Bridal and Groom Prep-60 fps (If natural light allows)

We don’t want them looking like aliens in a garbage dump.

Shots must use the window as a key light or fill light.

Tungsten lights must be turned off and surrounding debris picked up.

Makeup Shots

● Genuine Smile w/face fully lit, looking at bridesmaid, from above eye level

● Bridesmaid smiling at bride

Details

● Shooting the dress by itself is lonely and boring. We want dynamic movement- Try having...

○ A little kid do yoga/dance by the dress.

○ The mother of the bride hang the dress or fix the wrinkles.

○ A bridesmaid help you hang the dress and pick up debris around the location.

● Rings, invitations, shoes and floral are boring by themselves. We want dynamic movement- Try having...

○ A bridesmaid or photographer with nice nails be your hand model and help you arrange the items.

○ Spin the rings

○ Flower petals rain from above.

Bride putting on dress

● When mom is helping button the dress- ask mom to tell the bride how proud of her she is.

● Get close up of buttoning or zipping up dress.

● Getting shoes on.

● Putting on earrings.

● Putting on a veil.

Groom Prep

● Silhouette of Groom putting on Jacket.

● Close up of watch fixing or cufflink.

● Bestman smiling fixing grooms jacket.

● Father fixing groom’s tie telling him he’s proud of his son.

● Groomsmen cheersing- ask them to do it again but, this time, make it messy.

Other:

• Letter reading

Outdoor Portrait Session-60 FPS

Candid and natural laughter trumps all posed shots.

Communicate with the photographer about sharing the center vantage point.

Have fun with directing but be professional, respectful and efficient with time.

Background shots:

● Flowers

● Buildings

● Animals

First look shots:

● Groom waiting- big exhale.

● Bride approach.

● Groom reaction to Bride.

● Bride reaction.

● Kiss.

Other Couple shots:

● Serious faces

● Holding hands

● Under the veil kissing

● Groom helping bride carry train

● Saying “I love you” to each other

● Candid Laughing

● Practicing the First Dance

● Bride exploring the grooms back with her hand

● Get background in focus with couple out of focus, bring couple into focus.

● Walking to destination from behind and in front(close ups of hands, shoes, shoulders)

Bridal party shots:

● Walking to destination from behind and in front(close ups of hands, shoes, shoulders)

● Groomsmen Laughing x3

● Groomsmen dancing

● Bridesmaids telling the bride she’s beautiful

● Bridesmaids laughing x3

● Bridesmaids dancing

● Bridesmaids modeling

Ceremony- 24 FPS

Two Cam set up. Don’t stop recording during the ceremony, unless batteries need to be changed.

Keep your B cam off to the side, not right in the middle aisle.

Stay behind the parents except for during the processional.

Work with the photographer- Don’t jump in front of the photographer to get a first kiss shot.

Pre-Ceremony Shots:

● Guests entering, laughing, hugging

● Wave at guests when standing at the front of the processional, record them waving back at the camera

● Venue shots(interior, exterior)

● Musicians practicing

● Florals blowing in wind

● Invitations or programs being opened or handed out

Ceremony Shots:

● Groom looking up the aisle during processional

● Bridal party and bride walking down the aisle

● officiant speech

● vows

● rings

● you may now kiss the bride

● walk back up the aisle

Post-Ceremony Shots:

● Guests laughing, hugging, celebrating

● Bridal party celebrating

● Couple party celebrating

● We don’t need much footage of the family photo session as they are usually just posing for the photographer(not much dynamic movement). You can use this time to get shots of the venue if you haven’t.

Reception- 24 FPS

Two Cam set up for entrances, speeches, dances.

Mic up the DJ booth.

Work with the photographer and chat about the best background for the main events-

Try to get guests or bridal party table in the background.

Try NOT to get exit signs, or DJ booth in the background.

● guests candid laughing/hugging x10

● any signs with the couple’s names

● guests at their tables cheersing

● entrances

● cake cutting

● speeches in full

● All special dances in full including -first dance/father daughter/mother son/ hora/ any other special dance

● open dance floor- close ups as well as wides

● photobooth

SCRIPTS

Prep:

To guest at the door: “Hi, I’m _________- The video guy! Nice to meet you! Where’s the bride(or

groom)?

To Bride or groom: It’s so nice to finally meet you in person. I’m going to unpack my stuff and get

started- Let me know if you need anything.”

To photographer: Hey, I’m _________-The video guy! Nice to meet you! If you ever need me to

move or need a wide shot of a space just tap me on the shoulder or holler. Most of the important

parts of the day, I’ll have two cameras rolling so i’m happy to help you out.

Outdoor portraits:

To couple: “Alright you two, stand next to each other, facing my camera- shoulder to shoulder.

I’m going to give you some things to do now- it should only take about 30 seconds, okay?

- Pick fuzz off your jacket. Straighten your dress. Hold hands. Look away from each other.

Look into my camera. Look at each other. Smile at each other. (Groom’s name), whisper

something inappropriate into the ear of (Bride's name)- wait for laugh- Why would he

say such inappropriate things in front of the videographer?- wait for laugh- Playfully, slap

his chest for doing that- wait for laugh- Tell him you love him. Tell her you love her. Give

her a kiss on the cheek. Kiss each other on the lips. Do the tiniest celebration dance with

just your fingers... because you are done.

To Groomsmen: “Alright everybody group up, facing my camera, with the groom in front. I’m

going to count down from 3- 3,2,1,GO. On GO, I want you all to:

● Jump up in the air

● Tickle the groom

● Rush the groom

● Shower the groom with compliments

To bridesmaids: “Alright everybody group up, facing my camera, with the bride in front. I’m going

to count down from 3- 3,2,1,GO. On GO, I want you all to:

● Shower the bride with compliments

● Yell, “(the brides name) is getting married” as loud as you can

● Dance hard AT the bride(In the style of, The Night at the Roxbury).

Cocktail hour: For cocktail hour, you are hunting for people laughing(I use my 85 mm). If

people are shying away from me. I use the following script: “Excuse me, I’m making a video for

the couple, could you please:

● Wave at the camera

● Blow kisses at the camera

● Do a kickline

● Yell congrats at the camera

Notes: Feel free to go off my script but be respectful. I use the above because:

● I can get most of my shots quickly.

● It’s harmless fun.

● It makes for good footage.

● Most importantly, they usually laugh afterwards. So I’ll get a shot of the fun action, then

move in for a closeup of the laughs. It’s a two-for-one-deal.

● If they are not having fun with the above actions, I ask them to just hang out and pretend

I’m not there. Then I get over the shoulder shots of them talking and laughing.