How to Shoot Your Own Wedding Video

Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life. Don't leave it to chance with an inexperienced videographer who charges exorbitant rates for a job your own family or friends can easily handle. Have a friend shoot your own wedding video instead and save yourself a ton of money and hassle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Video camera
• Tripod
• Fully charged batteries
• Microphones (optional)

1. Plan to capture all the romance of your relationship, the essential wedding events and the guests who have made your day more special by celebrating with you. Having a plan not only serves as a guide for shooting video, but it will also make your editing job much easier later.

2. Familiarize yourself with the equipment. Whoever is shooting the video should be comfortable with all the features of the camera and test the audio and video before the ceremony to make sure they are functioning. She should have extra charged batteries, her own tripod and any other essential equipment such as microphones and lighting.

3. Use the tripod to ensure that your video is captured steadily or it can look unprofessional. Camera shake is a common problem among amateur videographers.

4. Check the sound and lighting periodically. This will ensure that you are capturing the exciting sights and sounds of the wedding properly as the day unfolds and allow you to fix any mishaps before they become problems.

5. Take more video than you need. It is easier to edit it down later than it is to lengthen a video. Get shots of the guests arriving and occasionally pan the crowd and the dance floor to capture the day's happy atmosphere.

6. Shoot the ceremony from start to finish and the important moments at the reception. Focus on the exchange of vows, the first dance, any toasts and the cake cutting. Also capture the bouquet and garter tosses and the dollar dance if the bride and groom partake of these traditions.

7. Interview guests and have them leave video messages for the couple. The newlyweds will look back on these years from now and remember who was at their wedding and the best wishes they received from family and friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid videotaping the backs of people's heads whenever you can.
• Do not shoot too much footage of drunken people. This is easier to do earlier in the reception than later. If necessary you can always edit them out later.

Who Can Help:

• Guaranteed: Lose 30+ lbs without dieting. Try Sensa Today

[jepabst]

on 4/7/2009 Don't do it! Shooting your own wedding video will leave you with nothing but regret!

[Take1Cincy]

on 7/23/2008 This is a joke!!!! Wedding Videography is a profession! Guit telling everyone that this is a piece of cake!!! It's not! Make sure you hire a professional!