One or two cameras for your wedding video ?

So, you have decided on having someone make a professional Charleston Wedding video for you.  Now, you have to decide which package to choose; one or two-camera coverage of your wedding ceremony.

With all of the other things you are spending money on, your first inclination is to save as much as possible. Even if the difference in price is relatively low. "Every little bit counts," you think in your mind.

As a wedding videographer here in Charleston, let me give you my opinion and hopefully help you decide about which package to choose.

Where will the videographer stand?

Your very first consideration is where the videographer (s) might be allowed to stand.  Many churches (and some officiants) have restrictions on where videographers stand during the ceremony to capture the event. The videographers may be allowed to stand to the side or up on a balcony.  Other venues allow us to be behind the officiant.

If the videographer is only allowed to stand on a balcony above the aisle, then you should probably stick with one camera covering the ceremony unless the balcony wraps around the sides allowing your faces to be seen by two cameras.

If the videographer is allowed to stand on one side or the other, then you really should consider having two cameras. Having a camera on the bride side as well as the groom side will allow both of your faces to be captured at the same time. This gives the videographer the ability to see the emotions of both of you and gives them more footage with which to work.

If the videographer is allowed to stand in the back or the front with no real restrictions, (ex. and outdoor setting), then I still recommend two camera coverage for the videography for your wedding. Why? Because it allows a videographer to stand in the front and capture the images of you coming down the aisle and one in the back which will capture images of the train of your dress.

Then, the back videographer can move to the front to capture another side as the ceremony proceeds. In the third example, you could choose a single camera to cover the event but you will want them up front behind the officiant to be able to see both of your faces.

Depending on the restrictions, two camera wedding videography is best

As you can see, with two camera coverage for your wedding videography, the finished product will be much more alive because the footage will be better. (and there will be more footage to choose from during editing)

If the difference in price is only a couple hundred dollars (which is what videographers usually pay the freelance assistants) then it is well worth the price difference to have the very best coverage and final video of your wedding day. When the wedding is over, you have three things: you are married, you have your pictures and you have your video. I hope that all three are the best they can be.