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3. Color Grading Guide

SUMMARY: At Sound Originals, our goal is to create stunning wedding films that match the style and emotion of each couple’s special day. With hundreds of videographers and multiple cameras in use, consistent color grading is critical to ensure every video meets our studio’s high standards. Below is a detailed guide for color grading our two signature styles: Classic and Rustic.

General Workflow for Color Grading

  1. Correct Match
    • White Balance: Adjust to match the lighting (daylight, indoor, golden hour, etc.).
    • Exposure: Ensure footage isn’t too bright or too dark.
    • Color Matching: Make sure all camera angles look consistent using LUTs or manual adjustments.
  2. Apply Style-Specific Color Grading
    • After corrections, apply the specific grading for either the Classic or Rustic style.

Classic Look

The Classic style is timeless, bright, and elegant, with vibrant colors and a clean, polished feel. It emphasizes sharpness and clarity, making it perfect for modern, upscale weddings.

Key Characteristics

  • Brightness: Bright, airy feel with slightly elevated highlights.
  • Contrast: Moderate contrast to maintain a sharp and clean look.
  • Saturation: Vibrant but not oversaturated—skin tones should look natural and flattering.
  • White Balance: Neutral, leaning slightly warm for a welcoming feel.
  • Blacks and Whites: Deep blacks and clean whites for a crisp finish.

Steps to Achieve the Classic Look

  1. Apply a base LUT (recommendation: Neutral or Wedding Bright LUT).
  2. Adjust highlights and whites to brighten the image, ensuring no overexposure.
  3. Increase saturation slightly to make colors pop while keeping skin tones realistic.
  4. Use selective color grading to enhance blues (sky) and greens (foliage) for outdoor scenes.
  5. Sharpen the footage subtly to maintain a polished appearance.

Rustic Look

The Rustic style is moody, desaturated, and cinematic, perfect for outdoor weddings or events with a warm, earthy vibe. It emphasizes natural tones and evokes an intimate, nostalgic feel.

Key Characteristics

  • Brightness: Slightly darker with a moody atmosphere.
  • Contrast: Stronger contrast for a dramatic effect.
  • Saturation: Desaturated colors for a natural, earthy tone.
  • White Balance: Warm tones, leaning toward yellows and oranges for a cozy, golden-hour aesthetic.
  • Shadows: Slightly lifted shadows for a soft, filmic quality.

Steps to Achieve the Rustic Look

  1. Apply a base LUT (recommendation: Moody LUT or Cinematic LUT).
  2. Lower saturation to create a muted, natural look—focus on earthy tones like browns, greens, and yellows.
  3. Warm the white balance slightly to enhance the golden-hour feel.
  4. Add subtle vignettes to draw attention to key subjects.
  5. Adjust shadows and blacks to create depth without losing details.

Matching Multiple Cameras

Comparison View: Use this tool to match your Best Footage with other footage for consistent color correction.

Use Color Match Tools: Utilize tools to match color with other footage from different cameras.

Histogram: Exposure Correction

Vectorscope: Saturation and Skin-tone Adjustment

CAM A – Unedited

CAM B – Unedited

CAM A – Edited

CAM B – Edited

Review and Feedback

  1. Final Check
    • Ensure the grading aligns with the Classic or Rustic look based on client preferences.
    • Review for consistency across all scenes and camera angles.
  2. Feedback Loop
    • If there are questions or doubts, send the graded sample to the post-production lead for feedback before finalizing the project.