Probably one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a wedding videographer is when the following happens:
This happened at a wedding that we were covering, as we were preparing to cover the first dance. 5 second before the dance starts… WHAM… all the lights were turned off.
We decided to revisit the timeless question: To use a light or not to use a light? This question has befuddled many videographers and their clients for years.
We – as videographers – are there to capture your special day, but we don’t want to ruin the mood by having a bright light on the camera, or elsewhere.
However, the flip side of this goes back to that famous saying from the Bible – We “cannot make bricks without straw.” If the reception area is completely dark, then our cameras cannot pick up any images, and therefore you will be looking at a black screen during your video, which contradicts the whole reason for getting the video made.
Also, there are several assumptions that are made when it comes to camera lighting or remote/detached lighting.
For example: many people think that the light will be directly in their face, and therefore making them uncomfortable. Any videographer who knows what they are doing will know how to “bounce the light”, or at least how to dim to where is there enough light to obtain a good, clear image, but not be overpowering.
Prime example: a wedding we did in a dance hall, these frame grabs are within 5 minutes of each other:
We had a single remote light on the stage by the DJ, and it was able to flood enough light to give the camera an image to capture, but not be overpowering to the people who were dancing.
Now of course, we COULD correct the “darker image”, but this is what you would end up with:
Notice the grain? The grainy image? This detracts from the whole experience, and this is typically what most people think of when it comes to wedding video.
There is also the issue of the “on camera light.” Some videographers will beam this directly into the crowd or the subject in question. In some cases, this is necessary, but most of the time, it is not. The videographer should bounce the light to give enough light on the subject for the camera.
While the lighting of the reception halls may be more obvious and understandable, lighting inside the church is not always considered. Many people think that it would be WAY TOO intrusive and/or obtrusive
Our beautiful city of San Antonio has some of the most ornate architecture and churches in not only the nation, but also the world. (The Alamo, and the other Missions, The National Shrine of the Little Flower, etc). The only problem is that many of the structures were built from the 17th to the early 20th century.
Needless to say - many of these building were not built with interior electric lighting (or even electricity for that matter) so the buildings were either lit with many candles or with wide open spacious windows to allow in sunlight. Some of the newer churches are not much better than the older buildings because they try to keep electrical costs down by not having very much lighting.
The human eye is a fascinating thing: it can process so much information and can rapidly adjust to many situations when it comes to lighting and color.
However, video cameras – no matter if they are standard or high definition – do not have the ability to make such adjustments in the extremes that their human counterparts can.
We have jokingly referred to our 2009 Season as the “The Year of the Dark Wedding” – We had to cover several weddings in not only dark reception halls, but also in very dark churches. For example, here is a frame grab from a wedding that we covered in May 2009:
This is from the same camera that we have used in several of our weddings over the past years. The main reason why it looks like that is because the camera is STARVING for light. As you can see the majority of the light is up front at the altar, so therefore uneven, and causing the camera to constantly fluctuate in its light readings.
What could have solved this problem? Something as simple as a 300W-500W utility flood light placed in the balcony and bounced in such a way to where the church would have been better lit would have greatly improved this situation.
Why wasn’t it done? We were denied permission to do it, and unfortunately, the above was the result. Something as simple as a couple of flood lights in the balcony, would have solved this problem, wouldn’t have been blinding to anyone, and would have been out of the way.
The lights that I mentioned are no more obvious that another other lights in any other church. The only difference is that we as the videographers we have been able to control them and concentrated the light where needed.
The basic way that lighting can be summed up is this: You will not remember if our lighting is there, but you definitely will if it is not.
So don’t be afraid of it! It will benefit the overall effect of the video, and allow you to enjoy your wedding video even more.
