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Red Weddings?

Mark Inducil

Mark Inducil

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Hi everyone,

One of my friends called me up asking if I was interested in filming a wedding using my Red One. I just want to ask if anyone has any experience in this? Any tips? Is this even practical? I haven't shot a wedding before and I guess it's safe to say that unlike short films or music vids there's no second takes...

Thanks in advance :)

Mark
 
Everything can be done. However, if you're the only one documenting the moment and they're expecting a flawless report, I'd respectfully decline. If their attitude is, we already have wedding photographer, but we'd love a cool highlights film... why not?

Mind you, I've done friend-event photography, running around with a just a photo camera, lenses and sticks. It's a lot of fun, but you're essentially working, not at the party. I don't own a Red One, but I'd say 'go light'.

You've done documentary work?
 
I first shot a wedding two years ago on RED.
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6937

Fellow REDUSER member Rick Darge has rocked a few weddings on Red One. Some challenges for me..its a bit heavy to lug around all day by yourself and you have to pull your own focus on the fly. It's definitely doable, although a scarlet/epic with touch focus seems like the ultimate dream wedding cam.
 
Hi Mark

Been there, done that.
Will your friend pay the shooting?
If not, maybe he´s just want a freebie.
And working with Red in a wedding is just too demanding.
But, its your shoulder and back, have fun and take care!
 
sounds a bit overly complicated. If you shoot it on the Red, probably best to have at least one other static camera thats just locked off for constant audio or something. No? Then you can just get nice "moments" on the R1.
 
Done it. Picking out the photo's was a lot of work because of the 25 shots per second, but it's hard to miss the right moment in a photo. Filming was heavy ofcourse, even though I stripped the camera to 6,5 kilo's. If you could have a second camera for some steady shots and a steady mic, as suggested before, that would be very helpful. But if you are on your own it's hard to move the camera a lot and not miss something in the moving footage---as opposed to the stills. The party isn't going to stop because you're not ready yet.
 
Your shoulder is going to hurt after 8 hours. Weddings take a toll on the body. It's a live event and you're always on the go. That being said, you can achieve some high end results. I was fortunate enough to capture some cool cats on the R1, Fergie, Hayeck..

Here's a demo, I shot everything but worked under the umbrella of a bev hills prod. company.. Not too many people want to shoot on Red for weddings right now. The economy is still in the crapper.

http://www.rickdarge.com/VIDICAM_DEMO-02-web.mov
 
Taylor Morrison said:
Easyrig! (EZ RIG) might help your back. It helps mine.
Click to expand...

Only problem is that Easyrig might look a little strange at a wedding. In fact, R1 in general can look strange if you have a fully decked out camera on a Mantis. Someone came up to me at one point and said they thought the Terminator had shown up at the wedding. The best compliment you can get on wedding videography is that the client didn't even know you were there and seem surprised by all of the shots you were able to get. But if that's not a factor, then I agree, and Easyrig would save your back. Shooting for 12 hours with an R1 is a killer on the back.
 
http://www.vimeo.com/2830505
Here's a freebie wedding I shot for good friends of mine about a year ago. Watching it again, I should really re-grade this with the new color science.

Anyway, I took a good number of breaks so I could actually be a guest at the wedding too. It is a heavy load, but it can be pretty fun too. At that point in time I only had access to a couple of Nikon lenses (28-70 2.8 and an 85 1.4) so pulling focus was tricky and I really needed some faster lenses once it got dark (only shot with the 85 briefly... too long in tight quarters). I'd recommend a fast wide lens if the venue is small. I wasn't "hired" to catch all of the critical wedding moments and this was a fairly laid back non-traditional wedding so I didn't feel pressured to keep the camera rolling all the time. Just make sure your friend knows what to expect. And remember that you won't get every shot, but you'll surely end up with a lot of great ones. Oh and definitely expect some looks and strange comments from the guests regarding the giant camera you are carrying about!

Cheers,
Josh.
 
Josh, I love the look of the bride's wedding dress in that video. Great job, love the spinning umbrella shot.
 
Yeah I agree, that dress is awesome! It was made by someone who makes the costumes for Disney's theme parks.

They were doing the umbrellas for the photos and then Nikki looked at me and I said, well I'm shooting motion so we may as well spin those! It's a little silly but it's fun!
 
Did a big wedding edit, but the DP shot mostly on DVCPro with Pro35 for cover, then shot 'beauty' shots of venue, flowers, scenes etc as well as some highspeed of the bride. We wished there was more RED material, but it's too cumbersome and obtrusive - don't forget you need to document a day, not take it over.

I've seen some beautiful wedding edits done on a 5DII - a much better tool
for this use IMHO.
 
You want to go as light as possible!

- forget about EVF - use LCD only
- use the battery belt-clip (http://www.red.com/store/125-0216)
- forget the RED DRIVE, use the CF cards and have a friend/assistant with a laptop offloading them for You (unless You have RED-RAM/SSD, in which case get the 6' drive cable and put the RED RAM on You belt)
- forget cine-glass (too heavy) - use the Nikon/Birger mount with the fastest glass You can get Your hands on (get a pola/ND screw-on for the day shots)
- stop the glass to about 2.8 - You won't be able to focus anything faster then that on the move without a tripod
- the main lens should be wide zoom, something like the EF 16-35 f/2.8 L-series Canon or Nikon's equivalent. You will need it for 80%+ shots
- have another super fast mid-prime (like the 50 or 85 f/1.2) - use it before the wedding to get the close-ups and details
- use a small lavallière mic clipped to the top handle with mini-XLR connector for the sound
- handheld shoulder-rig is a must and so is a light-weight tripod
- if You are the only one covering the event - have a second camera (does not have to be a RED ONE) on tripod covering the wide view of what ever is going on at the moment. Your friend offloading the CF cards can take care of it...
- record as many closeups and fill-ins of decoration, cake, flowers, etc... BEFORE the wedding starts
- record a lot of the preparation (bride getting makeup/hair done, etc...) - these are some of the most memorable shots my clients love...
- record a "video-wishes" from closest family and friends - find a nice (and quiet) setting and use tripod and good mic...

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Speak with the church beforehand (if in church) to ask for permission to film in the front during the wows & ring ceremony, You really want to get a closeup of the rings being put on the fingers and the first "marriage" kiss. Many places won't allow cameras during that part, especially up & close. Talking to the priest at least a day before can go a long way...

Best of luck!

:devil: Peter
 
Peter Majtan said:
You want to go as light as possible!

- forget about EVF - use LCD only
- use the battery belt-clip (http://www.red.com/store/125-0216)
- forget the RED DRIVE, use the CF cards and have a friend/assistant with a laptop offloading them for You (unless You have RED-RAM/SSD, in which case get the 6' drive cable and put the RED RAM on You belt)
- forget cine-glass (too heavy) - use the Nikon/Birger mount with the fastest glass You can get Your hands on (get a pola/ND screw-on for the day shots)
- stop the glass to about 2.8 - You won't be able to focus anything faster then that on the move without a tripod
- the main lens should be wide zoom, something like the EF 16-35 f/2.8 L-series Canon or Nikon's equivalent. You will need it for 80%+ shots
- have another super fast mid-prime (like the 50 or 85 f/1.2) - use it before the wedding to get the close-ups and details
- use a small lavallière mic clipped to the top handle with mini-XLR connector for the sound
- handheld shoulder-rig is a must and so is a light-weight tripod
- if You are the only one covering the event - have a second camera (does not have to be a RED ONE) on tripod covering the wide view of what ever is going on at the moment. Your friend offloading the CF cards can take care of it...
- record as many closeups and fill-ins of decoration, cake, flowers, etc... BEFORE the wedding starts
- record a lot of the preparation (bride getting makeup/hair done, etc...) - these are some of the most memorable shots my clients love...
- record a "video-wishes" from closest family and friends - find a nice (and quiet) setting and use tripod and good mic...

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Speak with the church beforehand (if in church) to ask for permission to film in the front during the wows & ring ceremony, You really want to get a closeup of the rings being put on the fingers and the first "marriage" kiss. Many places won't allow cameras during that part, especially up & close. Talking to the priest at least a day before can go a long way...

Best of luck!

:devil: Peter
Click to expand...

Great tips all, Peter. The best advice is to check beforehand about shooting the ceremony from up front. Once I hid in the bowels of a pulpit and was able to get some great close up shots of the exchange of vows. The camera and operator should never be seen or heard, imo. If you can prove to the clergy that you will be truly respectful of their wishes, they tend to be more accommodating.
 
Had a friend use my Red at my own wedding...with a Cooke 20-100mm loaded up front. Easyrig was the solution for getting around and surviving, though I would recommend as much tripod use as possible, whether on a big lens or not. This essentially means that it's exponentially harder to do all by your lonesome...if you can swing an assistant to help you plant the sticks and run lenses, etc, I'm sure you can get some great stuff.

Good luck!
 
Thanks guys!

Some really helpful advice here, much appreciated :) I probably would tell the guy I'm more comfortable in shooting the highlights of the wedding rather than trying to cover the whole thing. Seeing that this is my first wedding gig, I may need to feel my way through it first. Don't want to ruin the lovely couple's wedding video with some newbie mistakes.

Mark
 
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