Music has such a big role in video. The music sets the tone for the whole thing. It can make you feel happy, sad, goofy, or a multitude of other emotions. As a videographer, I’ve experienced this first hand. While editing, I will often try out different songs, and I get a totally different feel from each one. With all that said, it has been difficult in the past finding the right songs for my wedding videos. I started off looking for free ones, but the majority of them weren’t very good. Then, I found some sites where you can pay for each song. These had good quality music, but I found that the prices were a little steep. I was spending about $10-20 per song, and I usually used about three songs per video. That’s not a ton of money, but it can add up over time. Well, one of the sites I’ve been using, SongFreedom, has now created a New Source for video music that I’m pretty pumped about, FyrFly.

New Source for Video Music: FyrFly

I honestly don’t remember how I first heard about FyrFly. It could have been an email or a post on social media, but I was initially interested. I tend to be skeptical about most services because I’m always having people trying to sell me stuff, and I’ve bought some worthless things in the past. I read everything about the program, and I emailed with some questions. I loved what I heard.

Benefits

So, there are really three things I saw beneficial about FyrFly’s subscription. First, of course, was the music. With the subscription I would have access to the majority of SongFreedom’s library. I could use as many of the songs as I wanted without any kind of limit. There are some premium songs, which are basically the ones that are mainstream, popular songs that I would still have to pay for, but they are reduced to $10 from the normal $50-60. Second, they have a slideshow creator. Honestly,  I haven’t used slideshows in the past, but I have been pretty interested in using them for presentations. I had looked at Animoto, but it was expensive. Third, they allow you to store your videos on their site. Right now I’m using Vimeo, and I haven’t really had any issue with it, but it is another fee that I pay every year.

Cost

I could get all of these things separately, so really this would only make sense if the program saved me money. I got in when they were first starting, and I got three years for $667. That’s roughly $222 a year. If I was just to use this service for 10-15 songs a year, then it would easily pay for itself. Since I’m getting the extra services as well, this will easily save me money.

Right now they have only released the music side of the program. The other two parts will be released in the next two months. I’ve messed around with the music a bit, and it seems like there’s a good chunk of variety, and the process is pretty easy. I’m excited to try the other two, and I’ll make sure to right an overall review soon.

I’ve shot in a ton of different wedding venues and churches over the past 4 years or so. Each place is unique and has different features that can either work for or against you. The interesting thing is that theses differences affect me in a completely different way when I’m shooting video versus photos. For awhile I got pretty frustrated with the limitations of venues, but I’ve learned that you just have to Overcome Shooting Wedding Videos in a Difficult Situation.

How to Overcome Shooting Wedding Videos in a Difficult Situation

Let’s talk about some of the common issues I deal with, and then I’ll go back and give some advice on how to overcome each problem.

Not Enough Space

The first big problem that I run into the most is a cramped ceremony site. When we shoot ceremonies we use 3-4 cameras to make sure we get a variety of shots and angles. The problem is finding space to put these cameras and how to avoid having people blocking the shot. We like to have two cameras on the side at an angle (one pointing at bride, one pointing at the groom). Sometimes there’s no space outside of the side aisle or they just have a bunch of chairs sitting in the way. The same goes for our straight on shot. We can’t have it pointing down the aisle during the procession so we have to try to move it to the side out of everyone’s way. Once the procession is done, we move it back into a straight on view.

Solution: We’ve done a number of things to deal with the space. The first thing is to get there early and start fixing the problem before people show up. Lots of times you can set up or move things and then people have to sit around it. Often, I’ve put cameras partially in a pew or moved chairs to make space. I’ve never had anyone complain about it. If, though, you try to do this once people are in a spot, you’re going to get some resistance. If there just isn’t any room, another option is to move the two cameras on stage behind the couple and minister. This isn’t a great option because you’re cameras can be seen by everyone and you can’t access them during the ceremony, but if that’s the only option, go for it. Just make sure to ask permission first. Alright, the last option we have yet to try, but I’ve thought about it. I have two suction cup mounts that can stick to walls and hold a camera. This scares me a bit because the cameras would just be hanging there, but I have tried them out a home. This would probably be my last resort.

Bad Lighting

Lighting can be an issue during the ceremony or throughout the whole night. A lot of venues are dark, and this makes focusing and getting the shot difficult. Photographers have it pretty easy because they can carry flashes around with them and light up about anything, and they also have auto-focus that works with the flashes.

Solution: There are a few options for dealing with the lighting issue. One, you can buy a camera that can deal with low lighting. The Sony A7s ii can shoot in almost can condition and get you usable footage. For most, though, this is not the best option. You can also add light, but this can be distracting for people because it’s a constant source, only like the quick flashes of photographers. Ask first before you use them. If you are going to use light, you can do it a few different ways. Back in the day, videographers would put a light on top of their camera. This does work but it’s not the most flattering light. I’d only do this if I had no other option. Instead, I suggest getting a strong light and a light stand. Position the light off to the side and out of everyone’s way. Adjust the light throughout the night as you need it for different events. One light is usually enough but two can make things easier.

People Getting In Your Shot or Things Moving Too Quickly

Video can be a lot harder to shoot than photography. Photographers tend to run the show on the wedding day. People listen to them and stay out of their way as much as possible. Videographers, on the other hand, usually are hanging back and trying to stay out of the way. A photo is also relatively easy to take. You only need to part of a second to take one, but a video has to be held still for several seconds.

Solution: The biggest advice I can offer is don’t be afraid to speak up. If people are in your way, feel free to ask them to move or to move around them. A photographer would do this, so you should have the same freedom. If you have an idea for a shot or you missed a shot, tell the couple and have them do it. They are paying you to be there, and they want the best end product, so they will be willing to help.

I really do love shooting wedding videos, but there are some major difficulties that I don’t have to deal with as a photographer. I hope this has helped some of you and shown you how to overcome the issues of shooting wedding videos in a difficult situation.

I believe all artists really deep down want their work to be appreciated and loved by others. We all seek out confirmation and recognition. One of the biggest joys for me is when other artists compliment my work, and the biggest way to do that is to hire me for their wedding. I got that honor when Nick, a fellow videographer, hired us to capture his Fayetteville wedding video at the Garden Room.

I met Allison and Nick only in a brief meeting before the wedding, but I was able to tell how awesome they were. It became more obvious though during the wedding. These two were just the happiest, sweetest people I’ve met in a long time.

There were quite a few fun things that stuck out during the ceremony. I loved all of their decorations they had out in the foyer. There were pictures of them as kids, but there was some other really cool stuff like an old clock and phone and all these pictures of family members. The other giant thing that stuck out was that Nick had made a special video for Allison. It was a mixture of interviews and footage, and it was amazing. It was a very cool idea.

The reception took place at the Garden Room in Fayetteville, and it could only be described as a big party. There were so many people out on the dance floor, and they all seemed to know the dances. It wasn’t just for a song or two either; they were out there the whole night. At one point, Nick was even up on stage directing everyone, and then later he did some crowd surfing after the garter toss. Crazy, fun.

It’s always special when a fellow artists trusts you with his or her wedding. That means something. I know when my children get married I’m going to be very picky about the whole process, so I know how it is. Besides that, I was just glad to be around Nick and Allison. Their essence is beautiful, and so was their Fayetteville wedding video at the Garden Room.

I’ve lived in Fayetteville practically my entire life. That’s been a big plus for me for booking wedding videos and wedding photography. Many people either know my family or know me personally. I didn’t know Christina very well in high school, but I did play football with her brother. I was excited when she approached me about shooting her Wedding Video at Central Methodist in Fayetteville. It was a great day and I got to see a lot of other people I knew from high school.

Wedding Video at Central Methodist in Fayetteville

There were a lot of great moments early in the day, but I really enjoyed the first look between Christina and Whitney. It was a cold day, but we still wanted to do the first look outside. At Central Methodist, there is an outside walkway between the buildings and these really cool arches. This was the perfect place. Christina was able to sneak out of one of the buildings and then go down the walkway with the arches behind her. It was a beautiful setting with a beautiful moment.

The reception was at Willie James and it was just as beautiful as the rest of the day. There were two rooms where everything happened. The first room was for eating and hanging out, and the back room was used for dancing and partying. There was some crazy dancing going on that night. The dance floor was always filled with people, mainly kids just going nuts. It was a lot of fun. Then of course it was a big night because the University of Arkansas beat LSU in football, so everyone was in a crazy!

Miller cinematic from Bryan Striegler on Vimeo.

There’s always something special about being involved with weddings of people I know. Christina’s Wedding Video at Central Methodist in Fayetteville was a special one, and I had so much fun seeing everyone from high school.

Being able to shoot video has really opened up possibilities for us. Besides being able to create wedding videos, we also have been creating videos for high school seniors. That’s not it! We also are able to create educational videos for our photography business. Recently, I had a conversation with a photography equipment company, and we are going to be creating a Flash Photography Video Tutorial for them to use on their website.

Flash Photography Video Tutorial

One of the things I love about photography is being able to create something unique with flash. It’s one of the things I pride myself on. I’m pretty pumped that I get to share that information with other people. In this video, we will be focusing on using colored gels for flash photography, but I plan on creating some others in the future as well.

I think a video is essential for education. I’ve been writing tutorials on my photography blog for awhile, but not everyone can learn through reading. A video gives a better visual, so people can actually see what I’m doing and where things are. I know I always appreciate having a video to accompany a tutorial.

There might be a few issues that I’m going to run into. One, I’d like to shoot the video myself, but I can’t really be on both sides of the camera. That would leave me going back and forth to the camera, and hoping things are working out. I imagine I’m going to have to bring someone else along with me. Two, the lighting might be dark for video. I know one of the things I’m planning is in an alley at night. I guess we could bring video lights but that’s just another piece of equipment to mess with. I’d like to keep this production as small as possible.

Right now I’m in the planning stage of this Flash Photography Video Tutorial, but I’m getting close to being done with that. I’m hoping to have it all shot in the next few weeks and then edited. I’ll make sure I write a post about the whole experience and share the video when it’s all done.

The wedding world is extremely overpopulated with wedding photographers, and I’m constantly worried about all the new photographers coming into the business. I’m not worried about them taking business away from me, I’m worried about them ruining someone’s wedding. It really isn’t the same for wedding videographers. It’s much harder for someone to just jump into the video world, so there’s not as much chance of this happening. I still think, though, people may not know as much about wedding videos, so I thought I’d give some advice on how to pick a wedding videographer.

How to Pick a Wedding Videographer

Weddings are so important and such an investment. You must really be careful about who you choose for your wedding videographer. Many of the things I’ll be mentioning are the same for picking a wedding photographer, but there are some things that are specific to video.

Skill or Style

The first thing you should be looking at is the final product. Do you like their work? Do their videos match up with your expectations and affect you emotionally? Will you want to watch their videos 10 years from now? Don’t settle for something you don’t like or think is just ok; find several videographers that have amazing work, and then you can move to the next step.

Experience

One of the biggest factors in choosing a wedding videographer is experience. How long have they been shooting? How many weddings have they shot? In almost all situations, the more you do something the better you get at it. I know for sure that I’m a lot better now than I was three years ago. The thought is that if you’ve been doing something for a long time, you must be pretty good at it and learned some tricks.

Equipment

Equipment isn’t everything, but this is really important in video. How many cameras will they be using? Do they have pro audio equipment? Do they use any equipment to get special shots? The amount of equipment will limit the quality of the film to a degree, but the more important side of this is having backup equipment. Things break, and if your videographer shows up with one camera only, that’s just asking for trouble.

Personality

Personality doesn’t matter with videographers as much as it does with photographers. Photographers interact more with the couple will videographers tend to stay back and capture everything. You still need someone that you get along with and is fun to be around.

Cost

I hate even talking about cost, but it is a factor in the real world. We all have budgets and have a limited amount of money, so cost will affect our decisions. My biggest advice on cost is don’t let it be the number one determining factor. Go through everything else and then let cost get in there. Will saving $500 really matter that much to you in 10 years when you’re looking back at your wedding video?

I really hope this info helps people figure out how to pick a wedding videographer. Decision making is tough and decision making for a wedding is ten times worse. If you’re sitting on the fence about even having a wedding videographer, I suggest you go back and check out my post on whether or not a wedding video is necessary. Quick hint, it is!

Anytime you start something new, there is a transition time where you are having to learn a lot of things. As time goes on, the amount of things you don’t know becomes less and less. When I first started making wedding videos, there were plenty of things I didn’t know. I focused mainly on how to shoot and capture audio. I figured those were the most important things. After that, I learned the basics of editing. One thing I was ignorant to was where to get music for wedding videos.

Where to Get Music for Wedding Videos

Unknown to me at the time and probably most beginning film makers is that there is a right and a wrong way of using music for films. You can’t simply use any song that you find in your possession. Even if you paid for it at one point in time, you still have to have permission to use a song. There are a few ways of going about that. One would be to reach out to the artist and try to get permission. In most cases this isn’t going to work or they are going to ask for a large sum of money. The other way is to go through a company that licenses music for you. This is the legal way.

There are two companies I use for my licensed music for wedding videos: SongFreedom and TripleScoop. These are two of the biggest companies out there, but I’m sure there are plenty of other options. Both companies have great music choices and are, in my opinion, worth the cost, but they do things differently. SongFreedom sells you a song for a certain amount of uses, either 1 or 4 for a discounted rate. TripleScoop, on the other hand, costs more up front, but you can use the song as many times as you like. There are some requirements and restrictions with each, so make sure you read up on those.

Now there are free options out there for music, but from my experience it’s harder to find music I like. I think the biggest issue is that everyone can put his or her music up there, so you have to wade through hundreds of songs. For me, I know where to get music for wedding videos and that’s those two sites. It might cost me some money, but it saves me time, and the final product is better. At least that’s one thing off my list of things to learn for wedding videos. I still have plenty other on my list.

I’ve mentioned it several times, but I’m going to say it again, I love doing weddings for people I know. I’ve known the Luper family since I was in 1st grade and their eldest, Josh, has been one of my closest friends throughout the years. I was so happy to be part of his sister Alyssa’s wedding. We did all the photography, but I also brought someone along to make a Gulley Park wedding film.

Gulley Park Wedding Film: Alyssa and Scott

I don’t remember all the details but I’m pretty sure this was the first time we ever did photography and videography at the same time. It was something that I wanted to try out, and it was for sure a learning experience. We were still messing around with just one or two cameras, and we didn’t know as much about settings or the cameras.

Alyssa and Scott weren’t looking for a giant wedding, so Gulley Park was a good choice for them. In the middle of the park, there is a gazebo that is often used for events and performances. They used that for the ceremony and had a tent set up to the side for Alyssa to hide in before the ceremony.

Alyssa and Scott had a large bridal party, so we had a lot of fun after the ceremony and during the reception. There were two goofy things that really stuck out to me. Scott wanted to do a Thor themed photo. He pretended to punch the ground and everyone else jumped like they were flying away. Then, at the reception, we did this thing that was popular back in 2014. There was this song, the Harlem Shake, and people would be acting normal for part of it, but then there’s a shift in the song and people start acting crazy. We had Alyssa and Scott walking around the dance floor, but then everyone jumped in and went nuts. It was pretty funny.

Luper Cinematic from Bryan Striegler on Vimeo.

Again, Alyssa and Scott’s Gulley Park Wedding Film was our first attempt at doing both photography and videography. It was a bit scary for me because I had never trusted anyone else to do video for me and I was too busy to really take charge. I’m so glad we did this though because now we shoot photography and video all the time.