Many times Ive been asked if we can be unobtrusive, commonly other companies advertise as 'we blend into the background' or 'you wont even know we ar there'. I have to question this type of reference as I dont quite see what type of coverage can be achieved from such discreet behaviour. I always advise that there will be times during the day where you will be aware of our presence and indeed we will be quite close to the action on ocassions. Similiarly there will be times when the best shots can be obtained from long distance.
Essentially we shoot relative to the situation and if circumstances dictate that we have to be close in order to avoid missing a shot then close we will be. The type of coverage we provide offers the best of both worlds, allowing you to re-live the day in a more natural way. Supporting the film with a range of shots and picking up natural audio when we are close as well as ambient when we are in the distance.
Often couples comment at the end of the day that they didnt even know we were there, and I think this is testiment to how comfortable we make people feel. Additionally the pace of a wedding day is super fast and with the whirl wind of activity couples tend to miss so much as well as be blind to whats happening next to them. In one instance I had a bride questioning her guests following the wedding as to my whereabouts on the day, she was literally unaware that I was so close to them at certain points.
Providing completley unobtrusive coverage is easy in comparison to the way we operate, producing a great wedding film wth the resulting footage just wont happen and many of the best wedding films and award winners always display a range of shots providing both an intimate record as well a cinematic story of the day.
Many couples ask how they should act in front of the camera, often they feel that they must interact in some way or offer a presentation. This is something thats best left to the professionals and most individuals arent naturally good presenters. There are however situations when a fluent controlled sound bite can be gained by skillfu interviews and in this instance significant benefits can be gained by encouraging couples or family members to talk openly about their thoughts and wishes. But only if they are actively seeking this type of coverage.