Filming my friend's wedding--any advice?

[swano]

Don't get suckered into editing and making copies for them. happened to me. Once people caught wind I was editing for them I had to make copies for everyone and their brother.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

• Don't get discourages by the idiots who say don't. I did a short film for a school project, and it came out better than some of the professional things I've seen.
  
• Do look at examples. a DVD of prom, other weddings, etc.
  
• Do have a tripod and spare batteries and tapes.
  
• If you can, use a 2nd camera and just let it roll...
  
• Do use a zoom mic, it'll make the difference between usable audio and unusable audio.
  
• Make sure lighting is OK. This means either using a light, or checking the place out the day before and then putting footage onto the computer to make sure it's viewable.
  
• Take about a ton more footage then you think you'll need. It'll be handy for transitions later on...
  
• Make sure you save some time while you're there to enjoy yourself. As much as the bride and groom want a good flick, they also don't want you to be miserable. At least, they're pretty crappy friends if they do.

And BTW, where I come from, a firehouse wedding is perfectly acceptable. People get married in a firehouse, stay married for life, they're a bunch of hicks and if they have a crappy DVD, they can be happy.

 

[regre7]

I do several weddings a year, and I'd consider myself a prosumer. I am a power user, but not a pro. It's actually funny how I got into the business. My cousin was getting married, and he wanted me to film it (I'm regarded as the family computer guru). I did it for no money, just the future use of the camera (which my aunt forced upon me, she's very generous). A few months later, one of their friends happened to mention that they were looking for a video photographer for their wedding, and my name came up. I did that wedding for pay. I've done several jobs now, and I'm starting to get it. The pay is pretty good, and I'm even getting DV tape transfer to DVD jobs now. Those are especially easy, even on my sorry PC.

Either way, good luck.