This is the best gear overview I’ve ever seen. I really appreciate how much time and thought was put into explaining everything while getting a glimpse into tools that are actually used.
Thanks Tom! I'm glad the video was useful - I feel like I could've gone on for another hour, haha. If you were looking for a more in-depth review of any particular piece in this video, what would it be?
@@DustinSheffield I’m pretty curious about your case/bag setup. It seems super organized and I’m guessing it’s ultra efficient since you need to quickly pack in/pack out while also trying to keep things out of the way throughout the day.
Great idea - I always shoot simultaneous. I’m also running up to 3 cameras so that would be a lot of new 256Gb cards I’d need to purchase! Which brand of card do you use?
@@DustinSheffield yeah it is expensive. I go for the Lexar v60 256gb cards. V60 allows for 4k50 shooting on most cameras. Sony at least. You can get them between $100-150aud each. Depending if there's specials on
I've watched more than 15 videos about video gear and yours is the most thorough on RUclips. The section where you demonstrate how to use Ifootage monopod to shoot high & low shots at a wedding is illustrative. The unique thing about your video is the section about G.U.M. for ring shots. I have never seen it anywhere before. Even though I won't use all of the gear you mention here, it's good to know. Thanks for an excellent job.
Super like , thanks for this info. I always keep a sewing kit in my camera bag, as i remember once my groom ripped his pants and i was there to help him , we went to a room he got his pants off and i did the sewing and all turned so well to be a happy wedding and happy bride and groom 😉
Thanks so much for mentioning us Dustin. Much appreciated. Happy to be part of your wedding audio kit :) Keep up the great work, Michele and the Instamic Team
The first time I saw a videographer show me the Instamic, I didn't take it seriously because of the size. Recently I heard someone else talk about Instamic, so I looked it up online and saw the 32-bit-float version. I just ordered two Instamics. Can't wait to use them. I'm sure I'll get some more later on.
Incredible information. I’m not a wedding guy, but I am a documentary guy and I like the idea is about your light, your microphones… Practically everything!!
Love this buddy. One note. Not all cameras come with battery chargers. I didn’t realize this when I picked up my A7IVs but luckily I have a Watson duo charger from changing from canon to Nikon and not to Sony. Best thing about that charger? It’s like $2.99 for a interchangeable battery sled so if you need NpF style charger it doesn’t cost much to have nf-z and np-f.
30:49 brave man, I don't have the pair to leave behind my camera on a monopod and people moving around. And I do have the same ifootage. I'll try it out (some day lol)
It’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity sometimes 😛 As long as the monopod isn’t fully extended I trust it to stand on its own and I just make direct eye contact with anyone surrounding it before I leave. Haha
Hey Dustin! Love watching these types of vids to see how others are navigating industry needs. You did a phenomenal job here just getting to the point and clearly explaining the ‘why’ of your setup. Nicely done!
We, obviously, hardly can have that many questions. Your video is so full of useful tips and informations, thank you ! You made me discover the Instamic, now ranked in the top 3 of my next purchases. Those rackable Manfrotto tripods are an absolute must. They come in two sizes : micro and large (up to 3,2 meters). I own 4 of them, in various length. They never failed, they have a dampening system (so important when we have to rush and forget about those hot lights, prone to break or blow when a shock occurs), they stack with just a snap and stay so for easy storage in car trunks or back at home. Bonus : they shall survive me, and I guess my son will inherit them when I'm gone ! 😉 Just one thing though : in video, sound is THE most important thing. Ever. And forever. This is why it was so hard for the first films with sound to see the light of day... sound recording is an art in itself, and so hard to master. Any spectator can withstand some blurry sequences, even 10 times during a one minute video. When we watch carefully, this happens so often during TV interviews, weather reports, various headshots. And we barely get annoyed, if we ever notice that is ! But who can stand 10 sounds dropouts or saturated sounds portions during a one minute video ? I don't know anyone able to endure this. Investing in good audio gear is a top priority... everyone will blame you for a poor sound quality, when nobody shall complain if you lens was less sharp at f/4 and you "should have" used it at f/8.
You're so right Gilles! I couldn't agree more about audio being more important than video - nothing makes me click away faster than bad sound in a video. I definitely haven't mastered the audio side of things (not by a mile) but I really believe 32-bit float recording is the best solution for the average wedding filmmaker. I'm glad to hear the Instamic made your top 3! You're going to love how handy that little mic is. Check back soon and I'll have a more in-depth video discussing a few of my favorite ways to put it to use on jobs. Thanks for watching 🙏
Hi! Been shooting weddings for 14 years, and learned a lot from your video. Some random comments: -- "RCAs. Some DJs are still using these." Round my parts, they're the most common connection! -- One cable that might be useful: a 3.5mm headphone-type jack to XLR (for cases where the headphone monitor is the only out they can give you!). -- A vote here for Zoom F6 over F3. What you lose in compactness you gain in battery life -- F6 can run all day on one Sony battery, while the F3 goes for up to 8 hours on three AAs. (I might be wrong about this, but that's my thinking anyway.) -- Spare pants. Have only run into the dreaded pants rip situation once. But I had a spare pair in my car -- a videographer from the DVInfo forum wedding section had recommended it to me years ago. But was there any possibility of using some sort of clip or pin to hold your pants together? (I guess you wouldn't want to gaffer tape your butt; might be worse than letting the breeze in.) I've never needed a spare shirt, but maybe spare socks might be useful -- basically, for those times when you ask the bride and groom to walk in the water, and then wade in after them. -- I think there was a picture of an Instamic mounted magnetically to a speaker? I find that really interesting; I've been looking for a good 32-bit float recorder to get audio from in front of a soundspeaker as a backup. Only thing I'm unsure of is, if it's magnetically attached, does that influence the sound? I mean, will it be influenced by vibrations from the soundspeaker? -- Dental gum. Wow! Neat suggestion! I've been using something called "photographer's black tac", which is like blutac, but black. But hard to use just enough black tac that it's not obvious. -- I'm not sure you discussed why you'd use lights instead of ISO/aperture, though you teased a discussion. For me personally, there's two main reasons, and two minor reasons; I'd be curious to know what your reasons are! My minor reasons are the film set ones: lighting gives you more control over aperture and ISO (so you can adjust aperture to taste, and keep ISO low). The two major reasons for me are: creating an effect (= mainly backlighting and colour contrast, like cold backlight and warm key light), and helping to deal with exposure contrast issues. To explain that last one... if you have weddings where there are speeches at daytime, or you're hanging a dress against a window in the morning, you can't solve this with aperture/ISO, because the more you brighten skintones/bride's dress, the more you blow the background. So, any light you can get makes things a little better. Similar situations also arise with receptions at night -- sometimes there is a big lit wall behind wherever they're speaking from; and sometimes they're speaking from behind a front table, and all the decorations on that table are white. -- It scares me that you leave monopod there and walk away from it. -- Monopod + gimbal combo was pretty new to me. Really interesting stuff. -- Getting reactions from people because of light + alcohol -- I'm iffy on that suggestion. I mean, sure, some people react positively. But I've filmed a lot of night clubs (with a lot of alcohol), and it can easily go the other way -- people hiding from the light, turning away when you approach them, etc. Plus, in terms of image, no one likes the look of front lights anyway, right? Two tips as an alternative to front light to get reactions (and I reckon you'll probably know these already): (1) the more energy you give out, the more energy you get back. Like, openly sing along to the music, smile at people, wave at them, and dance (as much as you can, stability permitting). Funny-dancing, making a fool of yourself can work really well. If you do all this, people are more receptive to being filmed. (2) if you get to know all the guests and interract with them beforehand, they're more receptive to being filmed -- for instance, if you've made friends with and remember the names of the bridal party during prep and photoshoot, if you've spoken to all the guests by going around to them during mains/entrees and asked for messages for the bride and groom, or if you've cracked a joke during the big group photo after the ceremony or whatever. But, disclaimer: for weddings, personally, I don't like people looking straight into the lens or playing up for the camera. I like natural and observational. But that's just personal taste.
Wow I appreciate the time you took for this comment! You've got some great points here: - The 3.5 to XLR is a great idea and I'm all about having options for every situation when it comes to cables. I'll add it to the kit! - Love the F6. I use it on all my other productions. I just like the F3 for weddings because of size. But yes, battery life is much better with F6. - The ONE day I don't have my little spare thread sewing kit in the bag. Though I would've definitely gaffed my rear if I could have! - I've never heard any vibrational noise from the Instamic clipped to the speaker. The mic has a rubberized, waterproof shell so maybe that dampens it enough that vibrations aren't noticeable? Anyways, it's worked really well in a pinch! - I have seen that black tac before and it works basically the same, I just prefer the transparent dental gum. - Great points on lighting, agreed all around - Haha maybe my monopod is sturdier than most because I've walked away from it countless times and it's solid. Maybe I should've had a disclaimer in there somewhere... - Capturing dance footage with the light on the camera. I should have mentioned that this always depends on the crowd. I feel it out - if they're responding well, I'll keep the light on for a few minutes then shut it off and shoot with available light. Never want to ruin the mood. I can imagine it's a definite no-no at nightclubs. I was just surprised that people like it at ALL at weddings, so I test it out at all of them now. All great points! This vid was meant to focus on the gear and I plan to make a few BTS vids of our team actually filming real weddings as well. That way we can show our technique a little better. Stay tuned! Thanks again for the great comment
@@DustinSheffield You made me ponder why I'm iffy with people looking straight into the lens for weddings, when one obviously gets great reactions this way. Well, I think it's two things. Firstly, I think it's less real. It's played up for the camera. They're aware they're being filmed. But, secondly... and I think this is kind of interesting... Wedding guys are usually trying to make their videos more "cinematic", right? Copying techniques from film. Using prime lenses, trying to get good audio, using sliders and gimbals, shooting in such a way that it looks like there's multiple cameras. Well, I think part of the language of films... most films anyway.... is that they don't break the fourth wall. You know, unless it's a Woody Allen film. So, people rarely look directly into the lens; and when they do, it's often a POV shot. So, I think my gut feeling is that mugging to the camera is more "documentary" and less "filmic". But, yeah, horses for courses. I'm pretty sure I'm very much in the minority here.
Great video Dustin, we have similar setup and are thinking in a similar way! For the zoom cables, I additionally have can XLR to 3.5mm, had to use it once actually. Better safe than sorry!
The gimbal on monopod idea is genius. I’m going to try that tomorrow. I’ve always sat my gimbal on the ground in the isle to check my other cameras and I’ve always hated the angle.
Thank you! I never thought of the gumm to make those rings shot, great info. Also I'm always watching video of accident from wedding videographer or photographer like getting into a pool from now on I will get my pair of clothes cause you never know.
Thanks for watching! I haven't found myself in a pool yet but I HAVE seen a bride fall into the ocean before... NOT a great way to finish the day 😬 Luckily, even SHE had a backup outfit!
Hi Dustin, Excellent video! 1) What cables do you use to connect the Aputure 60d light to the V-mount battery? It looks like 2 cables put together. 2) What frenel do you use over the light?
Amazing video, man! There are a few things I'd like to point out. I really like the idea of keeping an iPhone ready for any shot you might miss due to any camera issues. As an additional suggestion, we can install the Filmic Pro app to capture clean and flat images. I think Sony cameras are nice, but they might be a bit overrated. If you've ever used a cinema camera like the BlackMagic Ursa Mini Pro or Red Komodo and intercut the footage, you'll understand what I mean. You need to perfectly expose Sony image; otherwise, it breaks during color grading. I also liked the suggestion of having a Sony digital recorder ready in your pocket. I will definitely look into it. At 22:50, you talk about using a cable for the Gimbal to sync the record button from the camera. if you have the Rs2 or Rs3, you can sync via Bluetooth with your camera, and you won't need any cables. Lastly, the point about shining light at people dancing after they've had a couple of drinks was hilarious! Great work!
Thank you for watching! I understand your points about the Sony cams... they definitely look different than BM and RED. I haven't run across the issue with having to expose perfectly with 10-bit S-Log 3 out of the A7s3. I've found that I can sometimes even overexpose up to 2 full stops and still have a beautiful image to work with in post. Cinema cams are awesome, but for run-n-gun event videography - Sony is hard to beat! We're definitely in the golden age of cameras at this point and all the big manufacturers have great options - Sony still works great for me :)
I agree with you, especially with Eye auto focus its a beast of a camera for a solo shooter, by 2024-2025 Sony cameras will be recording 12/14 bit 4k internally which will be crazy@@DustinSheffield
Ah what a bummer Instamics are sold out! I’m glad they’re getting business though, I want to see that company stick around for a long time. Thanks for watching!
Love the video and the detail into everything you have. I'd like to get your take on using UV filters. Do you always keep them on your camera? What kind do you use?
Thanks for watching! I do not personally use UV filters as I haven’t found a need for them. In general I try to avoid putting extra glass in front of my lens unless absolutely necessary. So I usually just use the ND filters from Freewell. Shot a wedding yesterday where the weather was constantly changing so the light was as well. It was great to be able to pop the filter on and off quickly throughout the day 👍🏻
@@ignitedvisuals I get it! Here is a link to the monopod I use just in case you're interested (Not sponsored but wish I was!) : www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1770041-REG/ifootage_cb3_a180f_k5_cobra_3_a180f_monopod.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw6yuBhDrARIsACf94RX5Ur2KDzGGBdxC3i6LdUDxlbGmC_GmvtPkW70P-R2bQ_l02wokiHUaAiYmEALw_wcB And the new feet for the base: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1754507-REG/ifootage_ifootage_cobra_3_low.html
I'm up late editing a wedding video (due Monday) with gear reviews playing in the background. RUclips thought I needed to see your video. I stopped editing to watch even though I'm a Canon shooter. I really enjoyed going through your bag with you. I've used the Rode Wireless Go II with every wedding this season and I always feel nervous that the levels will be off, or I'll accidentally leave them on and record over something important, or I'll have (another) corrupt files error when I try to get the files into the Rode app (which I loathe). I've been meaning to get the Tascam lav recorder you mentioned, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't save money for the Tentacle. Also, I've always just used fast lenses for receptions, but you've got me wondering if I shouldn't pull out my 300d for the darker venues. Anyway, I noticed you didn't have a zillion comments yet and thought I should put in my two cents. Thanks for the video!
Yes! The Zoom F2 is another great option for Lav with 32-bit recording. I think there’s a base model and another that connects to an app. I really like having the app with the Tentacle sync so I can double check that I’m recording from anywhere on the fly. Anything to get rid of that dreaded nervous feeling so I can focus on the shot! Thanks for watching - late night editing with passive RUclips learning in the background is the way 🙌🏻
Thanks for watching! Yep that’s exactly my goal with this channel so stay tuned 👍🏻 Would you rather I break it up into sections in several videos or one long, full wedding? Trying to figure what’s most useful…
Bravo!!! You covered IT all. I also learned it a hard way and we have really similar gear (I use Panasonic cameras and lenses) but all the rest is pretty much the same! It looks like the experience learned us the same things. And I also take an extra pair of clothes 😂😂😂
Haha thanks for watching Luce! Yeah I didn’t realize how much STUFF I actually use until I made this video. Nice to hear you’re using a similar kit! We have some Panasonic shooters on our team as well and I’ve always loved that Panny look 🤩
If you buy extra pants or a shirt make sure you remove any stickers or tags. At one of my first weddings I walked around with a tag on the backside of my leg for at least an hour during a reception until someone told me about the tag.
Really good information! I’m on S1 and S5 and two Z Cam. I’m struggling to keep it more simple and maybe will replace the Z Cams with two more Lumix. Also try to minimize audio gear. Thanks for a really good video.
Wow! You’re running FOUR cameras by yourself for weddings? That is impressive 🙌🏻 4 Lumix would be nice but I know how hard it is to let go of those Zcams… I’ve got a video about that coming out soon. Thanks for watching!
@@DustinSheffield - I'm a photographer who started shooting video a couple years ago. Shooting weddings primarily, as well as occasional corporate jobs. I'm using the RØDE Wireless Go II system right now, and also have the Zoom F2 mics. Can't wait to try the Instamics.
@@DustinSheffield - I mainly shoot weddings. I always use the Instamic with an elastic stretch cover on the DJ microphone for ceremony/toasts. I loved the first two Instamics so much I bought two more, then recently ordered two of the new USB-C units (one black, one white). When I need to use a lav-mic, I use the new DJI MIC2 system, and it's been pretty good. I like that the transmitters are not as CHUNKY as the RØDE Go II system. The mic input is not threaded (like my Zoom F2 units), but there's a spot to loop the cord through the clip and it prevents the mic from getting pulled out. Also using the Zoom F3, and I was just thinking about how I wish it had 1/4" inputs in addition to the XLR, and a day later I got an email from Zoom announcing the H1 XLR Handy Recorder, so I'll probably upgrade just to have that flexibility (and I won't need as many cables/adapters).
Thanks! I depends on the dance floor - a lot of times I'll put my 14-24 on sticks as a B-Cam for dances, although we barely use any of that footage since the closeup stuff is usually more interesting.
Hey what's up man! Loved this video - We have a lot of the same gear, I shoot Sony as well and have the mini Godox light. How do you mount your light on your rig?
Nice! I usually go handheld (no gimbal) for dancing shots at the end of the night. I'll either mount the Godox M1 to the hot shoe of my camera or more often - I'll hold it in my left hand at arms length up and out to the side to give the light some direction and give some shape to people's faces. How about you?
Nice! I pretty much use it the same way handheld. There are times when I have it mounted on the gimbal brief handle depending on the lighting! I’m going look into the aputure light you recommended as well, looks like a great addition 👍🏾
Thanks for the advice! I've definitely tried 24fps (USA) in combo with 120fps before and that's fine, but I prefer to shoot in 60fps on my A Cam just in case I need a little slow motion to smooth out a shot in post. During ceremonies and toasts my backup cameras are always set to 24fps.
Honestly my best editors have been fellow videographers! Start by learning who's shooting in your area. Reach out to them to see if they're interested in any "filler" editing work. You'll get mixed results, but in my experience it beats the heck out of the fiverr approach. Better to start working with someone who is available to learn your style and grow with you locally IMO.
Well... I go back and forth. Since I shoot at 60fps a lot for b-roll I'm at 1/125 shutter and usually about f4.0. If it's super bright and I want to shoot really shallow I'll pop on the ND but most of the time I can get away without it. Especially shooting S-Log 3.
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ive done that same thing when my camera overheated....."NO ONES GONNA KNOW"...relatable...im subscribing
Haha gotta do what we gotta do! Thanks for the sub 👍🏻
This is the best gear overview I’ve ever seen. I really appreciate how much time and thought was put into explaining everything while getting a glimpse into tools that are actually used.
Thanks Tom! I'm glad the video was useful - I feel like I could've gone on for another hour, haha. If you were looking for a more in-depth review of any particular piece in this video, what would it be?
@@DustinSheffield I’m pretty curious about your case/bag setup. It seems super organized and I’m guessing it’s ultra efficient since you need to quickly pack in/pack out while also trying to keep things out of the way throughout the day.
Great idea! I'm new to this so you KNOW I'll take as many ideas as people are willing to give, haha. Love your channel btw 🙌🏻
should go 256gb cards. shoot simultaneous. never take them out of your camera until your in the office
Great idea - I always shoot simultaneous. I’m also running up to 3 cameras so that would be a lot of new 256Gb cards I’d need to purchase! Which brand of card do you use?
@@DustinSheffield yeah it is expensive. I go for the Lexar v60 256gb cards. V60 allows for 4k50 shooting on most cameras. Sony at least.
You can get them between $100-150aud each. Depending if there's specials on
The pants story was gold😂😂😂 Thx for sharing.
Haha it was definitely a challenge to film the ceremony while keeping my backside pointed away from the crowd the entire time 😂. Thanks for watching!
I've watched more than 15 videos about video gear and yours is the most thorough on RUclips. The section where you demonstrate how to use Ifootage monopod to shoot high & low shots at a wedding is illustrative. The unique thing about your video is the section about G.U.M. for ring shots. I have never seen it anywhere before. Even though I won't use all of the gear you mention here, it's good to know. Thanks for an excellent job.
Ah thanks for watching! I really enjoyed making this video and I have some others in mind for the future. Stay tuned!
The Sandisk Extreme Pro 256gb cards are $28 on Amazon right now if you snag some for that upgraded capacity! Helpful video
Super like , thanks for this info.
I always keep a sewing kit in my camera bag, as i remember once my groom ripped his pants and i was there to help him , we went to a room he got his pants off and i did the sewing and all turned so well to be a happy wedding and happy bride and groom 😉
Thanks so much for mentioning us Dustin. Much appreciated. Happy to be part of your wedding audio kit :) Keep up the great work, Michele and the Instamic Team
Thanks Michelle! I genuinely love my Instamics!! The icing on the cake was when you upgraded to 32-bit float 🙌🏻
The first time I saw a videographer show me the Instamic, I didn't take it seriously because of the size. Recently I heard someone else talk about Instamic, so I looked it up online and saw the 32-bit-float version. I just ordered two Instamics. Can't wait to use them. I'm sure I'll get some more later on.
Incredible information. I’m not a wedding guy, but I am a documentary guy and I like the idea is about your light, your microphones… Practically everything!!
Oh nice! Yeah I guess there would be some crossover there in spots - glad the video was useful! Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Ive done single cam wedding and event videos for many years and this video really helped me. Love your equipment choice and prep.
Love this buddy. One note. Not all cameras come with battery chargers. I didn’t realize this when I picked up my A7IVs but luckily I have a Watson duo charger from changing from canon to Nikon and not to Sony. Best thing about that charger? It’s like $2.99 for a interchangeable battery sled so if you need NpF style charger it doesn’t cost much to have nf-z and np-f.
They’re cutting out CHARGERS now, too?! Clearly we’re living in the End Times 😆 Great advice though, I’ll definitely look into that Watson duo!
30:49 brave man, I don't have the pair to leave behind my camera on a monopod and people moving around. And I do have the same ifootage. I'll try it out (some day lol)
It’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity sometimes 😛 As long as the monopod isn’t fully extended I trust it to stand on its own and I just make direct eye contact with anyone surrounding it before I leave. Haha
Thanks so much. The first video i came across of yours and subscribed. Your amazing. You should also leave amazon links not just names.
Hey Dustin! Love watching these types of vids to see how others are navigating industry needs. You did a phenomenal job here just getting to the point and clearly explaining the ‘why’ of your setup. Nicely done!
We, obviously, hardly can have that many questions. Your video is so full of useful tips and informations, thank you !
You made me discover the Instamic, now ranked in the top 3 of my next purchases.
Those rackable Manfrotto tripods are an absolute must. They come in two sizes : micro and large (up to 3,2 meters). I own 4 of them, in various length. They never failed, they have a dampening system (so important when we have to rush and forget about those hot lights, prone to break or blow when a shock occurs), they stack with just a snap and stay so for easy storage in car trunks or back at home. Bonus : they shall survive me, and I guess my son will inherit them when I'm gone ! 😉
Just one thing though : in video, sound is THE most important thing. Ever. And forever. This is why it was so hard for the first films with sound to see the light of day... sound recording is an art in itself, and so hard to master. Any spectator can withstand some blurry sequences, even 10 times during a one minute video. When we watch carefully, this happens so often during TV interviews, weather reports, various headshots. And we barely get annoyed, if we ever notice that is !
But who can stand 10 sounds dropouts or saturated sounds portions during a one minute video ? I don't know anyone able to endure this. Investing in good audio gear is a top priority... everyone will blame you for a poor sound quality, when nobody shall complain if you lens was less sharp at f/4 and you "should have" used it at f/8.
You're so right Gilles! I couldn't agree more about audio being more important than video - nothing makes me click away faster than bad sound in a video. I definitely haven't mastered the audio side of things (not by a mile) but I really believe 32-bit float recording is the best solution for the average wedding filmmaker. I'm glad to hear the Instamic made your top 3! You're going to love how handy that little mic is. Check back soon and I'll have a more in-depth video discussing a few of my favorite ways to put it to use on jobs. Thanks for watching 🙏
Hi! Been shooting weddings for 14 years, and learned a lot from your video.
Some random comments:
-- "RCAs. Some DJs are still using these." Round my parts, they're the most common connection!
-- One cable that might be useful: a 3.5mm headphone-type jack to XLR (for cases where the headphone monitor is the only out they can give you!).
-- A vote here for Zoom F6 over F3. What you lose in compactness you gain in battery life -- F6 can run all day on one Sony battery, while the F3 goes for up to 8 hours on three AAs. (I might be wrong about this, but that's my thinking anyway.)
-- Spare pants. Have only run into the dreaded pants rip situation once. But I had a spare pair in my car -- a videographer from the DVInfo forum wedding section had recommended it to me years ago. But was there any possibility of using some sort of clip or pin to hold your pants together? (I guess you wouldn't want to gaffer tape your butt; might be worse than letting the breeze in.) I've never needed a spare shirt, but maybe spare socks might be useful -- basically, for those times when you ask the bride and groom to walk in the water, and then wade in after them.
-- I think there was a picture of an Instamic mounted magnetically to a speaker? I find that really interesting; I've been looking for a good 32-bit float recorder to get audio from in front of a soundspeaker as a backup. Only thing I'm unsure of is, if it's magnetically attached, does that influence the sound? I mean, will it be influenced by vibrations from the soundspeaker?
-- Dental gum. Wow! Neat suggestion! I've been using something called "photographer's black tac", which is like blutac, but black. But hard to use just enough black tac that it's not obvious.
-- I'm not sure you discussed why you'd use lights instead of ISO/aperture, though you teased a discussion. For me personally, there's two main reasons, and two minor reasons; I'd be curious to know what your reasons are! My minor reasons are the film set ones: lighting gives you more control over aperture and ISO (so you can adjust aperture to taste, and keep ISO low). The two major reasons for me are: creating an effect (= mainly backlighting and colour contrast, like cold backlight and warm key light), and helping to deal with exposure contrast issues. To explain that last one... if you have weddings where there are speeches at daytime, or you're hanging a dress against a window in the morning, you can't solve this with aperture/ISO, because the more you brighten skintones/bride's dress, the more you blow the background. So, any light you can get makes things a little better. Similar situations also arise with receptions at night -- sometimes there is a big lit wall behind wherever they're speaking from; and sometimes they're speaking from behind a front table, and all the decorations on that table are white.
-- It scares me that you leave monopod there and walk away from it.
-- Monopod + gimbal combo was pretty new to me. Really interesting stuff.
-- Getting reactions from people because of light + alcohol -- I'm iffy on that suggestion. I mean, sure, some people react positively. But I've filmed a lot of night clubs (with a lot of alcohol), and it can easily go the other way -- people hiding from the light, turning away when you approach them, etc. Plus, in terms of image, no one likes the look of front lights anyway, right?
Two tips as an alternative to front light to get reactions (and I reckon you'll probably know these already): (1) the more energy you give out, the more energy you get back. Like, openly sing along to the music, smile at people, wave at them, and dance (as much as you can, stability permitting). Funny-dancing, making a fool of yourself can work really well. If you do all this, people are more receptive to being filmed. (2) if you get to know all the guests and interract with them beforehand, they're more receptive to being filmed -- for instance, if you've made friends with and remember the names of the bridal party during prep and photoshoot, if you've spoken to all the guests by going around to them during mains/entrees and asked for messages for the bride and groom, or if you've cracked a joke during the big group photo after the ceremony or whatever.
But, disclaimer: for weddings, personally, I don't like people looking straight into the lens or playing up for the camera. I like natural and observational. But that's just personal taste.
Wow I appreciate the time you took for this comment! You've got some great points here:
- The 3.5 to XLR is a great idea and I'm all about having options for every situation when it comes to cables. I'll add it to the kit!
- Love the F6. I use it on all my other productions. I just like the F3 for weddings because of size. But yes, battery life is much better with F6.
- The ONE day I don't have my little spare thread sewing kit in the bag. Though I would've definitely gaffed my rear if I could have!
- I've never heard any vibrational noise from the Instamic clipped to the speaker. The mic has a rubberized, waterproof shell so maybe that dampens it enough that vibrations aren't noticeable? Anyways, it's worked really well in a pinch!
- I have seen that black tac before and it works basically the same, I just prefer the transparent dental gum.
- Great points on lighting, agreed all around
- Haha maybe my monopod is sturdier than most because I've walked away from it countless times and it's solid. Maybe I should've had a disclaimer in there somewhere...
- Capturing dance footage with the light on the camera. I should have mentioned that this always depends on the crowd. I feel it out - if they're responding well, I'll keep the light on for a few minutes then shut it off and shoot with available light. Never want to ruin the mood. I can imagine it's a definite no-no at nightclubs. I was just surprised that people like it at ALL at weddings, so I test it out at all of them now.
All great points! This vid was meant to focus on the gear and I plan to make a few BTS vids of our team actually filming real weddings as well. That way we can show our technique a little better. Stay tuned! Thanks again for the great comment
@@DustinSheffield You made me ponder why I'm iffy with people looking straight into the lens for weddings, when one obviously gets great reactions this way.
Well, I think it's two things. Firstly, I think it's less real. It's played up for the camera. They're aware they're being filmed.
But, secondly... and I think this is kind of interesting... Wedding guys are usually trying to make their videos more "cinematic", right? Copying techniques from film. Using prime lenses, trying to get good audio, using sliders and gimbals, shooting in such a way that it looks like there's multiple cameras.
Well, I think part of the language of films... most films anyway.... is that they don't break the fourth wall. You know, unless it's a Woody Allen film. So, people rarely look directly into the lens; and when they do, it's often a POV shot.
So, I think my gut feeling is that mugging to the camera is more "documentary" and less "filmic". But, yeah, horses for courses. I'm pretty sure I'm very much in the minority here.
24-70 is a must! I’ve shot an entire wedding on that lens. Great video!
Great video Dustin, we have similar setup and are thinking in a similar way! For the zoom cables, I additionally have can XLR to 3.5mm, had to use it once actually. Better safe than sorry!
Smart! Yep, I need that. Ordering now… 👍🏻
The gimbal on monopod idea is genius. I’m going to try that tomorrow. I’ve always sat my gimbal on the ground in the isle to check my other cameras and I’ve always hated the angle.
Hope you love it Josh! I’ve converted a few guys on our team and they swear by it now. Anything to save our backs, haha
Great video explaining everything from start to finish!
Much appreciated!
Thank you! I never thought of the gumm to make those rings shot, great info. Also I'm always watching video of accident from wedding videographer or photographer like getting into a pool from now on I will get my pair of clothes cause you never know.
Thanks for watching! I haven't found myself in a pool yet but I HAVE seen a bride fall into the ocean before... NOT a great way to finish the day 😬 Luckily, even SHE had a backup outfit!
Hi Dustin,
Excellent video!
1) What cables do you use to connect the Aputure 60d light to the V-mount battery? It looks like 2 cables put together.
2) What frenel do you use over the light?
Amazing video, man! There are a few things I'd like to point out. I really like the idea of keeping an iPhone ready for any shot you might miss due to any camera issues. As an additional suggestion, we can install the Filmic Pro app to capture clean and flat images.
I think Sony cameras are nice, but they might be a bit overrated. If you've ever used a cinema camera like the BlackMagic Ursa Mini Pro or Red Komodo and intercut the footage, you'll understand what I mean. You need to perfectly expose Sony image; otherwise, it breaks during color grading.
I also liked the suggestion of having a Sony digital recorder ready in your pocket. I will definitely look into it.
At 22:50, you talk about using a cable for the Gimbal to sync the record button from the camera. if you have the Rs2 or Rs3, you can sync via Bluetooth with your camera, and you won't need any cables.
Lastly, the point about shining light at people dancing after they've had a couple of drinks was hilarious!
Great work!
Thank you for watching! I understand your points about the Sony cams... they definitely look different than BM and RED. I haven't run across the issue with having to expose perfectly with 10-bit S-Log 3 out of the A7s3. I've found that I can sometimes even overexpose up to 2 full stops and still have a beautiful image to work with in post. Cinema cams are awesome, but for run-n-gun event videography - Sony is hard to beat! We're definitely in the golden age of cameras at this point and all the big manufacturers have great options - Sony still works great for me :)
I agree with you, especially with Eye auto focus its a beast of a camera for a solo shooter, by 2024-2025 Sony cameras will be recording 12/14 bit 4k internally which will be crazy@@DustinSheffield
All great tips brother. Completely agree with all this!
Def wanna try the insta mics but they’re sold out!
Ah what a bummer Instamics are sold out! I’m glad they’re getting business though, I want to see that company stick around for a long time. Thanks for watching!
Great video! You have brought a lot of value with this video! Thank you!
Many thanks, I got several good hints for my own bag!❤
That's great to hear! Thanks for watching 👍🏼
I love the explanation.
Just ordered some dental gum what a great tip!
Love the video and the detail into everything you have. I'd like to get your take on using UV filters. Do you always keep them on your camera? What kind do you use?
Thanks for watching! I do not personally use UV filters as I haven’t found a need for them. In general I try to avoid putting extra glass in front of my lens unless absolutely necessary. So I usually just use the ND filters from Freewell. Shot a wedding yesterday where the weather was constantly changing so the light was as well. It was great to be able to pop the filter on and off quickly throughout the day 👍🏻
I watch these to find obscure items that people have in their kits. The dental gum did not disappoint.
Yeah I love that stuff! Glad you found something useful in the video 👍🏻
Great video, I use many of the same things, F3, Track-E, Godox Light, 24-70 GM - Great choices of gear that works well !
Interesting tip for monopod / gimball. I'll definitely give it a try.
Nice! I picked up some stronger feet for the monopod and now it's really rock-solid standing on it's own.
@@DustinSheffield don't knownif thqt is an option for my Manfrotto monopod 😅
@@ignitedvisuals I get it! Here is a link to the monopod I use just in case you're interested (Not sponsored but wish I was!) :
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1770041-REG/ifootage_cb3_a180f_k5_cobra_3_a180f_monopod.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw6yuBhDrARIsACf94RX5Ur2KDzGGBdxC3i6LdUDxlbGmC_GmvtPkW70P-R2bQ_l02wokiHUaAiYmEALw_wcB
And the new feet for the base: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1754507-REG/ifootage_ifootage_cobra_3_low.html
Thank you for this in depth video. I really learned a lot.
Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful 👍🏻
I'm up late editing a wedding video (due Monday) with gear reviews playing in the background. RUclips thought I needed to see your video. I stopped editing to watch even though I'm a Canon shooter. I really enjoyed going through your bag with you. I've used the Rode Wireless Go II with every wedding this season and I always feel nervous that the levels will be off, or I'll accidentally leave them on and record over something important, or I'll have (another) corrupt files error when I try to get the files into the Rode app (which I loathe). I've been meaning to get the Tascam lav recorder you mentioned, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't save money for the Tentacle. Also, I've always just used fast lenses for receptions, but you've got me wondering if I shouldn't pull out my 300d for the darker venues. Anyway, I noticed you didn't have a zillion comments yet and thought I should put in my two cents. Thanks for the video!
Yes! The Zoom F2 is another great option for Lav with 32-bit recording. I think there’s a base model and another that connects to an app. I really like having the app with the Tentacle sync so I can double check that I’m recording from anywhere on the fly. Anything to get rid of that dreaded nervous feeling so I can focus on the shot! Thanks for watching - late night editing with passive RUclips learning in the background is the way 🙌🏻
Amazing vid bud! You are a natural!!
Haha Thankyasir! Took forever but I’m happy with it 👍🏻
Just found your Channel and this video, shame you stopped posting but fantastic video.
Thank you! Got busy working for a living again but I’m coming back! Appreciate you watching 👍🏻
@DustinSheffield I agree! I’ve eaten up this video and was looking for your a7s iii settings video… 😔
Great Video! I learned a lot🙏🔥🔥
Glad to hear it! Let me know if there's anything in this video you'd like to learn more about 🤔
Don't know why, but I watched this video twice lol, If you make a wedding behind the scenes video I'd be first to watch it lol
Thanks for watching! Yep that’s exactly my goal with this channel so stay tuned 👍🏻 Would you rather I break it up into sections in several videos or one long, full wedding? Trying to figure what’s most useful…
@@DustinSheffield probably in section’s, as it should perform better in RUclips 🤷 no matter is it long one or a few shorter. I’ll watch them anyway 😄
Bravo!!! You covered IT all. I also learned it a hard way and we have really similar gear (I use Panasonic cameras and lenses) but all the rest is pretty much the same! It looks like the experience learned us the same things. And I also take an extra pair of clothes 😂😂😂
Haha thanks for watching Luce! Yeah I didn’t realize how much STUFF I actually use until I made this video. Nice to hear you’re using a similar kit! We have some Panasonic shooters on our team as well and I’ve always loved that Panny look 🤩
If you buy extra pants or a shirt make sure you remove any stickers or tags. At one of my first weddings I walked around with a tag on the backside of my leg for at least an hour during a reception until someone told me about the tag.
Hahaha this is classic. Sounds like we need a wedding videographer’s war story channel? We can all share the pain 🤣
Really good information! I’m on S1 and S5 and two Z Cam. I’m struggling to keep it more simple and maybe will replace the Z Cams with two more Lumix. Also try to minimize audio gear. Thanks for a really good video.
Wow! You’re running FOUR cameras by yourself for weddings? That is impressive 🙌🏻 4 Lumix would be nice but I know how hard it is to let go of those Zcams… I’ve got a video about that coming out soon. Thanks for watching!
Subscribed for sure!!! Great video!!
I just ordered two Instamic units. I can't wait to use them.
Yes! What do you usually shoot? Let me know how you end up using them 👍🏼
@@DustinSheffield - I'm a photographer who started shooting video a couple years ago. Shooting weddings primarily, as well as occasional corporate jobs.
I'm using the RØDE Wireless Go II system right now, and also have the Zoom F2 mics. Can't wait to try the Instamics.
@@DustinSheffield - I mainly shoot weddings. I always use the Instamic with an elastic stretch cover on the DJ microphone for ceremony/toasts.
I loved the first two Instamics so much I bought two more, then recently ordered two of the new USB-C units (one black, one white).
When I need to use a lav-mic, I use the new DJI MIC2 system, and it's been pretty good. I like that the transmitters are not as CHUNKY as the RØDE Go II system.
The mic input is not threaded (like my Zoom F2 units), but there's a spot to loop the cord through the clip and it prevents the mic from getting pulled out.
Also using the Zoom F3, and I was just thinking about how I wish it had 1/4" inputs in addition to the XLR, and a day later I got an email from Zoom announcing the H1 XLR Handy Recorder, so I'll probably upgrade just to have that flexibility (and I won't need as many cables/adapters).
Great video. With the 24-70 lens, are you able to capture the entire dance floor?
Thanks! I depends on the dance floor - a lot of times I'll put my 14-24 on sticks as a B-Cam for dances, although we barely use any of that footage since the closeup stuff is usually more interesting.
Good stuff Dustin!
Thanks for the dental gum tip! Where can I find some? I want to try it out this weekend.
Great! You can usually find it at CVS or Walgreens with the other 🦷 stuff. Let me know how it works for you!
Great tips! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Very informative video!
Thanks for this video
Good Stuff!
Hey what's up man! Loved this video - We have a lot of the same gear, I shoot Sony as well and have the mini Godox light. How do you mount your light on your rig?
Nice! I usually go handheld (no gimbal) for dancing shots at the end of the night. I'll either mount the Godox M1 to the hot shoe of my camera or more often - I'll hold it in my left hand at arms length up and out to the side to give the light some direction and give some shape to people's faces. How about you?
Nice! I pretty much use it the same way handheld. There are times when I have it mounted on the gimbal brief handle depending on the lighting! I’m going look into the aputure light you recommended as well, looks like a great addition 👍🏾
Good video!!
awesome awesome video thanks so much
Isnt V90 card an overkill for that camera? Its only like 200mbps for 10 bit 4k50
Kinda! I'm sure you can get away with older tech like v60 cards - just don't. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching
Hi, you always shooting weddings in 60 fps? Me adviced in most cases 25 fps and in case for slow motion 60 or 120 fps.
Thanks for the advice! I've definitely tried 24fps (USA) in combo with 120fps before and that's fine, but I prefer to shoot in 60fps on my A Cam just in case I need a little slow motion to smooth out a shot in post. During ceremonies and toasts my backup cameras are always set to 24fps.
@@DustinSheffield thank )
I'm looking for an editor to help me. I'm not sure where to start. What's the best way to find an editor?
Honestly my best editors have been fellow videographers! Start by learning who's shooting in your area. Reach out to them to see if they're interested in any "filler" editing work. You'll get mixed results, but in my experience it beats the heck out of the fiverr approach. Better to start working with someone who is available to learn your style and grow with you locally IMO.
Do you work along with 3 cameras when shooting weddings?
I typically do, yes.
@@DustinSheffield its hard, cool !
2:35 -2:38 that rhymed... bars.
Cant you just connect your camera through bluetooth and use the record button on the Gimbal?
@@JamesDee11 Yep! on the RS3 and RS4 you can use Bluetooth. But I was still rocking an old RS2 when I made this video. Thanks for watching!
@@DustinSheffield odd that they made it so you could record if you connected through the app but not through bluetooth lol!
How are you not using ND filters often? 😮
Well... I go back and forth. Since I shoot at 60fps a lot for b-roll I'm at 1/125 shutter and usually about f4.0. If it's super bright and I want to shoot really shallow I'll pop on the ND but most of the time I can get away without it. Especially shooting S-Log 3.
using zooms instead of primes. sheesh.
Haha I’ll take that kinda talk from NO ONE 😎
@@DustinSheffield no one telling a no one haha cheers