Make money from wedding videos

Produce and market the perfect wedding DVD that

will keep the clients booking with our

essential guide

Wedding DVDs are becoming increasingly popular and are the stable diet for many videographers and small video production companies. However, it is a common

misconception that the videographer just turns up on the day, records the events as they unfold, burns the video to DVD and delivers it the next day. What many fail to realise is the intensive post-production process that follows – trawling through hours of raw footage, syncing material from multiple cameras and authoring the DVD,

not to mention the presentation and packaging of the final product.

Making wedding DVDs is a tough business (trust us, we’ve done it and have the uniform to prove it), but don’t let that put you off. Delivering that shiny disc of precious memories to the happy couple at the end can be a highly rewarding and satisfying experience, making all that hard work worthwhile. As long as you follow our tips and tricks to capturing the magic of the big day, there shouldn’t be any last-minute hitches to trip you up or catch you off-guard.

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Make money from wedding videos

kitbag essentialsfilming a wedding is a huge responsibility – you only have one chance to get it right, so you need to be confident that the equipment you are working with is reliable, and most importantly, that you take the necessary steps to ensure it is well-maintained and in full working order. if you are just entering the video business, you may consider hiring your equipment as you’re unlikely to have many bookings at the beginning.

More and more videographers now shoot with two or more cameras simultaneously, to allow for a wider coverage of the day’s events. When shooting with multiple cameras, it’s advisable to use the same brand and, if possible, the same model. ensure the recording settings are the same on both cameras, particularly if you intend to output to DVD in the widescreen format. you’ll also want two good-quality tripods with fluid motion and a remote arm to allow you to achieve a smooth, steady pan and zoom as you follow the bride walking down the aisle.

When recording the ceremony or speeches, the onboard mic simply isn’t up to the challenge. Therefore, investing in good-quality microphones is essential. We’d suggest using a combination of both wired and radio mics, and use the audio from the onboard mic as a back up. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, a good MiniDisc or MP3 recorder placed near to the speakers will do the trick. you would also be wise to monitor the audio with headphones during recording, for that extra peace of mind!

other essential items you’ll want in your kit bag include a generous supply of DV tapes, plenty of batteries of all shapes and sizes, mains extension cables and duct tape to secure cables and prevent trip hazards. An LCD monitor, or portable DVD player with AV input is also useful, allowing you to frame shots without having to look down the eye piece and risk camera wobble. finally, unpredictable as the english weather is, a decent rain jacket for your camera will help protect it from water damage.

Before the big dayit is vitally important that you are fully aware of everything that is scheduled to occur on the big day. Always take the time to meet with your clients beforehand, and prepare a questionnaire for them to answer covering everything from the date, time and location of the wedding, down to the name and contact details of the photographer. inevitably, the occasion will arise where something unexpected will occur, but if you are properly prepared you will be able to deal with the situation in a calm and collected manner.

Whenever possible, we would encourage you to attend the wedding rehearsal. This will not only allow you to gain a better understanding of how the ceremony will unfold, but also provides an ideal opportunity to agree suitable locations to set up your cameras with the clergy. Take note of nearby power points to connect to your equipment, and make sure you have enough manoeuvrability to obtain the necessary shots. Also bear in mind where the signing of the register will take place, and whether you will need to dismount from the tripod and change location.

Take the time to visit the venue where the reception will be held, and know how to get there from the church. The night before the big day, ensure all your equipment is in full working order. Charge all batteries, pre-label all tapes and prepare a checklist to make sure you have everything you will need. finally, make sure you have adequate fuel in your car, that everything else is as it should be and – simple as it may sound – most important of all, get a good night’s sleep!

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>>“The night before the big day, ensure all your equipment is in full working order”

The logistics of multi-camera shootingA common mistake when shooting a wedding DVD with two or more cameras is to come back with almost identical footage shot from slightly different angles. Prior to shooting, you need to agree with your second camera operator exactly what shots you require from them. A typical setup for a church ceremony has the main camera fixed on a tripod just to the side of the alter at the front of the church, with the second camera positioned at the back of the church near the entrance.

The main function of the second camera should be to provide a ‘safety shot’ to cut to when editing, allowing time for the main camera to reframe and focus attention on the bride and groom as they say their vows. However, there will be occasions where it is necessary for the second camera to obtain shots that will be out of view of the main camera. As the bride walks down the aisle for example, the main camera will probably have a restricted view and should therefore

Legal issuesBefore you make an agreement to produce a wedding DVD, you must first seek permission to actually record the event. It is at the discretion of the church, or venue where the ceremony is to be held, as to whether permission will be granted. Also, be aware that in some cases, you may need to pay an additional fee for the privilege. For example, as The Revd Phil Janvier, North West of England Area Rep of the Institute of Videography states, “The Church of England may charge you a ‘Permission to Film Fee’, which includes the necessary permissions to use the copyrighted texts featured in the marriage service, but does not include permissions to use Bible Texts or Special Prayers, nor does it cover performance fees for organists, choirs and bell-ringers – so it pays to do your homework and check beforehand.”

To use copyrighted material recorded outside of the church, or dubbed onto the DVD during post-production, you need to purchase licences from both the MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) and PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited). The simplest and most convenient way to acquire these licences is to purchase them online, via www.wvrl.co.uk. Created by European Copyright Licensing, the Wedding Video Recording Licence website requires you to fill in a simple online question form, which then calculates the total fee you need to pay and issues the appropriate licences from the PPL and MCPS. Alternatively, if you are a member of the Institute of Videography you can purchase PPL licences in bulk, at a reduced cost.

Copyright issues aside, you would also be wise to take out appropriate insurance to protect yourself and your business, particularly if you intend to employ additional crew members. A wedding is supposed to be a once in a lifetime event, and should something go horribly wrong and you are unable to deliver the final DVD, the last thing you want is to be sued by the disgruntled newlyweds.

n Attending the wedding rehearsal will allow you to plan your

camera locations

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>> focus attention on the groom, relying on coverage from the second camera to capture the moment up close. similarly, you’ll want the second camera to zoom in for a head and shoulder shot of anyone giving a reading at the front of the church, as the main camera will only be able to see the back of the speaker’s head.

The other occasion when you’ll need to use a two-camera setup is at the reception. During the speeches after the wedding breakfast, camera two should be used to capture the audience reaction, particularly if there is laughter and smiles, with the main camera fixed firmly on the speaker. Later in the evening, you may also want to use two cameras to capture another important aspect – the first dance. As the bride and groom take to the dancefloor, use the second camera to obtain a wide ‘safety shot’ as you move in handheld with the main

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n When using two cameras, a second camera should usually be placed at the back of the ceremony

camera for close-up shots. you may also consider using a camera light, as this scene usually takes place in low light conditions, although nowadays most modern three-chip cameras still perform well under these circumstances.

Post-productionso you’ve taken your shots on the day, but now the real work begins – it’s now time to edit your masterpiece. Typically, you’ll end up with around six or more hours of raw footage in total from both cameras, which ideally needs to be reduced to a more manageable viewing time. A duration of around 90 minutes is ideal, as your audience will unlikely be able to endure anything longer; this time length will also fit perfectly onto a recordable DVD, allowing space for additional features and motion menus.

Take the opportunity to log your footage as you digitise it onto your edit machine, taking note of any exceptional shots that you will definitely like to include in the final cut. if you have sufficient space, you’ll find it easier to digitise all of your footage as this will save you time whizzing through tapes trying to find specific shots later. As you become more experienced, you will shoot with the edit in mind as you’ll know what shots you need, and will be able to co-ordinate your efforts with your second camera operator. you’ll shoot less, but what you do shoot will be pure gold.

Assembling footage shot from multiple cameras is tricky, but a few key tips to remember when shooting will save you from added stress. firstly, always keep both cameras rolling throughout the ceremony, otherwise you’ll have to re-sync footage each time you stop recording. secondly, as you’ll be unable to use a clapper board – improvise! Use a camera flash just before the ceremony begins, and provided the flash is visible on both cameras, you’ll be able to sync the footage from both with ease by locating the exact frame the flash is visible on both recordings.

investing in pro-level editing software will open up more possibilities, with useful tools and features that you won’t find on the cheaper counterparts aimed at the enthusiast. Premiere Pro 2.0, for example, now includes a multi-camera editing mode that allows you to quickly assemble a rough cut of your sequence in real-time, and then fine-tune the edit using traditional methods. it’s also helpful to assemble key scenes in separate sequences, such as the ceremony and

Royalty-free Vs copyrightThe nature of a wedding video production will almost certainly involve the recording of copyrighted material in some form, be it a live band at the reception or a soloist performer. Many clients will expect to be able to choose their own commercial music tracks to include on the DVD, which is fine, provided you purchase the necessary licenses in advance. However, be warned that purchasing such licences imposes certain restrictions, which allows for domestic home viewing only. Strictly speaking, this prevents you from using the finished wedding DVD for promotional purposes by distributing clips on your showreel DVD or website. We recommend you play it safe and avoid using copyrighted material, specifically commercial music, on your showreel.

One alternative is to purchase a collection of royalty-free audio CDs, which are free from copyright restrictions, although you may need to make slight alterations to your edit to accommodate the new track. Likewise, using royalty-free animations and

DVD backgrounds on your menus can help raise the standards of your DVD. ShowstoppersFX.com offer a wide range of pre-made animations and backgrounds ready for use, saving you time and effort, but still give a professional polish to the finished product.

“As you become more experienced, you will shoot with the edit in mind”

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reception, then nest each sequence within a single timeline to create the final mix down for matching colour and achieve a consistent sound level throughout.

The burning questionWith your wedding video now fully edited, it’s time to burn to DVD. Many editing applications give you the ability to output direct to disc, but we’d recommend using a specialist DVD authoring package such as Adobe encore DVD – this will give you much more control and flexibility. Taking the extra effort to create visually stunning motion menus and animated scene selection menus will help make your product stand out from the crowd. Also, why not include some ‘special features’ such as a slideshow, or create a ‘highlights’ sequence that summarises the day’s events into one short mini-feature?

When you come to export the finished product to disc, always use the high-grade media. send a sample DVD to the client to ensure the chosen media is compatible with their player at home. DVD should be treated as a distribution media with a limited lifespan, so always keep an additional master copy on a hard drive or export back to DV tape for future use. you may have requests for additional or replacement copies in future, or if you shot and edited the master copy in HD, you may want to offer an HD-DVD or Blu-ray option to the client at an additional cost – you are, after all, running a business. When selling additional copies, always make sure you have the relevant clearance to use copyrighted material as some licences restrict the number of copies you are legally allowed to produce.

Marketing your businessAsk any well-established wedding videographer how they get the majority of their bookings, and their response will most likely be

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Presentation & packagingHaving a professional DVD of your wedding is the new ‘in’ thing

– everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame. With that in mind, it’s important to consider how you present yourself and your business, in order to set yourself apart from competitors.

It’s crucial that your product looks and feels professional, as this is your primary promotional tool. If you are a Photoshop whizz, why not go the extra mile to create a personalised DVD sleeve and inlay? A quick search online will unveil some template files to work from. Export a screen grab of the newlyweds from your editing software to use on the sleeve to give it that personal touch, then add some appropriate text, such as ‘Damien and Tracey – Our Wedding’.

Use high-quality photographic paper to produce the final sleeve. Give it that professional edge by cutting it to size, so that it fits snug inside the DVD case. Avoid using DVD labels – they look amateurish, and can cause playback problems on some DVD players. Investing in a high-quality printer such as the Epson Stylus Photo R360 won’t break the bank, and allows you to print directly onto the disc face as well as producing superb photo prints. Alternatively, you can purchase purpose-made wedding DVD cases online with a simple, but professional design.

either ‘through word of mouth’ or ‘recommended by another client’. This is all well and good, but you will also need to market your business if you want to survive long-term, especially if you’re just starting out. Janet fenton, Managing Director of The Graham Fenton Experience, explains that the key to building a successful videography business is preparation, and to pay close attention to detail. “We pride ourselves in making sure our clients are happy with the service they receive,” says Janet, “and we are delighted when we get additional bookings from guests and family members after viewing the finished wedding film on DVD.”

With broadband internet connections now more commonplace in the home, the first port of call for many potential customers looking to book a videographer is the web. “Having a media-driven, exciting website that exhibits your potential is absolutely essential,” advises Jeremy Payne, of Wicked Days Productions. “Clients want to see what you do, and how you do it. your promotional material must be snappy, original and creative – sell your emotion and style.” Creating your own website is not as difficult as you may think, with many of the principles of DVD authoring being applicable to website development. some hosting companies such as 1and1.co.uk will also provide you with easy-to-use tools to create a professional-looking site without any previous experience.

equally as important is your showreel. With the popularity of video hosting sites such as youTube soaring, getting your videos online has never been easier. your showreel should demonstrate your abilities as a videographer, and reassure a client that you have the necessary skills to do the job. “from my experience,” says richard Crossland of Contrast Video, “potential clients watch the showreel to check you’re not blagging – then they want to know about you, your ideas and how you will respect the occasion.” Bear in mind that your potential customers have probably seen a wide range of showreels from other videographers, so you need to set yourself apart from the competitor. in the late nineties, The Graham Fenton Experience pioneered the wedding day music video, and more recently Wicked Days have given us the Dallas title sequence. Ask yourself what is your unique selling proposition, and why should someone entrust you with the task of creating their wedding DVD? n

“The first port of call for many potential customers looking to book a videographer is the web”

n The Graham Fenton Experience are acclaimed

leaders in creative wedding and events cimematography