On 31 Mar 2003 17:24:55 -0800, newsreader123@yahoo.com (Newsreader) wrote:

>I'm gonna use my two cameras (pair of decent minidv cameras) to shoot

>a friend's wedding and I don't know where I want to put the second

>(stationary) camera. I'll be moving around with the first one (but

>not too much). I was sorta thinking on the middle edge of one of the

>seats right next to the aisle- so in the aisle, but away from the

>walkway so the bride doesn't trip. But this shot would get pretty

>boring to keep cutting back to. This is a solo gig, so I don't have

>any help.

>

>Any ideas?

The others' suggestions were excellent. BTW, here is a URL

for a story about shooting 6(!!!) cameras at a ceremony, and

editing them together (with a URL for over 50 frame-grabs

from the resulting wedding video):

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/multi-camera2.htm

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/wedding9.html

BTW, this was also a "one-person" shoot, with a friend

helping by keeping a watch on gear and helping with packing

afterward (and removal of the excess gear - I kept two

camcorders + batteries and WA converters for after-ceremony

events). Also BTW, the second camera may best be placed

in line with the main aisle, zoomed to cover little more

than the bride/groom/officiant, placed as high as possible.

I prefer to keep "my" camera on a good tripod during the

ceremony, on left side, and some toward the rear (but with

a good view) - I use it hand-held until after the

processional, and again after the recessional starts (a

good quick-release helps here...). The results are

"smoother" this way, and easier to integrate. Also, the

couple will most likely NOT be where they are supposed to

be (a recurring problem ;-), making close-up placement and

aiming of cameras (I like these with WAs or fisheyes on...)

difficult (tiny 1-chippers are useful for this, on clamps,

or on light-stand or mic-stand poles - tripods are too

obtrusive).