The best camera position for a two-camera, one-man shoot?

[Souvenir]

Let me pick your brains some more, video experts...

Do some of you remember back when you were only doing small shoots with only two cameras?  Well, that's me!  How I would love to be doing 5 camera shoots with FX1's and 2100's like Hank, but unfortunately, I spent my start-up money on the basics and have just one 2100 (a lot of money for someone just starting) and I have my own Panasonic handi-cam that I'll use as my second camera.  BTW, the Panasonic does get a pretty nice picture with it's 3 CCD's, so I think it will do fine for the B footage at the ceremony for now.  

Where do you suggest putting this stationary Panasonic?  I was going to put it in the rear of the venue, but I read a couple posts about putting it in front instead.  Considering I won't be manning this one, how can I ensure that I'm getting a clear shot and that someone won't be standing in it's way?  And what should I have it be aimed at?  Where the bride or groom should be standing for more of a close-up, or at more of a distance for a more general shot?

[HankCastello]

The ceremony & venue layout will sometimes dictate positions to you.  Generally speaking, rear corner positions (behind the couple) are best for manned camera(s).  Sometimes either the stage is too shallow for a decent angle or the officiant may not have the couple face him, then we move to the "forward wings" which is in the outside aisles, several rows back, whatever gives us the best angle/view.

We have at least three cameras, the two I just mentioned and a static camera in the rear for the overview shot.  Usually, we use four cameras and sometimes, even five (like if there are singers, musicians, etc. that we can't get a shot of), for good coverage.

So let's take our basic three-camera positions.  You will have one of those positions open.  You could decide to place a static cam in what I generally call "Camera 2" position.  This is on the bride's side, but the angle is best for closeups of the groom.  

If I were going to place a static camera here, I would probably set it for a full framed shot (full-length) and I would be darn sure where the couple would be standing.  Note that if they stand one or two feet out of position, your shot is framed wrong and you won't want to use any of the video.

Even if you go over where to stand carefully, mark with tape, etc., if there is a communion or unity candle, they may be nervous enough to miss the mark when they return.

So the safest place may be the rear, for the overall view.  After all, shooting from the bride's side (even full length) is a bit too similar to shooting from the groom's side, and you want shots that are different.

However, sometimes there is a bench at the rear, or maybe people will be standing there.  Kids will use your tripod like a jungle jim (do they still call them that?) or "monkey bars".  Adults will look at your LCD and think they can adjust for a better view.  Once, (I have this on video from one of the other cameras) someone pressed the red button on our static camera, causing it to go to "standby" mode (and eventually to shut off entirely).

I usually ask the sound guy or a guest seated near the camera, to keep an eye on it and to "shoot" anyone who tries to touch it.   :lol:

Once, we had a fifth camera setup on a low tripod in front of the groom's father (I've done occasionally) and asked the groom's dad to shoot his son closeup for the bride reaction shot.  I'm careful about how I approach them and only do it if the dad seems really happy to be doing it.  Well, one time I didn't want to leave anything to chance, so I started the camera in "Record" mode.  When dad got there, (you guessed it) he hits the "Record" button to begin recording, never noticing that he'd just put the camera in "standby" mode.

There are risks in whatever you do.  Having more cameras not only gives us more choices for a good shot to go to, but it also gives us insurance when bad things happen to one of the cameras.

[HankCastello]

I get this question a lot - about camera placement, so here's a drawing of the basic setups.  The rear wing positions are in blue and forward wing positions are in green.  The rear is the one we use most often, but sometimes situations call for forward wing positions (green).

Note that, if I have permission from the Officiant, I (Camera 2) will move toward the center to catch the entrance, then I'll quietly move back to my corner.  Also, if I have permission and if there is a way for me to slip out a rear door and down the outside aisle, I may move to the back of the church to catch the exit.  Normally there is a prayer after the KISS, and that is when I move.  To help the officiant remember that I need time to get into place, I'll sometimes ask him to pray that I make it there in time!  :lol:

Note that C1 gets the best angle for closeups of the bride; C2 covers the groom (and whatever else he can get - parents wiping a tear, etc.); C3 gets the overall (but try to keep camera operators out of the picture!)

Unlike my simple image, you will have to contend with bridesmaids and groomsmen who will endeavor to block your view.  If maid of honor and best man (those at the inside end of the lines) will refrain from moving behind the couple and will maintain a two foot (or a little more) space from the couple, then you should have open shooting lines to the couple.

O = Officiant; G = Groom; B= Bride.   Boxes with c1;c2;etc. are camera positions.

[On a Roll]

Hey Souvenir,

If I were in your shoes, I would almost be willing to go to a pawn shop and buy a cheap $200 camera there. Sure, the quality is going to be awful compared to your better gear, but it can still serve a purpose.

I bought a cheapo Sony Digital8 Handycam some time ago as an emergency backup/5th camera. I've used it a couple times, and even though it's a relatively crappy 1CCD camera, it does an acceptable job for medium/wide shots.

Again, this camera is not going to come close to the quality of your other ones, and you may have to adjust your image in post to match color levels, but if I were the bride and groom, I would be more upset about missing a shot because there weren't enough cameras than I would that one of the cameras was a little less crisp than the others.

[HankCastello]

Jim's right!

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but we have a sixth camera we sometimes use.  I bought it for $189 about four years ago at Best Buy.  It's a Hi-8 Samsung camcorder.  It's super in low light, if "super" means a decent image relative to it's daylight image.  Unfortunately, and understandably, it has a fairly crappy daylight image, relative to a Sony VX2100 or even a Panny C7, however...

When you need that groom reaction shot but you won't have the angle and there is no room for a tripod in the front row, I can set this camera in "Easy" mode and hand it to a front row relative.  They'll get the reaction shot and I can PIP it as the bride comes down the aisle.  The reduced image size of the Picture-In-Picture, hides the quality difference and we get to include this valuable shot that would otherwise have been missed.

The best part is we don't have to pay the camera operator!   :lol:

Another idea for an extra camera - (if you already have a rear camera set wide), set it up to shoot the guests wide.  You'll always have a shot to go to when both camera operators are fidgiting at the same time.

[Forever Endeavor]

When you need that groom reaction shot but you won't have the angle and there is no room for a tripod in the front row, I can set this camera in "Easy" mode and hand it to a front row relative. They'll get the reaction shot and I can PIP it as the bride comes down the aisle. The reduced image size of the Picture-In-Picture, hides the quality difference and we get to include this valuable shot that would otherwise have been missed.

Now that's not a bad idea at all! You can't get a better position than the front row relatives seating and that's a great point about the pip. I have a little panasonic camera that my wife uses for fun and I use for capturing that I could use for that.

[On a Roll]

That reminded me of the other benefit of a cheap camera, putting footage onto your PC for editing.

A cheap camcorder costs less than a MiniDV VCR, and using that to capture your video files will save head life on your nicer cameras.