Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - Mar/Apr 2020 (Issue24)

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY 55  S ean Hodge runs Sean Hodge Wedding Films covering celebrations throughout Devon and Cornwall. He explains how videography is essential for any wedding day and that it should be one of the first things that the couple books, especially with the easy access to video now available though smartphones. Sean tells us, “My clients often say that the wedding video is the thing they use most to relive their day.” He continues, “Photographs often tell the story of the day with everything perfectly visible to see in bright, beautiful colours. With videography you can create a much more compelling story using images that don’t need to be perfectly exposed or visible. You can use interesting light, camera angles and composition to create something beautiful that can add suspense and drama. It offers a different vibe that photographs might not be able to capture and telling the story is key.” Sean is passionate about his work and tells us how he loves filming people and capturing true mannerisms. “The way someone laughs or dances can all be shown with video. This is one of the main reasons why hiring a videographer is so important. Having all of your loved ones close to you in one place is a very rare moment and may only happen once in your life. Make sure that you get their interaction between each other documented to relive the memories.” He explains how couples often overlook the importance of audio and capturing the sounds of the day. “These are vital aspects that help in being able to relive it,” Sean tells us. “Imagine being able to revisit the speeches with the voice of your dad telling you how much he loves you. We often look back at pictures of the people close to us and miss the way they sound so you'll be so happy that you have access to that.” Music also plays a big role creating a great wedding film. “Something to bare in mind when choosing a videographer is whether they have access to non-copyright music or whether they have the adequate copyright to use certain songs,” Sean points out. “You don’t want to share your wedding film on social media with copyright infringement notices showing because you've used your favourite hit song. Most videographers do have subscriptions to music copyright websites that allow you to use great choices so it's always worth asking.” Sean explains that another thing to consider is the use of drones. “They're becoming more and more popular and add impressive footage to your big-day film,” he states. “The regulations for drone usage are always changing which makes it very difficult for videographers to stay compliant with the law. It's important that your videographer has the right permissions to work commercially and holds the correct insurance. The drone regulations are going through a big change in July 2020 so make sure that your videographer is aware. Check caa.co.uk for more details.” Sean tells us how smartphones and social media make it very easy to share videos. “Rather then guests having to flick through your wedding album, you can show them a five-minute video featuring all the best bits of the day,” he says. Videography and photography are completely different remits that complement one another but often, people feel that because they have hired a wedding photographer, a videographer isn't needed. Sean suggests how it might be worth making a conscious effort to choose a videographer that has a different style to the photographer. “I always try to work in sync with the photographer on the day, making the experience easier and enjoyable for the couple, but I try and produce a different product. I don't want to duplicate the photographs in video format. Instead, I want to create something beautiful and cinematic that tells a story in a unique way. The video doesn’t have to be perfectly in focus like the photographs do. Sometimes, the blemishes in the footage make the story greater.” Sean Hodge Wedding Films 07525 179 386 seanhodgeweddingfilms.co.uk seanhodge_weddingfilms THE TALENT BEHIND THE LENS We speak to videographer Sean Hodge about tips for booking this essential part of the day and ask some of the region's finest photographers to reveal their favourite summer wedding snaps