Your niece is getting married and she asks you to video a few action shots at her wedding. If you like making video movies, this is a golden opportunity to practice your skills. Treat this like preparing for a two week vacation: plan your video with the same care and forethought.

Think of a creative way to title your story. An invitation resting on the veil composed with some accessories from her ensemble makes an interesting way to start your story. Ask the bride and groom for some snapshots of themselves when they were two, five, ten and teenagers. Place all the photos on a dark cloth on the floor and SLOWLY pan across the pictures, stopping briefly on centers of interest. Always fade in presenting a new segment and fade out at the end. The fade signifies a change in time and prepares the viewer for a new scene.

Background music also enhances any part of your video that does not include an actual band or DJ in the shot. A small CD player placed in the room will fill in those awkward dead sound spots. Soft rock, love songs by favorite artists, or romantic classics add interest to your movie. Make sure the volume is low so as not to over power normal conversation.

A list of planned shots that tell a story serves as a reminder during the day. The most effective method of story telling starts with an overall or scene setting shot. For instance, fade in on the bride getting out of her car arriving home from the hair dresser, walking up the steps and greeting her Mom at the door. A cut to the reverse angle from inside the house follows the bride and sister to her bedroom. A second cut shows the bride holding the gown up to her body, prancing around the room. A medium distance shot provides more detail to the eye, allowing facial expressions to be seen and enjoyed. Super closeups interspersed between the medium shot inject excitement and impact to the scene. Occasional macro shots briefly sandwiched in between satisfy the natural tendency to want to see detail: an engagement ring, a leg garter, a signed card, etc. These "preparation" scenes of the bride, her family and bridesmaids are necessary as a foundation for the wedding story. Try to capture people DOING things, like talking on the telephone, having an early toast, a last minute gown repair, or Dad having trouble with his tux and getting in the limosine. Don't forget to fade out the last scene.

At the ceremony, capture the exit from the car, entrance of the parents, the bride and her father, and all the attendants. Position yourself so that the camera can see the faces of the bride and groom during the ceremony. To record the whole ceremony, transfer yourself to the center of the aisle in preparation for the first kiss and promenade. Intersperse shots of the ceremony with close ups of the parent