Who on earth wants to video a funeral? Probably the same people that want a close-up of the children being born I suppose.

Investigated that whole funeral thing.
The tribute video idea.
Talked with every funeral director in this market of half-a-million.
The logistics of doing a video, even a video photo album between death and burial is fraught with stress,---both for family and videographer.
My pitch was to sell the video as part of a pre-paid funeral package.
Without exception I was discouraged from doing so.
Tried to market this to the living,---folks in well-heeled retirement communities.
Interest but not bites. Those depressoin-era folks are tight-fisted.
That's where I left it.
Suppose the next step is to market the idea to the children of the living subjects. A sort of personal biography. Did a sample using a 93 year old aunt as the subject. But haven't gone any further. Video is my main income along with some freelance broadcast journalism. Am trying to grow the corporate part of the buisiness, training-promotional. More money for the effort.
Weddings?
Was parachuted into a reception-only situation. Thought it would be a good chance to shake down some new equipment and get a feel for wedding world. Client was so problematic,---I gave I returned his money.
Weddings are kind of like doing lives sporting events, like hockey. Things happen fast. You can't miss the big play!
Stressful is right.
Am on call to video actual funerals for one funeral home here. Guess there are no surprises,---and not much to miss so long as you get the eulogy?
Still,---I think weddings are a necessary evil to get up and going in this biz.
But I'm trying to avoid them.

I'm not one, and don't want to be. But I can assure you it's stressful. Just hang out in some of the event and wedding forums.You'll see lots of griping, sniping, arguing. That's not to say everyone is like that, but it looks pretty darn bad a lot of the time. As you know, I either moderate or participate in a fairly large number of forums. In all my "travels" I've yet to see any forum anywhere outside of political forums, reach this level of angst. But that's just my opinion, there are lots of professional event videographers and maybe I'm taking too much of a narrow view based on forums.

I do volunteer work video taping the local high school marching band and its events. The stress level is high, same concept as other events - missing one shot in a four to six hour shoot, concern about equipment and potential breakdowns, dealing with surprises, and encountering idiots that do not understand if they are standing next to you yelling into a cell phone over the music being generated by the 250 member band - it will show up in the final edit (My yelling at him did also show up on the tape but both were deleted from the final cut)

In the end I believe its worth it if you enjoy the product and do not let the stress reduce this enjoyment.

Who on earth wants to video a funeral?

Distraught parents who have lost a child.

I had the same thought as you, but a friend approached me and asked me to it as a favor for some friends of his. Their 20-year old died in a freak accident. Actually, it was a memorial service.

By the time I finished with it (adding family photos, videos, and music), I felt I knew the boy. Very moving experience--not that I'd want to repeat it!

But yes, "event" work is, to me, very stressful. Screw it up and you're toast! Some folks thrive on it. More power to 'em!

Jay

I started off as a Wedding Videographer
GREAT job if:

You don't mind dealing with people that expect the world and complete perfection but don't want to pay you anything for it.

You understand that the Photographer is gold and usually well paid and your the last minute option when all the money has been spent on everything else.

You can handle that fact that you were given a poverty story and lowered your price but then realize the brides dress costs more than all of your equipment.

Your ego can take the hit when your told another family member could have done the same thing you did but they weren't available.

All of a sudden none of your DVD's play right anymore (after they have watched and mishandled them 200 times) now they want more.

Bottom line: If your okay dealing with demanding, ungrateful people who have little respect for your profession, then go for it. Not all clients are BAD but there is enough of them to make your life stressful. Many times these people will not even put you on the meal list and feed you after you have been there all day working your tail off. It sucked, I went on to music videos.
(Yes, even dealing with wanna be, imature rock stars is better than the wedding videographer gig)
I didn't even get into what happens when you have equipment problems during the ceremony or your second camera person took BAD footage. (ouch!)
DH

I think I know what forum he's referring to but I don't think that is all because of job-induced stress. I think it's a clash of egos. The wedding/event videography/photography industry is full of bloated egos.

But to answer your original question- yes it IS quite stressfull. Probably more so than any other type of videography I can think of. Main reason being...is there's only ONE take. One chance to get your shot.

I recently had the opportunity to shoot a Love Story/Engagement Video in which all the shots were staged. I LOVED IT! I had complete control over angles, lighting, talent positioning and movement...it was great. I also feel I can create my most artistic work this way.

See...I knew there was a reason I got into Videography- to do shorts. I got sucked into the Wedding/Event industry. I simply HAD to make money to justify the hardware expenses. And now I'm in so deep I don't have the time to even think about tackling a short.

Yes Jay, I can see the point of making a memorial video as a tribute to someone. Done properly that could be a great gesture, particularly if footage of the deceased exists. But whipping out a video camera during a funeral has to be just about the biggest faux pas one could make. Maybe it's because I'm British.

Weddings?

One phrase;

The bride and her mother's expectations.

If you've ever had either of them, you'll understand ;-).

MJ

Being an event videographer is akin to being a combat photographer: you get the shots you're able to get, then work to create a story out of the footage.

I think weddings can be thought of as separate from "events." For the most part, weddings follow a ritualized structure that can be predicted and planned for. You know in advance that the bridesmaids will walk down the aisle, followed by the bride and her father. The cake will be cut, the garter and bouquet tossed, the guests dance, etc., etc.

As others have posted, relationships with the wedding party can generate the greatest stress in the wedding process, far more than problems in shooting. Boredom rather than stress chased us out of the wedding business. My partner finally suggested using the same wedding footage for each wedding, just key framing in a different head for the bride and groom. Once you've seen a dozen weddings you've seen them all. I knew it was time to do something else!

Events, on the other hand, tend to be spontaneous: parties, conventions, air shows, sports car rallies, tug boat races, etc. Here you're on your own, shooting what looks interesting to you and what fulfills the needs of the client. I find events far less stressful as a result, and far more interesting to shoot and edit. You build a storyboard in your head as the event progresses, getting shots that you know will fit well into your edit.

Stuff happens, and that's part of the event video process. We tried for two days to tape a car being dropped from a helicopter from an altitude of a couple of thousand feet. On the first day the car "sailed" on the wind and blew far enough off target that it was out of the shot. On the second day a spectator jumped onto the bed of a pickup truck in front of the videographer just as the car landed -- no shot this day, either. We had to create a work around in post, using the dust kicked by the car and lots of blur and motion, plus good audio FX to simulate the crash.

I've never found anything tedious about event videography. Every situation is different, and each brings all your skills to bear -- client relations, planning, shooting and editing. It's not for everyone, but those of us who do it for a living have a lot of fun!

Jack

Jack I disagree with that- as wedding videography is exciting as you make it. You don't have to shoot and edit the same way every time. And regardles of how much planning you do- there are always...ALWAYS thinks that come up to keep you on your toes.

Just curious, whats the bare minimum equipment do the event videographers here use? (i.e. number cameras, wireless mics, etc....)

I just come in in the morning, set up and point an old Hi-8 camera on a still camera tripod and run a composite video cable to an old VHS deck set to record in 6-hour Super Long Play. After 6 hours I come back and collect the tape and my $3,000 check, go home to the shelter and trim the footage to 1 hour and render this to Video CD (these newfangled DVDs are too complicated).

:O)

On the floor here!

Just finished a funeral on Wednesday. The gentleman died of cancer. His daughter had contacted us months ago to produce a photo montage of his life. She received the project about a month ago. We were then asked to set up a projector and screen to show the montage at the funeral, as well as video tape the service. All of this was done according to the family's wishes with full support of the funeral director.

Although a sad affair, the outpouring of appreciation by the family was overwhelming. The 13 minute montage was the center point of the service. Rather than a long sermon or testimonials, everyone present had the opportunity to relive the happier times in the life of the deceased and his family. It was one of the most fulfilling memorial services that I have ever attended.

Yes, it was stressful...as is any live event. The trick is to have a plan before you go in...then fine tune that format to fit the event.

As to "Why video a funeral?" (a) Family members live far away or in the military (b) Family or friends in the hospital, nursing homes, or simply unable to attend (c) Because of grief, family can rarely remember the details of such an event (d) Provides some people with "comfort" (e) The video becomes a historical record (f) The camera can provide a live feed for "overflow areas", when the crowd exceeds capacity...the list can go on.

We have a good relationship with local funeral directors. They know what we need, the know we provide a good product and recommend us when it is appropriate. We probably do 15 to 20 funerals a year. Not an earthshaking amount of income, but it is profitable and builds tons of good will in the community.

>>>One phrase
>>>
>>>The bride and her mother's expectations
>>>
>>>If you've ever had either of them, you'll understand ;-)<<<

I've had a couple of brides and their mothers and I'd like to think I exceeded their expectations ;-)

We shoot 3 camera ceremonies and 2 camera receptions. A PD170, VX2100, and a Panasonic DVC-80.

Audio: onboard Senhiesser ME66 and wireless (Sony UWP-C1) with ECM-77 lav. 3 iRiver units with lav mics

I mic the groom with my ECM-77, iRiver on the Officiate, iRiver on the podium for readers, and iRiver near the Harpist/Soloist.

Receptions I bring my tripod, monopod, and glidecam. All use the same Bogen QR release plate. Can interchange them as needed throughout the night.