How to Film a Wedding Video on The Beach

What could be more sensual and intimate than a beach wedding? The settings are inherently romantic and somewhat casual, resulting in really intimate ceremonies. This is the reason why so many popular beach wedding destinations have emerged.

As a wedding videographer, you have to be aware of the environment and the ways in which it could affect the shoot and the wedding video post production process. Outdoor video shoots and wedding video post production are both heavily dependent on the ambiance and the weather. Hence, you need to be aware of several key essentials that will result in beautiful beach wedding videos.

Choose the Right Time

If possible, talk to the bride and groom about having the ceremony during the so-called golden hour. The golden hour is the period that occurs an hour after sunrise or an hour before the sun sets. This time period is characterized by beautiful, warm light that will give your footage an outstanding glow. While the hour of the ceremony isn’t always negotiable, it may be a good idea to attempt scheduling at that time. Shooting an outdoor wedding at noon or in the early afternoon is the worst possible idea.

The sun is going to be way too bright and harsh. As a result, you’ll have to do a lot of wedding video post production work. Late evening ceremonies will rely on artificial light and the beautiful scenery isn’t going to be visible. When working with couples who have already set the ceremony time, you may want to suggest a preliminary video shoot at a time when the light is optimal. Hence, you’ll create some beautiful footage that can be inserted among the other shots to diversify the visuals.

Play with the Scenery

The ocean is an obvious choice for natural scenery footage because of its vastness and magnificence. A beach, however, provides many additional opportunities for the creation of intriguing scenic shots. Cliffs, sand dunes, piers and lighthouses can all be featured in the wedding video. If you shoot the couple against the blueness of the sky, you can create some artistic silhouette shots.

To accomplish the task, you’ll have to do a couple of adjustments. When the lights are turned off, you’ll have to adjust several camera settings to get a good outcome. If you’re working in manual mode, expose for the sky. Aim at the sky and not directly at the sun. Play around with the shutter speed, the aperture and the ISO to make sure that the exposure is optimal.

Do not use HDR and automatic light optimization. Nikon, Canon and other popular cameras all have such features under different names. This is especially true if you want to create a beautiful silhouette shot. The automatic light optimization tries to focus on the details and “extract” those from the shadows. When the feature is on, you will not get a darkened silhouette.

Don’t hesitate about exploring angles, perspectives and natural surroundings that wouldn’t be available with other settings. Always create more footage than needed so that you could pick and choose the best clips.

Use Off-Camera Lights to Simplify Wedding Video Post Production

The selection of the right equipment will also simplify the task and minimize the amount of wedding video post production work that will have to be done. Whether you need to shoot in harsh and bright sunlight or other conditions, you’ll definitely need to bring off-camera lights.

Through the use of additional lights, you can balance the exposure between the background and the couple you’re attempting to capture. The brighter your lights are, the more capable you’ll be of making the couple stand out against the backdrop.

Take Good Care of Your Equipment

The beach results in various challenges for wedding videographers. Since you’re shooting outdoor, you’re vulnerable and the elements could influence your equipment. Moisture, sand and wind can all work together to both ruin your video shoot and to permanently damage your lenses or cameras.

Ziploc bags, protectors and cases are essential to keep sand from getting inside your equipment. If possible, refrain from changing lenses at the beach. It would be best to complete the task indoor before the video shoot.

And here’s a final tip that may sound common sense but can prove to be lifesaving to your equipment – do not leave the camera on the sand. If you have to leave the camera somewhere, bring a tripod and mount it properly before turning your attention to something else.

Employ the Right Filters

A few camera filters can prove to be beneficial for the creation of beautiful beach clips and for the reduction of wedding video post production work. UV filters are one great choice. For a start, the UV filter will protect your camera lens.

In addition, the filter works by keeping UV light in a certain range from entering the lens. While the effect on the visual itself isn’t going to be that noticeable, the UV filter can protect your equipment and result in slightly better shots. You should also consider polarizing filters for beach wedding videos. A polarizing filter reduces reflections and glares – two common occurrences caused by the water surface.

The use of the polarizing filter can also enhance the color and the saturation of the sky in the shots. If you’ve ever had a pair of polarizing sunglasses, you know how much of a difference such a filter can make.

Go Black and White (during the Wedding Video Post Production)

While the richness and the colors of the beach can result in spectacular wedding videos, there’s also an alternative approach to the creation of beautiful footage. Talk to the couple about a black and white video shoot. If they’re uncertain, you can strip the footage from color during the wedding video post production.

Thus, you can present both possibilities and allow clients to choose the one that they like more. Black and white videography results in stylish, somewhat retro shots that are very sensual and clean. The settings are perceived without the added distraction of color, which naturally puts emphasis on the elements in the shot that matter the most.

Beach wedding videography can be a lot of fun if you’re open to experiments, you understand the technical side of things and you have the right equipment. Always come up with an action plan in advance. Discuss it with your clients, specify the key aspects of the shoot and have a plan B that will allow you to recuperate in the event of an emergency.