I think most wedding videographers use at least 2 cameras these days.

Gives you lots of extra choices - wide shot / close up, ability to pickup congregation reaction shots (the brides mother's tear as she realises what a jerk her daughter's marrying etc., etc.)
I'm sure those who "do weddings" can add other ideas ....

One thing to watch is to keep the other camera out of frame.

garo,
I recently edited video shot with one camera at a wedding (in Malmö, no less). There were several points where a second camera would have helped. I should have liked a shot from the outside of the church door as they came out. If your client know a little about video/film shooting and editing, this may be the kind of thing that's on his mind. But for me, the thing tha really would have helped wasn't an extra camera, but a proper sound set-up. You just don't get close enough with an on-camera microphone. Especially in a church, where the accoustics may be overwhelming.

If your client merely wanted to impress his neighbours, an extra camera is probably not the first thing he'd consider. My bet is he's bought video before and has had a missed shot happen to him.

Tor

I think most importantly is that you can see the bride and groom's face during the vows.

stewart how did you get a wireless mic on a bride?

Peter,
(Your post got in while I was writing mine.)
About keeping the other camera out of frame. Visible cameras add weight to the occasion. It makes the day seem (even) more important. Like the women who are on hand to straighten the bride's dress at all times. It all enhances the outoftheordinaryness of the occasion. I wouldn't worry too much about "seeing" the other camera - or the microphones, come to that.
Tor

Hi Tor,

"Add weight to the occasion" - interesting concept.

I'm probably way out of date with my unintrusive media ideas - happily I don't "do weddings" these days.

Peter

Peter
Years ago, watching the news (in Norway) I got the impression that camera operators tried to keep each other out of the shots. Then (looking back) it seems they stopped bothering. Now it seems they try to load their shots with as much goings on as they can possibly get. Consciously, I think.
When people watch NYPD Blue and 24 they get used to nervous cameras. News and the shows they see becomes the reference when they watch what we are creating. I don't like it one bit. I don't like Dogma films, deliberate camera shakes etc. But when I see a pair of shiny shoes, I don't mind seeing also the little boy who shone them. Or when I see a rose, the fact that it has thorns does not reduce its beauty, rather the opposite. It is this attitude that makes me say what I said about getting the other camera in the frame. (And it's the same attitude that makes me not want to run after it to try to get it in.)
Tor

Bowman01,
I'm not sure as I didn't mic her but you couldn't see it. Actually, the groom had brought the mics in so maybe he had already placed it. They (bride and groom) didn't observe the "can't see you before the ceremony" tradition. They were right in there helping to set things up.
Randy

Many wedding videographers consider two cameras to be the MINIMUM needed to shoot a wedding. There are several reasons for this: safety (two cameras running instead of one), more footage to choose from, you can make it more like a TV show my switching between the multiple angles, etc.

Typical placement for two cameras: 1 up front on the grooms side positioned so you can see the brides face. This camera can also get people walking in.

1 in the back to give you an overall view, get head-on shots of the couple (usually can see the groom's face better), and get them walking out.

Frequently we'll add a third camera if we feel it will give us the shots needed (i.e. people coming in from multiple directions at the same time, etc...) This camera is often a roving camera - may start in one place for the entrance, move to the balcony for the ceremony, maybe somewhere else for the exit. Just be careful that moving should be kept to a minimum.

As for the wireless mics, usually one on the groom is sufficient for picking up the groom, bride, and minister. The bride and groom are right next to each other when they talk. The minister is also usually very close to the bride and groom but also talks louder.

Some additional places you can find information:

Wedding and Event forum at DVInfo
Wedding and Event forum at Video University
Forums at the Fast Forward Club
Event forum at Creative Cow
and, of course, as mentioned above: WEVA

Another way to look at it is that a wedding is only going to happen once (hopefully!). If you're shooting interviews and something messes up, you can shoot the interview again or several times if necessary. If you're shooting actors performing a script you can do as many takes as necessary to get it right. On the other hand, since a wedding only happens once, you need as many cameras as it takes to get it right the first time. The more cameras you have, the better chance you have of getting the special moment recorded well. If someone near your camera stands up in front of you and sneezes just as the bride says "I do", hopefully one of the others got a better view.

It reminds me of a joke my dad used to tell about the famed director Cecil B. DeMille trying to shoot a historical epic scene of thousands of extras running through a valley into battle. In order to make sure he got the scene on film he set up three cameras, one on the east side of the valley, one on the west, and one up on a hill to get the overall view. He called action, the thousands ran and fought, the dust settled. He went to the first cameraman and asked how his filming went. The cameraman hung his head low and explained that the film jammed just as it was starting and he didn't get anything. The second cameraman reported that some horses went a little wild, ran into his rig, and knocked the camera over. Cecil sighed and silently thanked himself for setting up a third camera. He drove up to the top of the hill to see how that cameraman made out. His response? "Anytime you're ready, sir!"

I only do a few weddings, but I would NEVER do a wedding with one camera. Ed (jetdv) pretty much covered placement etc.

Vegas makes it so easy to to multicam editing that, other than the extra capture time, there is very little added burden in post production to doing multi-cam shoots. Contact jetdv for information on some of his products that help with this.

One other reason to do multi-cam is the belts and suspenders argument. If the battery goes out during the vows, you're covered. If the wireless mic pics up interference, you've got direct audio on another camera. If something happens that you didn't pick up from the main camera, it will be picked up on another one.

I usually put one camera facing the bride/groom/congreation; on camera at the back of the church, and then one that I operate, either hand-held, or on a tripod that is quick to move and set up.

"As for the wireless mics, usually one on the groom is sufficient for picking
up the groom, bride, and minister. The bride and groom are right next to each
other when they talk. The minister is also usually very close to the bride and
groom but also talks louder."

A small point that depends on how the minister introduces the newlyweds,
many ministers have the couple face the congregation putting his/her voice
behind the groom making audio pickup harder.
You may need the minister mic'd too or be able to get a feed from church's
mixer.

I often stage some scenes before the ceremony. Holding hands placing rings.
A shot of the groom smiling as the bride enters. Signing the certficate.
Alter candles / flowers. Anything that would distract during the service
or will be taken down right after the service. Take some time to talk to the
ministers / priests before the ceremony. This is a religious event and your
respect can be a bonus if couples ask the church for recommended
videographers.

I had forgotten about other uses for the wireless mic. I put one on the minister, and then turned on the camera long before the ceremony started. I had a five hour battery, and 80 minute tape set to LP (which I don't normally do, and don't recommend) so I could let the thing just sit there and crank. The minister went to the front of the church and spent fifteen minutes greeting people as they came in, and I got all of that on audio, even though the camera was just recording the empty altar area. It was a lot of fun to overlay that audio at various parts of the finished tape, especially since the groom was fifteen minutes late, and much of the discussion related to him skipping out.

I do not shoot weddings but have been brought in to fix post work on a few. On multi camera capture, make sure that the cameras are properly white balance, check lighting for shadows and K balance. record audio in the church empty from different locations for echo and noise. determined the required field of depth and focus in each shot and lock it down. shoot a lot of digital camera stills of the event for references and for added video overlays. sometimes minidv cameras can be place in special locations for a special couple of seconds of viewing, like on the asle, 1ft off the floor, for the kids caring the rings, ie......( the camera is in a fixed location, no operator). Staging is a great way to go, especially if the crowd will take part after the wedding. But planning is required, patience and time is always in demand.

If a wedding ceremony must be shot with a single camera, a few helpful hints to the bride and groom can make it a success. For instance, ask the couple to turn and face each other during the vows. This allows at least half of their faces to be visible (and offers a better view for the guests). Have the groom be sure the brides veil doesn't obscure the her face. He can caringly reach up and move it if necessary (the guests think "ooooo, he's so caring and gentle"). As others have said...great audio is paramount. Be sure to cover vocalists, readers...others who may not be in the vicinity of the bride and groom.

Apit34356,
You provide some good advise. But this one had me puzzled:

>>>record audio in the church empty from different locations for echo and noise.

Would you please tell us what you mean here? Do you mean test the accoustics in an empty church beforehand? Or what?
Tor

Hi Tor,

There are couple of reasons for pre-recording at the church.
1. Since the human ear filters out a lot of background noise, plus many individuals hearing is not that good, ie work with loud equipment, a raw recording helps id and track noise in the room. one doesn't want a mic by airconditioning or plumping or where noise from a hallway or doors or windows(open) can have a direct angle on the mic.

2. sounds/echos travel differently in a room base on the source pt and listening pt. So, recording music and conversions in an event requires preplanning proper location of mics so you can record the desired sounds and avoid sound sources or echoes not wanted. Since usually the number of mics that are available are limited, you want the best results for buck. This is a common problem with loud music, then people speaking,( and moving thier heads and bodys).

3. the pre-recording can be use with Sound Forge for noise reduction,....or reducing verb...

4. Should the people be willing to permitt recording of the practices or more importantly let you record them speaking thier vows in a quite room or sound room. you can use Sound Forge Acoustic mirror,(using precording of the church), to make the recording sound as spoken at the church without the extra noise,(you can always add real background noise as needed).

5. planning for the special sound events, like MichealS'suggestions, capturing the "ooooo, he's so caring and gentle", knowing the seating arrangements, one can capture the parents'comments,(paying customers like to hear these moments). Add this to video intro,....

6. plus proper layout can lower the odds of accidents, equipment failure......

AJP