HOW TO MAKE MONEY VIDEOTAPING WEDDINGS

 There is a huge potential market for wedding videos.  Just look

in your local paper any summer week and see how many weddings

there were.  Since almost every household in the country has a

VCR, you can bet that almost every wedding has a video.  Keep in

mind, though, that there is also big competition in this field.

If you want to make it, you'll have be sure of two things:  that

you have the skills necessary, and that you can offer more than

the other video-ers in your area.

There's more to taping a wedding than just setting up a camera

and turning it on.  If you're married and had a video taken at

your wedding, I'm sure you'll agree.  You, the photographer, can

expect to be dropped into an environment of potential conflict.

Last minute spats between the bride and groom, conflicts between

family members, still photographers, all can be a source of

headaches for you.

The best way to prevent problems is to set up a meeting with the

bride, groom, close family members, and, if possible, any other

photographers that will be at the service/reception.  This way,

you can find out EXACTLY what the family wants, any special

shots they will want, any unusual parts to the ceremony that

they may want on tape, how many people will be involved, and

other issues. Keep in mind, the family will be paying you, so

they will probably want to TELL you what you can or can't do.

If what they want is reasonable, don't fight it.  That makes

your job easier.  But, if what they want is unreasonable, be

honest with them, but, by all means, be tactful.

If you can meet with the other photographer(s), discuss where

they need to be to get their best shots, so you and your camera

won't be in the way.  Also, this will help you with your

planning so they won't be in your video, and you won't show up

in the photos.  This brings up the subject of planning.

Planning is all important when it comes to wedding videos.  You

will be producing something that the couple will want to view

over and over, that their family and friends will be seeing.

It's your best advertisement.  So, you will want it to be the

best it can be.  If you know what the ceremony will be like

ahead of time, and what special shots the couple and family will

want, you've got the ball in your court.  Be sure to attend the

rehearsal, so you can set your equipment up and plan your camera

angles.  Since you've planned your work, all you have to do is

work your plan.

Here's an idea of the equipment a well-stocked wedding

videographer should have or have access to:

At least two VHS camcorders with high-quality low-light functions

At least one VHS VCR for editing and dubbing

At least one free-standing light for each camera

A tripod for each camera, preferably ones with a large range of

heights

At least twelve hours of batteries for each camera

The best quality wireless microphone you can afford (one for

each camera)

All necessary cables, with spares

Extra tapes, the best quality available.

Don't let this list scare you off.  If you don't own all this,

you don't have to rush out and empty your bank account.  You can

either rent what you need, or barter your services with someone

who has the equipment.  Then, pick up the stuff you need piece

by piece.  Also, keep your eyes open for good quality used

equipment.

Other equipment you may want to consider would include a good

video editor deck, for putting your finished product together; a

film-to-tape camera attachment (can be used to create a montage

of scenes from old home movies of the couple when they were kids

- a great service to offer and a unique marketing point to

offer!); and a graphics/title generator.

So, you may have wondered, why would you need more than one

camera? If you have two cameras set up, you:

- can have different angles of the action, instead of the

standard wedding video, which has a half- hour of a still

camera; and

- you're covered if one of the cameras messes up or lighting

is bad.

Make sure your videos are special, different from the

run-of-the-mill wedding videos.  Try to get a camera aimed

toward the faces of the couple, so you can capture them during

the vows, and at other points.  This will also provide close-up

footage to edit in at slow points.  Try to have a camera at the

end of the aisle, so you can catch the exit of the bride and

groom.  This camera could also be used to show the bride from

the back, entering the ceremony, an angle that you rarely see in

a wedding video.  If possible, get or draw up a floor plan of

the location of the ceremony.  It will help you plan your camera

placement and shots.

Position your microphones where they'll do the most good.  If

possible, get either the bride or the groom to wear one, and get

the minister or celebrant to wear one.  This way, you'll have

crisp, clear sound.  Just remember to warn the bride and groom

not to whisper anything they wouldn't want the microphone to

pick up!  (You can always edit out any unwanted sound.)

Other places you may want a camera would be (with the couple in

the 12 o'clock position): 10:00 or 2:00.  Use these camera to

get views of the crowd, the parents of the couple (edit a shot

of them in during the vows - catch the emotions of the

ceremony), and the entrance of the attendants.  If the ceremony

is a specialized ethnic ceremony (becoming more popular,

especially with Black Americans) or unusual, you should look for

points of interest to capture on tape which will show the

special meanings and emotions of the ceremony.  If the couple

and family can watch your tape and feel the same emotions they

had during the actual ceremony, your tape is a winner!

Technical skills are important, but they can be learned.  The

most crucial skills are smooth panning and zooming.  Before you

ever do your first wedding, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!  The

worst wedding video is the most common:  one stationary camera,

no zooms, never moving.  People look around when they're at a

wedding, and so should the camera, within reason.  Practice

slow, smooth pans that keep the subject in the frame of the

camera.  Practice smooth zooms that aren't jerky, and aren't too

close or too far from the subject.

You've probably figured that you'll need a helper for the actual

taping. Unless the only camera that will pan and zoom is the one

you're operating, and the others are stationary, you'll need

someone.  Be sure your helper is well-trained, with skills up to

par with yourself.  Ideas:  a friend who also has a videocamera

(here's a way to save on equipment costs); a college or

high-school kid with video experience (they're becoming more

common, as more and more schools add video classes to their

curriculum); or a freelancer (possibly a crew member from the

public access channel at your cable station).

At the reception, it's important to get the "traditional"

events:  the garter/ bouquet toss, cutting the cake, toasts,

etc.  Use the same guidelines as before:  keep in mind what's

important to have in the frame, and try to tape it smoothly.  A

good idea may be to talk to the relatives of the couple and see

if some of them would want to say a few words about the couple

on tape (try to do this early in the reception, before a lot of

drinks have been served!).

If your videos are special and well-produced, you should be able

to charge fees that are toward the top range in your area.

Premium wedding videographers in large areas should be able to

get $750 to $1000 for a wedding.  Discretely call other

videographers in your area to get an idea of what the range is.

Also, customize your prices depending upon what services the

family wants.  If they don't need three cameras and extensive

editing, charge them less.

Marketing ideas:

Scan your newspaper for engagement announcements. Then, use your

computer's word processor to print out personalized letters

detailing your services.  Use your library's city directory to

find the addresses you need.  Send the letters and a brochure to

the lucky couples.

Set up a referral network with florists formal wear shops,

printers, and other wedding-related retailers in your area.  You

could offer them a set commission fee each time a referral leads

to a taping job.

Find a wedding photographer in your area who doesn't currently

offer video.  Set up a deal where your photo and video services

could be offered as a package.

Make sure you have a booth at local bridal shows.  These are

attended by  people who will be marrying soon, qualified

prospects for your services.

Have plenty of your brochures and marketing materials handy, so

you don't  run out.  A good idea is to have one of your best

videos playing on a monitor at the show (get permission from the

couple on tape first - maybe offer them a discount in exchange

for letting you use their tape for marketing purposes).

Advertise in your newspaper's wedding supplement.  Most

newspapers publish at least one a year.

If your taping was simple, with only one camera, you may be able

to deliver the tape to the couple at the end of the wedding.  If

more extensive editing needs to be done, make sure you give the

couple a realistic date when they can expect the tape.  Don't

give them a time that will leave you rushed.  If you don't have

your own editing equipment, check ahead with your local cable

station.  Many times, they have facilities for their public

access station which can be rented.  Many also offer short

courses in video editing which are worth checking into.

A few final words:

 Try to be discrete when taping.  No one likes tripping over a

bunch of cords and being distracted during the ceremony by

someone running from camera to camera and moving lighting

around.  You want people to remember the wedding, not you.

Don't take advantage of the free food/drinks at the reception,

unless invited to by the couple.  If invited to, eat small and

late.  You're working, remember. This will allow the optimum

time for taping, and you won't be remembered as a freeloader.

If the couple is not satisfied with their tape, don't take it

personally.  Offer a deep discount and write it off to

experience.  Look at it this way, at least you got good practice

and were paid for it!

Emphasize to your prospective customers in your brochures that

your services and fees are customizable.  A lot of people can

only afford a few  hundred dollars for a good video.  Scale back

on the complexity of the video, but still give them a

high-quality product.  They may be your best  referral source.

Keep tabs on your competition. If one starts offering a special

feature,  try to offer the same.  Always try to think of new,

creative services you  can offer, so you lead the pack.

 
 
Weddings can be a lot of work.  They can also be a lot of fun.

You are in the position of being able to give the couple and

family a permanent record of one of the most special days of

their lives.  Help make it one to remember for them and you can

be on your way to success!
 

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