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If a professional videographer isn’t in your wedding budget, don’t despair. Avista Rentals has the equipment you need to do a great job yourself. But even the best equipment won’t do a good job unless the equipment is used properly. Here are some tips for making a wedding video you’ll be proud of.

Pick Reliable People

Asking friends and family to shoot your videos only works if you choose reliable people who take instruction well. It’s important that you pick people you trust and who are glad to be tasked with the job of the videographer. Picking five or six people spreads the work around so your Sundance aspirants can still enjoy your wedding and reception.

Let Them Know What to Do

Assign each of your videographers parts of the event to record and let them know what you want captured on film. Write clear, specific instructions for each person and make sure they understand what you’ve asked. Be sure they know how to operate the equipment and are comfortable with it. But make it fun for them, too. Let them be creative if they want, just be sure they get what’s important to you, as well.

Pick Your Director

Your wedding day is not the time to add extra stress, so choose someone reliable to supervise the recording. Make sure they know your overall needs and who will be responsible for recording what and when.

Record Like a Pro

Know how the camera works. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the camera and its many functions. A tripod is important for recording longer events like the ceremony at the altar, speeches or important interviews. It keeps the picture from getting jiggly and causing distractions. Keep the camera upright—it’s not like a still camera where you can shoot horizontally or vertically. Zoom in and out sparingly and don’t zoom in if moving closer will do the job. Tightly zoomed images exaggerate camera motion and can be grainy. The closer you are to the scene you’re recording, the better the sound quality, too.

Choose a Reliable Supplier for Your Equipment

Rent from the right source. Otherwise you can find your camera battery dead before the event even begins. At Avista Rentals, we’re committed to delivering the right AV solution for your event at the best price, and to exceeding your expectations with the high caliber of our staff and equipment. We have an Event Video Equipment Package designed especially for easy use that covers the conditions you’ll likely deal with at a wedding. Or if you just need a tripod or lighting to supplement your own equipment, we have individual items for rent, too. Simply give us a call at 888.462.8478 to reserve equipment and schedule an in-store pickup at any of our Bay Area or Los Angeles locations. We’ll give you step-by-step instructions for using it and even help you load your car. You can also arrange for delivery to your location. And if you have questions or problems onsite, call us 24/7 and we can help get you back on the right path.

If this seems like a lot to remember and do, spend a little time on the internet looking at DIY wedding video websites. Look at some sample videos to get ideas and inspiration. There are some great checklists out there, too, to make sure you get the coverage you want. Here’s a particularly good one, plus it’s part of a larger page that lists all kinds of other tips and hints.

We're very proud that our principals and commitment have driven strong growth since our founding in 2005, to where we are now one of the premier providers of AV rentals and AV production services on the West Coast. Visit our website, AvistaRentals.com, for complete information about our company, our staff, and our services. You can count on us to be a trusted partner in making your wedding memories special.