24 vs 60 FPS - Is Slow Motion Dying in Wedding Films?

[@WaywardNorth]

What do you think? Is Slow-Motion Dying?

[@Brian-Hansen]

Thanks Wayward! Learning and implementing classic documentary filmmaking techniques never goes out of style. When you dig into the basics, slow motion and frame rates fade into the background. Capture good sound and natural moments. That is the path to a solid story.

[@benjamin.kelley]

So many "wedding videographers" don't understand the art of storytelling, not to mention how to just be a good wedding vendor first and serve well., and also don't understand how to properly price their services. They show up with all the gear (that they don't fully understand how to use, or use intentionally), use slow motion without understanding composition, don't really color well, slap some piano song on and call it a day. This is primarily what the wedding videography industry is saturated with, and in turn that's what couples are exposed to, then get scared when we want to dig for answers and understand what they are really looking for.

[@BlaineShillington]

I'm so glad to hear you say this. I watched some high priced wedding videographers recently who approach it more like a reality show, and I thought, wow! this feels way more real with normal speed clips. It made me realize that the normal wedding video formula is broken. (venue shot, florals closeup, details, bride getting ready, bride and groom kissing, everyone cheering, speeches, now set it all indiscriminately to half speed and apply a music bed song.) We can do more.

[@brianrbraxton1494]

Totally agree! When I first started I did almost everything in slow motion and thought it looked so good. But when I finally just started shooting mostly 24fps and occasionally and intentionally shooting something in 60, that’s when I really started enjoying creating films and found my artistic style. And for me, actually shooting in 24fps kinda forced me to be more creative. I started actually looking for moments of emotion and beauty in my shots instead of looking for the smoothest moment and dropping the speed to make it EVEN SMOOTHER! lol now I purposefully use shaky shots a good bit

[@filming_fatherhood]

Love it bro! I appreciate your perspective! I also film in 60 because switching in the midst of chaos is just not an option!

[@WaywardNorth]

Appreciate the idea! Also yes, filming in one frame rate throughout helps adding simplicity to the process so I can focus on everything else!

[@showshow8804]

Documentary filmmaking making a comeback.

[@rmcapturezweddings6907]

You right bro. I'm starting to go less slow mo my self but the state I am in about every wedding is border line run n gun. In a way where everything happens back to back based off the timeline and it's barely any time to get some real candid moments with the bride and groom because everything moves fast. But I make no excuses so I just adjust to how the day is given to me.

[@mattroelsgard]

Why is no one talking about filming in 30fps and slowing down to 24fps for a happy medium? Not TOO slow but still has a little bit of a magical feel to it. Have you ever done this? Thoughts?

[@WaywardNorth]

very true! I think its a lost art in todays world. Its 60 this, 120 that, but I remember back in the day 30 was a great middle option and I agree it definitely has a magical feel to it. Maybe Ill experiment more with 30 and do a video about it.

[@mattroelsgard]

@@WaywardNorth I've shot 30fps on B roll my last couple of weddings then slowed it down to 24fps in post. It has a REALLY nice look!

[@booth529]

What ND filter / strength do you typically use for your films?

[@WaywardNorth]

NiSi Swift System/Mist Strength 1/8

[@torymidkiff]

Love this so much! I shot my last wedding fully in 24fps and it turned out SO fun!!

[@xinyilim6647]

I totally agree with your take - not every frame should be slowed down, it makes the film too boring and predictable too!

[@aefilmsweddings]

I used to only film in 24fps. I only started to shoot 60/120 because I saw other people using it and felt like I had to include it to compete. It can definitely be a crutch in editing to cover up lack of proper coverage at times :/ But on the flipside I totally understand why people would film exclusively in 60fps to just make life easier for themselves.

[@EverWhereFilms]

100% man. I try hard to keep it less than 5-10% of my shots. I shoot more 24fps these days, but I still shoot one or two moments in 120fps. Confetti, champagne, crashing waves, fabric in wind, or really fast movement I like to so super slow for a shot or two. “Intentional” is the right word though

[@zakcole2229]

Well said my friend! 👏

[@JoshBirman]

My use of slow motion has definitely gone way down from even just a couple years ago. I really love showing off moments in real time. But I wouldn't say I'm throwing 60fps out. Still love shooting that way for details and portraits in particular.

[@therealmichaelphelps]

At the end of the day it’s about story telling, what is the subjects story? I did a wedding video recently and it was MOSTLY about the couples story leading up to their wedding day, and their goals for the future, they told their story through voice over, with combinations of their documented relationship up till then and the wedding day. To me that was more captivating. And yes there was many slow motion moments but they were touching moments between the story telling. I think that’s what’s lacking in the wedding video biz because story IMO is everything. Without story, it’s just about the day, it’s not about who the couple is and what they are about.

[@martydenson_mfm]

I never really liked slow motion in wedding films. 14 years of wedding videography and I may have used slow motion 2x's. Lol

[@Me_am_i87]

I commented on your latest video, about how I’ve filmed 7 weddings to date so very early days but I film with canon 5d mk3’s which shoot 60fps but It’s only 720p so slow mo isn’t an option for me and to be honest I prefer the 24fps look

[@tuckertangeman8387]

king of colour mate, asking again - are you shooting log almost exclusively now?

[@WaywardNorth]

Thanks man! Yeah ive been shooting LOG consistently now. I LOVE it!

[@waynosfotoscameras]

What if I went the other way and said 24fps was dead? There is many reasons why 24fps, is a bad choice on social media, but people persist with it. To optimise viewing performance we should shoot in 30 or 60fps. Slo-mo to me is like drone footage, yep it gets boring but it always looks good. Slo-mo is still very popular in my locality and I do feel it looks good. How about shooting in 240fps? That could be a new convo? Lol.

[@WaywardNorth]

Oh for sure. I still film in 60 to have variety in how I conform the footage

[@danielgray1874]

Silly question, but I’m assuming you drop your 60fps footage on a 24 frame timeline? I feel like my 60fps footage looks a taaaad choppy in a 24 timeline, compared to 24 in a 24…maybe it’s just my camera! ALSO, can I capture audio in 60fps and still be good in a 24 timeline? You’re awesome and the content is so helpful.

[@WaywardNorth]

Thanks so much! Yeah, I film in 60FPS at 1/120 or sometimes higher depending on if I have an ND filter and then edit in a 24fps timeline. I’ve become so used to it that it doesn’t offer any noticeable concern and my brides love the films so I just keep powering through with it. 24 will give you much better motion blur and convey a more realistic feeling but I haven’t fully transitioned to filming in 24 just yet

[@jockturner1547]

I agree, I can’t stand slow mo footage shot at a 180° shutter played at real time. The motion blur is too choppy. I want to shift to 25fps (PAL region shooter here) but scared to lose the slow cushion haha I don’t want to shoot slow motion and play back real time but also don’t want to NOT shot slow motion just in case 🤷‍♂️

[@gatewayvisuals8777]

Dying? No. Hurting the industry when not used properly? Yes.

[@watzmaaname]

I am someone who is guilty of above stated practise. I have heard this before, about slo-mo being overused and was trying to figure where it comes from. In India, as part of movies we have songs that are 3-5 minutes long and if the song is meant to be emotional or romantic, it is usually presented in slow motion and it is impactful (when done well). A lot of videographers follow this pattern and create wedding videos completely in slow motion. However, there is a difference. The movie is completely in 24 FPS and only the song bit is in slow motion and so heightens the impact. Whereas when you are creating only one video for a wedding and it is completely in slo-mo with no story, like you said it gets stale real fast. So, I learnt, like mentioned above - use sparingly and be intentional to complement the story.

[@WaywardNorth]

We’re all guilty of it for sure! Intentionality is the name of the game if you want to create films that truly resonate and connect on a deeper level. Thanks for sharing!

[@watzmaaname]

@@WaywardNorth For sure man!

[@DreBuado]

I always film in 24, 30, or 60 depending on the scene

[@btrweddingfilms]

I feel like slowing down some few clips won't kill the film unless if we overdo it. When the film is properly edited it can be all slowed down but still be cinematic. I'm not the fan of slowmotion films but some make sense if they are properly edited.

[@WaywardNorth]

For sure, it all boils down to intention and if you can defend your decisions in the edit. Most of us are guilty of defaulting to Slow motion because thats just what we know!

[@sikapacapture]

Slowing down everything is boring to watch. I think about 5% of the film (decor and few portraits) should be slowed.

[@WaywardNorth]

I like this thought and would agree! It all boils down to intention and using the effect to elevate the emotional impact of a moment and in service of the story!

[@andrejunior3737]

I love 30fps in a 24fps timeline. Hardly ever shoot 48 or 60 on a wedding shoot. Depending on the usefulness of the “smooth slomo ai” coming to Final Cut…I may add more at necessary moments.

[@HappyBokeh]

I'm filming my first two weddings this weekend. I am going to be a 24fps pure

[@mattroelsgard]

Nailed it 🎯

[@bokbokeh]

slowmotion for vow, normal speed for upbeat segment

[@AverageDadMTB]

NAILED IT.

[@lyndonlabayan]

God I hate the '35mm only' photographer... ALWAYS JUMPING IN the shot.

[@WaywardNorth]

It is an experience that’s for sure lol

[@redletterdayspnw]

I’m taking this as permission to stop shooting in higher frame rates 😂

[@jacopoabbruscato9271]

If anything it has been overused for years and things are getting back to normal

[@fodorfotosfilm]

Yes and no. I love slow

[@WaywardNorth]

It's hard to ditch completely for sure! Its a love hate for me

[@fodorfotosfilm]

I do agree with your point that not 100% needs to be in slow motion ​@@WaywardNorth

[@Mraz75]

Finally, there is someone who records in 60p.. while many emphasize to shoot in 24p.. i love the 60p look. It has 3D look and much more detail in 4K video.

[@HappyBokeh]

Slo motion music video is the cancer of wedding films

[@HappyBokeh]

It's a crutch

[@IOSARBX]

Wayward North , You're amazing! Let's be friends and hang out!