Feedback Wanted on My First Wedding Trailer at DVinfo.net

Paul J Carey · July 5th, 2007, 08:26 AM

I just finished a teaser trailer for a wedding I shot recently. I am brand new to all this and still figuring this all out. I really admire much of the work I see from you all and I'd love some constructive criticism. One thing I noticed I need to work on is the steadiness of some of my shots. As a rookie camera operator I need practice on my hand held shots. I'm sure there is other stuff you all can recommend as well.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance!

http://web.mac.com/full_lifeproducti...LP/teaser.html

Noa Put · July 5th, 2007, 09:18 AM

I"ll try to comment in my best English :) I thought the steadiness was quite OK, nothing to disturbing. Only you had some handheld and some tripod shots, think if you have such a short trailer you should stick with or handheld or tripod shot but not mix them.
The trailer was a bit to slow for my taste and then I would prefer only very steady tripod or glidecam shots.
Also one clip was not good in frame with the father(?) and bride in teh picture, there was a bit too much space above their heads and it looked like the camera was standing croocked (Unless that was the intention)
The focus pull halfway was nice only it was a pitty that when you got the persons in focus you just saw their backs.

I would also zoom in or out when it's needed or when it serves a purpose, f.i. when the bride is standing with the bridesmaids you zoom out a little bit. In the beginning you do that as well but then I think it's ok because you focus on the bride, zoom out to see who is standing beside her.

For a first trailer you did well, I know how demanding weddings can be and how difficult it is to get the perfect picture, especially if you want to catch people in their natural behavior.
Just keep shooting a lot during the weddingday, and shoot everything that looks interesting. The more different footage you have, the easier it gets during editing. You probably will waste a lot of footage trying to find that one shot which makes it worth while.

Paul J Carey · July 5th, 2007, 09:50 AM

Thanks for the feedback Noa. I appreciate it. I really did wrestle with whether to do a more upbeat trailer or a slower one. I decided on a slower one. Much of the rest of their video will be upbeat so I wanted to balance that. Plus, I wanted to show just a few shots. I knew that a more upbeat teaser would require more shots and quicker editing. I didn't want to give too much away. But I know what you are saying.

Thanks for the tips on the framing. I will work on it. I think sometimes I "search" for shots too much instead of just relaxing and letting them come to me (if that makes sense). My next shoot, I will take more time to make sure things are framed better and stop moving/zooming/panning for the "perfect" shot.

BTW, your English is great.

July 5th, 2007, 08:26 AM	#1
Paul J Carey Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 66	Feedback Wanted on My First Wedding Trailer I just finished a teaser trailer for a wedding I shot recently. I am brand new to all this and still figuring this all out. I really admire much of the work I see from you all and I'd love some constructive criticism. One thing I noticed I need to work on is the steadiness of some of my shots. As a rookie camera operator I need practice on my hand held shots. I'm sure there is other stuff you all can recommend as well. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance! http://web.mac.com/full_lifeproducti...LP/teaser.html

July 5th, 2007, 09:18 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	I"ll try to comment in my best English :) I thought the steadiness was quite OK, nothing to disturbing. Only you had some handheld and some tripod shots, think if you have such a short trailer you should stick with or handheld or tripod shot but not mix them. The trailer was a bit to slow for my taste and then I would prefer only very steady tripod or glidecam shots. Also one clip was not good in frame with the father(?) and bride in teh picture, there was a bit too much space above their heads and it looked like the camera was standing croocked (Unless that was the intention) The focus pull halfway was nice only it was a pitty that when you got the persons in focus you just saw their backs. I would also zoom in or out when it's needed or when it serves a purpose, f.i. when the bride is standing with the bridesmaids you zoom out a little bit. In the beginning you do that as well but then I think it's ok because you focus on the bride, zoom out to see who is standing beside her. For a first trailer you did well, I know how demanding weddings can be and how difficult it is to get the perfect picture, especially if you want to catch people in their natural behavior. Just keep shooting a lot during the weddingday, and shoot everything that looks interesting. The more different footage you have, the easier it gets during editing. You probably will waste a lot of footage trying to find that one shot which makes it worth while.

July 5th, 2007, 09:50 AM	#3
Paul J Carey Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 66	Thanks for the feedback Noa. I appreciate it. I really did wrestle with whether to do a more upbeat trailer or a slower one. I decided on a slower one. Much of the rest of their video will be upbeat so I wanted to balance that. Plus, I wanted to show just a few shots. I knew that a more upbeat teaser would require more shots and quicker editing. I didn't want to give too much away. But I know what you are saying. Thanks for the tips on the framing. I will work on it. I think sometimes I "search" for shots too much instead of just relaxing and letting them come to me (if that makes sense). My next shoot, I will take more time to make sure things are framed better and stop moving/zooming/panning for the "perfect" shot. BTW, your English is great.