Videotaping Your Wedding:

Some Technical Questions And Answers

Many bridal couples and their families have questions and concerns about how the wedding will be taped. Below are some of the questions we're most often asked, together with information we hope will be helpful to you when considering video services for your wedding.

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR VOWS CAN BE HEARD ON THE TAPE. WILL THIS BE POSSIBLE IF THE CAMERA IS PLACED AWAY FROM THE ALTAR? If the ceremony were to be recorded using the camera's built-in microphone, your vows may become inaudible. These microphones lose clarity at distances beyond 10-15 feet. I utilize broadcast-quality wireless microphones, generally worn by the officiate or the groom; these provide excellent clarity.

WILL THE VIDEO EQUIPMENT BE DISTRACTING DURING THE CEREMONY? Because portable video equipment is compact and silent, the most important consideration here is whether or not the videographer has the skill to avoid intruding on the ceremony. I feel strongly that both the ceremony and reception should be taped in as unobtrusive a manner as possible. Most people are concerned about the use of flood lamps during the wedding service, and I agree that use of such lighting is not appropriate during the ceremony. I use low-light professional cameras, which can produce images in all but the most dimly lit interiors without video lamps.

WE ARE BEING MARRIED IN AN EVENING CEREMONY AND THE CHURCH LIGHTS AREN'T VERY BRIGHT. HOW WILL THE VIDEO LOOK? Although video cameras produce their best images when there is ample light, our professional low-light cameras do remarkably well in most churches and synagogues. However, you can expect that the colors on your tape will not be as vivid as those you see on broadcast TV; there is also some loss of picture sharpness in candle lit situations.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE VIDEOGRAPHER TO ATTEND THE REHEARSAL? Unless I've taped a ceremony at your wedding site before, I feel it is very important to attend the rehearsal. This enables me to avoid such unpleasant surprises as having an attendant block my view of the couple during the vows.

YOU OFFER AN EDITED TAPE. WHY WOULD WE NEED EDITING, SINCE WE WANT TO SEE ALL THE SCENES THAT WERE RECORDED? As I use the term, editing does not mean the removal of usable scenes from the tape. Rather, editing a wedding videotape involves the following: The addition of titles, music, still photos, etc. The elimination of "glitches" which would detract from the tape. For example, I must sometimes leave the tape running while rushing to capture a spontaneous scene at the reception; this footage is edited out. Editing can be used creatively to give a tape better pacing. For example, a lengthy scene of guests dancing can be "broken up" and made more interesting by editing in interviews with guests every few minutes. A well-edited tape looks far more polished and thus will be more enjoyable to watch; unedited tapes always have an amateurish quality.

WILL THE VIDEO IMAGES FADE OVER TIME? Because both video and audio information are recorded magnetically, a videotape will last indefinitely with no loss of quality if it is properly stored. As far as DVDs they are supposed to last about 100 years.