The Secret Tool for Editing the Perfect Wedding Video

If your wedding video consists only of rawHowever, if you're using VHS or another analog
footage shot by friends and relatives becauseformat, before viewing the footage, be sure to
your budget had no room for professionalreset the video player's counter to 00:00:00 for
videography services, don't despair. You can stilleach tape before you begin logging. You will also
have a beautifully edited video by doing it yourselfrate or "comment" on each one of your log
or hiring a video editor. In either case you canentries according to its suitability (e.g., "don't use,"
save substantial time and money by first"must use," "so-so," "really bad"), or any other
organizing the footage yourself with the help of anotes that you wish to remember about a
secret tool called "logging." Logging is a processparticular shot. Once the logging is complete, and
whereby you review/playback the footage andyou have selected all the shots you want to use,
write down or "log" the starting and stoppingyou will have a blueprint for editing the video. This
times, per the time code, of your preferred"blueprint" will have the added benefit of
shots. You can make your own log sheets simplysubstantially reducing the time you or an editor
by taking blank pieces of paper (8 1/2 x 11) andspends in the editing suite. Since most professional
drawing grids containing rows and columns. At theeditors charge by the hour, this can result in
top of the page you can have rows and columnssignificant cost savings. Video editing is the
in which you insert basic information about theprocess of building a video program, shot by shot,
program you are editing. For example, you willby electronically cutting and splicing the raw
want rows for the name of the wedding, thefootage, in order to tell a story in the most
date, the name of the cameraperson, and theseamless, compelling and entertaining way. Editing
videotape cassette number. This is important ifallows you to keep the good and dump the bad,
the footage comes from more than one camerathereby creating a finished product that is more
that used more than one tape. This way you willthan the sum of its parts. Picture the footage as
know who shot the footage and which videotapea very long chain. The footage, like a chain, is
cassette your are logging. Don't forget to have amade up of individual shots or "links". You select
place where you can number your log sheets (e.g.and assemble the shots or "links" together to tell
Page ___ of ___). This helps to keep you fromyour story. Video editing is a very creative and
getting lost when you have multiple log sheetsexhilarating process. However, you might want to
pages. Now add about twenty-five rows, dividedresist the temptation to channel Steven Spielberg,
into four columns. Head the columns as follows:by getting carried away with effects like too
"Action" "Start" "Stop" "Comments". As you playmuch slow motion, or using every wipe and
back the tapes, write down the specific actiondissolve in you editing program's arsenal.
you are viewing (e.g., "entrance of firstRemember... this is about the bride and groom and
bridesmaid," or "mother of bride being escorted tonot about you and your burgeoning editing talents.
seat," etc.) Write down the time code when theWhether you decide to edit the footage yourself
action starts and then write down the time codeor hire a professional editor, using the secret tool,
when the action stops. Most newer digital"logging" will put you well on your way toward
cameras place an automatic time code on yourhaving a beautifully edited wedding video that you
footage. (The time code isn't really "on" yourwill treasure forever.
footage, but is a part of the playback display.)