How I prepare for a day as a Wedding Content Creator

People often think that as a Wedding Content Creator I just rock up on the day with an iPhone and hit record, but in reality, preparation and the right kit is absolutely essential for a smooth and successful day of filming.

Wedding content creation is time-sensitive, fast paced and high stakes and without the reliable (and lots of back up) equipment, disasters could happen very easily! Imagine missing a first kiss shot? The thought gives me nightmares…

When I see Wedding Content Creators rocking up to a wedding with just one iPhone and a power bank it makes me shiver- what if you fall over and smash the phone? What if you drop it and it slips down a grid and disappears into the sewers, lost forever? What if a bird swoops down and pinches it from your hand? The intrusive thoughts are endless.

Anyway, on that note let me share with you the list of essential kit that I bring to each and every wedding:

• 2 X iPhones (minimum)

• 2 X Gimbals (DJI)

• 1 X Drone (DJI Mavic 4)

• 3 X Drone Batteries

• 2 X Portable Chargers (Anker)

• 1 X Camcorder (JVC, 2004 model)

• 1 X Tripod

• 1 X Microphone (Rode)

• Cables, lots of cables!  

• Printed itinerary & pens

• Long day self-care kit; lip balm, chewing gum, eye drops, protein bar / shake, paracetamol

The first thing to do is make sure everything is working well and fully charged. Wedding days are often early starts so I make sure everything is packed and ready to go the night before.

After lugging around a huge, bulky rucksack for a long time, I’ve learned that the best way forwards is using a small case on wheels to carry all of my kit. I’ll pop my trusty case in a tucked-away corner of the venue and keep a cross-body bag on me with the urgent things to hand (my second phone, portable charger, etc).

My lovely vintage camcorder is strapped around me at all times.

Most Wedding Content Creators tend to exclusively use iPhones to film with, but I love the nostalgic, grainy feel of a camcorder so was delighted when I dusted off my own from 2004 and found it still works. She has joined me at every wedding since! I’ve been known to pass her to guests to capture some lovely ‘guest POV’ moments, too.

I also love the beautiful aerial shots from my drone. I usually capture the drone shots pre-wedding, as I tend to arrive very early to get the lay of the land, and this is the perfect time to fly (when I won’t miss any live wedding moments!).

The camcorder and drone are both included in my price and do not come at an extra cost, and honestly, this is because they’re both slightly more temperamental. The drone is both venue and weather permitting, and the camcorder is an authentic, ‘old’ camcorder (I don’t think we could call 2004 vintage exactly, but you know what I mean!).   

So, with kit in hand (well, kit in case), I just need to arrive to the venue in good time so I can find my way around, get to know the venue staff and meet the photographer, if I haven’t already worked with them.

Then I’ll hunt down my couple, and the fun begins!