So, a little known fact about me is that I work part time as a wedding videographer. My position is a second shooter to the lead videographer. It is a newly acquired skill that I am still learning. One of the characteristics of filming a wedding is the adaptability to change. Schedules rarely stick with their preplanned time line. All the vendors know this and try to accommodate the wedding party. It is their day after all. We just have to adjust to the situation and changes to create the most enjoyable moments for the couples and their guests.
For photographers and videographers, we all know that we must work in all conditions to get the perfect shot. Whether it is a small chapel with barely enough room to navigate the side aisles or in the blazing sun, freezing cold, or downpours. There is only one opportunity to capture an important day in the lives of the clients. It has to be right.
One step I take with every wedding is stopping to frame the shot. While I use a moving video and photographers take still pictures, the concept is the same; the people and objects must be in a certain part of the frame to look right. In video production the screen actually displays “thirds”, lines which help to keep the objects in the right part of the frame. For ceremonies, cameras are placed on tripods and set up and framed before the couple walks down the aisle.We double check everything as we wait for the groom first and then the bride to walk down the aisle. And then the music begins and we start rolling the video.
That’s when we can either validate our work in setting up the cameras, or when we can find that we are in fact not framed right. And we must react and reframe the shot. We can tilt the cameras’ angle either up or down, or pan left or right to make sure we capture the people in the frame.
No matter how well we plan the camera angles, there usually needs to be an adjustment. The framing does not always fall perfectly into place. And then there are the people who stand in front of the cameras. Not on purpose, but without realizing it, they have ruined our view of the bride and groom. Not intentionally, but never the less, we must adjust the camera and reframe the shot.
Recently, I was filming a wedding ceremony outdoors near a rock wall. My camera was all set. Perfect. The music started. The bride was walking down the aisle. I was set to capture the groom’s reaction as he saw his bride for the first time in her wedding dress. Everything was set. And then. A photographer stepped right in front of my camera. I had to reframe the shot and scramble to pick up my tripod and camera and lift it over the rock wall, all the while rolling. It was frustrating to be sure, but thankfully I got the shot. I have never had to carefully lift the gear and move it that much while filming, but it was important to not miss anything. Like I mentioned before, I have to get the shot.
This has reminded me about life. I get all my ducks in a row- that is everything ready and planned out, and there is always something to disrupt my plans. Just like the wedding guests or photographers who unintentionally block my view, in life the same can be true. And there are not do overs.
We find that we have to constantly adapt and change to life. Plans do not flow as expected. We have to deal with others and their schedules. Not everything in life will be the way we would like it to be. We have to step back at times and reframe out perspectives. Sometimes we literally have to take a step back and move from our position- whether actually a physical location, or an opinion, and see a different view.
Other times we must change our thinking. We must stop thinking the negative thoughts and choose to think about the positive. Sometimes we need to change our attitudes from negative to positive to reframe our thinking. Our minds will go in whatever direction we allow them. But we have the ability to stop and pick up thoughts and move them out of the negative. If we want to improve our thinking and attitudes we need to keep them in the frame. And in focus.
If you are finding yourself needing a reframing of your thoughts or attitudes lately; here is a great verse from the apostle Paul: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
If you take each part of the verse and stop to think about something that fits the description, it will change your perspective. I have tried it before and found that it works for me.
What was something true about today? What was something noble- that is something good someone did for you?, What was something that was right? What was something that happened that was good today? Did someone help you? Was it thoughtful and unexpected? Did you notice anything that was so selfless that it amazed you? Is there someone you can give thanks to? Can you thank God that you are alive today?
Think of these as guidelines on your perspective. They will keep your thoughts in frame and from going south. Life happens and we can choose how to react to it by choosing our thoughts. Keep them in the right framing. God Bless, Nancy
Moving Forward 