As a wedding videographer, it’s essential to stay current with the latest video format trends, particularly on social media platforms. With the rising popularity of Instagram and TikTok, which are geared toward mobile devices, the conventional 16:9 aspect ratio has given way to the vertical 9:16 format.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about shooting in this format and provide expert advice and techniques that will help you create exceptional wedding videos that will captivate your clients and their social media followers. So, let’s explore this thrilling realm!

Why try 9:16?

If previously we only received orders for the 16:9 format, the situation has changed in 2022-2023. Our clients are now more interested in vertically oriented teasers or Instagram Reels. This is not surprising since more and more couples want to showcase their beautiful wedding highlights to their followers on social media and receive lots of comments and likes.

When we started regularly using this format, we realized that a vertical aspect ratio could be beneficial for both honeymooners and videographers. Here are three main reasons why:

Social media engagement

Vertical videos can be posted on social media to increase brand engagement and awareness. Video content takes precedence in Instagram and TikTok’s algorithms, so using the 9:16 resolution can improve video discovery.

Instagram Reels and TikTok videos have become real trends. They allow you to showcase your creativity, engage with followers, gain visibility on the platform, and even find new clients. 

New viewing experience

Since phones are commonly used to view social media content, the vertical format fills up the entire screen, providing a more immersive and engaging viewing experience for your followers.

Creativity

With the 9:16 format, you can become more creative and experiment with different ideas. Additionally, the vertical orientation allows you to film more in a portrait mode, or to zoom in on the best moments of the wedding day, such as vows, ring exchange, first kiss, cake cutting, and more.

The main idea is that reels can be a mix of traditional wedding moments and fun, cheerful, and emotional highlights. For example, it would be great to leave a joke in speeches or showcase an emotional moment that happened to the couple or one of the guests. If you want to create mind-blowing reels with fancy effects and sound design, we’d be happy to help!

Challenges of shooting in the vertical format

Filming vertically for social media has its advantages, but wedding videographers may face certain initial challenges, such as framing.

Since the 9:16 format is vertically oriented, framing shots in a visually appealing and balanced way can be tricky. It may take some practice to adapt to this aspect ratio and develop a sense of how to compose shots that will work well for wedding films.

What does the videographer need to shoot a wedding in 9:16 format?

The Bride&Groom.video team decided to look into this issue in detail and have prepared one of the possible ways of shooting. There can be numerous approaches due to the vast selection of equipment available on the market and depending on your shooting preferences.

Choosing the right lens

With this aspect ratio, it is crucial to capture the memorable moments of the wedding day in a way that takes into account the vertical space’s composition. We understand that vertical 9:16 video limits the composition options, so choosing a lens for shooting is critical. It’s clear that wide-angle lenses are the way to go. Let’s take a look at the most popular full-frame cameras with the best autofocus from Sony.

For shooting in the 9:16 format, cameras A and B are the most appropriate as they are the primary ones and capture all the fantastic events at the wedding. Hence, wide-angle zoom lenses are necessary. An excellent example would be using lenses such as:

It’s important to keep in mind that the choice of lens depends on the specific task, shooting conditions, and personal preference. Therefore, it’s essential to consult with sellers to make the optimal lens choice.

Capturing crucial wedding moments

A crucial aspect of shooting vertical video is accurately measuring the distance from the camera to the subject to capture the most crucial and relevant information in the shot. This means including people, significant wedding moments, emotions, and more. When filming dances, use handheld shooting to capture as much movement and dynamics as possible.

Furthermore, with a zoom lens for cameras A and B, it’s crucial to remember that when zooming during active shooting, you need to adjust the camera balance on your gimbal, as the camera’s weight may change.

Gimbal tips for stable footage

Otherwise, the gimbal may not function properly, resulting in shaky footage. We recommend setting the gimbal beforehand and locking it to a specific value, avoiding zooming during active shooting to achieve the smoothest possible shots.

Speaking of the gimbal, if you don’t have a Sony camera and autofocus doesn’t always work well (or you have a Blackmagic camera with no autofocus), DJI offers the DJI RS 3 Pro Gimbal that can be used with LiDAR focusing technology. According to the DJI website, the LiDAR Range Finder can project 43,200 ranging points up to a 14-meter distance. It also includes a built-in camera with a 30mm equivalent focal length and a wide field of view of 70 degrees, suitable for most shooting scenarios. The DJI RS 3 Pro is also easy to mount vertically and use for wedding videography, ensuring high-quality footage. Check out a test video of the LiDAR focusing technology in action.

An example of LiDAR focusing technology from the official DJI channel:

Combining dimensions

Using these lenses gives you the flexibility to shoot in different ways, such as capturing the entire wedding in 9:16 format or combining 9:16 and 16:9 dimensions. We have already edited several films using this approach, and you can check out one of our examples below.

Final words

By adapting your shooting techniques and framing shots with social media in mind, you can create captivating videos that are visually appealing and resonate with your clients’ followers. Whether it’s capturing the first dance or the cake cutting ceremony, incorporating 9:16 shooting into your workflow can help you stay ahead in today’s digital world. So, don’t hesitate to experiment with this format and see how it can enhance your social media presence. And we would be delighted to add some of our editing magic to your footage and create a masterpiece reel or Instagram teaser for you.