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Camera Requirements

*Please note these are our minimum requirements. If your equipment does not meet these requirements, please upgrade before completing any projects for Tolman Media.

Photography​

Body: Full frame DSLR or mirrorless (Examples: Nikon D850 D750, Canon 5D, 6D Sony A9, A7R, A7)

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Lenses: At least one fast prime portrait lens 85mm f1.4-1.2, 50mm f1.8-1.2, 35mm f1.8-1.4, and one wide enough angle for big family shots 24mm, 35mm

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Lighting: The nature of this position requires a flash/hard light, or extremely good low light capabilities so make sure you have flash lighting with a diffuser or bright enough external lighting.

Videography​

Body: Minimum resolution and FPS standard: 1080p and 60 fps anything above is a benefit but not less. Your camera body should provide a high quality picture both outdoors in a bright light and indoors in a low light. If you have an old handycam or amateur camera, we won't accept it. Check THIS site to see if your body is on the list or similar to these.

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Lenses: One prime zoom lens (ig. 24-70mm). And one portrait lens with f2.8-1.4 for detail shots and beautiful DOF effect on closeups. 

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Stabilization: We require a good stabilization for video. In order to achieve that, you need to have a gimbal or other similar stabilization equipment (such as a Zhiyun Crane, Ronin S, etc.).

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Audio - We have audio packages so you should have at least 2 lav microphones and an audio recorder to capture audio.

Camera Settings

Photographers

  • Shoot in RAW - this is a requirement

  • Shoot in MANUAL MODE

  • Keep your aperture/f-stop low (1.4-2.8) to produce a sharp subject and an out-of-focus background (portraits - F2 is ideal)

  • Keep your ISO as low as possible to limit grainy and low-quality images (portraits - shouldn't be above 600)

  • Keep your shutter speed mid-high to maintain sharp subjects (stay above 1/250)

  • Be creative and don't take the same shot too many times

  • Remember rules of composition: leading lines, rule of thirds, fill the frame, don't cut off limbs, use frames, create depth

  • Set the date and time on your camera so that the photos will be easily ordered in the editing process 

  • Make sure your main objects in the photos are all lightened. Use a flash light with a diffuser or softbox in order to make soft light indoors and while shooting with the strong background light.

Second Shooters

  • Make sure to connect with the primary shooter 1-2 weeks before the wedding.  Work with them to know exactly what time you should be there and what they want you to cover. Remember that your coverage hours are often less than the primary shooter, so work together to determine the best time for you to be there.

  • Pay attention to the primary shooter and position yourself across from them (not in their shot) so you are getting different angles.  Don't simply follow them around, standing right behind them and getting the same shot.

Videographers

  • A note from the editors on frame rate: Footage should be taken in 60fps only. We are making a dynamic video, so the footage must have variations but with 60fps the editor will decide where is better to have real time and where to make it slowmo. Also, shooting slow-motion makes it less shaky and more stable.  However you can use 24fps for recording vows/speeches but only if you need more light.
    Also, make sure you're using a relevant shutter speed in order to avoid rolling flicker. 

  • Please keep your bitrate in between 50-200mb/s. We don't require a Holywood picture from you so please try to keep your footage size in the normal range (30-100Gb max). 

  • Use standard color profile.  This works best with our presets for editing.

  • Do not continuously record everything.  Pick only the best moments.

  • Please do set up a b-roll camera for the ceremony.

  • Use an external audio recorder for all audio the client requests to have recorded.  You may also choose to hook up to the DJ's soundboard for speeches (but please test this or have a backup as it sometimes fails). 

  • ALWAYS DOUBLE-CHECK THAT THE AUDIO IS RECORDING!

  • Use a field mic or keep your on-camera mic on the whole time as insurance.

  • Make sure the white balance isn't too warm or too cold (always adjust this after the exposure is set).

  • Change up your angles and the movements of your shots.

  • Make sure that your focus is on your subject.

  • Remember to use your stabilizer and external recording equipment.

Picking the Right Photo Camera

Lenses & Other Gear

Picking the Right Video Camera

Recording Audio

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