What Makes a Good Wedding Film?
If you've watched any wedding films before you have definitely noticed that there are some films you just enjoy more than others, right? So, what actually makes those videos good? After working in this industry for over 7 years, I'd like to think that I have at least some idea of how to make a good video, and there's a lot to it! However, for the sake of avoiding controversy, I will say this: Like all forms of media, wedding films don't fit in the category of "good" or "bad" because they are extremely subjective! Some people love fast-paced and upbeat wedding films, while others love slow, romantic, and emotional films. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder after all! Now, that being said, my opinion on what makes a good film comes down to 3 things that I truly believe turn a wedding film from "good" to "incredible." 1. ) A film should be story-driven 2.) It should use quality audio, and 3.) It should have a polished and professional feel.
1.) A film should be story-driven
This simple fact changed my entire business. Honestly. If I hadn't begun digging into how to craft a story with my wedding films, I seriously don't think I would be in the industry today. About 2-3 years into my career as a wedding filmmaker, I began to realize that so many of my films were starting to feel the same. They were all just pretty shots set over nice soft music, which was fine, but they lacked anything that made them stand out from the crowd. The more I looked at other videos and films I enjoyed, I started to break down the "why" of my enjoyment. The answer was simple: great films always tell a great story. So, the next question was "how do I get my wedding films to tell a story?" And the answer was obvious. Every single wedding and couple already has a story! And 99.9999% of them are actually beautiful love stories! This changed everything for me and I began making it a point to get to know my couples well before the wedding day and learn about their story and get a sense of their personalities. Then, I was able to go into the wedding day knowing exactly how I wanted to film their wedding in a way that tells their story and matches their personality! The biggest change in this process of making a great wedding film was making sure I captured quality audio.
2.) A good wedding film should use quality audio
Here's something you might not know. When you think of a video, you would think the actual visual aspect, what you're seeing, is the most important part, right? That's only half true! Actually, audio is JUST as important as video! Most of us never realize it until we start breaking down the good videos and we see how much sound plays a huge role in them. And not just any sound, but high-quality sound! People tend to lose interest if they hear someone talking on a video and it sounds like the mic is scratchy, or they are in a big echoing room. So, to avoid that, I always try to make sure my audio is the best quality that it can possibly be! I mic everyone that is speaking at any point throughout the day. Whether it's rehearsal dinner speeches, letter readings, vows, the officiant speaking, or even just a prayer, you never know when someone is going to say something incredible on big days like that, and I always try to be prepared for it! It was an absolute game-changer for me! I can't tell you how many times I've had a bride come to me and mention how important it is to be able to hear that audio.
3.) It should have a polished and professional feel
After incorporating story and quality audio into my films, the last thing I realized that could make a wedding film stand out is attention to detail! This spans everything from the way I shoot to the way I edit. I never want a shot to feel shaky or crooked, for the colors to look totally wrong, or any other aspect of the film to feel rushed. I always want to make sure I am polishing the film for a couple to stand the test of time, and I pay attention to all the little things that truly make a film go from good to great. I know this is more of a vague answer, but the best way I can explain it is that I always go over the film with a fine-toothed comb and fix any little moment in the film that doesn't feel just right. Being detail-oriented has helped a ton to make sure that my couples are happy with their film from the very beginning!
So, as I said, everything in this industry is subjective, and I completely understand that everyone out there is not always going to prefer my films and my style. And that's ok! But as long as I know that I am putting out work that I truly believe is good, and that my couples truly value, then I know I'm on the right path.
Lastly, I'd love to leave you with a little example of a recent film that I feel embodies these 3 points so well. During my first call with Bradyn, she told me the story of her and Trace and how they dated for a day in middle school before Trace's mom, thinking they were too young to be dating, made him break up with her. Then, 10 years of just being friends later, they ended up dating and getting engaged! When she told me this story, I knew we had to tell it in their film. It was too perfect! Luckily, pretty much every member of the family helped tell their perspective of the story during their speeches at the rehearsal dinner. I was able to use all of these speeches to put together such a fun picture of who Bradyn and Trace are and how they came to fall in love! To date, it has been one of my favorite stories to tell! You can watch it here or linked below!