LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

GAVIN GALLAGHER – Director of Dreamcatcher Productions talks us through his top tips for your perfect wedding video.

There are lots of wedding videography styles out there to choose from, what advice do you have for couples during the selection process? Similar to music, wedding films have a wide variety of styles and genres. This area has grown significantly in Ireland over the last 5 years and much of this growth and development is thanks to camera technology. Videographers can now achieve a really cinematic feel. If your budget is limited and you simply want a record of your day, you should look for an experienced videographer that delivers straight forward, simply edited, good quality wedding videos. Moving up in budget you’ll begin to see an increased level of production with videographers using multiple cameras, gimbals, drones etc. and more bespoke highlights edits. Great footage is nothing without a talented editor and colour grade artist which will bring the footage to life and create a wedding film that reflects the personalities of the couple. Choose an experienced videographer that fits your budget and style.

What are some good questions to ask when choosing your videographer? Most of the time the work and online reviews will do the talking and you will know quite quickly if you’re dealing with an experienced professional. Of course there are super talented videographers just starting out who may not have years of experience who are hungry to prove themselves but experience is valuable in this game. If you’re looking at a videographer who is fresh to the game, check out as much of their work as possible. A phone call or zoom can help to get a sense of their vibe. A degree of trust is required when hiring a videographer and you have to base your expectations on the style of their portfolio of work. I always assure my clients that only the best moments make it to the final film so just have fun and enjoy the process. Many couples feel uneasy in front of a camera, what are your top tips to make them feel comfortable? This is a conversation I have with all my couples in the lead up to the wedding and I reassure them that nerves are normal. Most of the couples you see on our website and social media have never been in front of the camera, then all of a sudden it’s your wedding day and you have a photographer and videographer documenting intimate moments. I remind them that a wedding film is not just lots of shots of the couple kissing! The couple and their love is central but it’s also about family, friends and heart-warming speeches. Some couples may want to spend an hour or more on their portrait shoot and others just five minutes. I suggest that you do what feels right for you and your comfort level.

Talk us through a typical day of filming? For our style of films we encourage couples to separate their photoshoot into 2-3 scenes so it’s not overwhelming or too time consuming. This can involve a video shoot after the ceremony in a nice location like a beach, forest or the venue where I like to slow things down and try and create nice intimate moments with real chemistry. After the drinks reception or during the meal we may be lucky enough to have a sunset shot opportunity. I like to make this shoot more energetic and playful. This shoot may only take 10 minutes and gives us so much to work with. The day has been broken up into sections and you’ve become more at ease with the camera.

When or how did you get started? Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly academically driven in school and was instead a mildly dyslexic day dreamer! While on a family holiday, my father bought a high-8 camcorder and I became obsessed. After studying Film & TV production in Ballyfermot I moved back to Lahinch and made short surf films of my friends, which in turn led to me

filming their weddings. That gave me the opportunity to create my first portfolio and things evolved from there. I’ve since learned that there are many talented, creative people with dyslexia. We don’t see things in linear format and this is actually a great advantage especially for video editing. As you create a story you are moving back and forth in time, bringing the viewer on a journey in a non-chronological format. Just like a complicated jigsaw puzzle, with video editing you are memorising shots then placing them over dialogue and interlacing the music and working with colour. Seeing the film come to life is such a rewarding feeling and I can spend hours obsessing over an edit.

How would you describe your style? We aim to create beautiful love stories with an ethereal and cinematic feel. When people watch our films I really want it to feel as if the third wall is never broken and you the viewer are part of this wedding day.

What has been one of the most memorable weddings you have captured and why? I could write a book on the things I’ve seen so you’ll have to wait for that one. I once convinced a couple to get naked and dance in a fountain at Ashford Castle. It was 6am and they had rented the castle privately for 3 nights. That was a pretty wild one.

What lies in store for 2022? It’s looking like one of our busiest years ever and I’m genuinely excited about every wedding we’re booked for. I guess we’re just aiming to produce even more beautiful films than last year.