Where Do You Stand When Filming A Wedding?

When filming a wedding, it is essential to position yourself in the right places during key moments. This ensures you capture the most important moments and makes your footage look professional and cohesive. 

Wedding videography involves being both strategic and adaptive to the ceremony’s flow. Below is a detailed guide to help beginners understand where to stand during a wedding ceremony and reception.

Let’s get straight to the point.

Wedding videography requires strategic positioning and adaptability to capture key moments like the processional, vows, and first dance. Use a mix of stable and dynamic shots, ensure smooth transitions, and focus on formal events and candid interactions. 

Prepare for lighting changes, carry essential equipment like stabilisers and spare batteries, and always be ready to adjust for unexpected moments. Thoughtful filming ensures a cohesive and professional wedding video.

The Processional: Setting The Stage

The wedding processional marks the beginning of the ceremony and is one of the most significant moments to capture. 

Although the bride’s entrance is often the highlight, it is important to film the entire procession, starting with the bridesmaids and ending with the bride walking down the aisle.

• Positioning: Stand at the head of the aisle, facing away from the altar. Hold the camera in one hand or use a gimbal for smoother footage.
• Groom and Aisle: The groom should be positioned on the left, and the aisle should be on the right, capturing the walk of the bridesmaids, flower girls, and the bride.
• Bride’s Entrance: When the bride approaches, move back to the left to ensure the groom, the bride, and the celebrant remain in the frame.
• Key Moment: As the bride is given to the groom, ensure you film this moment, transitioning into the ceremony.

Readings, Gospel, And Sermon: Capturing The Ceremony

The readings and gospel are critical moments in a wedding ceremony. As a videographer, you must remain unobtrusive while ensuring you get these moments on film.

• Camera Setup: Place the tripod on the right side of the ceremony, midway between the front row and the altar. This gives you a clear view of both the celebrant and the readers.
• Positioning for Gospel Readings: The celebrant and readers should remain centred in your frame to maintain focus.
• Be Prepared: Keep filming throughout the ceremony. Use two cameras for wider coverage and better editing flexibility.

Vows And Rings: Key Moments To Film

The wedding vows and the exchange of rings are two of the most emotional moments during the ceremony. 

There are several ways to film these moments depending on the couple’s preferences and the ceremony’s format.

• Positioning Options:

• 1. Behind the Altar: Film the couple from behind the altar for a traditional angle that includes both the couple and the congregation.
  2. Facing Each Other: You can place the camera to the side of the altar or even behind the couple to capture their expressions.
  3. Two-Camera Setup: Place one camera on a tripod to capture the groom’s side while holding the second camera to frame the bride. Do not overlap your shots by more than 180 degrees.
• Adjust for Movement: Be ready to move if the couple changes positions during the vows. Before the ceremony, always confirm the couple’s preferences regarding the direction they face during the vows.

Lighting Individual Candles: Adjusting For Aesthetic Shots

Lighting individual candles can be a beautiful moment in the ceremony, but it requires swift adjustment from the videographer.

• Facing the Congregation: If the couple faces the congregation while lighting the candles, position yourself at the back of the altar and film them with the guests in the background.
• Camera Adjustment: When filming, be prepared to move around the altar and adjust for lighting, particularly if the couple turns their backs to the audience.

The Prayers Of The Faithful: Maintaining Coverage

The prayers of the faithful offer another moment for reflection in a wedding ceremony. This ceremony section usually involves the celebrant and guests participating in prayer.

• Camera Setup: Use the same camera placement as the gospel readings, keeping the celebrant and readers centred in your frame.
• Guests and Reactions: A second camera can capture reactions from the congregation or the bride’s family, depending on the setting.

Reception: From Arrival To Cake Cutting

The wedding reception is more relaxed, but crucial moments must still be captured. 

Filming the couple’s arrival and the cake cutting is essential for the final wedding video.

• Entrance: As the couple enters the reception venue, stand to one side of the doors and face them as they walk in. Use a wide-angle lens to capture their grand entrance.
• Cake Cutting: Position yourself in front of the couple during the cake cutting. The guests will want to photograph this moment, so stay mindful of their movements.
• Speeches: Speeches are another key element of the reception. Ensure one camera is positioned at the centre of the head table to capture the speakers. Consider moving one to get close-ups of the speakers and audience if using two cameras.

The First Dance And Guest Dancing: Capturing The Joy

The first dance is another significant moment, offering an opportunity to capture beautiful and dynamic footage.

• Camera Setup: Film the couple dancing using a gimbal, ensuring smooth footage as you move with them. Avoiding bumpy footage is important, especially if the dance floor gets crowded.
• Guest Dancing: Use a tripod or elevate the camera to capture the guests dancing. If you’re filming over a crowd, ensure you have a second camera or use a zoom lens to focus on specific people or moments.

Documentary Style Coverage: Candid Shots And Details

While the formal events are important, the best wedding videos often include candid moments. 

These shots help tell the day’s story, showing the guests and the couple interacting naturally.

• Candid Photos: Walk around and capture spontaneous interactions between the bride and guests or the groom with his friends. These shots add a personal touch to the video.
• Details: Remember the small details, such as the bouquet, table settings, and wedding rings. These shots give the video depth and tell the wedding day’s story.

Always Be Ready To Adjust

Wedding videography is fast-paced and unpredictable. Although the ceremony follows a specific order, things can change anytime. Therefore, it’s essential to be adaptable and ready for whatever happens.

• Stay Flexible: As a videographer, you need to be able to move quickly between setups. Sometimes, the best shot happens unexpectedly, and you should be prepared to adjust your position instantly.
• Equipment Check: Ensure your camera settings are adjusted for different lighting conditions, especially when moving between indoor and outdoor settings.

Equipment Considerations: Staying Efficient

Having the right equipment and the ability to move efficiently between different setups is vital.

• Lenses: Carry only essential lenses. A zoom lens helps you quickly switch between wide shots and close-ups without missing any action.
• Stabilisation: Stability is key for smooth footage. Use equipment like sliders, monopods, or glidecams to ensure you don’t get shaky shots, especially during the first dance and guest dancing moments.
• Batteries and Storage: Always carry spare batteries and memory cards. Nothing is worse than running out of power during the key moments of the day.

Conclusion

Filming a wedding requires strategic planning, adaptability, and a keen eye for detail. From the emotional exchange of vows to the lively dance floor moments, your positioning and preparation as a videographer play a crucial role in capturing the essence of the day. 

Knowing where to stand during key events, maintaining smooth footage, and incorporating candid shots can help you create a professional and memorable wedding video. Staying flexible, ensuring your equipment is ready, and focusing on formal and personal moments will ensure you document the day beautifully and cohesively.

FAQs About Wedding Videography

How Many Photos Do I Need For A 3 Hour Wedding?

After shooting roughly 50 weddings in our wedding photography career and consulting with some other wedding photographers we know, you can expect roughly 50-100 images per hour of shooting time.

How Many Pictures Should A Wedding Photographer Take?

The short and simple answer is ~100 per hour of shooting or roughly 800 photos for 8-hour wedding day coverage. As we explained, this figure is an industry standard that only some wedding photographers must follow.

How Many Photos Are Typically In A Wedding Album?

On average, couples tend to include one to three photos per page for a 20-page wedding album, which translates to somewhere between 10 and 60 photos.

When Should I Expect My Wedding Photos?

Most photographers take four to six weeks to share your photos, though some may turn them around as quickly as two weeks, and others take two months or so. Before hiring your photographer, be sure to read their contract, which should specify a range of how long you should expect to wait for your photos.

How Long Does It Usually Take A Photographer To Edit Photos?

The time required to edit a photo varies based on the genre of photography and the client’s requests. Maintaining a sustainable workflow generally takes around 10 minutes to edit a street, landscape or product shot, around 20 minutes for a basic portrait, and 1.5 hours for a retouched portrait.