Videographer

How Do I Choose a Wedding Videographer?

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Although still photographs are undoubtedly important, we also strongly advise that you hire a professional videographer to help record your wedding day. Your wedding day will fly by in the blink of an eye, and you'll want to be able to relive all the precious moments afterwards on camera, like the smile on your groom's face as you walk down the aisle or the touching moments as your mother helps you into that lovely dress. You can't place a price on being able to relive the vows you and your spouse exchanged and the speeches that your loved ones labored over for your wedding.

    Hire a wedding videographer even if you don't think you need one or don't want to put a high priority on video in your wedding budget.  Having a film to go along with your images can help you relive the whole thing. Still, it's possible to be blown away by this work of art featuring your very own self. The day goes by quickly, and you won't be able to watch your grandmother's tearful reaction when you utter wedding vows, but the videographer will.

    One of the most significant steps in planning a wedding is selecting a videographer to capture the event on film. Seeing your wedding again on film would be a dream come true. All the things that happen in between snaps enrich and strengthen the final product. You should also consider the sounds that won't be recorded in a picture, such as your vows, the music at the reception, and heartfelt speeches. However, don't take our word for it; instead, view the films for yourself!

    Choosing what kind of videography you want is also crucial. If you want to find a wedding film that really speaks to you, seeing a lot of them is your best bet.

    If you were to ask any of your married friends or relatives about their wedding day, they would all agree on how fast it went. You spend what seems like months gathering ideas, booking vendors, attending dress fittings, and sending out invitations for your perfect wedding, and then it's all gone in a flash. Only the photos and film from your wedding will remain after the big day, so it's crucial that you hire a professional who can capture the magic of the day.

    Tips On How To Choose Your Wedding Videographer

    Videographer

    Know the "type" of the video you want

    Wedding videos can be broken down into two distinct groups:

    • The standard for wedding videos is the cinematic 5-10 minute highlight reel, which focuses on the most important and moving moments of the day. Your wedding videographer will film a lot of material throughout the day and spend a lot of time selecting the best clips to present the whole story of your big day.
    • The long-form documentary style of wedding film focuses on capturing the full story of your big day without being too picky about the cinematic quality of individual images. The emphasis is on capturing the unvarnished, organic moments that occur during the day in order to paint a complete picture of everything that transpired. These cuts, which can last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes, will have a more documentary style than a dramatic one.

    Many videographers offer both services, but the most majority focus on only one. Knowing your preference can help you swiftly determine whether or not to hire a videographer for your wedding.

    Focus on The Storytelling

    A videographer's job, regardless of approach, is to make the viewer feel as though they were actually present at the ceremony. As storytellers, they have the weighty obligation to record events and relay them in a way that stirs the heart and drives home a point.

    They aren't telling a compelling story if you merely watch the first 10 seconds of their video. Look for a cameraman whose work makes you feel like you're there in the moment.

    Find Your Style 

    There is no one "standard" method that weddings are filmed; each videographer has their own style. The sole criterion that should be used is if the finished product is something you want to see again and again. Do you like wedding videos that are more on the slow, dreamy, and romantic side? Do you prefer the exciting, humorous, and stimulating revisions? Whether or not you feel the need to play someone's video for your fiancé is an excellent indicator of how well you two will get along (typically accompanied by the phrase "babe - you have to check this out").

    *ONE CAVEAT* Any competent videographer may adjust their style to accommodate the wishes of the couple and the specifics of the wedding day. One video might not be enough to get a feel for their aesthetic, but a sampling of their best cuts should do the trick.

    Check The Connection

    Think about it: your wedding photographers and videographers will be there almost as much as your future spouse.

    • As most people don't regularly interact with a camera, feeling uneasy is to be expected when doing so for the first time. You seek a companion who eases your worries, provides comic relief, and boosts your confidence.
    • Cooperate properly with your photographer; you've hired them both for the sake of making your big day unforgettable. It's not a race, so they should both be striving for the same thing and cooperating to make it fun.
    • Never lose your cool in a high-pressure situation: Complications arise at every wedding, but if your videographer begins freaking out, it's hard to enjoy the day. They're responsible for the video; your only responsibility is to tie the knot. Don't worry about whether or not they're taking good pictures or catching the important moments.

    When you and your videographer are unable to establish a rapport during your initial phone conversation or in person, you may want to rethink hiring them.

    Examine The Questions, Not The Monologue

    Don't forget that you're investing in the videographer's abilities. They should probe for details about the big day and provide helpful advice. You should hire a professional who is interested in learning about your special day so they can help you tell the most beautiful version of your narrative, because no two weddings are the same (even if the format is).

    Note how many questions they ask throughout the phone or coffee consultation, and how eager they are to learn about your vision for the big day. They've already filed you away with their other videos if they do nothing but talk and never ask you any questions.

    Determine Your Price Range

    There's no real effort required to win this round. While a specific figure would be helpful in determining whether or not to engage a high-end videographer, it is not necessary to make that decision without first knowing your budget. A rough estimate (such as "about $3,500") might help you immediately exclude some of the videographers from consideration, since they will either be far above or far below your budget.

    Here are a few things we suggest strongly if you're choosing the low-cost or no-cost route:

    • It's always expected that you'll contribute: Be sure to compensate anyone who helps you, even if they are a close friend, sibling, or relative. As an example: When people get paid, they take what they're doing much more seriously. When it requires a lot of time and effort, giving a gift often gets pushed to the bottom of people's to-do lists.
    • Be willing to take a chance: When prices are reduced, quality and dependability tend to suffer as a result. You can expect that things might not go precisely as planned if you hire your second cousin twice removed to take pictures of your wedding. Hiring a pro ensures a job well done and relieves stress.

    First, gather as many sources as you can. Friends who have just been married will gladly impart their knowledge (and likely show you their wedding video). If you have already hired a wedding photographer, they should be able to recommend a talented videographer as well. Get some popcorn and settle in with a bowl of references as you peruse the submitted portfolios.

    Three full wedding films that your videographer has made are highly recommended (not just their "best" bits cropped from films). Consider how you feel as you watch each wedding; if you find yourself enthralled and moved, it's a sign that the videographer did a great job. Good videographers may make you feel like you're actually in the wedding itself. Perhaps most significantly, it makes you wish you'd been invited.

    Take note of the videographer's website when you're having a mini-marathon of wedding films. Their online presence and website design may teach you a lot. To the extent that their website is polished and up-to-date, they are likely to produce high-quality video footage and edits.

    Figure out what kind of filmmaking appeals to your tastes. When you hire a videographer with a documentary style, they will capture your wedding as it happens and intersperse that footage with interviews of friends and family. Some photographers want to tell a story with their images, arranging the events of your wedding day into a linear progression. Some people will just videotape whatever happens throughout the day and then edit it together later. Don't keep quiet when there's a song you want to hear together again, whether it's the one that gave you chills the first time you heard it or the one that played when you first met.

    Communicate with the person you're thinking of hiring as your videographer to make sure you click. You should definitely set up a face-to-face meeting with your wedding day photographer because they will play a significant role in your big day and will be closely following you from dawn to night. You won't be nervous in front of the camera when you hire the correct videographer. A hidden camera won't be noticeable to you at all!

    Hire the Person Whose Style Most Closely Matches Yours 

    Videographers, like photographers, have their own unique methods for creating compelling footage. While every filmmaker puts a unique spin on their videos, most of them can be grouped into a select few aesthetic categories.

    Cinematic

    We will find that cinematic videographers are the most common. The editing and visual style of these films most closely resemble those of actual motion pictures.

    Video Journalistic / Documentary

    Video journalism, like documentary photography, attempts to record events as they happen on camera. That implies that in addition to the main events, like as the ceremony and the reception, the film will also feature footage of the bride and groom getting ready, guests mingling before the ceremony, and so on.

    Storytelling

    To tell the story of your special day, a wedding film shot in the storytelling style may use clips of audio either captured on the big day itself or from another time and place. Sound bites are employed for dramatic impact in storytelling, much like music is in other genres of films.

    Nostalgic

    Super 8 film, often known as 8-millimeter film, has recently been popular for wedding videography due to its ability to record events with a nostalgic feel. Some filmmakers might utilize this film to record their entire day, or they might combine it with more modern filming techniques to create something truly special. Who will be recording on the wedding day? is another question that needs to be answered. Having multiple videographers present guarantees that no significant event will be missed. There could be multiple people from your videographer's crew there to film your big day. Assuming there is a certain individual with whom you'd like to collaborate, it's important to double-check his presence.

    You should try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with your videographer.

    Budget 

    Among the first questions that should ask your videographer is how much he will charge you for his services. Videographers frequently provide services as part of bundled packages that include their time, the video itself, any necessary edits, and any additional copies you may need. Check the details of each plan to ensure it contains what you require at a cost you can stomach. If the ceremony or reception is expected to last longer than anticipated, enquire about overtime rates to avoid any unpleasant surprises when the final bill arrives. Budgeting early for wedding day videography is recommended if it is a high priority for your big day. Having a photographer and a videographer present isn't cheap. If you don't have a particularly large budget, you may have to forego some other luxuries in order to afford having your day meticulously documented. If you want a professional videographer, you should allocate at least as much money as you would for a photographer.

    Coverage

    A key factor in determining how much money you'll need to allocate is the desired level of coverage, measured in hours. To what extent would you like the cameraman to capture your preparations and exit? One method to save money without sacrificing quality is to have your videographer capture only the most crucial moments of your big day.

    Delivery

    The video of your wedding will be a beautiful memento that you and your loved ones may watch again and again. Depending on his workflow and availability, your chosen videographer could finish your project in as little as eight weeks, or it could take him as long as a year. If you want to know how long it usually takes your videographer to complete a project, you should ask. The method of delivery for the final film and footage is another factor to think about when selecting a videographer. While every videographer has their own process, it's important to think about the following options for delivery while making your final decision. (Portable Disk Insert, Compact Disc, External Hard Drive, Cloud Storage) The video producing business may usually work with your specific requirements.

    Your videographer may provide you the option of having your movie posted online in addition to giving you the film or footage to use however you see fit. Vimeo is the platform of choice for most videographers. It is important to read the fine print to find out how long you will have access to the content online. Some videographers will keep your video online for as long as you like, while others will remove it after a year. This is an excellent query to put forth in interviews, together with inquiring as to what alternatives they may have in the event that the video is eventually removed.

    Most people find videographers to be distracting because of how much they move around during the ceremony, particularly in a church. If you don't mind this, though, that's fine. A static filming of the ceremony is required if this is not the case.

    Work out what you like, locate the appropriate person to perform it, and watch it over and over for the rest of your loved-up lives; this video will remind you of every moment of your wedding.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Videographers?

    A budget of $1000 – $3000 is a reasonable price range to afford a professional freelance videographer.

    Wedding videography can be a significant investment within your overall wedding budget. After all, video footage is one of the only elements from your big day that you'll be able to cherish for a lifetime.

    First and foremost, you will need a very good video camera to get high-quality shots that are very attractive to the eyes. The videographer you are hiring make room for dynamic focusing on demand from you, you will need to ask for it. Do not assume the videographer knows all that you want.

    You can use smartphones, tablets, DSLRs, or even a regular video camcorder to film your wedding day. I've also seen people use the laptop cameras to video and live stream their ceremonies to six countries. You don't need to purchase or rent an expensive professional camera.

    A documentary provides an honest record of true-to-life events. The same principle is used in a documentary-style pre-wedding videography. During the shooting, the couple is asked to act naturally and just do what they want. They can go to the places they love and do their favorite activities together.

    Scroll to Top