How I Capture Both Photo and Video as a Hybrid Wedding Photographer

If you’ve ever wondered how I manage to capture both photography and videography seamlessly throughout a wedding day here’s an insight into my Hybrid approach. It’s a question I get asked a lot, and while it can be difficult to explain, my process has become second nature after years of experience.

The Equipment and Approach

I work with 3 cameras overall and two cameras throughout the day. One is a high-resolution photography and film hybrid camera, while the other is a cinema-line camera dedicated to video. 2 cameras are carried at my hip through out the day, ready to capture moments as they naturally unfold. This allows me to move fluidly between photography and videography without disrupting the flow of the day.

Capturing Key Moments

For the film element, I focus on the essential parts of the day: the finishing touches of bridal and groom preparations, the ceremony, and the speeches. These key moments are highlighted throughout the video I create. I include important events such as the confetti throw, cake cutting, entrances, and the first dance. These are woven together with beautiful candid shots and couple moments to create a beautiful elementary film of your wedding day. All the key moments and wedding formalities are covered. We work together to ensure these are planned without disrupting spontaneity.

Filming While Shooting Photos

During the ceremony and speeches, I use two static video cameras while simultaneously capturing photographs and cutaway videos shots with my hybrid photography and video camera. This allows me to create a polished film while ensuring that the photography remains uninterrupted. I use a monopod to keep my movements discreet and to maintain a natural, unobtrusive presence. If you watch my films, you’ll notice that they are sympathetically shot—I’m not running around frantically, but instead following a well-honed approach that keeps everything seamless and natural and classic.

The Hybrid Advantage

Couples who choose the Hybrid package often receive more photos than expected, along with a longer highlights film. Every wedding is unique, but this approach provides a fantastic balance between both formats. Lengths of films are upwards of 3 minutes and very much depends of what couples have planned for their wedding. Such as ceremony readings and robust speeches. In many cases couples can upgrade after the wedding for me to edit their full ceremony and speeches as additional films. Although due to the nature of Hybrid this is not included as standard with in the package.

Realistically, no matter how many second shooters you have at a wedding, some candid moments will always be missed—that’s simply the nature of live events. With the Hybrid package, my goal is to deliver photography as if I were solely focused on that, while simultaneously crafting a short beautiful film that highlights all your key moments from the day.

This option is best suited to couples who prefer a low-key approach, without feeling overwhelmed by multiple cameras and crew. It’s also a great solution for those who want high-quality photography and videography but may not have the budget to hire separate professionals at the same level.

The Hybrid approach ensures that your memories are preserved in both stunning images and a beautifully crafted film, providing the best of both worlds.

Ideal Wedding Settings for the Hybrid Package

While the Hybrid package is a fantastic option for many weddings, it is best suited to those weddings taking place in a single location. Weddings that require travel between multiple venues, such as church weddings followed by a reception elsewhere, as preparations at another place. This makes it challenging to capture both photography and videography to the same high standard. The logistics of packing and setting up cameras, moving between locations, will compromise the seamless flow of Hybrid coverage.

For church weddings, in particular, additional restrictions often come into play. Some churches have strict guidelines on videography, limiting where cameras can be placed. This can make it difficult to achieve the full coverage expected from a Hybrid package. If your wedding involves multiple locations or a church ceremony, a dedicated photographer and videographer team may be a more suitable option to ensure moments are captured effectively. I can organise this for you, but please note I only work with team members that are the same standard as myself and this is reflected in the cost.