Vest-Arm/Stabilizer use in weddings
 

I know many incorporate Steadicam type stabilizers in wedding video but how many find the vest and arm practical? Where do you use them vs tripod. I can see me using a vest setup for pre-ceremony, recession, post ceremony and all the non-dance reception stuff. I have a FlowPod and my arm kills me after minutes of use so I only use it for a few shots pre-ceremony.

In about 2 hours I am going to shoot my first wedding ever (in 10 years of wedding videography) WITHOUT a tripod.
I have rigged up my glidecam (which I have not used in years) with a 3 foot bar which goes into the handle of the glidecam and the other end rests in a socket attached to a special belt, kind of like something a flag bearer in the military might wear.
I also have a zoom controller attached to the glidecam since the camera will now be 6 inches over my head and the zoom will be hard to reach.
I believe I will be able to hold this contraption rock solid for 15-20 minutes. After the ceremony I will take the bar out and use it as a traditional glidecam for the reception.
I may try to put a picture up of the thing if anyone is interested.

How do you shoot with a glidecam if you shoot solo? In my opinion, you need at least a 2 people team if you want to incorporate steadicam shots..

Agree agree agree agree!

We use steadicam everywhere apart from ceremony (mood just isnt suited) and speeches.

That said. Just filmed an Indian wedding, absolutely huge and spent longer in the vest than usual. It was a mad, jam packed day so sometimes couldnt get a tripod up and had to be free. Which is why the highlights from that one are pretty much all glidecam. Even used it in the speeches as it was a huge big hall with no top table. One minute one table had the mic, then another so had to run from one side to the other. Too dark to zoom so being mobile helped.

For ceremony we use a static cam and now we have a glidetrack plan to use that too.

My thoughts exactly. My vision is on two cameras shoots, I have my front-right side on a tripod, and me in the back on a tripod for most of the service. (I can't se me standing perfectly still for a one hour Catholic ceremony.) Near the end of the ceremony switch to the Flopod/Vest for the kiss/introduction/recession (along side the still photographer).

Danny, I just watched your Indian Wedding short on your site. Very good use of SteadiCam footage. I noticed you have a manned tripod diring the first dance for backup/continuity.

Were you you using a vest/arm?

We shoot everything with 2 cams. Makes for great footage to be able to cut from one cam to the other and go from glide to static. Multicam is always the way to go.

Unfotunatly, on this occasion the second camera was ruined by speaker vibrations. When the beat kicked in the picture is unusable. Not normally a problem when close but it was on this occasion, so pretty much all glidecam.

We use a Glidecam smoothshooter vest with a Glidecam Pro-2000. Cameras are Sony FX1's (pretty close to weight limit).

If we had the money id get a Steadicam pilot of flyer. But for the money the glidecam is pretty good,

Only ever use it handheld in very tight spaces and then only for a minute at a time. In the vest (and with going to the gym for back strength) I can use the glidecam for several hours at a time.

Please post your thoughts about how all this worked out.

I'm assuming you will be moving around somewhat during the ceremony, otherwise you would just put the camera on a tripod...? And that the don't intend to use the moving shots themselves, you are just using this as a mobile platform?

I would imagine that you would need to be somewhat telephoto at certain points during the ceremony, i.e. closeups of bride and groom etc. from some distance away, and it is quite a challenge to enact these with a stabilizer, especially a small one. Couple that with the exaggerated height that your bar places the rig relative to your body, which requires the operating hand to be somewhat unnaturally high which itself is fatiguing--sounds to me like the close-ups will be pretty "swimmy" as opposed to rock solid!

Certainly the zoom controller is a good plan, not just because it is hard to reach the lens due to height reasons, but also because it will also play havoc with the stability of the rig. Any force exacted on a stabilizer that far outside the center of gravity is never a good thing.

Like I said, let us know how you get on.

If you need to hold your stabilizer "rock solid" for 15-20 minutes you should be on sticks/monopod and not using a mig-shift stabilizer contraption at a wedding.

My arm is killing me!!!

However, the glidecam is much easier to lug around for 4-5 hours than my tripod.
Fortunately the ceremony was only 7-8 minutes long, and no the zoom shots were not as solid as they would normally be.
I would absolutely NOT do this again without a 2nd camera to cut back to.
I really like being able to move quick during the reception but the downside during the ceremony make it barely worth it. I think I need to get a quick release so I can go from the glidecam to a tripod quickly.

So, it was not a complete success, but not a total failure either (in other words, it wasn't so bad I would have to refund thier money!!)

A quick release is a must. I use a couple of manfrotto units, one on top of my tripod and one on the glidecam. So I Can go from glide to tripod in seconds. Typically the wife is on the tripod/glidetrack at the front of the church. My tripod at the back so I Can glide in and out with the bride and then mount up for the ceremony.

Hey Steve,

I started with the GC 2000 handheld and then used the GC 4000, also handheld but we incorporated the vest and smooth shooter this past August. Plain and simple, I would never shoot another wedding without the vest and s.shooter.

At first I thought I would look like Robocop at the wedding but it actually hasn't garnered me any negative comments at all. If anything, I get even more questions and I believe it makes things look even more professional.

You have to be careful in tight situations with the arm but other than that, it's a phenomenal investment and I would recommend it 200% (either the Steadicam or the Glidecam).

Bruce, I just watched "Stacy & Ryan" on your site - great job! I see you use the Glidecam a lot. I especially like the entrance to the church where you tilted while entering. Makes static shots seem so booring.

During the video you have shots where you walked up the isle with the full church, is that before the ceremony got started? Do you have a camera on tripod in the back of the church during the ceremony?

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your response and kind words! For the ceremony and reception, the first goal is always to try and get establishing shots without anyone there. The shots where I walk up the aisle is during the service while they're signing the registry in the corner. My 2nd shooter covers the signing, I take the camera off the tripod at the back of the church, mount it on the glidecam and do a quick glide down the aisle.

Hope that helps answer your questions and thanks again for watching the clip! Happy New Year!

This is where I found that a double QR plate (one for the glidecam and one for the DVMultiRigPro worked out perfect. Switch to glide when I want to and switch to DVMultirig (and re-attach LANC cable, mic cable and re-attach Shotgun mic). The switch costs about 1 min if my wife is able to hold stuff while I get re-situated. Otherwise, putting stuff on a table and switching could cost 5 min.

ON my Nov wedding the reception was so crowded and dark and close that the glidecam was useless. No room to glide, and no light to shoot. So stinking dark. No candles, just lights at two ends of a room with a tal tall ceiling that didnt' bounce anything back. All footage had to have the light on which I had not balanced the rig to use, so everythign was shot on the MultiRig Pro.

Hey Bruce,

Your work is phenomenal!! I'm a new Steadicam user and I'm wondering what on camera light to use.. Can you provide any direction??

Thanks,
Mike

Thanks, Mike!

We use on and off camera lighting. Mostly I use a LitePanel light and the 2-bulb Sony camera lights. Hope that helps and thanks so much for the kind words on our work - much appreciated! :)

Hey Bruce,

I have tried the LP Micro and was not happy... Are you using the Micro or the Mini?? If Mini, are you using the spot??

Thanks,
Mike

That is almost the same setup I use. I bought a pair of the Bogen QR plate assemblies for $50 each and they are exactly what I need (though they screw with camera placement and balance since the QR plate site unnaturally far back). It is a relatively easy swap to put the cam from glidecam to multirig (mounted on tripod adapter).

resurrecting an old thread.

Regarding the steadicam/glidecams with the vest+arm. How much of toll are those on the body? Does the vest help spread out the weight? What I'm trying to get at is, are those setups feasible for a solo shooter for long term coverage if there isn't time to put it down and go to tripod?

Quite a toll, they just move the weight from your arms to your lower back and bum.

Oh well.. in that case.. I'm out

Well, hold on there guys. There's a major difference between how long the average person can shoot with a body-mounted stabilizer vs handheld. Given, say, a five lb camera payload on a handheld rig like a Merlin or Glidecam, most people can only manage about 5 minutes continuous shooting before having to put it down and rest, most should be able to manage a solid 20 minutes when configured with vest and arm. Many will be able to go longer, some significantly so. I'm pretty average in terms of strength; granted I have been hauling 80 lb rigs for the past quarter-century so I have built some specific musculature but when I did the test shot for my Pilot review here at DVI, I had the rig on for something like 2 hours straight and had literally forgotten I was wearing it (moved furniture around, took a phone call etc...!)

The bottom line is that most people will feel the weight in places they are not used to, plus until they get the proper form down, many novice users will be expending far more energy than is actually required. Case in point rigs that don't have integrated monitors; you have to hold the sled in front of you to get a look at the flip-out monitor, which is more tiring than holding it to the side. It is also critical that the vest is properly configured to distribute the weight properly, as this will affect fatigue level as well.

Practice is always important with a stabilizer, not only to improve one's skill level at framing and moving with the rig, but also to build up stamina.

So yes, I will maintain that the toll that a minimal camera package (<10lbs) and matched stabilizer takes on the average body is generally far less than the handheld equivalent.

I concur with Charles. I use a Merlin with an XHA1 at weddings, and it's about 10lbs total weight. I use the Merlin/A1 combo all day long and it can be pretty brutal on your arm and back by the end of the day.

I got to try out the Pilot at WPPI and I flew the rig for probably 30-40 minutes nonstop. I had a screwed-up Achilles that I had been walking on for several days and was nearly to the point of not being able to walk anymore. Despite this, flying the Pilot was an absolute breeze and joy.

If I could justify the $5k purchase in my market, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Could I just ask how do you put the pilot away on a wedding when you want to rest? is it safe to put it on the floor sideways?

Thanks

Susanto,

I think the best way rest the pilot when not in use is to hang it on a steadistand or any other lighting c-stand. Pilot comes with the bracket (which holds the sled) that can be mounted to a stand.

Got my pilot last Thursday. End up with a back pain after the very first test run around the house :-) After some adjustment on the arm and the vest, 2nd run felt much better. Definitely there is a learning curve. Loving the added inertia pilot has to offer compare to the hand held merlin.

To the pilot + xh-a1 users, any one know where can I get a very short (>5") BNC to rca-video cable to connect the A1's BNC port to the rca port on the stage. I don't like the lengthy cable which came with the pilot. Don't like to rap around excessive cable to A1's handle.

Yeah.. we are generally the same.. as a skilled steadicam op, or shoulder rig system you can get away with it.. but I don't recommend it for the ceremony etc.. I actually tried this a couple of weeks ago.. and man I just shouldn't have.. im paying for it now.

Regarding the original post here are my recommendations: can't go wrong with Steadicam, Varizoom or Glidecam. The Varizoom Aviator is generally what I have used over the past five years.. and it has done the job nicely.. plus their rigs are on a massive sale right now so I hear!
If you want a handheld rig.. I'd probably go for a cheap used Glidecam on ebay.

michael,

i think your a third right there. you can't go wrong with steadicam :)

glidecam is great when your first starting, varizoom is great if you want to overpay for something that underdelivers, but i don't know anybody who really progresses with their steadicam work and doesn't end up with a steadicam.

no wonder why the brand steadicam is used as a verb for the shots it create.

P.

Ok, rub my nose it in then hu?? So you want to sell your Flyer P.?

Hey I remember a time when you called me and asked if I would sell my Aviator to you :D LOL - Damnn.. I should have!

Right on Patrick,

I know I made a good choice when I traded my Glidecam 2000 for merlin a while ago (MYW;-) And later upgrading to the pilot. Never liked the design of the Glidecam (odd gimbal handle position, inability to quickly micro adjust the stage). Loving the flexibility the pilot has to offer (adjustable gimbal, ability to add merlin weights to increase inertia, and quick micro adjustable stage knobs).

But I know its just a preference thing. I've seen silky smooth gliding shots coming out of Glidecam and other stabilizers.

Ok, now the Canadians are ganging up on me.. sheesh!

Regarding your last statement.. your right, check out David Perry (davidperryfilms.com), who does excellent work with his Glidecam. Also see Varizooms site (http://www.varizoom.com/products/sta...vzaviator.html) for an old "behind the scenes" look at us using the Aviator.. its where Patrick stole all his steadicam shots ;)

Also on that page is my wife from NAB explaining the rig.
Our website is comprised of Aviator & hand held Glidecam shots