Posted by Gary Eickmeier on 07/30/06 14:38

Rick Merrill wrote:

> Larry in AZ wrote:
>
>> Waiving the right to remain silent, Rick Merrill
>> <rick0.merrill@NOSPAM.gmail.com> said:
>>
>>
>>> New Question:
>>> Does the videographer attend the wedding rehearsal and go through all
>>> the same motions described by the OP? I should think they certainly
>>> would, and then there would be no surprises for the bride and groom.
>>
>>
>>
>> That would most likely depend on their charges.
>>
>
> Oh, I think ANY videographer would have to show for at least a little
> bit of the rehearsal to get familiar with the topography, sound,
> lighting. Besides, rehearsal moments can be "interesting", no?

No.

We have shot the same churches for some 15 years now, so going to a
rehearsal could only help to keep them from isolating us from having a
decent front camera shot. The last couple of weddings I did, they
completely sealed off the ceremony area from any possibility of a front
camera. If it's not the florist, it's the wedding party being brought up
to surround the couple, or even a dual-minister ceremony where the one
waiting always positions himself right in front of a remote camera.

No, the videographer should not become the event. We try to shoot
unobtrusively in both the ceremony and all the other activities. We
simply try to witness everything that happens without interfering with
it. The photographer and videographer will sometimes need to stage
certain shots such as the cutting of the cake and the throwing of the
bouquet, but for the most part all we ask is that they don't pop up with
some speech or major activity without warning us, so that we can be
ready to catch it from the start. We work with the MC or DJ to
accomplish this, and sometimes the bride. Sometimes, such coordination
is beneficial for the couple as well as the photographers - such as
setting up the rice or bubbles exit shot so that it looks nice and has
some actual people and a getaway car ready when it happens.

I agree with the OP, that the photographers making themselves the event
is ridiculous.

Gary Eickmeier

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