Your wedding video is something you will cherish for the rest of your life, capturing the footage is only aspect of your wedding video. A professional videographer will edit all the video into a compilation of the all the highlights of your wedding to ensure it can be shared with family and friends. In this guide we’ll tell you how to choose a wedding videographer.
Picking a wedding videographer
Many couples only realise the importance of the videography after the wedding is over and they are watching the video for the first time. Caught up in the magic and emotion of the day, the happy couple are often unaware of the events going on around them and it is the responsibility the videographer to capture these moments and tie everything together.
The complete story
Often the videographer will spend the entire day in your company, capturing the preparation, the ceremony itself and highlights in the evening. It is important to see previous examples of the videographers work to ensure you are happy with the style of editing for the final “cut”. The final video will vary but will typically be 45 minutes and will include the main speeches made. A good wedding videographer will capture unguarded moments where you are not concious of the camera and adds to the overall feel of the day and the emotion felt.
It’s the little things that count
When viewing previous examples of a wedding videographers work, look for the little touches, it could be something as simple as the bride straightening the grooms collar, however these little touches add to the overall feel of your final wedding video. Anyone can stand in front of the couple and film the ceremony, it takes skill to capture the footage which at first glance does not seem important but when added to the days events, fit’s in perfectly.
Love in motion
Video offers the opportunity to capture those special moments in a manner no other media can. Only HD can truly give your wedding the quality it deserves so be sure to ask that the footage will be taken using Full HD cameras. Some videographers will use a “dolly” this a is specialist device designed to capture footage in a way that cannot be done manually, it is worth asking if the videographer uses a dolly, it can enhance some of the footage taken.
Style and vibe of wedding videos
Choose a videographer whose style, vibe, and personality match your own. Do you prefer something with emotional depth, or one that is more lighthearted? Do you prefer lots of talking, or lots of action?
Contact more than one wedding videographer
When looking for wedding videographers, it’s a good idea to contact more than one.
You may have a friend or relative who recommends a certain videographer. But they may not have seen that many weddings the way the videographers you contact have. So, contact three or four videographers and compare their packages and films.
Wedding Videographer Reviews
A good videographer will have client reviews on their website. It is well worth reading through the reviews to see the level of satisfaction clients have felt. Of course no videographer will put up bad reviews so use google, enter the business name and add wedding video after the business name, there may be another business with a similar name in a different field of work. If you find good reviews out with the videographers own website this can be taken as a positive sign.
Experience is crucial
Even though there are dozens of companies offering videotaping services for weddings, it can still be hard to find someone you like. That’s because when you hire a videographer, you are paying for a combination of skill, experience, and personality.
All other things being equal, you want someone who has a lot of experience and skill. When you hire someone to do a job, you want someone who knows how to do your kind of job.
Does your wedding videographer travel?
Finding a local videographer is ideal, however many videographer travel country wide, so you are not limited by local choice, although, preferable, it is not essential. If you find you are drawn to a videographer outwith your local area, call them, see if they travel, if so, find out how much extra it will cost.
Cost of wedding videography
The cost of your wedding video will vary depending on where you live, where you get married, what package you are going for or how many videographers there will be.
Extras
Extras can take the form of a video invitation or a website to highlight the video so friends and family overseas can quickly see your big day. If you have something specific in mind, discuss this with the videographer. If you are having a themed wedding such as a vintage wedding, special effects can be added to the video to give it an aged look.Again have a chat with the videographer to see if they can accommodate your requests.
