Setting up the perfect first look for your Virtual Wedding

First looks are such special and personal moments between a couple on their wedding day, and a moment that would usually be photographed or videoed by professionals in a non Covid-19 pandemic year. If you are hiring professionals to be there on the wedding day to video and photograph the big moment, they will absolutely help guide you through that. If you are hosting a live streamed virtual wedding, and not including a photographer or videographer, you can still accomplish the first look magic. If you are unable to have vendors present, here are some ways to set up a first look in a home setting. 

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BEFORE THE BIG DAY

Whether you decide to have your first look indoors or outside, make sure the area is nicely lit. The week of your wedding, have a trial run in the space and decide where you will stand in view of the camera, and how each person will enter. You can have your favorite music playing during the first look or add music to the video during the editing process.
Test the audio when you do the trial run to make sure everything can be heard.

​Be sure to secure any tech accessories you may need well in advance such as a tripod, camera phone, laptop etc. 

ON THE WEDDING DAY

Elisha Orin Photography

Set up a tripod with a camera or camera phone in a nicely lit area. If you will be playing music during get look, have that ready and your finger on play! Utilize the remote setting on a smart phone or watch to assist with this timing. 

Once the moment has arrived, hit record on your camera or phone and cue the music up! 
After the big reveal and you have enjoyed the moment with your significant other stop recording, feel free to snap a few selfies and get ready to have your virtual wedding! Don't worry because you can edit out any parts you do not need later, just be sure you get it all recorded. 

AFTER THE BIG DAY

Take your first look footage and edit the video by cutting the footage in pieces to remove parts you do not need and you can also pair it with music if music was not used in the actual footage.. If you are filming through your phone, there are so many wonderful apps to help you edit your video with professional level attention made easy. Some good options for mobile video editing apps are iMove, Splice, Vixer, and Filmmaker Pro-Video Editor. Ultimately, you'll want to find the app or editing software you are most comfortable with and have fun creating. If editing is not your thing, the raw footage is just as special and something to cherish for many years to come.

. . .Or you could always enlist your tech savvy friend to help you edit the video!

Bottom line, your first look will be super special with a few proactive steps to make sure everything is set up to run smoothly. As they say, you only get one first look! 

Gold Anchor Weddings and Design is not affiliated with any of the above mentioned video editing apps.