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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@studiodbmedia3770]

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

[@aolivaphotography9482]

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

[@whoismatt]

+A Oliva Photography thanks so much!

[@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!

[@bencorwin]

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

[@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!

[@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! :)

[@adamstarkart]

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

[@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!!!

[@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.

[@rolandoorozco599]

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

[@PioneerCinema1]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@gulraizbhutta]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@Aneeliscool]

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

[@whoismatt]

Thanks!

[@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!

[@marvelloushousestudios7137]

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

[@Williumm]

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

[@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!

[@jcinewilliams8819]

Thank you for showing!

[@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! :)

[@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! 😁

[@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.

[@waltergerard2347]

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

[@shawvercreations9703]

Killing it Matt!!! Rad video!!

[@DonSaeKang]

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

[@whoismatt]

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

[@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?

[@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!

[@JasonShelton777]

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

[@whoismatt]

thanks Jason!

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@martonhegedus]

Great video. And incredible dynamic range btw...

[@whoismatt]

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

[@MJOb928]

Nice work Matt - appreciate it.

[@whoismatt]

+MrJohanOb thanks!

[@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

[@SonnyLMugambi]

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

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Sonny! :D

[@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

[@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.

[@_Jeremyxlewis]

Great video Matt! Keep them coming :)

[@whoismatt]

+Jeremyxlewisphoto thanks for the encouragement Jeremy! :D

[@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.

[@tonyzhang6295]

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

[@whoismatt]

Thanks!

[@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!

[@HECTRICKNOLOGY]

Good pointers, thanks for the info.

[@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!

[@NigerianWeddingsArena]

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

[@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?

[@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!

[@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!

[@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! :)

[@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.

[@vryandeleon5672]

Thank you Matt!

[@whoismatt]

+Vryan De Leon thanks Vryan!

[@markshirley01]

really useful tips Matt thanks - I'm looking to buy a beholder DS1 for my Nikon D750 for stabalizer shots - does the Glidecam take long to balance - would love to buy one but keep seeing comments buy people who just can't balance them.

[@whoismatt]

+mark shirley thanks Mark! The Glidecam takes around 10 seconds to balance which is a major win. Balancing it isn't that hard once you understand how it works. There is definitely a learning curve but the results are worth it.

[@eagle1709]

Great stuff Matt. It's so true!

[@whoismatt]

thanks! :D

[@littlelovebugphotographyfi4080]

So helpful! will try this. quick question what do you do if it rains on the day but not the day before? do you still use the footage?

[@whoismatt]

I check the weather forecast and oftentimes the day before or the day after the wedding will look similar. So sometimes I film on either day, whichever matches the wedding day more.

[@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 ;)

[@IMGProductionsI]

hey Matt great info, which lens/body are you using in the beginning car shot? the dynamic range is amazing

[@whoismatt]

+Manpreet G thanks Manpreet! Sony A7Sii with 16-35mm lens. Confession: my front windows are tinted a bit which helps out a lot with the dynamic range. ;)

[@Musicgutbucket]

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

[@whoismatt]

+stevie babe thanks dude

[@daviddipasquale586]

This is GOLD!

[@whoismatt]

+david di pasquale thanks David!

[@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

[@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. :)

[@jamesrwatt]

love your videos dude keep up the good work.

[@whoismatt]

Thanks so much!

[@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.

[@ll2nycell]

I just subbed bro. love ur videos. I was just wondering like what do you do if the est. shots are awesome weather, and the wedding day weather sucked

[@whoismatt]

+ll2nycell thanks so much! I usually check the weather and it usually matches either the day before or the day after. I film on the day that matches.

[@ll2nycell]

Matt WhoisMatt Johnson but would you still use it if the est footage is sunny and the weather is rainy on the day of?

[@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).

[@bbyjcky1]

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

[@whoismatt]

+Jck123 everybody needs one! :D

[@Hernansanchez_]

Thanks man this was more than helpful

[@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.

[@newsyvonne]

Great video! Thanks for the insight!!!!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Yvonne!

[@RyanHarrisRC]

Love this stuff! Keep it coming pls!

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Ryan!

[@matthewleemoore]

Matt, after shooting my first wedding with my new a7s ii's (2's?) (II's?) (dos'?) I definitely don't understand the internal stabilization vs. lens stabilization vs. when I punch in does it screw up the stabilization? My shots turned out much shakier than I had hoped. Looking through the interwebs and can't find anything. Would love to hear your thoughts and get your take on using IS lenses, when to use Steady Shot, and how it's effected by zooming in/APS-C mode. Willing to pay in tacos for your thoughts...

[@whoismatt]

Haha yes! Tacos! To help clarify a bit, when you punch in to check focus, that shouldn't affect the Image Stabilization. It works regardless of your lens because it's in camera. When you use a dead lens with adapter (such as a Nikon) it uses 3 axis stabilization in camera. When you use an official Sony lens it uses 5 axis in camera by taking data from the lens too. This is of course even smoother. I shoot with a mix of lenses, and as long as I don't move the camera too fast, everything ends up pretty smooth. Hope that helps!

[@superpowerpictures]

Hey i know this is old but do you ask the venue to show up a day early or you just go?

[@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.

[@rightalex7]

Great work, very interesting

[@whoismatt]

thanks!

[@indigoheartsproductions1009]

A quick question Matt. What about if you get all the shots and the next day the weather changes and it's gloomy and rainy? You can't use the sunny footage can you?

[@whoismatt]

+Indigo Hearts Productions hey! This is why I always check the weather reports 😜. Sometimes if the weather is bad the day before it isn't bad the day after the wedding.

[@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

[@shaikan1395]

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

[@whoismatt]

+Shai Kan you're welcome!

[@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

[@KennyQDJ]

Very good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@whoismatt]

thanks Kenny!

[@roberturibe2887]

Thank you for the insight! What kind of glidecam do you use?

[@whoismatt]

thanks Robert! Glidecam HD-4000

[@bogdy0211]

hey Matt , I see you got a Gopro attached to the drone, my question is How your footage are not with the fisheye look that gopro has?

[@whoismatt]

Hey Bogdan! It does have that fisheye look intially. Premiere Pro has a built in preset for removing the fisheye. I apply that and tweak it a bit for all my gopro shots.

[@Beyond_Sight_Media]

Do you have a Part 107 for your drone work?

[@kmart014]

Should I use multiple establishing shots? Or just one? And if I use multiple establishing shots, should I start with close up shots of things and THEN hit em with the WIDE shot or what? I want my video to flow. Got hired to film a catering company launch party. They’re having a brunch. Need ideas. Please give insight. Also what comes AFTER the establishing shot??

[@lunchbox7573]

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

[@whoismatt]

thanks Oscar!

[@jjr334]

Hi Matt, what external monitor are you using for the Phantom? Thank you so much!

[@theflyest203]

Do you have a video that gives you a structure? I’m just starting with it. I’m a photographer and video is a whole different animal and I have no idea where to start and end if I wanted to do an engagement shoot, event BTS etc.. I know you do weddings but what’s your structure like as far as your video shot list?

[@Cinq1]

Very great !!

[@VivaLaDashaa]

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

[@whoismatt]

Thanks Dasha!

[@nba1shorts]

hi.. can you give me tips on what lense do you use in filming weddings???

[@whoismatt]

+Dons Afour check out Sigma Art Nikon mount lenses with an adapter.

[@stephanalessi7720]

Hey Matt. Thanks for the video very helpful. Whats going on with your tablet at 4:53? Range / signal boosters for the drone?

[@whoismatt]

Hey Stephan! The monitor I use for monitoring my drone is called a Black Pearl and it has video receivers and transmitters built in. Those are the antennas. :)

[@stephanalessi7720]

+Matt WhoisMatt Johnson ah got it thank you for answering. Do you find it improves performance as compared to an iPad? I don't find the signal quality suffers in with my tablet often.

[@stephanalessi7720]

+Matt WhoisMatt Johnson meant to say "do find" whoops

[@whoismatt]

Hey Stephan! I use a Phantom 2 which does not support wireless transmission to an iPad. My only option is to use a wireless video transmitter and a monitor like I use.

[@tylercolefilms]

Hey Matt - looks like you use a GoPro as well on your drone. I am having serious issues with my FPV set up and am having really bad reception on my BlackPearl. Is there anyway you could help me out with this? I have the standard iOSD mini, Fatshark, BlackPearl set up.

[@whoismatt]

Hey! It sounds like I have a similar setup to you. I haven't had any issues with reception with mine though, it works for a pretty fair distance.

[@tylercolefilms]

Interesting. I think it may have something to do with the monitor I purchased. I believe I have the 32 Channel Black Pearl. Do you happen to have the 7 channel?

[@whoismatt]

I have the 7 channel

[@tylercolefilms]

+Matt WhoisMatt Johnson I think that has to be it then and from some recent research I've done. Thanks for the input. I just ordered the 7 channel. I'll give an update once I connect in case anyone else was wondering.