A wedding filmmaker's guide to posing the couple
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- My favorite wedding gear: kit.co/whoismatt
When I first started making tutorials for wedding cinematographers, I knew I didn't want to cover common topics. If I could go to TH-cam or Vimeo, search for how to do something, and have a million results show up, I didn't want to cover it. My goal from the beginning has been to create tutorials and reviews that I would want to watch. Most of my tutorials actually come from me searching for how to do something online, realizing no one had explained it well, learning it myself, and then deciding to make a tutorial sharing it with others.
I'm over-simplifying here, but when I think about wedding film-making (or any type of film for that matter), I often split things into two categories: technical and creative. The technical side anyone can learn, and sub-categories of it include camera selection, frame rates, ISO, navigating editing software etc. Pretty much all of this can be learned online or by reading a technical book, without ever actually picking up a camera or editing software and using it.
The other category, creative, is the one I want to talk about today. This category covers everything that cannot be learned without actual hands on experience. It isn't so much "how" to do something, but "when," and "why." When should you move the camera a certain way? Why do you tell the couple to do something a certain way for the video? This creative category is something that I have been working on for my past six years of filming weddings.
Today, I want to share with you one small sub-category of the creative side of wedding film-making, and that is how to pose the couple. Up until this point, all my research has shown hundreds of tutorials for how photographers pose couples, but I have yet to find even one for how cinematographers should do the same. This tutorial is my attempt to change that situation, and make this part of filming the wedding day, a little easier for you. In it, I go in detail about how I setup the couple for filming, my philosophy for why I pose them certain ways, and some practical ideas for how you can create genuine laughter, smiles, and joy in your wedding film.
If you have any techniques or ideas for how you pose wedding couples, I would love to hear them. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave one below or get in touch.
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Enjoyed this tutorial? I would recommend checking out my Wedding Film Establishing Shots tutorial ( • ESTABLISHING SHOTS: Wh... ), as well as my tutorial for how wedding cinematographers and photographers can get along better on the wedding day ( • How wedding filmmakers... ).
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The best question I ask the couple is: "If your husband/wife was an animal, what would they be?"
Works every time.
So many pro tips in this video. Probably the single best wedding videography tutorial I've ever seen!
Haha wow! Thanks Mitch!
I am a drone pilot and I do weddings in South Italy working with various photographers. Since the first wedding I filmed, i used to wonder how could people really not notice the fakeness of most of the shots. This video should be a MUST for all the stupid photographers saying: "just walk towards him while staring his eyes, and when you reach within two feet start rolling your left arm to embrace him while lifting you right foot pretending to kick him (real story)", who end up with footage that is the same quality as that of most school plays.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your talent, for sharing it with us and being funny at the same time, and for giving free advices that are worth THOUSANDS of pounds.
Really.
Thanks.
Thanks so much Michele! :D Glad my videos have helped you!
Great advice! I will use this in my next wedding film. For natural laughter I ask the groom to whisper into the brides ear the Mcdonald's Menu as sexy as you can.
I went between yelling excitedly to wanting to cry to jumping up and down.... that is how excited I was at how amazing your tips are here!!! GAHHHH. You are amazing! Thank you!! 🙏🏼
Haha thanks Kealani! :)
Honestly one of the most insightful video's I've seen on posing - thank you Matt!
I've often struggled communicating the shots I have in my mind to the couple and being able to 'pose' them organically like you say - this is perfect, thanks again
Matt you're the best, i love your wedding videos! thanks a lot for sharing all this info with us
you're welcome Josh!
I feel like I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO FOR TWO YEARS!!! Thank you SO MUCH for this Matt, I'm still so new to the wedding film world but I feel like your channel alone has upped my game so much already.
Haha FINALLY its here! :)
You are an absolute champion, please continue to making videos because honestly, the world needs more people like you! You are a creative genius!
+TS Productions hahaha thank you! Got a lot more videos coming!
You are the MAN, Matt! Your videos are seriously a huge help and makes me less nervous going further into shooting weddings. Keep up the amazing work!!
You can do so many things and still make it look organic, like ask the bride and the groom to run towards each other and then have him pick her up and spin her around! Turns out really cool and bittersweet!
This is amazing! Posing couples is actually what i struggle with the most, but this video was very helpful! Thanks for your help Matt!
thanks Jakub! Glad to help!
Super helpful, and something I struggled with for my first wedding! I completely was shadowing the photographer and it was super awkward and forced. I can't wait to implement this in my next video. SO thanks!
Thanks Grace! Hope your next wedding goes well!
Some great advice Matt, we're definitely guilty of getting footage of the couple while they look at the photographer, but what we use is actually the between shots moments when the couple or the bridal party let their guard down because they think the camera is off them. It's given us some of our best candid moments. What do you bring in terms of support gear for the walkabout with the photographer? Glidecam I'd bet, but do you bother with a monopod?
Thanks Eoin! Second shooter and I alternate between Glidecam, monopod, and handheld. Monopod is nice for longer lenses.
Im always checking to see when you upload a new video and this one was PERFECT! Thanks so much!
agreed!
Just stumbled on you today by chance and I must say you're awesome man! Keep it up~
Thanks so much!
thanks man, so many things I learn from your channel, this Saturday is my great day, I film the wedding for the first time.
Hey Matt!
Thanks for the awesome tips, the one that consists on asking the couple questions about them is a very valuable one!
keep on with the amazing job!
thanks!
Love the tip on asking them questions and having them answer to each other!
Stumbled upon this video in December 2021. This info is still gold.
This is gold Matt.
Thanks Michael!
Het Matt so glad we ran into your channel. My partner and I are wedding photographers here in the UK we also incorporate video and your tutorials are a great resource. Love what you do and we are learning so much and its pretty inspiring keep up the good work !!
+jmphotography thank you! Glad to help :)
This Guy gets it. He's the oracle of cinematographers
Hahaha thanks!
Awwww maaannn, been watching all video just to see the rest of the text on his shirt :) Just kidding, been watcing because you are awesome Matt, great video!!! (but, seriously, tell me what's written on a damn shirt!!! "THIS MAN LOVES... " WHAT?? :)
bro I was just about to look up videos about different shot techniques for wedding videography and you crushed it with your explanation. The spinning shot is definitely going in to my arsenal!! One shot I'm particularly fond of myself is the veil over the couple shot, if the photographer doesn't do it I always suggest it, it makes for a great moving shot! Also I love a good pre ceremony toast with all the groomsmen or a prayer from bridesmaids or a mom to add some fun audio to my videos! Anyway bravo Matt, keep putting out more videos because sharing is caring!
Thanks so much! Glad to help you!
I'm a french photographer and I really enjoy watching your videos ! you're inspiring ! thank you for sharing !
+nico tariq thanks Nico!
Thanks Matt this was super helpful. I've got more confidence in 'directing' couples and it can be a struggle when couples stop posing after the photographer has finished. I find some great shots include the groom lifting up the bride for a kiss or leaning her down for a kiss, as well as spinning her around to create movement.
Glad to help Hanh! Those are great ideas!
Thanks once again for your awesome tutorial on wedding cinematography. I really enjoy watching your videos and they've been quite helpful. You should be posting more often, I'd love to learn some more.
thanks Frankie!
Matt this has to be the best wedding video tutorial ever!!!!!
thank you soo much for sharing this knowledge with us.
thanks Carlos! :D
This actually what i need and what i feel.. so many indonesian "wedding cinematic" are miss underatood.. i love matt wedding videos because its more natural and joyfull with full of speaks not just a song..
Awesome tips. Thanks for sharing, really helpful!
That was hilarious and Great tutorial! Thank you Matt!
thanks Don!
Hey Matt. Thank you soo much for being my mentor even though you are million miles away.
I've started this wedding journey as a 1 man crew and we are 3 now and slowly growing. Please keep inspiring us. May God bless you and your beautiful family.
Am definitely sharing the video with my team and I'll also ask them to hit a like and subscribe.
Much love from South Africa 🇿🇦
Brilliant. This is something I always struggle/feel awkward with and I look forward to using your tips. Thanks for your work with these videos.
thanks Brad! Glad to help!
Love this! So much great insight.
Thank you! :)
Matt I'm appreciate of guys like you, Scott Mckenna and Craig Adams. You making a good job for free in such vlogs like this. And another one thing is that I agree with your opinion that natural and organic situation are the best 👍 Say hallo to you from Poland 🇵🇱
Thanks so much!
This is golden. Thank you! I have a 2 wedding weekend coming up & I'll be applying all of this
+Jordan Jeanty thanks so much Jordan!
Dude. I know most of the stuff you explained, but you are mesmerizing and FUNNY, so I watched anyway. You get these in one take (I think), thats nuts
This is definitely one of the best if not the best videos for doing wedding videography. Super helpful thanks!
Thanks Oscar!
Thank you for these awesome tips... 2000% relevant to my work...
Super helpful. Thank you for filming and ultimately sharing your tips.👍
+TheBritishLife thank you!
What a great tutorial! I am a self-taught videographer and have done some wedding videos, the information you have given me is a great eye opener to my shortcomings.
+Onias Mupfacha thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
You, my friend, are a life saver.
Thanks Lewis!
This was wonderful! Thanks Matt!
+Kristen Gardner thanks Kristen!
Such great advice! I'm shooting two weddings this summer and will definitely use these pointers!
+Feisty Goat Films so great! Thanks!
Gave a thumbs up before I even saw it. Matt, thank you so much for all these tutorials. It has truly helped me. Much appreciated and sending mad love from Jerseyyyy
thanks so much Carlo! :)
Thanks for the video Matt. Unique ideas and something I've wanted to improve at!
Awesome! Thanks!
Always gold from this guy.
Very useful tips! Thanks so much! 👍👍👍
Fantastic Matt, Thank you so much. i just skipped a couple of years of learning the hard way on posing the couple. Gonna use these tips this evening on a wedding shoot.
Haha yesss! Hope it goes well!
I am a photographer and I learned so much with this video. Thanks!
YOUR VIDEOS ARE MORE HELPFUL THAN MOST. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE INFO YOU SHARE.
thanks Kerby!
Thiz man really explains well. Nothing anything ive seen. Your FAQ's are already answered. Awesome content.
Awesome tips! I've got a couple questions. 1) How do you deal with couples who are super uncomfortable on camera/taking direction? For example, you mentioned telling them to "cannodle". If they just awkwardly laugh and stare at you blankly what would be your next move? Just tell them to figure it out (but in a nicer way...) or would you start giving specifics like kiss, hold each other, etc. 2) You said to avoid using footage of them posing for the photographer (which was an eye-opening tip for me). Do you feel like you get enough creative B-roll from this 15-20 min session to avoid using any of that footage? Are there any other must-have shots on your list for any given video? Thanks man!
Also, I just checked out your website. Do you include a documentary cut with your packages, or do you just stick to highlight/featurette/feature? Thanks again!
Omfg how am I only finding this now?!
This shit is GOLD!!!
Haha glad you found it! :D
please keep making videos like this on wedding video related topics that aren't represented anywhere else on the internet!!!! thanks for sharing i learned a lot :)
thanks so much Cassidy!
Thanks Matt! This will be very helpful.
Sweettttttt!
Thanks, Matt. This is extremely helpful.
No prob Erick! :D
Perfect, these are fantastic tips!
Love yallllllllll!
Awesome video man, doing my first wedding this summer and this video gave some great tips! Thanks ✌🏼
+Travis L. Thanks Travis! 😁👍🏼
great tips, thank you very much for sharing. This tips are gold.
Great stuff MATT!!! thanks for putting this video together ... I am shooting a wedding tomorrow and there is not really a ton of content for how to pose couples for filming!!
+Wayne Michaels Photography thanks Wayne! Glad to help!
Dude! You're a beast! Love how honest you are and say how you started out haha! I don't really like doing weddings much but how you say you started out filming at weddings is basically what I just did haha! So many good tips man! I know it's not scalable but you could easily do seminars on this stuff. Keep it up man! Hope to be reading about you as the $25k+ per wedding videographer soon!
+Dustin Houdyshell thanks so much Dustin! 😁😁 you're great!
Great idea to ask some questions. Thanks a lot!
thanks Jiabin!
Matt!! You are just the greatest thing to happen to TH-cam!! Thanks for always answering my questions. I have one more :) Do you have any tips for recording audio during weddings?
Thanks so much :D I'm planning on making a wedding audio video eventually!
Matt great videos nice tips. You are very natural and fun to watch.
For what it's worth I often employ a jornalistic style of the photographer doing a photo shoot. It's not intended to ride his creative coat tails. It's like the behind the scenes shorts that are included on motion picture dvds.
I always enjoy learning new approaches and you're spot on you need to give a little direction without cross the line and losing genuine feeling. I'll be sure to incorporate some of you tips in my next wedding. Thanks.
+Peter Cofrancesco thanks so much Peter! Glad I've helped you! 😁
Thanks Matt! You're Awesome.....Keep it up..
thanks Marvin!
top job as always, thanks for sharing.
:D
Most helpful video yet!
thanks!
Thanks Matt lucky ur video appeared before I go to wedding ceremony. U really get me an idea 😀
Great advices Matt, Thanks for your hard work.
Great video dude! Love your stuff!
good advice man thanks!, I normally got some slow mo when they are smiling and laughing to eachother and every time we move to other place with the photographer I made them walk my way!
that's great Diego!
Many, many thanks for this video. This is very helpful and taking away some of the stress about my first wedding shoot i have coming up. Thanks for the tips.
+Kevin Smith thanks Kevin! Glad to help! 😁👍🏼
this a another great tutorial video. I really like the lifting shots on glidecam. I have a wedding tommorow and I am going to give this a try (if it's not raining here in the uk).
thanks Max!
Awesome tips, thanks dude!!
Thanks!
You're obviously a pro! These are awesome tips! I don't even do weddings that much be these tips are so awesome!
thanks Keaton!
Matt... everything you have created is so helpful! thank you so much
Thanks for sharing.Nice video as always.
Thanks so much!
Great video brother, please keep them coming!!!
+Shawver Creations thanks so much! I have many more videos in the works!
So good, these tips. Please please keep these niche topics and tips coming. They are so helpful..
+Fujiboy99 thanks so much! Glad you enjoy it 😁. I just posted one about filming reception dancing that's pretty niche!
This is really great help.. I've learned so much handy tips
Thank you!
I love this..im gunna go binge watch your channel. also im shooting my first wedding this saturday!
Haha thanks Adam!
keep up the good work Matt
will do!
Thanks Matt! You're the best man!
Killer video! Thanks for sharing!
thanks Danny!
This video is gold! I’m shooting my first wedding next month so I will be scouring the YT for your nuggets of wedding wisdom :)
Great video you are so helpful !! Thank You!
That cocktail hour of the wedding is always the most insane moment of the day. I have to move all my cameras from ceremony to reception, setup audio with DJ, lights if I didn't get to it earlier, film cocktail, some brief family photo shots, reception broll, and couples broll. Any advice?
Thank you!! This is very useful information.
+DIFF thanks!!!
Great video! Well instructed!
thanks Paul!
Finally a person that did this tutorial...Matt you are a f$£&^ing genius. Thanks a lot
+Nikos Oikonomou hahaha thanks Nikos!
Hey thanks!! Are awesome tips! You are the best!
thanks Eric!
You're the man Matt dawg
Excellent!! Thanks Matt. Regards
+Mijares Films thank you! 😁
thank you for this very much
i also plan on starting on this line of work you have been really helpful :) and just subscribed
+renz ventura thank you so much!
Another great video dude
thanks! :D
Thank you Matt!
you're welcome!
Fantastic advice!
:D Thank you!
Lol this is a great and very helpful video, but one of my favorite parts is that you encourage the couple to make out so frequently haha
Great tips, good job and keep making videos like this ! :)
Thanks! More are coming :D