We are in a new age of technology, or as some experts have deemed it, the Technocene. Frightening emotionally intelligent robots and haphazard self-driving cars may leave us questioning the benefits of this new era, but there may be some positives emerging from the wedding industry: virtual reality and live-streamed weddings.
Virtual reality weddings offer a couple the opportunity to relive their wedding day physically, by actually putting them in the room. Another neat style of wedding videography that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic is live-streamed weddings. These offer a way for guests to feel included and invited in the wedding when they don’t have the opportunity to join the happy couple in person. While these two styles of weddings may seem high-tech and slightly unattainable for the everyday videographer, they’re actually simpler than they appear, and we’re here to give you some advice on how to incorporate them into your business.
Virtual Reality
First, let’s clarify what we mean by virtual reality. According to the Oxford Dictionary, virtual reality is defined as the computer simulation of a three-dimensional environment that can be interacted with in a real or physical way. The image that might pop into your mind after this description may be those VR headsets used for some video games. Once the headset is on, you are immersed in the environment around you, which aims to make the experience feel as real as possible. Thus, when thinking about the overlap between VR and wedding videography, the concept makes complete sense. The goal of a wedding videographer is to help capture your wedding day through images and videos, so what could be better than physically reliving your nuptials anytime you wish?
By now you might be on board with the whole VR wedding thing, but still have some doubts as to its feasibility. The initial process is actually much simpler than you’d think. To capture the video and audio for the virtual reality content, you can use any 360 degree camera. Some professionals have recommended the Insta 360 Pro as a good starting camera. From there, the recorded material can be edited post-production and made into a video link for couples to access. If couples wish to experience the wedding in virtual reality, the content can be placed on a virtual reality headset, which the couple can purchase themselves or through your wedding day package.
For a more detailed understanding of the entire process, we recommend watching this video, which explains the process from a business-first perspective. Essentially, you may wish to meet with the couple at the venue before the wedding to discuss some spots for video to be captured throughout the ceremony and after party. When the big day finally arrives, you will be more prepared and can capture more of those essential moments that the couple wishes to relive. If considering incorporating this service into your business, we recommend reaching out to the few existing VR wedding companies for some more advice and guidance. Some good websites to checkout are this informational website and Save the Date VR, which produces 360 wedding videos Due to the relatively new concept of VR weddings, there isn’t much information to be found about it on the web. However, this may be good news for your business, since you’ll be ahead of the curve.
Live-Stream
If you clicked on those product links in the VR section and balked at the item price, you’re not alone. Virtual reality is an expensive field to venture into and it takes much dedication and practice to master, so it might not be for everyone. If you like the concept of virtual reality, but want a cheaper option, live-streaming may be the thing for you. This is an option that became popular during COVID-19, when couples wanted to get married but couldn’t physically have guests in the ceremony space. Similarly to VR, live-streamed weddings help couples relive their wedding days with their guests, but through a two-dimensional plane rather than a three-dimensional space.
If you’d like to incorporate live-streaming services into your business, there are a few things to consider. First, you will have to decide which platform you will use to livestream. Zoom, YouTube Live and Facebook Live are all good starting options. Next, you will need to consider how to best make online guests feel involved. This may look like setting up a camera near the front row for wedding vows or moving the camera around multiple times for different vantage points. Lastly, consider how you want to record the wedding so it can be replayed for the couple. This will give them a way to relive their wedding experience through the eyes of a guest or spectator, which could be appealing to some.
It’s true that couples could simply live-stream for themselves, making the experience potentially cheaper and less intrusive. Thus, it’s very important to make this addition to your business something special, and we have a few tips for you. The first is to offer a comprehensive package for couples to purchase. This may include setting up all necessary equipment, pre-planning areas to livestream from, and editing the video post-production for a complete and finished look. This may appeal to couples who don’t have the available technology to produce a high resolution video or the skills necessary to create a professionally finished product. Another tip is to include some type of virtual guest gift package to distribute ahead of the special day. This could include the wedding favors being handed out, drink mix for the signature drink being offered, or a copy of the recipe for the couple’s wedding cake. These are details that most couples won’t think of, but would greatly benefit virtual guests and take some pressure off of the couple to make all guests feel involved. Check out this website for more tips on live-streaming weddings.
So, while the progressing age of technology can be a little scary, its advantages for the wedding industry are becoming increasingly noticeable and may be worthwhile to explore. We hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of the offerings available to couples for their big day, and the ways you can start incorporating those options into your business. Follow PA Wedding Guide into the future, cause we’ve got your back.
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