ESTABLISHING SHOTS: Why they are important and how to film them!

[@captmoonbeam]

After watching your video, I've come to several conclusions 1) I make crapy videos 2) I have no plan when I make videos 3) I should watch more of your videos.

[@whoismatt]

Hahaha! Thanks so much! :D

[@iam_daamii]

i actually made a wedding video for my friend and i dont even know how to edit it. am like stuck and ground with it.

[@studiodbmedia3770]

KZbin needs to include a heart button because this is some handy advice being given here

[@JC-gm3hq]

Matt, you're awesome. I've never shot a wedding video and I'm going to shoot my sisters wedding sometime this year. You're giving me a ton of awesome ideas. I really appreciate you taking the time to make these!

[@whoismatt]

+Jeovan Camacho thanks Jeovan! Hope your sister's wedding goes well!

[@NateReutter]

I LOVE your videos - I'm not a wedding filmmaker but it applies so much to what I do. And they're just downright entertaining to watch. Thanks!

[@whoismatt]

+Nate Reutter haha! Thanks so much Nate! You're awesome!

[@btrick100]

LOve this! I'm looking to film my first wedding and your stuff is extremely helpful!

[@whoismatt]

+Ëd Balboa thanks Ed! Hope it goes well!

[@aolivaphotography9482]

Woo a new video! Keep up the great work Matt!

[@whoismatt]

+A Oliva Photography thanks so much!

[@NowyKurs]

Agree. It’s good to take some shoots without stress on other day than the weeding when you are really limited to time and things are moving quickly.

[@markstanley2001]

great tips... especially on drone. best piece of advice... "amazing what you can get when you are not rushed!"

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much Mark! :)

[@gopolarisstudio]

Fellow Texan videographer here! The part around 1:30 where you were talking about that the shots give you context - I laughed and thought "whenever I do a Houston wedding, I'll just find some B-roll of road work being done. Everyone will know where they're at."

[@whoismatt]

Haha so true!!!

[@jonahs28]

shooting my first wedding film on Sunday , thank you for the priceless tips!

[@whoismatt]

+jonahs28 glad to help! Best of luck to you! :D

[@ifeelverygood]

Gooooood luck!

[@adamstarkart]

Wow that bug at 5:15!! as you're talking about dynamic low shots!! Nicely done!

[@rolandoorozco599]

Two years later and still super useful! Thank you Matt.

[@bencorwin]

I can't get over the colors you are getting out of the A7S. Superb.

[@Grant_Seymour_]

Wow, Matt! I wish I had known you years ago when I got married. The people who hire you are getting top-quality work. Wow.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much Grant!

[@duyluu3354]

Thanks bro. This was a helpful video about establishing shots. I needed a refresher course and this was perfect.

[@whoismatt]

Thank you! Glad to help you out!

[@matthewleemoore]

Great video again Matt! I like to do them the day after, especially when traveling. You can wake up early and get a sunrise time-lapse or swing by the venue again on your way home.

[@whoismatt]

+Matthew Lee Moore thanks Matthew! Sometimes I do them after too, especially depending on Texas fickle weather.

[@Aneeliscool]

awesome video!! thanks a lot for the great tips Matt, much appreciated

[@whoismatt]

Thanks!

[@jcinewilliams8819]

Thank you for showing!

[@DonSaeKang]

Great vid and thank you for sharing! You sir are RAD!

[@whoismatt]

+Don Sae Kang thanks Don! You're rad too!

[@PioneerCinema1]

Yes! I always get there early to shot establishing shot! Good stuff, gotta have em

[@All2jPro]

Great video, thank you... Learned quite a bit. Some times if you do get an emergency wedding job as my first one was. There was no early arrival option. So I new the weather was going to be the same the next day and a Sunday with no distracting traffic giving my a bonus day for establishing shots and pictures and even neighbourhood shots based on the couples story. Since they had met locally

[@whoismatt]

+All2J Productions thanks! The day after the wedding is a great option too!

[@phelix920]

Hi Matt, I'm loving your work my brother. Your gift is opening so many doors for you. I think you could be shooting with a Betamax in the wilderness and your business would still blow up. You just have the right attitude, period. And nothing can stop a person with the right attitude. Add skills on top of that it its a wrap. I liked your quote from one of your other videos "The beard is luscious." 👍🏾🎥📷 May God bless you and your wife my man. You're a beast with that lens. Phelix

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much Phelix! :D That means a lot.

[@traveljam4704]

Thanks mat, shooting my first wedding soon. Good idea to get those important shoots the day before or after the wedding.

[@whoismatt]

+CM Photography and Creative Videos glad to help! :)

[@JasonShelton777]

Matt you are awesome bro! Serious man keep up the amazing videos!

[@whoismatt]

thanks Jason!

[@daytodayphotography566]

“We’re at the Ranch” 1:28 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@rickybobbymusic]

Hey Matt, you and Kraig at wedding film school are like my Wedding College! Thanks again, these videos are great!

[@whoismatt]

+KSM Worldwide haha would you like a degree? :P

[@rickybobbymusic]

Maybe at the end of this wedding season!

[@shawvercreations9703]

Killing it Matt!!! Rad video!!

[@_Jeremyxlewis]

Great video Matt! Keep them coming :)

[@whoismatt]

+Jeremyxlewisphoto thanks for the encouragement Jeremy! :D

[@Williumm]

Matt is literally like the nicest guy on youtube ahah! Love all your work mate! Cheers!

[@MJOb928]

Nice work Matt - appreciate it.

[@whoismatt]

+MrJohanOb thanks!

[@b33wax]

I love your videos so much!! I have been re-watching your videos so many times because they are so helpful!!!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much Braxton!

[@cweb1988]

This is REALLY helpful. Thanks. Like......the most helpful video I've seen probably on "cinametography." It's just really practical. I'd LOVE to see you do an ENTIRE process video. Just walking through establishing the shots, to the shooting, to the editing. Gonna have to look through your other stuff. Again....thanks....just really helpful to understand how to really CAPTURE something through video.

[@whoismatt]

Haha awesome! Thanks so much! I'm planning on doing more areas of wedding films too like audio etc. don't worry.

[@georgebgriffin]

Nice stuff. Keep up the good work. I film over in Ireland and the big challenge here is our oh so rainy weather.... but you've inspired me to try and get a drone in the mix for wedding shooting.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks George! Ireland is beautiful country, I hope to visit one day!

[@gulraizbhutta]

It were some amazing drone shots especially low angle grass drone shots...

[@marvelloushousestudios7137]

Waaooow! What a nice time and a way to learn something new but very important. Thank and keep up the work

[@highdesertdragons6674]

Wow what a great video! I don't even shoot weddings but this will help us in the videos we do shoot. Keep making these videos they are super helpful!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Jason! Glad to help :D

[@Madosheet]

Great video - very informative, loved the shots you showed. Inspired to shoot something now! Can't wait to see more, Matt!

[@whoismatt]

+k thank you! Hope you film something awesome!

[@kghwanadoo]

Great video. I've been filming weddings for 12+ years and you've opened up my eyes to a load of new possibilities. Thanks, subbed.

[@knottage]

Thank you for the great video! short sharp and to the point really helped me quickly understand the basics of establishing shots. I appreciate the lack of fluff and self indulgence. I've dropped a sub, thank you

[@townshipfilmsphoto]

Great advice. We're shooting this saturday, also at a ranch. Going to pop in the day before to shoot (with a camera) the animals.

[@whoismatt]

+Vancity Wedding Films bahaha good thinking!

[@HECTRICKNOLOGY]

Good pointers, thanks for the info.

[@eagle1709]

Great stuff Matt. It's so true!

[@whoismatt]

thanks! :D

[@waltergerard2347]

This was so helpful...especially when i have four weddings coming up next month. Thanks Matt!! :)

[@daviddipasquale586]

This is GOLD!

[@whoismatt]

+david di pasquale thanks David!

[@swifstudios]

Love these videos, super useful and cool too see your work. Keep it up! Thanks from Canada!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Martin! I hope to visit Canada one day and film :)

[@verybloom]

these videos just keep getting better. You are a saint for creating all this amazing content & my only regret is that you're not making daily vlogs. Looking forward to seeing you on CreativeLive, hopefully this year!! Also, could you please make a drone tutorial video, on how to get those cool circular tracking shots & other hard to pull off moves?

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much! Haha I would love to do daily Vlogs but I feel like I wouldn't have any time to actually edit wedding videos. :P Drone tutorial is on my (long) list of videos to do in the future haha.

[@AANasseh]

Great job Matt, as aways! There was not a whole lot of scenery to work with at this location. But you made it work by creative use. Maybe some macro shots of the small flowers in the field would have been good a good addition too. Cheers!

[@whoismatt]

+RealWorld Endo thanks so much!

[@martonhegedus]

Great video. And incredible dynamic range btw...

[@whoismatt]

thanks Marton! And my camera thanks you too? :)

[@MankindFilm]

Good advise, most of the weddings I do I have to get everything on the fly. Usually most of the decoration is put up last minute and you might end up shooting the same shots twice. That extra day is even better if you have the couple willing to walk around in casual wear for the video. ALL ABOUT THAT B-ROLL SON!

[@vryandeleon5672]

Thank you Matt!

[@whoismatt]

+Vryan De Leon thanks Vryan!

[@ThorForShort]

Thank you so much for this video!! I learned A LOT in such a short space of time. liked and subbed

[@whoismatt]

+TheMightyTheodore thanks! :)

[@shaikan1395]

great video! thank you for keep uploading videos like this :)

[@whoismatt]

+Shai Kan you're welcome!

[@newsyvonne]

Great video! Thanks for the insight!!!!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Yvonne!

[@RyanH0809]

Super helpful.. I just came from shooting a small music fest my brother's band held and I realize now that I did not dedicate the extra time to capture establishing shots.. super good advice here. I subscribed!

[@whoismatt]

+Ryan Hamilton thanks Ryan! 😁

[@SonnyLMugambi]

Glad I stumbled on to your channel via the Ronin vs Glidecam video...really good useful information.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Sonny! :D

[@RyanHarrisRC]

Love this stuff! Keep it coming pls!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Ryan!

[@jamiecoop]

Damn, that opening..

[@whoismatt]

Boom!

[@tonyzhang6295]

Wow, I like the the detail parts, it helps me

[@whoismatt]

Thanks!

[@KennyQDJ]

Very good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@whoismatt]

thanks Kenny!

[@rightalex7]

Great work, very interesting

[@whoismatt]

thanks!

[@Hernansanchez_]

Thanks man this was more than helpful

[@jamesrwatt]

love your videos dude keep up the good work.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much!

[@bbyjcky1]

I need to get my hands on a drone. Love those shots !

[@whoismatt]

+Jck123 everybody needs one! :D

[@Cinq1]

Very great !!

[@brandenmurphy1837]

You're great man, thanks :)

[@whoismatt]

thanks!

[@julianacardoso7617]

Hey Matt, I just stumbled upon your videos and watched like 5 in a row. Great content and thank you for sharing! Any plans on doing a video on your drone filming tips?

[@PhilippeMaurice]

lovely work !

[@whoismatt]

+Philippe Maurice thanks Philippe!

[@c0d3ckL]

Thank you so much, it was a lot helpful

[@whoismatt]

thanks Josh!

[@Musicgutbucket]

I really like your vids mate. Thank you very much for them.

[@whoismatt]

+stevie babe thanks dude

[@lunchbox7573]

This was great. I definitely learned a good deal of stuff.

[@whoismatt]

thanks Oscar!

[@VivaLaDashaa]

This was very helpful, I can actually do my assignment now. Thank you

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Dasha!

[@themikereda]

Most people want to know tips and tricks about filming weddings. I wanna know what shoes you're wearing at 3:48 because those are fly and I need them.

[@whoismatt]

Supra Skytops ;)

[@TellThemCreatives]

awesome tips man! much love from Indonesia! SUB!

[@whoismatt]

Thank you! :D

[@SpaceZombie]

Awesome! Your videos are very helpful and enjoyable to watch man. Those shots @5:38 are beautiful! All shot on the A7s ii?

[@whoismatt]

+SpaceZombie thanks! Yep, everything in this video was shot on a7sii.

[@whoismatt]

+SpaceZombie except the drone footage of course :P

[@bluefilmsltd]

Wish I saw this last week!

[@ifeelverygood]

Last week this video didn't exist?

[@bluefilmsltd]

***** I meant to say that I wish it had been create over a week ago.

[@ShaunHautly]

Love the tip about looking for movement. I was shooting in Nashville this weekend and all my footage is just buildings and I couldn't figure out why it looked so dead... nothing is moving.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Shaun! I find that if I'm filming buildings, either I have to introduce the movement myself, or I try to incorporate timelapses with clouds etc. to add movement.

[@waltraut]

Great tutorial Matt! I am shooting my first wedding in one month and this helped me alot! Thank you! Do have any more tips for shooting a wedding as a beginner?

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Ellen! Glad this helped you!

[@LiveWayOut]

Do you have a 107 for the drone? Just curious as I am getting into the business. Absolutely love your videos. So informative. Thank you sir -Garrett

[@jofootballchannel]

Hi, Iam a Journalist by Profession and working as a videographer, your explanation are captivating ,thanks so much

[@xue870315]

thank you so much

[@whoismatt]

you're welcome!

[@kristianmarkdelfino7392]

This video helps me a lot. Thank you sir :)

[@NigerianWeddingsArena]

Really loved the video, it was very helpful, where can I download establishment shots?

[@fernandolurie]

Greats videos!!!

[@whoismatt]

+Fernando lurie thanks Fernando!

[@BdNina]

Dope vid very informative 👍🏻

[@josephlalrohlunaralte83]

Nice shot

[@adamstormes2154]

I lost my stuff on the "We're at the Ranch" comment. lol

[@whoismatt]

YESSS

[@AniketRajPhotographySpring]

As an Aggie, big whoop to a college station wedding!!

[@whoismatt]

+Aniket Raj Photography haha yup!

[@AniketRajPhotographySpring]

Thanks for this video! It helped me last week for my first destination wedding in Cabo! :D

[@pgagarciaalvarez]

Thanks for you help

[@whoismatt]

you're welcome Pablo!

[@indieflare]

Great video Matt! One quick question.. What monitor are you using with your drone? It looks like you may have a ranger booster on there?

[@whoismatt]

thanks! It's a Black Pearl monitor with the transmitter and receiver built in. I'm using one stock antenna that came with it and a RC Shark antenna too.

[@davidvanbrakel]

Tnx again for the great video matt! Do you have more information on the drone set-up you use?

[@whoismatt]

Thanks! It's a Phantom 2 with a GoPro Hero 4 black.

[@WIGGYMEISTER76]

Hiya, I love your videos, just wondered, What if on the actual wedding day the weather is totally different? Say no sun & rainy, would that then ruin all your previous days sunshine shots? As I assume the couples memory of the day needs to match up, so how do you work that?

[@Weathered807]

Love all of your videos Matt! Very inspiring Have you ever run into a situation where you film your establishing shots the day before but then the weather is totally different on the wedding day? I feel like that could be awkward for the video. Thoughts?

[@whoismatt]

thanks Seth! Yeah that can happen. I try to check the forecast in the days leading up to the wedding. Some days it works better to film establishing shots the day after the wedding if the weather is different the day before. If the wedding is in town, sometimes I go a week or two later when the weather looks similar. No one will know! :X

[@reggaejones6618]

I really like these videos, very helpful stuff. Do you always have a second shooter for every wedding? Are they using a second a7sii?

[@whoismatt]

+Reggae Jones hey! Yes, I always have a second shooter. They are usually shooting another A7Sii, or a Sony FS700, or even Canon C100 sometimes. Whichever they have. :)

[@dkmedianow]

Any recommendations on the best way to dress for these events? Dark colors? Tie no tie?

[@whoismatt]

+David Kenny hey David! I made a video about my wedding clothing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKiqiXpoo82UjK8

[@threefoldfilms5285]

Great video Matt! Do you have any tutorials on how to implement time shifting in a film? I've never been great with that.

[@whoismatt]

+Threefold Films thanks! That is definitely a topic I would like to cover in the future. I hope this one helped a bit in that respect. A big part of time shifting is using establishing shots to show the audience where they are now.

[@threefoldfilms5285]

+Matt WhoisMatt Johnson great! Keep up the good work!

[@fallongarcia]

Hey Matt, love your stuff. Quick question because I haven't heard you cover it in your tutorials. Do you shoot at 24p and do some slow motion at 60p or do you shoot it all at 60p and conform it in post?

[@whoismatt]

thanks Fallon! I shoot in a mix of 30 and 24p lately. Sometimes 60 or 120p if I feel like the situation warrants it. I don't ever shoot at all 60 though.

[@PHILMMedia]

Great video. Which lens did you use at 5:31? I like the feeling

[@whoismatt]

+PHILM thanks! I believe that was with the Sigma ART 24mm. It could have also been with the Sony 16-35mm, I was switching back and forth a lot.

[@relelliott]

great video Matt! assuming you charge extra for an extra day for this for the couple? or do you include it in your packages? how do the couples like this extra day/cost?

[@whoismatt]

+reanofilms hey! Nope, no extra charge for this. Often I drive in a day early for the wedding, so I have time to film the establishing shots early and not be rushed. The couples are cool with it (when I even tell them lol).

[@DER3ZZING]

Matt loving the videos 😊👍 i have a question what do you run on your phantom? and on the controller?

[@whoismatt]

Hey! It's a Phantom 2 with a GoPro Hero 4 Black. I have a Black Pearl monitor for wireless viewing.

[@andrewpotterphotography1220]

Hi Matt, love your videos. Keep up the good work. What time-lapse App do you use on the A7Sii?? Or any general advise on 'time lapsing' on this camera...?

[@whoismatt]

Hey Andrew! The A7Sii only has one timelapse app, so that's the one I use haha. :) It's a fantastic camera for timelapses, the app makes it really simple.

[@andrewpotterphotography1220]

+Matt WhoisMatt Johnson thank you