As a wedding videographer in the modern digital age it’s not always easy to make it clear that you are in fact filming rather than taking a photograph. The problem is that camera technology has changed enormously in recent years and video cameras no longer necessarily have to be huge shoulder mounted beasts that weigh a ton and are about as practical to manoeuvre as a caravan on a go-kart track. Instead the cameras that are often most suited to weddings these days are in fact Digital SLR Cameras.
A DSLR is the same sort of camera your photographer uses, and this does unfortunately cause a certain amount of confusion. Allow someone to spot you swinging a DSLR towards them and they inevitably stop what they’re doing and pose for a photo. This leads to an awkward moment with various possible courses of action:
- Tell them. In theory always the best option but often embarrassing and time consuming when you’re desperately trying to get a shot.
- Pretend to take a picture. Often works right up until the point that they ask if they can see it and you have to pretend something’s wrong with your camera (which always fills the guests with confidence!). Also occasionally followed up by the words “oh, can you just get one of me and my mate as well?”
- Actually take the picture. Takes up more battery life and space on your memory card but at least they hear the satisfying click.
- Allow a battle of wills to ensue. Who will crack first? Will they continue to pose, still and silent as you film them, waiting for that all important movement which may never come? My personal best is four and a half minutes…
- Tear open your shirt to reveal an “I’m doing video” T-shirt beneath. Unfortunately does lead to the carrying of a lot of spare shirts and the misunderstanding that perhaps you might be Superman…
Now don’t get me wrong, I can understand that when you see someone shooting with what is clearly a photographic camera you’re inclined to jump to the conclusion that it’s…well… a photographic camera. But there are certain key differences which might help you to realise the truth:
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You know when you ask the ‘photographer’ “what’s that thing on the top that looks like a microphone?” Well…it’s a microphone. And the answer to your next question is NO! You’re right… photographs DON’T need sound!
- You’ve seen the other photographers taking pictures with just their camera, yet this third guy has a huge rig attached to it… No we’re not just incompetent… if there’s a big rig it probably means we’re desperately trying to keep the camera steadier than a photographer needs. Oh, and if the camera’s sliding along on some sort of track then we’re NOT taking a panoramic photo!
- Just seen one photographer elbow the other out of the way to get the shot? Yeah the one being elbowed is almost certainly a videographer!
- You know when we discussed earlier that I was taking video not photo? You know, before you got hammered? Yep, still shooting video.
- If you have been posing for more than five minutes and the photographer is looking a little impatient it may just be that they’re waiting for you to move…
So there you have it, 5 simple techniques to spot a wedding videographer… although don’t actually spot us, it really makes it more difficult to film you surreptitiously! Actually now that you have spotted us… you couldn’t make us a cup of tea could you?
