Filming weddings is a real challenge. This helpful video shadows a wedding videographer throughout the day and shows off some great techniques and tips you can incorporate into your own shooting as he talks you through his process.
Shooting on the RED Weapon, the 1D X Mark II, Venus Laowa 12mm f/2.8, and the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II, Parker Walbeck's equipment is certainly no slouch, but the information contained within is really applicable to anyone. He walks us through how he composes shots, why he makes certain artistic choices, and more, all of which is coupled with the end result shown immediately after. Perhaps the most salient point (at least for me) was to overshoot: get multiple shots of each scene when possible and give yourself extra footage to play with in post. While you may have an idea of how you're going to edit together the story, you never know what happy accidents you might discover from having extra, plus you may save yourself if something goes wrong. By the end of the day, Walbeck went home with over 800 GB of footage, but it was well worth it, as you can see in the clips he shows above.
That shutter speed ... is, I do not know, interesting?
It is the great thing about this, to know the rules and make them what we want, to continue experimenting ..
QUOTE FROM THE COMMENTS:
Q. Why do I shoot a higher shutter speed like at 1/500 and 1/1000th of a second instead of using ND filters?
A. Reason 1: Using ND filters isn’t practical when you’re shooting run and gun like weddings or events. You’ll miss half the shots if you’re fiddling with ND filters every time the sun goes behind a cloud.
Reason 2: I prefer using polarizers to get my colors to pop more, and you can’t use a polarizer and ND at the same time.
Reason 3: A lot of my clients ask for stills from the video footage. I can’t pull stills from footage shot at 1/50th of a shutter speed, way too blurry.
Reason 4: I actually prefer less motion blur on certain shoots, makes the image look crisper and cleaner. I’ve watched Hollywood movies like the recent Beauty and the Beast that had WAY TOO MUCH motion blur on some of their panning shots given their focal length and panning speed, I almost threw up. Motion blur is great, but can be overused too.
Reason 5: It’s a different look and style that I prefer sometimes. I don’t do it all the time, but once you understand the rule and why it’s there, there are times I choose to break it. :)