Wedding Videography

Amongst my own circle of friends and acquaintances, there is a large disagreement about whether or not wedding videography is worth it or not.  So, using this scientific data, I would assume that the difference in opinion on this issue spreads out to the general population as well.

In my opinion, photography and videography are at the very top of my wedding budget priority list.  After spending significant amounts of time and money on one day that will go by in a blur, I want documentation!  Plus, if you do not record if something like this happened you will regret not having it to laugh at for the rest of your life!

Besides for vanity, there are other great reasons to record your wedding.  First of all, 20 years from now it will be adorable to see how cute your little nephew was.  Additionally, let’s face it, not everyone attending your wedding may be around for your entire life.  Documenting loved ones is always a priority to me.  Lastly, and maybe one of the biggest reasons why I will video my wedding, is as a gift to our future children.  They did not get to be there, but I still want them to understand how our family was started.

Many of the same principles apply when selecting a wedding videographer as the photographer.  Here is a list of some things that you need to decide:

1.  Know which moments you want caught on tape, and even which type of shots you want.  For example, I want a camera on my fiancé’s face to get his reaction when I walk down the aisle.  

2.  How long do you want a videographer for?  Do you want to film the bridal party as they are getting ready and preparing for the day?  Do they need to stay for the entire reception?

3.  How many cameras do you want?  One just might not cut it to capture everything going on…

4.  What type of finished product do you want?  The editing and forming of the final wedding video is just as important as the actual filming skills.

There are many things that will affect what the final product looks like.  First of all, is there a slide show of photographs that will be presented at the wedding?  If so, these should be included on the wedding video somewhere. 

Additionally, quality of sound will make a huge difference in the final product.  Spend some time learning about the recording devices to ensure that anything important spoken at the wedding and reception will be clear on the tape.  This may include exchanging of the vows, toasts, and interviews.  Additionally, at some points it may be necessary to do sound editing to overlay a digital copy of the music played at the wedding etc.  Be sure to find out if your videographer can do that.

The two most important things to keep in mind when choosing any vendor for your wedding are the following:

1. get everything you agreed on in writing and signed
2. choose someone you feel comfortable with

First of all, verbal promises are worthless.  If you ever have a problem with a vendor, the only way you have any leverage at all would be if you had agreements in writing.  Even if you do not anticipate any problems – get it all in writing!  This will help you if you ever need to take legal action, file a complaint with an agency such as the BBB, etc.  Additionally, this will help you understand exactly what you are getting for your money.  This is absolutely the only way to guarantee that you and your videographer are eon the same page. 

Tip: include dates and times on the contract.  For example, just to be clear, make sure that the wedding date and times are correct on the contract.  In addition, make sure that there is a clear timeline for when you are to receive the finished product. 

Choosing someone you are comfortable with is always the best way to go.  This person will be at on of the most important events of your life and interacting with all the people you love most in the world – so trust me, character is important.  The best thing you can do is to get word of mouth referrals from people you know.  If this is not possible, then be sure to get references and actually check them out!  Look, a scam artist can easily rip off other companies demo tapes and market them as their own.

Here are some things you can look for when evaluating a wedding videographer and other wedding vendors:

1. Do they respond timely to phone calls and emails?  First of all, every single customer they have will have questions, so do not feel bad for asking them.  If they are not addressing your questions and concerns promptly, then they are not professionals and you should no do business with them.
2. Do they explain things clearly?  Make sure you understand their quote. 
3. Are they up to speed on the latest technology?  You will have to do your own research to find this out.  It is important to do your own research and ask some technical questions.  Even if you do not understand it all, if they can answer then it shows they know what they are doing.

Lastly, the single most important thing you can do is shop around and compare.  Otherwise, you will never know what you are getting.  Do not be afraid to negotiate if the videographer you want is more expensive than the competition.  Tell them that X company is going to provide the same services at a lower price but you would prefer to do business with them.