What distinguishes cookie cutter Wedding Cinematography from intentional and more meaningful storytelling?
Deep Storytelling
Creating compelling storytelling through interviews and/or letter reading. Most wedding videographers will just string together a bunch of pretty clips on a timeline set to some dramatic music. What story is that telling? Yes, wedding vows are a nice addition to begin to tell a story, but where else can the couple's story be found?
By simply adding an interview or two, a videographer's work will have more meaningful, elevated storytelling than 90 percent of the videographers running around who are making a music video and not a documentary.
Who can tell the couple's story?
Parents, siblings, maid of honor and best man, grandparents, or a best friend are great options to capture short interviews during the wedding day.
Intentional Technique
Some videographers get lazy and do things like crank up the shutter speed multiple stops faster than than the 180 degree rule. The footage will not only look choppy (like an action film), but it can look more similar to phone or camcorder footage because there is less intentional control over the cinematic image. High shutter speeds are intended for very specific things, and they should be avoided most of the time. Using a proper ND filter will avoid the choppy look of high shutter speeds.
Cinematic Look
Filming at 24 frames per second for 90 percent of the wedding day will yield a more cinematic look. Intentional storytelling does not rely too heavily on slow motion to elevate the story. Slow motion has become kitschy and overused in wedding videography. It's trendy and will probably look outdated and ridiculous in 20 or 30 years. It won't be timeless and will be obvious that the wedding was filmed during a certain time period
Building suspense
Telling things out of sequence and utilizing the power of voice over can help build suspense for the couple's unique story.
