Wedding videography - Toronto Weddings

Have you really thought about how you want your wedding day captured? A photographer is a mandatory option, at least from a wedding professional point of view, but what about all those moments you can't catch with with a still photo? Well that's what this QA is all about. As you know we are getting ready for the summer and fall wedding season on The Weddings Examiner page and today we are interviewing Nishi Dias from Night Day Productions. She will be talking about the benefits, options, advice, and tips on videography for your wedding.Night Day ProductionsNight Day Productions brings unobtrusive and non-cheesy wedding videography to Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.Our interview with Nishi Dias:What is the benefit to capturing your wedding day on film?Put it this way: what would you pay to see and hear your grandparents' wedding? A wedding video is an archive of your personal history: you'll watch it, your children will watch it and your grandchildren will watch it. Your day will go by so fast, you won't believe how much you've missed; I often get clients who say "I don't remember that even happening!" and yet, there it is on DVD.What is the wedding day like through the eyes of a videographer? What is a preferred amount of time to get great footage at a wedding?It really depends on the filmmaker. At Night Day Productions, we approach the wedding event like we would a documentary film: the crew stays out of the way as much as humanly possible, and we let the action unfold as it naturally happens. We shoot spontaneously, we don't like to stage or set-up scenes. We prefer to shoot with 2 cameras, so we're looking for action and reaction shots during the vows and speeches. During dances, games and performances, we're looking at both wide angles and close-ups, so you get a sense of the action and emotion of the moment after everything is edited together. The videographer has to "anticipate and respond" so they not only know what's going on this very moment; they have to predict what's going to happen in the next scene. For example, you can tell you've got an amateur who gets into position at a church, only to have everyone rise and have his view of the bride entering the room blocked... a pro would have anticipated this and positioned himself accordingly.As for amount of coverage time, usually 6-10 hours will suffice. This will cover the bride and groom getting ready at home, arrivals, ceremony, park shoot, cocktails, interviews with the bridal party and guests, the reception grand entrance, first dance, parents dance, games, speeches, bouquet and garter tosses, cake cutting and some of the partying and dancing. If it's a big day with multiple ceremonies (like if it's a multi-faith wedding) it could go longer. Chinese and Indian weddings tend to be longer because there are lots of "mini" ceremonies and rituals that play out throughout the day. Evening weddings or weddings where everything takes place in one location require the least amount of coverage time: 6 hours is often enough for them. You of course have to factor in travel time.What type of equipment is best in each season? Does it change? Does weather play a huge part?It doesn't really change. If it's windy or rainy and we're shooting outside, we take a few precautions like protecting the cameras from moisture, making sure nothing gets on the lens, or shielding the wireless microphone so you don't hear wind, but nothing major changes.Were there any big differences in trends this year vs. last year in wedding videography?People's perception of the wedding video is getting more sophisticated with every passing year. There was a time when if you told someone you made wedding videos for a living, they automatically assumed you were a cheese ball wanna-be film hack. Now, with the technology and talent available to us, we're able to create something really special and meaningful that captures the day as it actually happened. Our customers' expectations are getting higher, so we're always improving and tweaking our approach.As far as the videography style goes, what type of suggestion would you recommend for the summer and fall seasons?I recommend a style that never goes out of season, which will stand the test of time when you revisit your wedding video years down the road. The last thing you want are cheesy effects and transitions that your grandkids will laugh at and say, "That's SO 2011!" An understated, simple editing style is best, in my opinion: nice clean dissolves and fades, when appropriate, good sound mix; tasteful titling... there's no need to go overboard with effects and animations.When editing, do you think about the theme of the wedding?When editing, I'm always looking for those special moments, which are sometimes very subtle. For example, like when someone is giving a funny or tearful speech and the bride and groom are reacting to it. It's so important to cut away from the couple and cut back to the speaker at the right time. So I guess the "theme" I'm looking for is really gauging what is the most important emotional chord being played in this scene?What are your predictions as far as videography goes for the upcoming season?I think engagement videos are going to catch on more. Couples want something a little more original, personal and entertaining than the standard photo slideshow edit. Social media is going to change how we watch wedding videos: more and more brides and grooms will share 3-5 minute engagement videos and highlights montages on their Facebook pages.What is popular choice among couples with wedding videography this year?People are asking for High Definition more often. It's a more expensive option, but more and more people are expecting it.What advice do you give to couples who are unsure about including a videographer in their wedding budget?When your wedding is done, all you'll have left are the photos and videos. The ice sculptures will melt and the flowers will die and you'll no doubt want an accurate archive of your big day. Some couples make the mistake of thinking that hiring both a photographer and a videographer is redundant. It's not, video and photo complement each other; that is, they complete one another (when done right).Any other advice you'd like to give?If I could just get one message out to engaged couples, it is to book your vendors early! I don't know how many people I've disappointed only because they waited too long to reach out. A quality wedding video isn't a one-person operation: at Night Day Productions, you'll have 2 videographers and an editor on your crew. I've had frantic brides and grooms call me hours before their event, when there isn't even enough time to charge the batteries for the cameras. Our videographers do what they do full-time, they get booked shooting other events (not just weddings, but corporate gigs and personal artistic projects too). So my recommendation is that you book your videographer at least 9 to 12 months before your wedding day. Not just to make my job easier, but for your own sanity!Have any other questions or concerns about videography for your wedding day? Need more advice on what will be best for you as a couple when it comes to capturing your big day? Be sure to contact Nishi Dias: