The Overview

Welcome!

Enjoy the videos, guides, scripts and shotlists below.

Watch this video and I’ll walk you through booking gigs, getting in touch with the client and getting paid!

Ceremony & Reception

  • Yes Bcam

  • Yes audio

  • 24 FPS

  • Candid footage. No direction necessary(though sometimes on the dance floor/cocktail hour I will invite people to interact with the camera).

Prep & Outdoor Footage

  • No Bcam

  • No audio

  • 60 FPS

  • In addition to candid footage, give fun direction to the subject.

Bridal and Groom Prep-60 fps

*We don’t want them looking like aliens in a garbage dump- Shots must be near a window w/tungsten lights 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

  • A dress by itself is lonely and boring try having…

    • A little girl do yoga/dance by the dress.

    • The mother of the bride 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. Try having…

    • A bridesmaid or photographer with nice nails help you arrange the items.

    • Flower petals rain from the sky.


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 in veil.

Groom Prep

  • Putting on Jacket

  • Bestman smiling fixing grooms jacket.

  • Father fixing groom’s tie telling him he’s proud.

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

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/trees blowing in wind

  • Water and waves

  • Skylines, buildings and flags waving

  • Animals

First look shots:

  • Groom waiting- big exhale.

  • Bride approach.

  • Groom reaction to Bride.

  • Bride reaction.

  • Kiss.

  • Hand holding

  • Bride spin

Other Couple shots:

  • Looking away from eachother then at eachother

  • Walking away from camera holding hands

  • Out of focus couple kiss with pretty background

  • Under the veil laugh/kiss

  • 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.

Bridal party shots:

  • Walking to destination from behind and in front.

  • Groomsmen Laughing x3

  • Groomsmen Tickling the groom/dancing/jumping/finger guns/picking up the groom

  • Bridesmaids telling the bride she’s beautiful

  • Bridesmaids laughing x3

  • Bridesmaids dancing/modeling/jumping

Ceremony- 24 FPS

Two camera set up. Don’t stop recording during the ceremony, unless batteries need to be changed. Mic up the officiant and groom. Work with the photographer. Don’t jump in front of the photographer to get a first kiss shot.

Pre-Ceremony Shots:

  • Guests entering

  • Venue shots(interior and 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 enjoying themselves

  • Bridal party celebrating

Reception- 24 FPS

Two cam set up for entrances, speeches, dances. Mic up the dj booth. Work with the photographer so they are not in your shot and you are not in theirs.

  • Venue details(interior and exterior)

  • Cocktail hour guests candid laughing x10

  • Food

  • Bands or live musicians

  • Any signs with the couple’s names

  • Grand entrances

  • Cake cutting

  • All speeches

  • All special dances(first dance,mother/son, father/daughter

  • Open dance floor and party people shots x 10

  • Photobooth

  • Dessert Tables

SCRIPTS:

Here are a few scripts that have helped me. Feel free to use them(or not)!

Prep: “Hi, I’m ____- The videographer! Where’s the bride(or groom)? Ah, 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.”

Outdoor portraits: “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- are you ready?

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. Practice your first dance. Spin her! Spin him! You are done. 

Outdoor portraits (groomsmen): “Alright everybody clump up, facing my camera, with the groom in front. I’m going to count down from three- 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

Outdoor portraits (bridesmaids):“Alright everybody clump up, facing my camera, with the bride in front. I’m going to count down from three- 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 candid 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

Open Dance floor: Similiar to cocktail hour I want to get candid footage of people dancing and having a good time, but if they are shying away from my camera, I’ll look around and wait for someone to do a good dance move. I’ll press record, point at them and motion for them to do it again. They usually laugh and oblige.