AnielaDecember 19th?
I asked as I clicked on the bottom-right corner of my computer screen to check the date.
“Yeah, December 19th,” my best friend said from the other side of the phone.
“I’m free that day,” I replied.
“Then will you come film a wedding? They specifically need a female videographer to film the bride’s side.”
I froze for a second.
A Familiar World, From the Other Side of the Camera
I’ve attended countless weddings in my life. Back home in Nepal, during wedding season, there would easily be five to ten wedding invitations lying around the house at any given time. I attended almost all of them with my family, and I had seen it all. Packed venues, emotional families, and videographers running around trying to capture every moment. Some of them would literally trip or fall mid-shoot. That’s how intense it gets.
But this time was different.
I wasn’t a guest.
I was being asked to film one.
And I had never shot a wedding before.
I knew how demanding filming could be. Constantly changing angles, adjusting settings, dealing with lighting, and moving non-stop. If you’re not sweating, you’re probably not working.
Most of the videos I had shot before were filmed using a tripod, which honestly makes life so much easier. You set it up, adjust it here and there, and you’re good to go. A wedding, however, meant movement. A lot of movement. That meant shooting with a gimbal. On top of that, it had been a while since I had filmed anything intense, and I felt a little out of practice.
I was clearly hesitating, and my friend must have noticed.
“It’s going to be fun,” she said. “We’re all friends, and we get to work together. It’ll feel like fun time with friends.”
She wasn’t wrong.
I wanted to do it. I just didn’t want to mess up something so important.
And then, I said yes.
Not just because it was a paid opportunity, but because it was new, unfamiliar, and slightly terrifying. And those are usually the experiences that teach you the most.
Preparing So I Wouldn’t Panic
I told my friend I needed time to practice with the gimbal and the camera we would be using on the main day. I needed to know the settings inside out. Every camera places controls differently, and I didn’t want to be standing at the venue fumbling with buttons while important moments slipped by.
Once I had my hands on the camera and gimbal, I watched a bunch of YouTube tutorials, practiced as much as I could, and familiarized myself with the equipment. Before I knew it, I felt ready to film a wedding.
The Wedding Day Begins
I arrived on time at 4:30 p.m., as requested. They wanted footage from the bride’s home, so I went there first. The bride wasn’t there yet. I met her father and brother, who also weren’t ready. She had gone out to get her hair and makeup done.
So I waited.
Around 5:30 p.m., they arrived, and the home ceremony began. It was absolutely beautiful. Coming from a different culture, it was fascinating to witness a Muslim wedding for the first time. The rituals, the drums, the emotions, and the overwhelming sense of joy made the experience incredibly special. Everyone was genuinely present and fully immersed in the celebration.
Since it was winter, the ceremony was taking place outdoors, and it was freezing. I had my winter gear in my bag, but there was no time to put everything on. I couldn’t wear gloves while filming, and going in and out of the house made things even harder since shoes aren’t worn indoors. I was grateful I had brought sneakers instead of snow boots.
There I was, standing outside in minus twenty-two degrees, wearing sneakers and a blue sweater, hands freezing, filming every detail and trying not to miss anything. There was no pause button.
At the venue, even more ceremonies unfolded. One moment that stood out was the sword fight ritual, performed to honor the bride, groom, and the union itself. As I moved around to capture the best angles, one of the swords swung dangerously close to me, but the performer stopped just in time.
Inside the hall, the celebrations continued. Dances, rituals, laughter, emotion. I managed to capture it all.
Filming Without Making People Uncomfortable
One request surprised me.
In many weddings I’ve attended, videographers are specifically asked not to film people eating, to avoid making guests uncomfortable. But here, the groom specifically requested that the buffet, the bride serving food, and guests dining be filmed.
As expected, some guests felt uneasy.
So I adapted.
Instead of filming faces directly, I focused on details. A fork lifting food from a plate. A mother feeding her baby, with permission. Hands moving, laughter, shared moments. This way, guests could enjoy themselves without feeling self-conscious.
The same approach applied to dancing. People wanted to dance, but cameras made them hold back. I avoided obvious front-facing shots and chose creative angles that captured movement and joy without making anyone uncomfortable.
Learning to Set Boundaries
Timing was another challenge.
The ceremony started almost an hour late. I was scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but by 10:30, my shoulders were aching from holding the gimbal non-stop for nearly six hours. The only breaks I had were during battery changes.
Even then, someone would often ask me to start filming again mid-change. It felt like I was expected to be filming every second without pause.
When I was asked to stay another hour, I had to say no. As much as I love my work, I respect my time and physical limits. I had already gone beyond what was initially agreed upon, and setting that boundary mattered.
Walking Away Grateful
Despite the cold, and exhaustion, filming my first wedding was incredibly fulfilling.
By the end of the night, I found myself wishing I could edit the footage myself. Editing is where raw footage truly comes to life, and it’s something I deeply enjoy.
Will I do another wedding? I don’t know but the experience was definitely worth it.
As I rode home that night, exhausted but content, one thought kept repeating in my mind:
I’m really glad I didn’t say no.
