REQUIREMENTS
(1-4)
THIS IS BASE LEVEL STUFF
These are the base requirements of working with us. Parts 1-4 will educate you on:
(1) shooter responsibilities and expectations.
(2) technical requirements.
(3) how we shoot and navigate a wedding day.
(4) workshops.
1.RESPONSIBILITY
1. Wear a company T-Shirt. If you haven't received a company T shirt yet, wear all black attire with style as you would as a guest to a formal event - company/dress shirt, pants, clean shoes. *No shorts, jeans, ripped pants, hoodies, etc.’
2. Give out company cards when asked. For custom cards that top shooters get - every time your name is being used for a new booking, you get a 5% commission for any package couple you refer to that books with us.
3. Arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before the start time.
4. Upload footage within 48 hours, and label folders properly with folder size.
5. Cancellation notice a minimum of 60 days.
6. Keep a back up of your footage for 30 days.
7. Sync time (photography only) - to world clock.
8. Call client within 48 hours of receiving call sheet (lead shooter).
9. Call 2nd shooter within 48 hours of receiving call sheet (lead shooter).
10. Remember that you represent Symboll® at the wedding, not your own company. Please don't give out personal contact information. Symboll.com or business cards when provided only.
11. No posting of any images or footage until after the final gallery is delivered to the client. You will be notified when it is. Some projects also have an NDA, so before posting, ask Shant (for photo) or Misha (for video).
12. Every post from Symboll weddings must give credit (tag) Symboll (including reels, stories, threads, etc).
FIRST SHOOTER
PHOTO
-Capture the couple in all scenarios.
-You are telling the story of the couple as they navigate the entire day.
-Avoid cheesy, typical shots (touching foreheads, walking to nowhere hand in hand, etc)
-Cinematic and creative lighting.
-Dynamic and expressive poses and movements.
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VIDEO
Mostly Handheld. Except for when you need a steady shot.
Your objective is to capture everything for the 3-6 min short film. Like what you see on http://symboll.com. So that means all creative shots, audio, drone.
Additionally you are responsible for all audio.
SECOND SHOOTER
PHOTO
-Capture b roll throughout the day.
-Everything that is happening outside of the couple.
-Details, guests, secondary creative angles.
-Support the lead shooter as necessary/requested.
VIDEO
Mostly Tripod/Monopod.
Your objective is to create a 1 hour documentary film. So that means steady long easy to edit shots. During important moments try not to cut shots as long as you can, so it can be properly synced to the external audio.
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TRAINING
PHOTO
-You are there to be involved.
-Learn how Symboll® navigates a wedding day both documenting and on a personal level with the couple and guests.
-Take initiative in shooting and asking questions.
VIDEO
-You are there to be involved.
-Learn how Symboll® navigates a wedding day both documenting and on a personal level with the couple and guests.
-Take initiative in shooting and asking questions.
2.2 PHOTO GEAR
Approach to the gear is that you can document any situation you find yourself in - tight quarters, dark spaces, limited movement, large objects, tiny details.
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Camera | Two full frame bodies.
Lenses | Primes are ideal. Recommend 24mm 1.8, 35mm 1.4, 70-200mm 2.8. The 24-70mm is very popular, but make sure it is 2.8 f stop not 4.0 f stop
Light | Two off-camera flashes are best. Triggers+receivers+lights+stands+bag. You can always put one off-camera combined with one on-camera when needed.
Accessories |
-Highly recommend the magmod adapters for flashes.
-Shoulder holsters are also important.
-Camera batteries.
-Memory cards.
Fun stuff | Some small goodies to keep in your bag to get creative and play around with.
2.2 PHOTO SETTINGS
RAW (both cards if your camera has auto duplicate feature).
F Stop (aperture) By default try and keep them around 1.8f or more. Don't shoot your lens wide open, it will be the sharpest at +1f stop from the lowest. So if you have a 1.4 Lens - 2.4 is good.
ISO max 5600 ISO, try to keep around 800-1600.
Shutter at least 1/160
2.1 VIDEO GEAR
Approach to the gear is that it shouldn't limit your creativity. A lot of wedding videographers bring a bunch of gear that's just unnecessary to create a good film. You should move around and shoot like a photographer.
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Camera | We recommend GH5 with a couple of primes. IBIS is amazing.
ND Filter | This ND Filter is crucial!!! Must have! Pick it up with step up rings for your camera).
Base | Monopod with a fluid video head.
Sound 1 | LAV to put on the groom before the ceremony (for first shooters only).
Sound 2 | Board Recorder to plug into the DJs board with XLR, RCA, 1/4 inch cables, you will also need an XLR adapter (for first shooters only).
Drone | Drone, D-Cine profile with some nd filters (for first shooters only).
Video Light | Video Light for the reception (for first shooters only).
2.2 VIDEO SETTINGS
Resolution 4k / 60 fps all time, try to keep shutter at 1/120 and compensate with ND, ISO and Aperture.
Aperture No need to shoot wide open, 1 F over the lowest in your lens is good (if your lens is 1.4 then do 2.4-2.8).
Manual Manual focus for creative shots, manual white balance (since you are mainly going to be shooting with sun as your source, daylight should be good most of the time).
Color Profile
- Color Profile for GH5 - Natural (con -5, sha -3, nr -3, sat -3, hue -1)
- Color Profile for Sony - Cine 4, Cinema
- Color Profile for Canon - Natural
- Color Profile for Fujifilm - Natural
- Color Profile for Nikon - don't shoot video on Nikon.
(as you can see we don't want logs).
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2.TECH REQUIREMENTS
3.1 LIGHTING
We come from the cinematic world, here are a couple of simple rules to follow:
1. Don't show the source of light (sun).
2. Have your subject in the brighter light (key light), don't have the background blown out (unless you are shooting a silhouette).
3. Expose for the highlights, basically if your subject is dark, put them in the light.
4. Turn off all artificial lights in the day time, shoot only natural light (it's not a set, so you are not able to put big expensive studio lights to have quality light, so you have to use the sun).
GOD!
NO!
NO!
GOD!
To get this in pretty much any environment you close the curtains leaving a small peak and shoot into the dark.
3.2 FRAMING / CONTINUITY /
THINGS
1. Shoot a variety of plans - super wide from afar (so it's not just a fish eye distorted shot), mid shot, close up.
2. To tell the story - shoot the couple separately, then together, establishing wide shots, details.
3. Shoot couples from above. They will look more flattering.
4. VIDEO - think of continuity, have the couple do the same thing multiple times and get different angles. Editors can cut seamlessly between them.
5. VIDEO - finish a shot with moving the camera into full darkness, makes a good transition.
6. VIDEO - shoot mysterious shots (like completely out of focus, or not showing the faces), good for build ups.
3.3 POSING
We want organic interactions, so it's a mix between staged (editorial) and documentary (uninterrupted
moments).
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EDITORIAL
1. Think of the motion you want the couple to do, even for photo, they will look better after motion.
2. Before you stage any shot, let the couple know that you will count when to start - "three, two, one!"
3. Have your to-go poses as a back up if you are out of ideas.
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DOCUMENTARY
1. If you know what's going to happen in advance, let the couple know where to be (good light) and which way to face. Then let it happen.
2. Be a ninja.
