Wedding Videography Start to Finish

440 Pages·2010·12.74 MB·English

by  Joanna Silber

Wedding Videography:
Start to Finish
Joanna Silber
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Wedding Videography: Start to Finish © 2011 Course Technology, a part of Cengage Learning.
Joanna Silber
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ISBN-13: 978-1-4354-5448-4
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Acknowledgments
I owe a warm and heartfelt thank you to all the wedding videographers who kindly shared
their experiences with me, including Timothy Bakland, Peter Bruce, Erin Korbylo, Annyce
Meiners, Eric and Heather Newland, and Steve Sparks. I feel a kinship with you for all the
Saturdays we have spent in the same way—gasping for breath between the ceremony and
the reception and snacking on cake of questionable deliciousness late at night—in our
different corners of the country. Similarly, I am grateful to all the couples who gave me the
right to use their images in this book, including Geof and Jes Eckerlin, Kevin and Olivia Lee,
and Matt and Jyovanne Hawk. I appreciate that you not only allowed me to be a part of your
special day, you let me share it with the world. Along those same lines, a special and loving
thank you to my astoundingly awesome sister Mandy Silber Levitt and her completely
delightful husband Dany Levitt, who weren’t given much choice in the matter. Dany’s
brother Ronen Kinori also provided some images, for which I am very thankful.
Overdue and sincere gratitude to Bob Morrow, for first suggesting to me that maybe video
editing would be interesting; to Eric and Heather Newland, for hiring me as a wedding video
editor when I knew nothing about it; and to Peter Bruce, from whom I gained much of my
wedding video experience, an arsenal of off-color jokes, and a lifelong friendship.
Kate Shoup changed my concept of what an editor is, adding tireless organization and near-
constant support and kindness to masterful editing. I shudder to think what this project
would look like without the immense amount of time and care she put in. Similarly, the
efforts of Timothy Bakland and Jan Ozer can’t be overstated: I was so lucky to have found
them. I am also grateful to Jen Blaney and Megan Belanger for both getting this project off
the ground and their steady support throughout.
Thank you, MAD, for providing an incomparable wealth of love and support regardless of
whatever I may be doing, and for having a marriage that allows working in the wedding
industry to actually make sense.
And finally, a huge thank you to Ben Long, for being my personal tech-support team, life
advisor, professional role model, and dear friend. At this point, Ben, I’m nearly all your
fault. I’d punch you for that if I weren’t so incredibly grateful.
About the Author
Joanna Silberis a freelance video editor, producer, and writer living in San Francisco, CA. She
has been in the wedding-videography business for more than 10 years, catering to clients all
over the west coast. In addition to wedding videos, Joanna has produced and edited multiple
award-winning documentaries, which have screened at film festivals around the world. She
teaches video editing at the UC Berkeley Art Studio and at the Bay Area Video Coalition.
Photo Credits
Figure 3.1: ©iStockPhoto.com/mbbirdy, ©iStockPhoto.com/luxcreative, and
©iStockPhoto.com/jozef_b
Figure 3.6: ©iStockPhoto.com/directorspence
Figure 3.8: ©iStockPhoto.com/bpalmer
Figure 3.9: ©iStockPhoto.com/toei
Figure 3.10: ©iStockPhoto.com/iceninephoto
Figure 3.11: ©iStockPhoto.com/YanC
Figure 3.12: Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.com/Brad Calkins
Figure 4.1: ©iStockPhoto.com/asterixo597
Figure 4.3: ©iStockPhoto.com/domes
Figure 4.4: ©iStockPhoto.com/ShutterfoxStudios
Figure 5.8: ©iStockPhoto.com/jozef_b
Figure 7.1: ©iStockPhoto.com/contour99
Figure 7.5: ©iStockPhoto.com/spfoto
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xv
Part I The Proposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter 1 The World of Wedding Videography . . . . . . .3
What Does a Wedding Videographer Do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Evolution of the Wedding Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Styles of Wedding Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Other Video Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Why Is Wedding Videography Unique? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
A Day in the Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
The Day Before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
The Day Of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
The Days After . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Next Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Chapter 1 Tutorial: Questions to Consider about Your
Potential New Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Personality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Career and Personality Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Chapter 2 The Business of Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Planning Is Everything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Consider Your Time Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Count Your Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Understand Your Overhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Contents vii
Managing Client Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Defining Your Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Pricing and Bidding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Legal Issues and Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Marketing Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Print Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Magazines: Print and Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Other Internet Marketing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Word of Mouth: Brides and Other Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Bridal Fairs and Expos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Keeping It All Compliant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
License and Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Next Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Chapter 2 Tutorial: Counting Your Assets and Estimating
Operating Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Counting Your Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Estimating Operating Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Chapter 3 Production Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Choosing a Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
HD Capabilities and Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
LCD Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Media Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Inputs and Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Stabilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Manual Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Camcorders: A Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
viii Contents
Tripod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
External Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
A Word About Multiples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Next Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Chapter 3 Tutorial: Choosing a Camcorder and
Packing Your Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Choosing a Camcorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Packing Your Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Chapter 4 Getting Post-Production Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Post-Production Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Computer Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Storage Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Computer Monitor(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
External Video Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Video Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
DVD Burner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Other Items to Consider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Post-Production Editing Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Basic Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Post-Production Effects and Output Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Bundled Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Motion Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Audio Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
External Applications and Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Output Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Contents ix
Comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Apple Final Cut Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Adobe Premiere Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Avid Media Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Sony Vegas Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Next Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
Chapter 4 Tutorial: Getting to Know Your Editing Software . . . .96
Exploring the Panel Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
Working with Media Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Selecting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Editing in the Timeline Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Part II The Wedding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Chapter 5 The Basics of Wedding Shooting . . . . . . . . .109
A Video Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Work the Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Know Your Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Call the Shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Maintaining Your Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Manual Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
White Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Building Your Shot List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Essential Shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Fun Shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Next Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Chapter 5 Tutorial: Angles, Moves, and Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . .132