Wedding photographers...you can stop ruining videos by doing this

While I don’t want this post to have a frustrated tone or as a rant, I am in the middle of a wedding video edit and the photographer has ruined many moments in the videos. SO I am inspired to help educate photographers by letting them know a few things they can do to help not ruin videos.

Mind I am also a photographer, so this is not a bashing session by any means, but I do understand both perspectives of a photographer and videographer. Also, keep in mind the videos are not the videographer’s videos, it is the client’s videos. You want the client happy, right? :-)

Audio most of the time is the most important element of a video. It’s what captures what is being said, the tone, and the environment. When something distracting interrupts the video’s audio, it ruins the video. If you have never worked with video, this is something that is oblivious to someone like a photographer. Obviously, photos do not capture sound, so it doesn’t matter to them. However, it means a TON to us videographers.

Videography has changed in recent years, unfortunately, many photographers have not adapted to the changes. Videographers like myself are not flies on the wall and just stand back to capture footage. I am involved, want to get great shots, capture important moments, etc.

Photographers who have been in the industry for a long time are so used to videographers just going with the flow. I get that. But things are different now. It’s time to work together as a team, even if we are not part of the same company. We both need things and we can make those important items happen.

So if you are a photographer, please be considerate and be educated on how you can help us videographers out.

Camera Clicks

A camera’s shutter can make a very intrusive clicking noise. Fortunately, there are some cameras that help eliminate the issue. Mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A7R III have what’s called the silent shutter. It literally makes no noise while clicking the shutter. DSLR cameras have better ways to manage the shutter clicks, but not quite silent all the way through.

Ok, so what if you can’t silence the shutter? There are a few more things you can do so you’re not ruining audio and somethings don’t have anything to do with the camera.

Stop Talking

So many times I am at a wedding trying to capture authentic moments, but the photographer talks or starts doing the oooos and ahhhhs, etc. There is a time to talk, coach, and pose, and there are times it is best to keep quiet.

For example, a wedding first look. This is an intimate moment shared between the couple. Yes, give direction and coaching, but do it before and after the natural moments happen. There is NO reason to interrupt their moment together. It’s literally the only few minutes they have to each other on their wedding day.

For us videographers, we want the real authentic and natural moments captured. We don’t want to hear your voice, camera clicks, or movement in the video.

I’ve literally had to shush a photographer in the middle of a moment. I felt horrible.

Know Your Surroundings

Most of the time my team stays in one spot the entire time for moments like a first look. We don’t want to make any noise and we are looking out for the photographer’s shots as well. If you know where we are you can adjust and make a plan to stay in lanes where we are not in your shot. We ask you to do the same. Take a second to look around and see what’s around you and also listen for anything that could be distracting.

I like shooting outdoors and with being outside, there are potential challenges such as dry leaves, branches, and other crunchy items that if stepped on can make noise. Again, another reason why sit still during the moments like a first look. I don’t want to hear ourselves or anyone else moving around.

The next point goes hand-in-hand with knowing your surroundings.

Use a Long Lens

Please. Stop. Using. A. 35mm. Or. Shorter. MM. Lens. For. Photographing. Important. Moments.

Get a good zoom lens and stay back. If you can’t silence your shutter, not move, or be quiet, you can at least get a long lens to stay back to get your shots. There is NO reason to get so close to the action. You’re going to not only distract the subjects, but you’re going to make noise, get in our shots, etc.

No we can’t just photoshop or cut you out of the video. Video is not like photo. If we cut you out, we cut out important moments that should have been the subject.

Communicate

Last but not least, communicate (preferably before the event) with the videographer about what they are trying to capture and how they plan to do so. See if there is anything you as a photographer can do to help them out. I promise a short 5-minute conversation will go a long way.

I was second shooting for a wedding photographer once and the video team asked for the photographers to leave during a letter reading. It was the first time I have ever seen this request done by anyone. Again, I do both photo and video and understand the perspectives of photographers and videographers. So I personally would not ask a photographer to leave, unless they are just unmanageable.

I talked to the photographer I was working with and mentioned some of the tips mentioned above, so in a future similar situation, she could negotiate terms so both parties can get what they need.

It’s so important to communicate needs to other vendors. We are all there to do a job to the best of our abilities. We can help each other out by looking out for others. Be nice and polite. Be considerate.

We require to be part of the scheduling and timeline meetings. We do this so not only we get to say where in the timeline we need to be able to inject things like letter readings into the timeline, but to mention important things like when to be quiet or not to pop flash. It’s the time to bring up matters to avoid any conflict.

Storytime: Recently, I shot a wedding where I was working as the videographer. We were a the point of the ceremony when the couple was walking out down the aisle at a church. The photographers (yes plural) were taking up the entire aisle. I had to tap on the shoulder of one of the togs to let him know I was next to him and I needed a lane too. He was so unaware of his surroundings, that he was snapping away, got what he wanted, then literally backed up into me, knocking me over and my gear. I was pretty pissed at that point. It’s ridiculous to be so oblivious and inconsiderate.

Another point about communication I would like to make is that at least for me, a reason why some videographers might not step in during something like a couple’s session is to be polite and not ruin your work. It’s not that we are trying to steal poses, we don’t want to be rude. So with that said, if you’re a photographer, it wouldn’t hurt to ask the videographer if there are any poses or shots they want to try. I know when I step in and ask to try some poses the photographer loves it. It takes some pressure off and there might be some shots the videographer is getting that the tog can get too.

Lighting

If you feel the need to use a constant light, put it on a stand and leave it alone. Don’t have an assistant hold up the light, move it around, and turn it off/on. It looks like a spotlight tracking down a fugitive.

Also, please stop using the laser focus assist. I’m sure you don’t want your clients to look like they are being hunted by Predator. Us videographers most of the time have constant lights on a stand that can help light the scene and will eliminate the need for such tools as a laser pointer. Again, communicate and I am sure a videographer will not mind letting you use the light stand. Also, ask the venue if possible to turn up the lights.

What videographers see when a photographer uses laser focus assist…

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To sum up:

• Use silent shutter

• Stop talking

• Know your surroundings

• Use a long lens

• Communicate

Using the above tips will help prevent you from ruining (your client’s) videos.

Oh and trust me, I know we videographers have plenty to work on as well ;-)

*on a side note, I am getting close to releasing a montage of videos and examples of photographers ruining videos if this keeps up :-)