Wedding Event - Three Camera Shoot

[Juan Rivera]

Hello Everyone,

I will be doing a wedding next weekend and I have 3 cameras available to me:

Two - Canon XL2s
One - Canon XL H1

I was wondering if it is a good idea to use the XL H1 with the XL2s on DV mode?

Will I run into any snags?

I am thinking about doing the event on 16:9?

Will I have to do anything out of the ordinary for introducing the XL H1?

Thank you so much for your time!

[Peter Jefferson]

16:9 yes

Use the H1 as A roll

shoot progressive unless u plan on doin some slowmotion etc

go to he rehearsal and suss put key spots. Plan ahead, and ul be right

[Juan Rivera]

Thank you Peter for your great feedback!

Quote "go to he rehearsal and suss put key spots. Plan ahead, and ul be right"

I was wondering if you have any favorite suss key spots you can recommend?

Or does anyone else have any further input...

Thanks very much!

[Kevin Shaw]

Ditto the recommendation to shoot everything widescreen, which will simplify your post-production process and yield more consistent output.

As far as camera placement is concerned, try to arrange them to minimize the likelihood they'll be visible to each other, especially when panning up and down the center aisle. For example, put one camera on a tall tripod near the right rear of the church (behind the last pew) with another one at the right front (in the side aisle). This way the front camera can get a shot of the bridal party entering without showing the rear camera, and vice versa. Right side is normally better because that gives you clear shots of the bride's face (who is normally on the left), but reverse that for Jewish weddings where the bride is on the right. Third camera can be roving as needed, which is especially useful after the ceremony to follow the couple out of the sanctuary and get shots of them hugging everyone.

Also think carefully about your audio setup. With three cameras you can have a wireless mic to the minister on one, a wireless to the groom on another and ambient sound on the third, which helps simplify things in editing.

[Juan Rivera]

WOW Shawn,

Thanks for the great tips!!!

Regarding sound, we will be placing the camera in the back near the sound board to pickup the main feed from the wireless mics, musicians during the main ceremony.

I will be using the third camera with a Magicam and will have a wireless mic for some moving shots, etc.

What do you all think, in the area of lighting?

Thanks in advance!

[Juan Rivera]

Opps, sorry about that Kevin... I wrote shawn...instead

Thanks for your input Kevin Shaw!

Any suggestions regarding lighting? since weddings are impromptu...

Thanks in advance!

[Mark Holland]

Originally Posted by Juan Rivera

Any suggestions regarding lighting?

For the ceremony, do nothing.

For the reception, a small camera mounted light. (20-35 watts or so) If it's nightime when things end, and there's a send-off outdoors, a larger camera mounted light. (up to 100 watts?)

[Juan Rivera]

Got it!

Thank you so much Mark!!!!

[Patrick Pike]

Since you're using a mix of HD and SD cameras, one possibility is to use the H1 as your mastershot during the ceremony. Set it wide, and you can "zoom" in and out of it as necessary during post. Keep it within reason, and you will never know the difference on the final edit.

But you may not want to deal with the hassle of HDV - I wouldnt blame you!

[Juan Rivera]

Hello Everyone,

First and most of all: thank you everyone for your great input!

I just wanted to drop by and post an update for those looking for info in the future regarding this type of configuration...

Configuration:

One - Canon XL H1 - 16:9 - 24f
Two - Canon XL2s - 16:9 - 24p

Canon XL H1 - as camera 1 - on very tall platform\tripod
Canon XL2 - as camera 2 - on Jib\Crane
Canon XL2 - as camera 3 - on Magiqcam\Stedicam

All sound from the house sound mixer to camera 1 via XLR to input 1
No lighting needed (used house lighting, a gym wih halogen)

Post Edit worked great a perfect match!

[Mark Holland]

Juan,

How about the reception? How did it go?

Mark

[Juan Rivera]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for checking... :-)

yes the reception went great! I did not need any artifical lighting, we had lots of windows. It was perfect.

Thanks again!!!

[Zach Stewart]

Ahh Juan....the good o'le ARS system. I used to be an ARS tech for AVW about 3-4 years ago and remember the fun. I hope the software has advanced since then...i think they were using WinQ(???)something...don't know if that was it or not but sounds right. Got to travel a good bit and get out of the typical corporate AV gigs. The good o'le days...