook and pictures by sliding down the foyer table. Sliding into an entranceway is a convenient way to make the change from one place to another. Sliders can also be used to achieve the desired jib shot. Need a Wedding Video Company for your special day? Look no further, Vogue Ballroom have you covered.
Lighting
Three-point lighting will not be used for the ceremony or the reception. The catch is that you need an item that can be deployed quickly. An LED light that can be mounted to the camera, held by hand, or mounted on a stand is ideal.
One of the greatest conveniences of a little LED light is that it may be carried around in your purse or pocket. Most likely, you won’t need it until after the ceremony at the reception. The DJ’s lighting setup could provide a nice atmosphere, but you should be prepared for any low-light scenarios by bringing along your own source of illumination.
The wedding lighting setup is minimal because only ever used it for the dance floor. While the couple and their guests are dancing, They prefer to position two lights at opposite ends of the dance floor and shoot into the light to create dramatic, cinematic lens flares.
Proper lighting is essential in making any kind of video. Most scenarios can be illuminated with a compact lighting kit such as the Impact Qualite 300 2 Light Kit, the Smith-Victor KT750LED 2-Light Umbrella Kit, or the uLite 3 Light Lighting Kit. A wedding and its celebration, however, are not your average photo opportunities. Therefore, you need to be mindful about where you put the majority of your lights. You can get enough light by using tactics like reflecting lights off of nearby surfaces and using softboxes or diffusers for direct lighting.
Quick Release System
You’ll want to make it as simple as possible to swap out your various pieces of supplementary equipment in a hurry. Check into getting a quick-release system for all of your stabilisers.
It’s a waste of time to try connecting your camera to several platforms. You should settle on a single fast release method so that you can keep a quick release plate attached to your camera at all times.
Case & Memory Cards
There will be a significant requirement for memory cards. As was previously noted, making a wedding video is quite similar to shooting a low-budget feature film. Don’t waste your time attempting to fit everything into one enormous card. It may seem inconvenient to carry around many memory cards, but it’s preferable to lose 16GB of footage than 64GB if something goes wrong.
It’s a good idea to maintain a tally of how many times each card has been used. Although SD cards can be locked, it’s easy to forget to do so. The cards in a case should be oriented in the same direction before the shoot, for example. When you’re done using a card, flip it over or place it backwards in the case.
A bag would be necessary to carry all of that equipment. You’ll be carrying it around with you a lot, so make sure it’s spacious and convenient.
Batteries (All Kinds)
Preparing with an abundance of batteries ensures that you can meet any emergency. Battery packs for cameras, AA and 9V batteries for your audio recorder/microphones, and light batteries. Make sure you have a charging station ready in case you run out of batteries before you need it.
Carry around a larger supply of batteries and memory cards than you think you’ll need. For a wedding, I’ll need up to two sets of batteries for each camera and speedlight, for a total of fifty to sixty gigabytes. Ensure that all batteries are fully charged in advance.
Tools
In your kit, you should have the following items: An assortment of tools including gaff tape, an extension cord, a surge protector, an Allen wrench, a screwdriver, and a multi-tool. It’s likely that you’ll need each of these at some point. Make sure your equipment is properly serviced with the correct tools. A phillips screwdriver won’t work well for tightening flathead screws.
A Laptop
After we’ve finished filming your wedding, we’ll transfer the footage to our editing station for further polishing. We do this on Mac desktops and portables.
Every time we shoot a wedding, we bring a laptop and several hard drives just in case (internal and external). It’s not uncommon for us to shoot 90GB worth of footage for a single wedding. This can be split up between several storage devices. We regularly copy film off of the memory cards and onto the laptop and hard drives to safeguard against data loss. Although it may seem obvious, not all wedding videographers include this simple precaution.
We found a quiet corner of the wedding reception venue to call home for the night. We can keep our equipment here and upload footage without disturbing anyone during the day. Many of our partners say they had no idea we carried a computer because they never saw us at our desks.
A laptop is a multipurpose business tool that we use for a variety of purposes beyond video editing. Our website is where we display our work portfolio, among other things, therefore keeping it up to date and working smoothly is a priority.
The advantages of a portable computer over a desktop computer are discussed. It makes little sense to bring a full desktop system to a wedding photography, so a laptop is the way to go if you need portability. Several kinds of computer hardware, including desktops and portables, are in use here at the studio at any given time.
The MacBook Pro is the best notebook currently available. This piece of equipment is wonderful and serves as a superb intermediate option. In comparison to a desktop computer, a Pro will fall short in terms of power and speed, but with 8MB of RAM (most come with 4MB), it can still perform admirably.
Keep your lenses and other tools in pristine condition at all times. After that, you’ll be ready for anything (and won’t need to worry) the next time you’re asked to document a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
In time, you’ll find your own rhythm and style in documenting weddings. However, there are some fundamental guidelines that might serve as a springboard for success. Make sure all of the light stands are up and stable before the sun comes up. Remove the light heads for safety and keep them close by for quick reassembly after inspecting the lights and taping down any power cords. In order to stake your claim on the areas designated for the ceremonies, tripods should be set up in advance.
Cover shots should be wide and positioned high enough so that the camera can see over the heads of any audience members who might decide to stand up. From the moment the bride enters the ceremony to the moment she exits, there should be at least one camera focused on her at all times. Make sure to obtain cutaways of the bride and groom’s parents and any other notable guests. Convert the current waiting area into an interview room. It’s not a wedding without the parents, best man, and maid of honour.