Kavin Lunt on The Art of Documenting

When I first got into filmmaking, I was obsessed with the visuals. The composition, camera movement, gear, and honestly, just trying to make everything look as “cinematic” as possible. And don’t get me wrong, I still love all of that. But as I’ve grown as a filmmaker, I’ve realized that some of the most meaningful moments I’ve captured have had very little to do with how cinematic the shot was.

Kavin Lunt
Utah Filmmaker™

It’s been more about how that moment made someone feel.

I’ve been fortunate enough to document some pretty incredible weddings over the years, and something I’ve learned is that you really can’t plan for some of the best moments.

It’s the way a dad looks at his daughter right before walking her down the aisle. The nervous conversations between a couple before their first look. Or even just the funny interactions between the bride and groom during their portraits.

Those are the moments I’ve grown to love capturing the most.

Knowing When to Step Back

Something I’ve had to learn over the years is when to actually put my directing hat away and just let things happen.

There’s definitely a time and place for direction, especially when a couple might feel a little awkward or uncomfortable in front of a camera. But I’ve found that sometimes the best thing I can do is act like I am not even there. 

I think a big part of documentary filmmaking is learning how to read people. Knowing when to ask a question, when to start a conversation, and when to just be quiet and let the moment happen.

Sometimes that silence is exactly what allows someone’s real personality to come through.

And I think that’s something that’s easy to overlook when we’re too busy worrying about squeezing another stop of dynamic range out of our cameras.

Getting to Know the People You’re Filming

Another thing that’s become really important to me is getting to know my couples beyond just the wedding day.

Every couple is different. They have their own personalities, their own relationships with their families, and their own stories. I don’t think it makes sense to approach every wedding the exact same way.

The more I get to know the people I’m filming, the easier it becomes to recognize the moments that actually matter to them.

I still love experimenting with cameras, vintage lenses, lighting, and finding ways to make my films feel like the movies. That’s a huge part of why I fell in love with filmmaking in the first place.

But I’ve also learned that the most beautiful shots mean nothing if there is no emotion behind them.

At the end of the day, I’m not trying to make someone’s wedding look like something it wasn’t. I want to document it for what it actually was.

Because years from now, I want my couples to watch their film and feel like they’re right back on their wedding day, surrounded by the same people, hearing the same voices, and feeling those same emotions all over again.

Kavin owns the production company, Lunt Films, LLC.

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