How to Create the Ultimate Multimedia Timeline

Develop a Team

In the past, it seemed as though photography always trumped filmmaking. This ideology would often leave filmmakers with the second-best positions or leftover angles, when in fact, photographers and filmmakers must work as a team to capture the great shots that every couple deserves. To attain the best possible results, both artists should coordinate with the event planner to ensure that each party has enough time to communicate a couple’s story with full creative control.

Although your event planner may be responsible for sharing vendor-to-vendor information, your photographer and filmmaker should be keen on contacting each other prior to your wedding to ensure they will produce the best for you. After all, when hiring your wedding team, you should ensure that they have a mind set to work together. Taking time to coordinate and discuss desires with each other before your wedding date and even debrief on the day of your wedding is best. 

Understand the Artistic Vision

Multimedia schedules should allow enough time for photographers and filmmakers to fulfill their creative visions. Most photographers will have a wedding timeline in mind to capture family portraits as well as photojournalistic imagery. Formal photographs are crucial as they are often passed down for generations, and intimate moments captured throughout the event are essential to share with friends and family members. Moreover, if you desire a wedding video that is as impactful and artistic as your photographs, your filmmaker must also have input in regards to the shooting schedule.

Comparative to the art of photography, videography revolves around a vision. Filmmakers are more creative than ever. Artistic visions require time to create and unfold, and without considering these elements, filmmakers are unable to develop a cinematic approach that will effectively tell the bride and groom’s love story. Much like the creative process a photographer uses to imagine a fine-art wedding book, an inspired filmmaker will visualize the finished product as your day unfolds.

Create a Realistic Schedule

Now that you understand what your multimedia team will be trying to achieve, create a draft of the timeline to be shared with your photographer and videographer for their input. For example:

2:00 p.m.: Getting ready
3:00 p.m.: First reveal
3:15-4:30 p.m.: Artistic formal photos; video of couple and wedding party
4:30-5:00 p.m.: Ceremony prep; early guest arrival
5:00-5:20 p.m.: Invitation details
5:30-6:00 p.m.: Ceremony
6:00-7:00 p.m.: Cocktail hour; family formals; additional photo & video of couple
7:15 p.m.: Grand entrance to reception
7:30-9:30 p.m.: Reception 

Plan Extra Time

Even after you’ve mapped out a mutually agreed upon timeline, it may be necessary to plan extra time for certain shots or video elements, including sequenced events. For example, filmmakers may ask you to repeat a moment a few times in order to get different angles. When this occurs, remember that they are not asking because they missed it the first time; after all, photographers get to shoot a few takes, so allow the same courtesy for those recording video.

Since photographers and filmmakers work together, extra time allowances should only require a matter of minutes, not a separate shoot. With a well-planned timeline, a video shoot should only require an additional twenty minutes to allow for directives from a videographer.

Consider how your filmmaker and photographer will make your story unique. A true cinematic approach that tells a creative story requires elements of artistic freedom and time, both of which should be worked into your multimedia timeline. A creative team will collaborate to create the best of both worlds with the time available to make it happen, ensuring that your wedding memories become pieces of art that even strangers will love.

For more wedding photo and video ideas, learn how to choose a photographer, get tips for cherishing your wedding portrait photos forever, see song ideas for your wedding highlight reel, and learn how to select the right wedding photographer for you!

Opening photo by Heather Kincaid; Planning & Design by Geller Events; From Real Wedding: Luxurious Fall Wedding at a Farmhouse Venue in Ojai, California