Dustin Siniard Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Hey guys this is my first post and I have ordered the Flyer. My Question is (forgive me if it has already been asked) But my company basically makes its success on weddings and I was wondering if I should shoot the ceremony's on my rig or tripod it? They usually last about 30 min and that seems kinda long to just be standing still, but it might give it a cool look. I was wondering if anyone has shot a ceremony with a Flyer or any rig and how practicle it would be. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Hoare Posted February 11, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I havn't done many weddings, but I have done a few long and crowded corporate events that would have benefitted from steadicam in some places, and not in some other places. The main problem I have is the cameras are quite bulky. I usually take three Z1s with pag-like camera op lights, which have a belt worn battery pack, and we are forever bumping into people. It might be that the kind of events we do are more crowded than a wedding, but I think a steadicam would just get in the way. it woudl be great to have the steadicam shots in the final video but moving around with it without bumping into people or tripping would be a challenge. If its a quiet wedding in a big church or big hotel then it may work out... I also have the flyer, (got it on Friday) and I will probably be using it on events like this... Depending on the size of the camera and the batteries and extra weight etc, standing for half an hour shouldn't be a problem. My camera with the lens adapter is about 5.5kg and I stood for 40mins solid with it yesterday and it felt fine. Im also told as you get more experience your muscles 'get used' to supporting the rig and you will be able to do it longer without any back aching. I am far from experienced so I will let someone else confirm that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rob Vuona SOC Posted February 11, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Hey guys this is my first post and I have ordered the Flyer. My Question is (forgive me if it has already been asked) But my company basically makes its success on weddings and I was wondering if I should shoot the ceremony's on my rig or tripod it? They usually last about 30 min and that seems kinda long to just be standing still, but it might give it a cool look. I was wondering if anyone has shot a ceremony with a Flyer or any rig and how practicle it would be. Thanks Back in the day . . . . .Back when they were fighting with swords . . . I shot way too many F!@#$%ing weddings, but hey . . . it put me through college and lots-o-drinking money . . .LOL . . . So, first of all . . .the church may not allow you to be moving or standing up and around the Alter, second if they do, you still won't want to be doing the whole ceremony on a steadi. Make sure you have a camera on a tri-pod with good audio and if permitted, then use the rig for awesome cut away shots, (ie: Up the isle, across the heads in the back of the church . . etc . . ) along with all the particulars at the reception . . . The first dance will be great on Steadi . . . . In any cased good luck, but don't fool yourself and think your going to get a great ceremony video 30 min or less all on Steadi even if it is a light weight Flyer . . . Just My 2 cents Fly Safe Peace Out Rob "Can't even go to weddings anymore" Vuona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Siniard Posted February 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Yeah I figure Ill have to pay my wedding dues, since my company is only 2 years old, but they are paying my bills so I cant really complain! I just thought a Flyer would be my next step in better production. If you look at company's like CinematicBride all their shots look like there stabilized by something. I just want to be able to compete with guys like that while raising the bar in wedding videography. Thanks so much for the comments, this is an awesome forum!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brian Dzyak Posted February 11, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 My disclaimer is that the only weddings I've shot were for friends. Soooo..... My first instinct is to not bother with it at the ceremony. Many churches will likely frown on you moving around with such a distracting piece of equipment. Some don't allow cameras at all! Plus, think about the shots you'd LIKE to get with the Steadicam.... and realize that you WON'T be allowed to get them. Sure, everybody would like their wedding video to look like a movie with tracking shots, leading the bride and groom (the reverse follow), CU's of all, two-shots, etc.... but it isn't a movie and access is generally severely limited. You're lucky if you can get an RF mic on the priest sometimes. <_< I actually had one priest SAY during his sermon (while looking back at me) that weddings aren't movies. :blink: About the only Steadicam shot I can see being gettable would be some kind of tracking shot along the outside aisle, raking the crowd with the ceremony in the distance. After that, it's all about long lenses and sticks and trying to stay interested. :unsure: On the other hand, take the rig to the reception! That I've done with a little camera and Steadicam Jr. Honestly, the ceremonies are boring and nobody really wants to watch it all the way through anyway. Get the ceremony and edit it down to about ten minutes (that's all the attention span people have for it...really). But they DO sit and watch an edited reception video the whole way through. I've used the moving camera during the dances, gotten in there with the hot girls to "dance" with them, gotten great dinner b-roll. And it is such a novelty anyway to have a Steadicam that people will come to YOU to do their "message to the bride and groom" thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Siniard Posted February 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Awesome thanks for the advise, It would be awesome to shoot a ceremony like it was a movie though, what if it was outside? On my outdoor weddings I tend to get pretty close, would I be able to stand there pretty still with my rig or how hard is that to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Hoare Posted February 11, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 I had a few people wanting me to do jib shots of the outside of the church as the bride and groom came out of the church etc etc. That would have been quite disruptive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rob Vuona SOC Posted February 11, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 11, 2008 Awesome thanks for the advise, It would be awesome to shoot a ceremony like it was a movie though, what if it was outside? On my outdoor weddings I tend to get pretty close, would I be able to stand there pretty still with my rig or how hard is that to do? Dustin, Holding the rig, even a Flyer on a usable shot for 20-30 minutes is not something you want to do. Not impossible but certainly not something you want to do when you have no second chances or retakes. You need to go put a rig on with your camera and try it . . . .you will asnswer all your own questions Otherwise . . . .yell cut at the bride and groom , then ask them to put the rings on again . . .LOL . . . Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brian Dzyak Posted February 12, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Awesome thanks for the advise, It would be awesome to shoot a ceremony like it was a movie though, what if it was outside? On my outdoor weddings I tend to get pretty close, would I be able to stand there pretty still with my rig or how hard is that to do? That reminds me a South Park a long time ago. The kids were standing at the bus stop talking about whatever. Then at one point, one of the kids asks Cartman what it is he's bringing to school with him. He says, "What this?" and the "camera" zooms out really fast to reveal a massive elephant which has been standing quietly just out of frame the whole time. Really, as cool as it would be to have some tracking shots for the wedding video, people (family, bride, groom) will only remember that the cameraman was a distraction even if the shots are really cool. The only person who will notice and care how cool those shots are is you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Peter Hoare Posted February 12, 2008 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Im working on a low budget film shot on 16mm film which is about a failed wedding videographer. He ruins a wedding by shouting STOP and trying to find a tape for his ancient VHS video camera :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin Siniard Posted February 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 Im working on a low budget film shot on 16mm film which is about a failed wedding videographer. He ruins a wedding by shouting STOP and trying to find a tape for his ancient VHS video camera :-D Awesome....I would like to get a copy of that when its finished! :rolleyes: let me know where to purchase it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Williams Posted April 10, 2008 Report Share Posted April 10, 2008 Im working on a low budget film shot on 16mm film which is about a failed wedding videographer. He ruins a wedding by shouting STOP and trying to find a tape for his ancient VHS video camera :-D I'd love to see that too, Peter. About 60% of our business is high end weddings and events. That should be a trip! VHS :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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