Re: Tips for solo shooters
 

In the uk (in churches anyway) the couple face the priest for a lot of the cermony and only face each other for the vows.

Filming from the front and having my unmanned cam at the back has worked for me for 3 years (and counting) now but...

...I'm interested to know how many solo shooter have an unmanned camera at the front and have their main camera at the back. In large churches the zoom on my Z1 will be at it's limit and I'm unsure of what reaction I might get (from the other members of the congreation and the priest) if i position myself halfway down the isle

thoughts?

Re: Tips for solo shooters
 

My method of shooting - I shoot all day long. From the bride getting her hair done to them leaving the reception. And I shoot everything but the ceremony with one camera. Well, two cameras but, I shoot DSLR so I just have two cameras with different lenses basically. During the ceremony, I have a second manned camera in the back. This camera is a traditional video style camera (Panasonic HMC-40 usually). I like the security of not starting and stopping and the auto features for a camera op that may not be very experienced. Also, having a long range zoom is a huge help. I'm usually up front with my DSLR (60D - and I can adjust it's settings just as fast as my traditional video cameras - maybe faster at this point). But I typically stay to one side and while I move around, I don't move much. I rarely ever cross the center aisle. I set everything up and tear everything down myself. I use to digital recorders with lavs on the preacher and groom and two boundary mics - like a zoom h4n to pick up other things. I never have issues with getting this set up or packed up in time. For me the real key is knowing exactly what I will use and what I want. Once you do a few and find out the things you aren't actually going to use, then you can save a lot of time by not shooting them. And you just have to accept the fact that there are going to probably be a few little things that you'll miss. But in my experience as long as you get the big things, you're ok. Once you get a few under your belt, you'll start to find your own rhythm and work flow. There are a lot of us that do this successfully and I'm sure we all do things differently. Just gotta find what makes sense for you and keeps your clients happy.