Wedding Video vs Wedding Cinematography
We often get asked, “What is the difference between wedding videography and wedding cinematography?” It’s a very good question and brings up a philosophical debate between the two. When you’re watching a home video versus a movie, you know the difference. The shooting technique, the image quality, and the storytelling are all different.
We believe that videography is the capturing of a moment in time from beginning to end. Videography is not as creative and it doesn’t use any sort of storytelling. It is purely meant to capture the entire event from beginning to end without much artistry. The video camera used with this technique is usually a tape-based camera with fixed lenses that has a lower resolution and smaller tolerance for low light situations (compared to the camera we use for cinematography) . The type of editing used with this technique can have very little cut out of the final DVD, and little to no dramatic camera angles. Have you ever seen “that videographer” at a wedding…the one who is wearing a cumber bun, has a huge tripod on wheels, and a massive light on top of their camera that lights up the entire dance floor? Have you watched a long, boring wedding video?
Cinematography is much different than videography. Cinematography is an art. It blends shooting creativity with storytelling. The wedding trailers you see on our website and blog are all shot with a cinematic style. We start out at the beginning of each wedding with a blank canvas and fill that blank canvas with all sorts of moments. When we shoot cinematically, we capture a moment (the bride and the groom smiling at each other, a guest wiping her tears, etc.) and then move around to get other interesting/creative angles. While our cinematographers are moving around to capture those different angles and perspectives, they are not necessarily recording the entire event. However, there are some parts (vows, speeches, etc.) where we will capture the entire moment. Much like a still photographer, when they are moving around, they are not shooting still photos the entire time. When we are moving around, we are not shooting video the entire time as well. But this technique allows us to get those interesting shots that make your wedding film unique and interesting to watch. You can talk with us about what is important to have captured in its entirety and when we can move around to get those creative angles. For this technique, we use a digital file-based DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses that can get some amazing depth of field shots. When it comes time to edit your wedding film, all those moments we captured are then interwoven with meaningful soundbites into a seamless storyline of your day. This will create a visual masterpiece of moving imagery.
Cinematographers are using many of the same tools used to create the movies you view in the theater, the advertisements you see on TV, and the television shows you watch online. Our studio uses HD video cameras, camera jibs, dollies, camera stabilization tools (such as the Steadicam), lighting kits, wireless audio equipment, tapeless workflow, professional editing, DVD and BluRay authoring, and coloring software (to name a few). Knowing what cinematic tools to use and when to use them is the quality of a good cinematographer.
To clarify, we don’t think that videography is bad. There is a place for it in the wedding industry. We just think that the consumer should be educated on the difference, because there’s a huge difference between the two.
Depending on what package you choose, your wedding film will include the wedding in its entirety, or a cinematic style video of the wedding about 15-20 minutes in length, or both. In addition, you will most likely receive DVD bonus features of the “getting ready” and the photo sessions etc. The wedding will be well authored on Blu-ray disc complete with unique menus and chapters. Each wedding is unique and each couple has their own requests, so it is good to talk with us before your wedding about the vision you have for your wedding film. No two weddings are the same. This cinematic style of capturing your day is what gives our wedding films a unique look and feel.
On our website, you will often see video and film, movie and video, videographer and cinematographer used interchangeably. In fact, the wedding industry (vendors, planners, venues, etc.) quite frequently uses the term, “videography”. This isn’t meant to confuse, but it is important for us to use those words in our website so that people can find us through search engines. A lot of consumers are still not aware of the difference between wedding videography and wedding cinematography. Thus, they will be looking for a cinematic trailer or wedding film of their special day, type “Wedding Videography” into a search engine, and end up with a list of companies who do wedding videography.
We want to get out there and educate brides that your wedding video doesn’t have to be long and boring. It can be an interesting and compelling piece that you are proud to show your family and friends. You worked hard to plan your wedding. Why not have a wedding film that truly captures your day and is uniquely you?
Courtesy delackmediagroup.com
