Let’s face it, you want to have these memories of your special day last a lifetime. Why else would you hire a photographer, videographer and now a live streamer? These three disciplines are similar yet very different – all 3 have different requirements. Read on to learn what they are, and how to manage your media partners for a low-stress event.
Photographer
The wedding photographer has been around for the longest time, and in my opinion, has first say when it comes to floor placement. It is the photographer’s job to make sure that each and every special moment is captured to perfection. They are the one who captures your portraits that will live on for decades on display in your homes.
It is arguably the photographer’s work that is the first to be displayed and shown to people. When looking for a photographer, make sure they use more than one camera during their shoots, and although not required, ask if they use a “second shooter”. Depending on your needs and budget, this option is great for capturing b-roll. These candid shots are great for the albums and sharing.
Therefore, that is why the photographer has first pick of floor placement.
Keep in mind that another photographer adds another cost. The second shooter is typically a photographer-in-training and is not charged at a full photographer rate.
Videographer
The wedding videographer hasn’t been around as-long-as our photographer friends, but they have a good pedigree. When VHS camcorders became available to the masses, the semi-professional videographer was born. After a modest investment in some gear and know-how, you were ready to start making money. These early wedding videos were mediocre at best, but occasionally there would be a gem.
As technology advanced and cameras became smaller & more powerful, multi-camera setups and professional audio became the norm. This was the time when wedding videos started to resemble their modern counterparts. They started to tell a story – as opposed to just being a linear timeline of what happened.
Videographers typically have to be stationary and require floor space for their tripods. They have second pick of floor space when it comes to setting up. A good videographer will have at least 2 camera shots – at all times – during the shoot. Audio should also be captured using professional equipment – lavalier mics, shotgun mics, directional mics, etc.
Videographers are story-tellers by trade, and their wedding videos are no different. They typically deliver a fully edited final deliverable with lower thirds, graphics, transitions, audio mastering, etc. Some higher-end videographers will provide a teaser video after a couple of days while you wait for the finished deliverable.
Live Streamer
The wedding live streamer is the new kid on-the-block. We are often stuck in the back of the venue, but we’re OK with that because we use real camcorders. We also use more than one camera angle to create a more professional live stream of your wedding. This is an important point – when shopping around for a live streamer for your wedding, ask if they use more than one camera angle. If they don’t, move on.
Sound is another important topic to discuss. There are numerous ways to mic an event – using the built-in camera microphone is NOT one of them. At the very least, each camera (remember there should be more than one) should have a camera mounted professional shotgun microphone. This setup is a beginner setup, and although there is nothing technically wrong with it, you want to have more in-depth sound.
We put discreet wireless lapel mics on the officiant and the groom; these are sensitive enough to pickup the bride’s voice as well. If there will be readings and lessons, we will also install a wireless podium mic. We use as many mics as we can while maintaining a small footprint. Sound is extremely important – almost as important as capturing the first kiss!
While camera quantity and sound are important, if the connection to the Internet is shit, then there won’t be a live stream. There are many ways to stream an HD quality signal over the Internet. My first choice is to always plug into the venue’s broadband router. If that isn’t an option then we utilize cellular bonding technology. This is the only way right now to transmit a full HD video over the Internet in amazing quality.
Well, there you have it. This is a very short list of 3 highly skilled disciplines that you may utilize for your wedding.
