3, 2, 1, ACTION! Time to discuss wedding cinematography and why a videographer shouldn’t be the last vendor to call a week before the big day. Capturing your wedding on film is just as important as hiring a photographer and all of your other must-have vendors. Daniel Jankovic of Ahava Films has the creative background and passion for Jewish weddings to be able to share the four reasons why hiring a videographer should be at the top of your to-do list!
What will you remember about your wedding on your 10th anniversary? How about your 25th? In the midst of planning a wedding and its numerous components including catering, decor, music, and more, it’s important to plan how all of the day’s splendor will be captured… forever.
Both photography and cinematography are key elements in preserving the precious moments on your wedding day. In fact, it is crucial that the photographer and cinematographer work together as a team to get the best shots they can. This creates a friendly atmosphere for the wedding party and guests, and it also ensures that the pictures and video will not feature the camera man obscuring the most beautiful shots.
One bride shared with me that her photographer was actually front and center in all of the chuppah video footage. This can be easily avoided with the right team.
I strongly encourage brides and grooms to ask their photographer or cinematographer who they recommend for photos/video, as they can rest assured that the people who will be preserving their memories are in sync.
While wedding cinematography may not be such a high priority in your wedding checklist, I would like to suggest that cinematography should be given serious consideration for the following reasons:
Emotion
My clients (mostly the brides) tell me that they cry each time they watch their wedding film. The facial expressions, gestures, and words of the happy couple, friends, and family are captured forever in this medium. Often couples reflect back on their big day recalling the great joy of being surrounded by so many of their closest friends and family. The emotional impact of a wedding film comes through not only in the editing, but in the ability to capture extended periods of action. While families will always revel in the wedding portraits adorning their homes and albums forever, video can capture the tears rolling down a bride’s cheek as a groom pours out his love to his bride under the Chuppah.
Audio
It’s not only images we capture, but the sounds of the day. The speeches, the music, the sound of the breaking glass – these are just a few of the pieces of your wedding that are captured by a capable cinematographer. Most cinematographers go to great lengths to put a wireless microphone on the Rabbi to capture his momentous speech. We also connect to the sound system so we can have a clean CD-quality recording of the music played as you walk down the aisle, or as you dance together for the first time as a married couple. At a recent wedding, instead of a groom saying traditional vows, he played “Marry Me” by Train on guitar, which had the bride in tears. Thank G-d, this beautiful moment was captured not only visually, but aurally as well, which I’m sure will be a special memory for years to come.
Movement
Whether it’s the placing of the ring on the finger, the lifting of the chairs in the air, or the slicing of the white frosting-covered cake, cinematography preserves these actions in their entirety. The reaction of a groom seeing his bride for the first time in her wedding dress is priceless. And when a couple wants to remember the moves of their first dance together, their wedding film will be the perfect resource.
Memories
A common thought after a wedding is “It happened so fast!” After months, and maybe years of planning, it’s over in a matter of hours. For a bride and groom, a wedding can be such an intense experience that it’s nearly impossible to take it all in. I recently spoke with a bride whose wedding I shot, and she was convinced that certain people did not attend the wedding. When she saw the video and saw the people in reference, she realized how much she missed by being so wrapped up in the moment. Capturing these moments on video is a treat not only for you, but for future generations. My wife and I have three kids now, and they love watching our wedding video. It gives them a real sense for who we are, and where they come from, and also gets them excited about their own weddings.
All in all, I can’t count how many times I’ve heard brides and grooms thank themselves for investing in a wedding film. After opening up all their wedding gifts, their memories are often the most precious, and it’s a true privilege to be a part of preserving them forever.
Ahava Films Short Reel from Ahava Films on Vimeo.
After graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Daniel pursued his passion for producing cinematic, soulful wedding videos in Los Angeles. He started an event videography company called Famedia in 2005, and opened up Ahava Films in 2010 to focus on Jewish wedding cinematography in and around Los Angeles. When Daniel is not shooting weddings, you’ll find him sharpening his skills as he captures the memories of his wife and family of three children.
