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Finding a Videographer that shares your vision.
A good rapport with the cameraman is extremely important. After all, you`d rather be filmed smiling than gritting your teeth in frustration! The videographers unanimously agreed that being discreet is one of the most essential qualities a camera person can possess. Andrew Emdon Videos in Cape Town have an untarnished reputation for being unobtrusive. "Remaining at the sidelines while still capturing the highlights is a balancing act that requires experience," maintains Pauline. "Throughout our fifteen years in the business, we have striven to develop ways of filming the festivity without making guests feel self-conscious. Our cameras are so advanced that they are able to record events in a low light intensity. We never have guests shading their eyes from the glare. Most of the time, they don`t even realise that we`re there."

And while on the subject of guests, nobody likes to be reminded of their flaws, so selecting a cameraman who doesn`t crawl up your left nostril for a close-up, is definitely a quality to look out for! Sensitivity to his subjects is one of Alan Oberstein`s greatest drawcards. "Nobody is flawless, and my professional background has taught me to always film people in the most flattering light, without emphasising wrinkles or blemishes."

Not only recording the obvious, a professional videographer will set the tone by filming the food, the flowers and the surroundings. Husband-and-wife team, Klaus and Cheryl Vogel believe that every wedding has its own character. "In this game, one has to have an artistic feel," says Klaus. "The events leading up to and after `I do` are just as significant as the ceremony itself. Filming the bride`s preparations and the natural, spontaneous interactions before the wedding personalise the video. Often, we use three cameras in order to capture the mood, and sometimes we`re even surprised by the turn of events. One lucky pair escaped by helicopter after the guests had spent hours adorning the car. It was a wonderful moment - filled with emotion and laughter - and we got it all on video tape!"

Murphy`s Law
Many prospective brides and grooms are tormented by all the `what ifs?` - and the possibility that something could go wrong is far too real to be ignored. When asked if circumstances could ever force them to let a client down, the listed videographers unanimously agreed that their professional commitment came first. Each have reliable backups if equipment should fail, and a partner or trained and trusted friend to assist if they should, as they say in the movies, `break a leg.`

"I refuse to make my problems the bride`s," states Jenny Chapman. And her story certainly demonstrates her commitment. "I usually spend some time filming the church before the ceremony. One unfortunate day, as I exited the church, I was attacked by three men who violently assaulted me and then made off at a high speed with my camera. Although I was a wreck, I forced myself to put my shaken nerves aside. There was a job to be done and it would be an absolute injustice to the couple if I abandoned them. I arranged another camera immediately and concentrated instead on the joy of weddings and romance. The shock of the assault only hit me the next day."

Article source: LifeWorld