Recently we have had extended conversations with several brides, planners, and photographers about shooting a wedding with one camera (and operator) vs. two or more.

Naturally, this discussion stems from pricing differences between different companies – that is, shooting with 2 or more cameras obviously costs (a bit) more than one in terms of time and extra editing work.

When we first started video, we primarily shot 1 camera (myself) and later, after several “experiences”, added a backup person (an assistant).  And after more than 10 years of weddings, we continue to use at least 2 cameras at every job because ultimately, we want the best for our brides!

This is not to say however, that sometimes the conditions warrant scaling this back to one camera / videographer to be sensitive to the tone and setting of the wedding.  For example, doing a wedding on a boat or in someone’s house, or perhaps a very small ceremony only on a beach.  Obviously those smaller intimate events demand sensitivity so we don’t create a media circus and distract from the most important thing – the actual event!

So why bother with 2 or more cameras?  Well, here’s a few reasons why:

1. With 1 camera, you lose the ability to get creative shots during the live action or protocol events.  This is because if you move around with one camera with nobody to back you up, you forfeit steady shots and create more editing work and possibly sacrifice the quality of your final shot (shaky moving video as seen in the Blair Witch Project).

2.  With 1 camera, you lose the different perspectives that we are accustomed to in tv and movies.  That is, you can only have shots of from the back or side during the vows but not both unless you chop up the live action.  That means that you lose those nice close-ups and reaction shots during your vows, speeches, songs, toasts, and other times.  Like when the bride says her vows, we can’t see both her and the grooms smiles and mom’s and dad’s reactions either – you are forced out of necessity to take one “general shot” which is usually from the back of the aisle.

3. With 1 camera, you can’t be in two places at once.  That means, you can’t get the funny candid shots with the bridal party or family during picture time AND be filming the cocktail hour at the same time.

4. With 1 camera, if you are trying to do creative shots and get details of something, then you are missing something else.  For example, if you are filming romance shots on the beach, then you are missing the rest of the guests during cocktail hour. Therefore, without the extra help and camera, you lose many of the segways that are later used tell the story of the wedding.

5. With 1 camera, you can’t get those cool creative shots during your first dance that we do (like the birds eye view shots), the close-ups, the angular shots, and the wide shots including parent reactions and people looking on.

6. With 1 camera, during toasts, you miss the bride and groom or parent’ reaction shots while the main speaker is doing the toast.

7.  With 1 camera – you don’t have backup.  That means if someone gets in the way or blocks an important moment (like the bride walking down the aisle), then that shot is lost forever!

8. With 1 camera, you may not have backup equipment – what happens if something breaks down?  I mean equipment is not perfect.  What happens if you think you are recording but aren’t?  What happens if a tape or disk has a failure without the operator’s knowledge at the time?  With 2 cameras, we always double film all of the important protocol so matter what, the important sequences are safely covered.

So the next time you read a video package that says filmed with 1 camera where that company is supposedly giving you great coverage- at least you know what you are losing from your final product and why!  Rob Epple