We’ve all become semi-pro’s at using our phones and computers to keep us connected in a world where staying social distant was essential. While using a cell phone or webcam to live stream a Wedding may sound like a good idea there are several reasons why it’s NOT a good idea. Thankfully, Wedding Videographers all over the world are now starting to offer live streaming as an option in addition to their usual cinematic or documentary packages. Knowing the right questions to ask them might mean the difference between a successful live stream and one that’s filled with a lot of “oh crap” and “what just happened.” And having that peace of mind going into your big day is worth every penny.
Top 10 Questions
1) Can they share a couple samples of their live streams? If only have the chance to ask one question...let it be to ask for samples. That way YOU can decide if it meets your expectations for video and audio quality. Any reputable company should have samples of their live streams available for you to view. You'll see how they handle the processional, the music, the spoken audio, the close-ups, the recessional and more. Ask to see more than one sample because...why not! Once YOU'RE comfortable with whoever you choose knowing they've got everything covered, then you can let it all go and just enjoy your wedding day!
2) What do they use to connect to the internet? Oh boy. This is a big one. First off, be wary of the company that says they can live stream from anywhere without ever having been to your venue or even running a single test. I realize it’s comforting to hear but that really just means they haven’t been live streaming weddings. A wired connection (to a router via an ethernet cable) is ALWAYS the best option for the fastest and most reliable network connection. However, many wedding venues, both indoors and outdoors, don’t have wired access to a solid high speed internet connection so you’re left with potentially spotty wifi or wireless options. That can be okay if you’re able to get a really strong signal and upload speeds at or above 6-10Mbps. But if they say “I just use my phone’s hotspot” then maybe ask them what upload speeds do they get at YOUR venue and what’s their backup plan if their hotspot doesn’t get a good signal at your Ceremony site. Slow or spotty internet connections lead to frozen streams and frustrated viewers. It’s important that network speed tests are run at the ceremony site PRIOR to any wedding (HOW TO TEST SPEEDS? SIMPLE! Just Google "speed test" and hit the blue button...super easy!). And remember, you're looking for UPLOAD speeds of more than 4Mbps for HD and ideally more than 8-10Mbps when streaming wirelessly because those speeds will fluctuate (that's why we highly suggest a wired option whenever possible!)
3) How do they capture the audio at their weddings? Some might say that audio is even more important than video when it comes to live streaming. There’s really two options for great audio: 1) They should have at least one (but ideally two) wireless mics for the officiant and the groom... and/or... 2) They should be able to embed the audio feed from the venue or DJ at the Ceremony. The second option is the easiest and should give you the best quality audio. Some may say the use of on-camera mics alone are good enough. But in truth, relying on on-camera microphones isn’t a great option. Yes you can probably hear the speakers, but they’re not the direct feed which makes them sound distant and echo-y and many of your guests watching remotely will inevitably have trouble hearing everything on their phones or computers. So what happens if the DJ's sound system cuts out or has issues (it happens!!)...then what? Well having those wireless mics in place is a great backup so your viewers at home can still hear loud and clear. Obtaining a dedicated audio feed using either of the methods above is the only way a reputable live stream company will do it. Your guests will thank you for it.
4) How many cameras do they offer? One camera with a good zoom lens is a really great start, however, there are BIG advantages to streaming a wedding live with 2 or 3 cameras. With one camera (and a proper zoom/telephoto lens) you can see the whole ceremony nice and close as if you were in the front row. But with multiple cameras, you can see the bride come down the aisle AND the groom’s reaction (sometimes this is the best part!), plus you can see close-ups on the bride and groom during the vows and throughout the ceremony. Also, be sure your live stream company uses telephoto lenses. Those are lenses that can zoom in from further away. Nothing screams "newbie" like a videographer who has to stand 6 feet away from you guys during your Ceremony because all they have is a "prime lens" and they don't have any telephoto lenses!
5) Do they use dedicated cameras or just a cell phone or webcam? Using a cell phone or webcam may seem like a good idea, but for live streaming weddings it’s actually not a good idea at all for a number of reasons (see this post for more). If you care about your Guest's Viewing Experience, you’ll ideally want dedicated cameras (DSLR, Mirrorless, Cinema or Professional Video Cameras) for maximum video and audio quality. Most professional wedding videographers will have this. Not only will you be able to zoom in from further away (which makes for a cleaner image when streamed vs pinch-to-zoom), but pro cameras will allow you to connect professional audio equipment for FAR better sound. Any camera is better than no camera, but if you have an option to go pro, do it!
6) How long have they been live streaming weddings? If they just started live streaming weddings, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to be good. But the more experience they have, the better they’ll be at tackling the obstacles and roadblocks that streaming a wedding live will inevitably present. I’d also suggest you take a look at the work on their website so you know they also have lots of wedding experience. By nature, the style of filming a Wedding Ceremony in its entirety is more "documentary" in style than "cinematic", but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look and sound good.
7) Do they offer a dedicated web page for the viewers or is it just for social media sites like Facebook or YouTube? There’s several advantages to having a dedicated web page for your Ceremony. It’s a more professional layout for your guests than just having it on your personal feed, but it also gives you a bit of privacy since only those with the dedicated web page link will be able to view your Ceremony. And if they're streaming through a site like YouTube Live, then your guests won't get distracted by all the ads and videos that are surrounding your video. It's super easy to embed a live stream onto a website and it's nice and clean and professional.
8) What happens for those that miss the live stream or have trouble viewing it? You would hope your Videographer has a plan for those that run into internet trouble while viewing it, or miss the live stream entirely. The best option is that they actually record and then re-post the live stream on the live stream page on that same day. This is not hard to do and any reputable company should offer this option at no extra cost to you. Sites like YouTube Live automatically re-post the live stream as soon as it's over so you don't have to do anything. That live stream video automatically turns into the replay video for you!
9) When the Ceremony is over, do we get a digital copy of the live stream or something even better? Most companies should be able to provide you with AT LEAST a high quality digital copy of the live stream. And I don't mean a just a link to the live stream, but an actual digital copy for safekeeping. The best companies will actually do a complete re-edit of the Ceremony using the raw footage from in the camera. The raw footage from in the cameras is higher quality so if they re-edit afterwards, they can fix any little video or sound issues that might have occurred during the actual live stream. Mistakes happen...after all, it's live...but knowing your company will fix all that later for you is a nice bonus worth considering.
10) Will there be any issues live streaming the music in my ceremony? While it's not cause for panic, we should let you know that unless you have live musicians, the music you envision for your processional and recessional is likely licensed and may get blocked or muted during or after the live stream is over, depending on the artist or music labels restrictions. Don't panic...99% of the time the live stream will not be affected, only the replay of the live stream. In our 12 years of live streaming, only a handful of Weddings were blocked from being replayed AFTER the event was over. But the live stream itself went off just fine and was NOT blocked or muted. Facebook Live, for example, is a bit more strict on licensed music vs. YouTube Live or Vimeo Live. If there are live musicians, how does the company plan to capture that audio so the online guests hear it loud and clear? If it's outdoors and a small unamplified quartet or a harpist for example, it might not be that loud so you'll want to find out how they plan to mic those musicians so your online guests hear it. Or if they're not being amplified then see if your videographer can put a mic near them that can transmit that important bit of audio to your guests watching online. Remember, knowing you’ll be okay and hoping you’ll be okay are two very different things.