Get Better DSLR Footage for a Wedding Video

Editing your own footage will help you learn where you made mistakes and how to make your next shoot better.  If you don't edit your own footage, ask your editor to tag some clips that worked creatively, but could not be edited because of technical problems.

My first wedding shoot in Montana had some beautiful imagery, but shooting with a DSLR is not without it's challenges, and several shots had to be cut or trimmed because of soft focus or camera shake.

How to Make Your Next Wedding Video Better:

Get sharp focus

• Use a larger monitor to quickly determine if your shot is in sharp focus. Several nice shots on my first wedding were cut because of focus problems.  If you've used a DSLR for more than 10 minutes of video, you'll know that it's hard to judge focus on a puny 3-inch monitor.  Expect to spend $400 or more for a good monitor that has 800 pixels high in resolution.

• Have a focus pulling device to take your hand off the lens.  It's easy to ruin shots because you're shaking the camera when adjusting focus directly on the lens.

Today I ordered a simple focus control knob that will help to make focus adjustments faster and take my hand off the lens barrel.  It's only $16 and made from aluminum.  I'm curious to see how much easier (when combined with my new monitor) it makes to get sharp focus quickly.

Follow Focus handle by PS Productions.  $16 on Amazon.

After watching this review from learningDSLRvideo.com and checking prices on several 7-inch monitors, I ordered the Ikan VK7i 7" HDMI Monitor with the Canon E6 battery plate.  I also chose this monitor because I can buy extra camera batteries for my Canon 6D and they double as monitor batteries.

ikan VK7i 7" HD Monitor, about $450 including a battery and sunshade, from B&H.

Get more coverage with extra cameras (or shooters)
Shooting the ceremony with at least two cameras will allow you, as the main videographer to get some extra shots during the ceremony (ie: flowers, bridesmaids, groomsmen).  Extra shots during the ceremony will help you cut away during your wedding film and your wedding trailer.

Always be shooting
Capture the couple while they are doing their session with the photographer or ask for a few walks around the wedding location.

Camera movement

• Rent or buy a slider to use at your next wedding.  My local camera store rents a slider for only $15 per day.  Trying a slider first will also help you to know what you want to buy.
• Rent a GlideCam or Merlin to capture smooth, cinematic walking shots.

Record more audio

• Get before or after audio from the bride and groom to use for voice over in your edited film and wedding trailer.
• Get fun shots and spontaneous audio from the groomsmen