Being a wedding videographer for almost 10 years you'd think i've faced pretty much every wedding related challenge
Turns out a new one was right around the corner, "landed like a butterfly and struck like lightning" (that's a Matthew McCounaghey's quote)
Here's the story of one of the most difficult weddings i've filmed, and the reason why might surprise you just as it surprised me.
A couple of weeks ago i get a message from Francesco Salvadori (friend and trusted 2nd camera op) telling me that a photographer was looking for a an emergency videographer for the very next day (less than 24 hours to be precise), i told him i was available, he gave me his contact and sorted things out.
Next day comes, and after a quick lunch i get on the car for my one-hour-road-trip up to northern tuscany, driving to a place i didn't know, ready to meet somebody whom i've never seen before and to film a couple that i know absolutely nothing about.
Rendez vous with the rest of the media team, then we go greet the couple and start filming.
Despite the premise the day went on pretty good, definitely not the smoothest ever but we got things done, the locations were beautiful and the couple was super nice and sweet, but there was this persistent feeling of unease, that something wasn't 100% right, nothing to worry about but it was definitely there.
The day comes to an end, i give my footage to the photographers (i was hired to film only), said my goodbyes and got back in the car, and on the way back home is when i realized what was wrong about that day.
I was missing the connection and the emotional involvement.
I knew nothing about the couple (i'm still not sure about the groom's name), never shared their fears and desires for that day, i never got the chance to feel their excitement, i was not part of their story. These missing pieces turned a wedding into just any other work day (professionally speaking obviously), i haven't felt that pressure that gives you a sense of direction and inspiration.
I obviously gave them quality footage (unless the editor screws it up), but i feel i could do a lot more and way better, i could've got them a more personal version of their wedding movie.
I always tell my couples that a human connection is very important, among the other vendors we (photo and video) are probably the ones who will spend the majority of the time with the spouses, so a certain degree of relationship is definitely helpful.
The thing i hadn't predicted though is how important it is to be actually involved in a couple's wedding from the very beginning.
You need emotional attachment to tell an emotional story...shocker, right?
