There are plenty of people who choose not to hire a videographer for their wedding. Maybe it isn’t in their budget, or paying for a high quality video just isn’t a priority to them. Regardless of the reason you choose to go without a videographer, you can still shoot some high-quality video on your big day, so you can relive those moments as many times as you want. This article will cover everything you need to know to shoot your own wedding video.
Disclaimer
Let’s acknowledge one thing first: to shoot your own wedding video is an alternative, but not a replacement for a professional videographer. When you hire a professional, you’re paying not just for their time, but also their experience, skills, creative vision, and equipment. So if you want the best quality wedding video you can possibly get, you’ll want to hire a professional.
However, if you don’t have the budget for a professional videographer, or maybe you don’t care as much about the quality so long as you have some video from the wedding day, then DIY is a great alternative, and following these tips will help you make your DIY wedding video look even better.
Recruiting DIY Videographers
In order to capture quality video of your wedding, you’ll want to select some reliable friends or family who you can trust to stay on their toes and record all of the important moments. Think about people who will be more comfortable handling a camera, are aware of the timeline, and know what’s most important to you. It may help to delegate specific moments to different people: the first look, the ceremony entrance, the exchange of vows, the first dance, and toasts are typically some of the most important moments of the day. Providing a list of crucial moments, as well as a schedule of when they should happen, can help to ensure that nothing gets missed.
What gear do you use?
Some people may think you need a professional camera in order to shoot good video. In reality, you might not need to purchase any additional gear to shoot your own wedding video. Modern smartphones are actually quite good at shooting video, making them a fantastic option for DIY wedding videography (check out this wedding video that the videographer shot entirely on an iPhone!). Any phone released in the last few years is likely capable of shooting pretty decent video quality. If you have a friend with a newer phone model, they might be a good person to designate as your DIY videographer. If you do choose to go the smartphone route, make sure everyone filming uses landscape mode (holding the phone horizontally) to make the editing easier, and the final product more cohesive.
Another option is to go with an old camcorder. There are plenty of used camcorders online for around $100-150, or you can spend a little more to buy a brand new one. Camcorders have the advantage of a much wider zoom range, and are designed specifically with video shooting in mind. The main downside of a camcorder is that they are a little more hands-on than a smartphone, and may have a bit of a learning curve depending on who’s operating it. Depending on its age, a camcorder’s image quality might not be on the same level as a newer smartphone, but if you want to capture that classic “home video” aesthetic, that might not be a bad thing!
Tips to give your DIY videographers
Here are some helpful tips to make sure your wedding video turns out well.
- Stability: Shaky, unstable footage can make some video entirely unwatchable. Make sure your videographers are using both hands and keeping their footage as smooth as possible. If you want, you can invest in inexpensive phone tripods for additional stability.
- Use Zoom Sparingly: The digital zoom on most smartphones can significantly reduce video quality. It can also make the footage jerky as it switches from one lens to the next. Advise your videographers to get close to the action for those intimate moments and rely on editing to create a sense of focus later. (NOTE: if you want the “home video” vibe, then zooming will add to that look).
- Capture the Ambiance: Don’t just focus on the main events. Encourage your crew to focus on their surroundings too and capture the atmosphere of the day. Those little details will add depth and personality to your final video.
Editing your wedding video
Once you have all the footage, it’s time to edit your wedding video. Here, you have two main options: editing it yourself, or hiring a professional editor. There are several beginner-friendly editing programs available, with simple controls and tutorials to help you get started. If you’re willing to invest some time to learn the ropes, this approach gives you the most creative control. However, if you’d prefer a professional touch or you just don’t have the time to edit the video yourself, you can consider hiring an editor. You can find plenty of talented editors online who can create a beautiful wedding video from the footage you provide. While you do have to spend more money this way, it will likely still be cheaper than if you paid for a full-service videographer.
Conclusion
Nothing will replace the level of quality provided by a professional videographer. But if the quality is less important to you than the overall documentation of your wedding day, following these tips will help you out immensely to shoot your own wedding video!
