Natural Videography, by Abraham Joffe, Abraham Joffe Videography

Today, the majority of couples are looking for wedding videography that is very natural and reflects their wedding day as truly as possible. But what is it that makes a wedding video look natural?

The key is finding a quality cameraman. No matter how much time is put into the editing process, if it wasn’t filmed correctly in the first place, a wedding video will not appear candid and natural.

Things to look for:

1. High Technical Standards
The first thing that will destroy the naturalness of your wedding video is technically poor footage. This can be a combination of bad exposure, shaky footage, poor quality sound, grainy night footage and technical problems on the DVD, such as skipping.

The videographer you choose should have consistently high technical standards. No matter how much time is put into the editing process, if it wasn’t filmed correctly in the first place, a wedding video will not appear candid and natural.

This means you should see multiple weddings in full. It is no good seeing one edited compilation of several weddings (as many videographers use as samples), but several full wedding videos, where you can see and hear the footage cleanly.

If the footage looks technically sound, then you are on the right track.

2. Filming Approach
The definition of ‘candid’ means – not posed or rehearsed. Many videographers claim to shoot candidly. However, when it comes to the day, many will follow set routines and stage certain actions. To shoot truly candid is quite difficult and takes a far greater effort on behalf of the videographer.

The videographer should be as unnoticed as possible, whilst still retaining a great position to record the action. This is the best approach for natural camerawork. This is because the less you notice being recorded, the far more relaxed and natural you become.

The best way to see how candid a videographer claims his shooting to be is to watch some photo-shoots where video was also taken. This is where the talents, or lack of, will really be shown. As you watch the footage, ask yourself - Do the scenes appear staged? How relaxed does the couple look? How does the videographer appear to be working-in with the photographer?

Shots of couples running on cue for the video, people looking directly at the lens, couples kissing on demand and pre-rehearsed ‘skits’ are all things that should make anyone looking for ‘natural videography’ cringe.

3. Sound Quality
High quality sound is very important in reproducing your wedding day on film. A good videographer will utilise different microphones for varying audio environments.

The vows should be recorded with a lapel microphone and the speeches should also be ‘wired for sound’. These are two areas which you should request to hear sample audio.

When sound is poorly recorded, crackling or distorted, the naturalness of your wedding video will be greatly deteriorated. Fifty percent of your wedding DVD experience is sound.

4. Editing
In the past (and there are some that still do it) video editing was all about throwing in as many “look what my computer can do” effects. In wedding videos, visual effects should only be used to help create a certain mood or enhance the emotion of a scene.

The over-use or misplaced use of effects will kill a video’s natural feel quicker than anything. If the sample wedding video you are watching contains a disturbing array of sparkles, floating love-hearts, barn-door wipes and exploding turtle-doves with your names on them, chances are you are watching an ‘unnatural wedding video’.

If a wedding has been shot well, the footage should be able to stand on its own and not need heavy editing. The level of effects one can stand is a personal choice. Questions to keep in mind whilst watching samples are: are these effects needed? Do they enhance the scene? Is it looking tacky?

Summary
When choosing a videographer, ask to see multiple samples of recent weddings.
Try not to look at the wedding you are watching but instead critically judge the shooting and the editing. Keep in mind the points I have discussed here and you should be in a far better position to choose a high-quality natural videographer for your special day.

Abraham Joffe Videography are industry leaders in high quality, natural wedding videography. They are renowned for a very candid and fresh approach.

For more information please contact
Abraham Joffe
Phone: (02) 9264 6698
Email: mail@abrahamjoffe.com.au
Website: www.abrahamjoffe.com.au

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