Wedding Videography

The choice of filming your wedding day will provide you with the opportunity to view your wedding ‘in action’ for many years after the event. 

So where do you start when it comes to choosing a videographer for your wedding? By doing some careful research you are bound to find a videographer that suits your personality, style and budget and who will leave you with images of beautiful memories to treasure forever.

Although it may seem to be a somewhat daunting task, choosing a wedding videographer is a very important part of planning your wedding.  By following a few simple steps, you can be rest assured that all should go well on your special day.

Shop Around

Be sure that you shop around for a wedding videographer.  The first port of call is to ask friends or family, who have recently married, for advice and referrals.  Remember that word of mouth is often the best form of advertising.  Take the time to also browse through The Bride Guide, bridal magazines, the internet and your local phone book in order to jot down a few videographers who may be of interest to you.

It’s a good idea to make appointments with (approximately) three separate videographers before you book.  Meet with each one and decide who appeals to your personal style and needs.  Ensure that you feel comfortable with the videographer in terms of their personality as well as their artistic abilities.

Most of all, remember that you only have one chance at getting the wedding footage of your dreams, so make sure that you are completely confident in your final choice of videographer.  If not, keep searching until you find the right one.

Once you’ve made a few appointments to meet with some videographers, consider what it is that you actually require from them and what your expectations are, both in terms of their personal style and their work. 

Discuss this with your fiancé, taking into consideration what you require in terms of the videographer’s personality, attitude, and image.  You need to find someone who is on ‘the same page’ as you.
Ensure that you feel relaxed around the videographer.  Some will try to tell you what they think you want, however the best choice is a videographer who will suggest ideas, however will ultimately LISTEN to what you want.

At the end of the day choose someone who you feel comfortable with, that will offer direction without trying to take over your wedding!

Ensure that you prepare some questions to ask your videographer before you meet with them.
The list below may be of assistance to you.

• Do they have recent examples of their work?  This will usually be in the form of demo DVDs or videos.  Ensure that the footage that you view is an example of the actual videographer’s individual work; rather that of someone else’s who works for the same company/studio.
• Is the videographer that you actually meet with (at your appointment) the one who will be filming on the day?  Many studios have more than one videographer, and the one that you meet with may not necessarily be the one who is booked for your ceremony.
• How long has the videographer been working in the industry, and what are their qualifications?  Experience is something that may make a considerable difference when it comes to wedding videography.
• Is the videographer (or studio) accredited with any professional associations?  In Australia, the two to look for are, The Australian Video Producer’s Association (AVPA) and The Australian Bridal Industry Academy (ABIA).
• Does the videographer use film or digital cameras (or both)?  Does the videographer have back up equipment?  How many cameras are used on the day?  If you are familiar with filming equipment, you may wish to ask about the type of cameras used, type of lenses etc.
• How much does the videographer charge?  This is a tricky one.  Ensure that you know exactly what you are getting and how much it will cost.  See the section below for more information on costs involved with wedding videography.
• Does the videographer sign a contract with you, what does it involve and does he/she guarantee their work?  Ensure that if you are to sign a contract with your videographer that you have read it in it’s entirety and understand it.  It may be a good idea to compare contracts from one videographer to the next to ensure that you are getting the ‘best deal’.  Always obtain a copy of the original for your record.
• Are you able to choose your own music for the film?
• How long does the videographer take to prepare, edit and deliver your footage after your wedding?
• Are there any extras that you should know about?  Many videographers offer an array of extras when it comes to wedding photography.  These may include options such as extra copies, footage on VHS, pre-wedding footage, extra editing and special effects.

Be sure to think about any other questions that you’d like to ask your videographer.  Take your list along with you and don’t be afraid to write your answers down during your appointment.

When meeting with your videographer, you will be given the opportunity to view some demo discs of their work.  When given this opportunity, you should know what to look for in order to choose an experienced and professional videographer.
Here are some things to consider when viewing demo discs:

• Firstly think about your first impressions.  Do you like what you see?  Do the images catch your eye?
• What emotion do you feel when viewing the disc?  Do you sigh in awe or disappointment from the footage?
• Is the footage the type that you dream of, or dread for your wedding video?
• Do the bride and groom look natural or ‘set up/posed’?
• Do the people on the film look content and happy?
• Are the colours in the footage bright and crisp, and of a good clarity?
• Is the sound of good quality?
• Can you clearly hear what people are saying?  Ensure that you view footage of the exchanging of the vows.  You need to ensure that the sound is of good quality, especially for important times such as these.  Ensure that the sound is not constantly masked by music?
• Is the footage in focus?
• Is the lighting good?
• Is the technical aspect good?
• Are there any special effects?
• Is the editing professional and appealing to you?
• Are the DVDs well presented in their case?
• Is the footage of a style that suits your taste and budget?  Are there several styles to choose from?

Do not be afraid to be critical when viewing demo discs.  You will no doubt be paying good money for your wedding videography, and you only get one chance at filming your special day!

So, how much is all this going to cost you?  Well, how long is a piece of string? 
The cost of wedding videography will vary from one videographer to the next.  You should however find a very ‘general’ consensus amongst them in terms of the different fees that they may charge and optional extras.

Obviously you will need to find a videographer that suits both your personal style as well as your budget.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that the more expensive videographers are necessarily the best, as this is not always the case.

Whilst it may be best to avoid ‘cheap’ videographers (as you may end up with just that - a ‘cheap’ wedding video’), some lower cost alternatives may be able to provide you with the footage of your dreams.

Set a budget and stick to it, and then try to find a videographer who is able to meet your financial commitment without skimping on quality.  You should be able to find a middle of the range videographer who will suit all of your filming requirements as well as your pocket!

As a general idea, the costs that you may come across in relation to your wedding video may include the following:

• A set price package deal, including filming of pre-wedding events (Bride and groom’s home etc), wedding ceremony, photo shoots, reception, a copy of the DVD, editing, special effects etc.  You will need to read through the inclusions thoroughly to ensure that you are aware of what is included.
• Location fees.  Some videographers may charge a fee if they are required to travel over a certain distance for your wedding.  These may also apply if you wish to have your wedding filmed at various locations throughout the day.
• Fees to stay throughout the entire reception (after the wedding ceremony).
• Fees for extra editing or special effects.
• Fees for extra filming (the videographer may have a limit on the amount that they will film on the day).
• Fees for different styles of videography.  For example your videographer may only provide digital footage and you may request other styles of footage (VHS etc).
• Fees for an assistant.
• Fees for extra copies of the DVD.
• Fees to have your footage placed on the internet.
• Fees for other custom designed options.

Once you have decided upon a wedding videographer, it’s a good idea to meet with them in advance to plan for your filming.  This should allow both you and your videographer to gain an understanding of how the day should proceed and also ensure that your filming needs are met.

Discuss locations for shoots and take into consideration the time it will take to travel to each, the weather (have some back up locations in case of inclement weather), sunset times, traffic, and ceremony and reception start and finish times.

With all of these considerations, you should be able to choose a great videographer and look back on your wedding footage for years to come, reflecting back on one of the happiest days of your life!