We are out in the middle of nowhere Texas today, but you know how it is with Texas weddings. There are barns, flags, windmills, and most importantly, an incredible couple ready to get married.
Today, I’m bringing you behind the scenes to show you exactly how to film a Same Day Edit wedding video.
I’m hanging out with Matthew Reed, a fantastic filmmaker who is going to show us his workflow for capturing a wedding day and turning around a film the very same day. This is one of the best ways to provide unbeatable customer service and get guests talking about your work before the reception even ends.
The Strategy for Same Day Success
When you are filming for a same day edit, you have to be intentional from the moment you hit record. Matthew and his second shooter, Ryan, have a “clutch” trick: if they capture a shot they know they want in the edit, they immediately put their hand over the lens to create a black frame. When Matthew is culling later, he just looks for those black frames and knows the perfect clip is right before it.
Another interesting part of his workflow? He films everything in 30 frames per second. No 60fps slow-mo “crutch” here. Shooting at 30fps keeps his wedding reception workflow simple, maximizes his full-frame sensor, and makes timecode syncing with his Tentacle Sync system a breeze.
Getting the Narrative Early
To make a same day edit actually mean something, you need story. Matthew makes a point to pull the groom and bride for interviews early in the day. We’re talking six hours before the ceremony when everyone is still chilling. He asks about their history and their feelings, even touching on emotional subjects like the groom’s late father. This gives him heartfelt soundbites to anchor the edit before the “toast chaos” even begins.
If you want to make sure your films look as good as they sound, you need to be editing like a pro. Having that narrative locked in early is the first step.
The Ceremony and The “Texas Weather”
The ceremony was a beautiful, poetic event, despite the typical Texas weather. It started raining right as things kicked off, but Matthew was prepared. He kept his gear protected (including the hot shoe!) and managed to film through the drizzle. Even with the rain, the hand-fasting ceremony and the couple’s vows provided incredible content for the film.
Cranking Out the Edit
Once the reception starts, it’s crunch time. Matthew set up a DIY standing desk in the back of the room (propped up by some “Christian reading material” and his Pelican case) and started culling. He uses Adobe Premiere Pro to quickly slap clips together, keeping them to 2 to 3 seconds each to maintain a fast pace.
Since he’s working fast, he doesn’t have time for a deep color grade. He slaps on a LUT to get it looking cinematic quickly and adjusts the exposure. If you want to get that same professional look for your own films without spending hours in the color tab, check out my LUTs sales page.
The Big Reveal
The best part of a same day edit is the reaction. Matthew finished his 60-second edit, exported it, and walked it right over to the couple at their table. Seeing their faces as they watched their own wedding ceremony while still at the wedding was incredible. It makes all the “editing sweat” worth it.
If you’re interested in more behind the scenes action, you can see how I’ve handled other same day edit wedding videos in the past. It’s a lot of work, but the results speak for themselves.