WEDDING WEDNESDAY WITH EM POST | LYNCHBURG WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographers and videographers have been known to clash on occasion. Our two worlds, to a non tech-y person, are pretty similar because we both use cameras. However, the process from start to finish is completely different for photo and video. This is a huge reason why some people can clash when working together on the wedding day. These two venders are a huge investment for you to have memories for YEARS to come. So my thought is, we should be able to work together on the wedding day to provide the best service and products for our couples. That is how James and I feel especially because of our friends in the video world.
Working together sounds super easy but it is so hard when timelines are not built to help us succeed! So today I am sharing some tips on how to plan out your wedding day to benefit both your photographer and videographer! After all, the end goal should be to provide our couple with the best film and gallery to remember this special day!
Side note: Videography was one thing we missed out on for our wedding day. I have to admit that we wish we could go back in time to hire one!! So I just want you to know that I am not against videographers at all and love making new friends in this industry!!
1st potential problem for photo and video sharing the wedding day:
SHARING TIME ALL DAY LONG
Generally speaking: Video requires movement and photo requires you to be still (you’re probably thinking uh duh Emily). James and I have worked with enough videographers to know that our posing at the engagement session isn’t going to be exactly like the wedding day if there is a videographer there. We include more movement poses so that your videographer has plenty of footage to use. We do need to get several standing still poses and more stylized veil shots for your gallery which takes time away from your video!! So balancing the timeline throughout the day can be hard if the timeline is limited.
So for example, lets say we budget 15-20 minutes for your bridal party photos. Which is more than enough right to photograph this part of the day right? YES! However, even if we split up this time equally which is not really realistic, that would be 8-10 minutes for photo and 8-10 minutes for video. I can do photos during your video time but those images will be more “behind the scenes” photos rather than true bridal party photos with me standing where I need to to get the right angle. Does that make sense?
However, when you have only one hour before your reception entrance and you have to fit in family formals, bridal party, AND Bride & Groom portraits it makes it almost impossible to share the time!! It ends with you receiving fewer images of your bridal party, a severely reduced bride & groom portraits gallery, a smaller family formals list, and feeling rushed and stressed the entire time.
SOLUTION:
SHARE A FIRST LOOK
Sharing a first look would help spread out your wedding day allowing two different times during the wedding day for your bride & groom portraits. It also allows for all of your pre-ceremony prep photos/details, bridal party photos, and bridal portraits to be finished completely without being rushed. If the videographer or James and I need to get another shot of something we have another chance after the ceremony to grab that for your final gallery and footage.
A first look is an insurance plan for your wedding day!!! My previous couples have loved and prioritized their bride & groom portraits. Sharing a First Look ensures that you will have plenty of photos even with a shared video and photo timeline. This stress free timeline is a great way to use your limited time after the ceremony for family photos and NEWLY WED bonus portraits.
Bonus reason: Once we get the “necessary shots” for albums, final gallery, typical smiling at the camera shots for the parents, etc, we can get CREATIVE!! We love having the opportunity to think outside the box for epic shots on the wedding day. These shots are what the magazines love to see and the only time we have to do these is the 2nd portrait time with our couple after the ceremony!
2nd potential problem for photo and video sharing the wedding day:
SHARING THE CEREMONY AISLE
We have noticed that experienced videographers have 2-3 stationary (on a tripod) cameras on the sides and then one “mobile” camera (videographer holding it) down the middle filming the whole time. This set up is super easy and helpful because if we have to move around in your ceremony there is always a camera on you two at the alter that your videographer can use for your film!! We know that that is not always the case.
James and I are not obtrusive to your ceremony. We stay low, in the back/side, and out of the way the whole time. We have heard stories where videographers and photographers go behind the alter to get shots and up close and personal with the couple at the alter! Thankfully we haven’t dealt with this situation. However, sharing the ceremony aisle can get tricky if it is indoors in a small room, the only way around the guests is the middle aisle, or a restricted church ceremony rules.
For this reason, we send out an email to your videographer to try and connect with them before the wedding day and plan out our day to fit both our content needs. It is helpful if they respond but we have had some videographers not respond to our email. Anyways, all this to say you know your ceremony location, so if the aisle is very small or it is indoors we may be limited on where we can be during the ceremony.
SOLUTION:
CLARIFYING EXPECTATIONS
The easiest way to solve this potential problem would be find out both ceremony set ups! Find out what your videographer needs for their video coverage just to make sure it’s what you want for your day. It’s totally fine to ask questions because you are investing good money on photo and video services. Your vendors should be able to answer any questions you may have!
Another thing that can be helpful for tighter ceremony aisles is to reserve a seat on the ends of the aisle for us. If you want to speak with your videographer to see where they need to be for their shots it may help to go ahead and save them a seat on the end somewhere too. This saved seat can help with restricted ceremonies in churches and small indoor aisles.
Another idea is to be very specific on where you DO NOT want video and photo to be during the ceremony. If you want no one down in the front (or behind the alter) while you are at the alter you may want to specify that to your vendors. If you do not want the videographer to be in front of you as you walk down the aisle make sure to let them know. James and I are only down in front during the beginning processional as you walk down the aisle so we can get the shot of your groom and you! During the prayer or moment we can move without causing too much attention, we go to the back to not interrupt your ceremony.
3rd potential problem for photo and video sharing the wedding day:
THE EXIT
Along with the rest of your wedding day, we will have to share the exit time. James and I always give our couples a pep talk right before to explain what we want them to do. Video needs movement and usually will finish with you getting in your getaway car!!
So one thing we have run into is the exit not lasting long enough for two exits. Typically the “photo exit” goes first and then the video exit is your actual exit! If you have short sparklers this creates some problems for everyone involved. There have been some weddings with the little 8 inch sparklers and it was difficult to get good shots for both photo and video because the sparklers only lasted a minute (or shorter). That was not enough time for both of vendors to get the content we needed.
Bonus tip: If you have to leave by a certain time you may want to account for 10ish minutes for your exit. This includes lighting the sparklers, forming the runway for you guys, and having you exit for photos & video!
SOLUTION:
BUFFER TIME AND THE RIGHT SPARKLERS
Your exit may take 10-15 minutes instead of 5-10 depending on what the videographer needs you to do. I would recommend buying at least 20 inch sparklers for your exit as well. This gives us at least 1-2 minutes to get both exits done but the best ones to buy are the 36 inch sparklers!! These last for a great amount of time so that photo has a chance to get the perfect exit images and video has ample time to get their footage. The longer sparklers also create a larger glow in the images!
Allowing for another minute or two also gives the coordinator or venue staff to get your guests set up and light the sparklers for the exit. Depending on the “state of your guests” we also recommend that you get the long sparklers so that they can hold them high in the air without catching anyone on fire…… we have actually witnessed someone being stabbed in the eye with sparklers…. I wish I was kidding and no it wasn’t us… yikes!!!!
So I hope these tips have helped you out when considering both photo and video!! I have worked with up and coming videographers and well experienced videographers on wedding days. Having these potential problems worked out even with a newer videographer will help us out so much throughout the wedding day. Working with our close friends on wedding days is not only a bonus for us but for our couples. So that is why we encourage our brides to hire our friendors! It’s not just because we are friends, but because of their wedding day workflows and quality of work.
I have said this before a few times, if your wedding vendors work together well, your wedding day will be flawless!! After all that you have invested in photo and video I want you to have the best experience, footage, and gallery to remember this special day! Want my favorite videographers to work with?? DM me on Tiktok or Instagram!
Until next time,
