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What about VIDEOGRAPHY?
Wedding video is a terrific thing to have. There
are four technical questions I suggest
discussing with videographers before you hire
one.
First:
Lighting.
Are you planning a dim candle-lit
ceremony? Possibly NO video camera
can provide satisfactory results. So discuss your
ceremony plans with your videographer in
advance.
Some "broadcast quality" video cameras require
extra lighting during ceremonies. Before booking
your videographer ask him whether he needs to add
lights during the ceremony. Some churches won't
want extra lighting.
(Note: during the processional it is
normal to need extra lighting, because people are
moving, and that that is usually ok with a church.
Church rules usually distinguish between the
processional --- wihch is before the pastor starts
speaking --- and after the processional,
because the minister starts speaking after the
processional.)
Second: Audio.
It's hard to pick up spoken words (especially
the vows) from a distance. For that reason
most videographers will use wireless microphones.
But if he uses lapel mic's, which work OK
technically, the groom who wears the mic has to
watch what he says. Lapel mic's will pick up
embarrassing slips of the tongue. So ask: Can
your video person can edit the sound to skip
anything embarrassing.
Third: How many
cameras?
I recommend TWO cameras for the ceremony (some
professionals even use three cameras, that's good
too.) For the reception one camera is OK.
The reason you need two cameras minimum for a
ceremony, is people keep walking in front of the
video lens (the lens can't see through them.) So
you need a second camera angle. Even when the video
camera is set up carefully based upon the
rehearsal, it doesn't help. Because at the actual
ceremony people won't stand where you expected,
they will always stand in front of the video lens.
Trust me on this.
Fourth and most
important: Copy
Protection
(or "digital rights
management.")
Some video discs are designed so you can't copy
them. It's so you'll purchase extra copies through
the video company.
The problem is you won't be able to digitally
"refresh" your copies when your DVD's start to
fade or when a video format becomes obsolete.
Some day your video will become unviewable.
If you expect to show your wedding video to
future generations, please choose a videographer
who agrees not to use copy protection.
All DVD discs will fade over time but
there is a solution. See our special page which
discloses how long digital media will last --- and
how to make them last much longer. Click
here
We always cooperate 100% with your
videographer, whether amateur or professional.
We do not perform videography
ourselves. Early in his career Doug shot video, but
decided to specialize in still photography
exclusively.
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