FAQ's
Questions to Ask Your Videographer!
Why Should I Hire a Professional Wedding Videographer?
Some
couples use a friend or family member to videotape their wedding day.
Would you have a friend or family member take all of your wedding
photographs ? Probably not. You don't want to have a friend or relative
running out of tape or camcorder batteries , not shooting important
activities, and taking shaky or bad footage. And chances are, you will
end up with a very uninteresting video that fails to capture the best
moments of your wedding, and it will sit unwatched for years to come. A
professional wedding videographer will tell the story of your wedding
day. Using creative camera work, a keen attention to detail, and
artistic editing using music, the right blend of effects and
transitions, the professional wedding videographer should produce a
wedding video you will watch often and be proud to show others.
When Should I Book a Wedding Videographer?
As
with your first choice for your ceremony, reception, and other vendors
the best wedding videographers will be booked first. You should meet
with videographers as you would photographers, if not earlier in your
planning process. There are fewer videographers than there are
photographers. Meeting with your wedding videographer eight months to
one year prior to your day is highly recommended.
How Much Will a Wedding Videographer Cost & is it Worth the Cost?
There
is a misconception that your wedding video should be less expensive
than your photographs. The training and experience are equally
extensive, the equipment used by both is costly, the time spent
producing a professional wedding video takes longer than producing your
photographs, and your video is a movie of your wedding day with sound.
A
professional wedding videographer should attend your rehearsal to meet
the Officiant, become familiar with the order of activities, and offer
ideas and assistance to improve the video A professional wedding
videographer will invest around $50,000 or more in equipment plus
training and experience Typical wedding day coverage includes two or
more digital video cameras with operators that shoot almost
continuously for five hours or more Your wedding video will take 20 to
50 hours or more to edit so that the raw footage is transformed into a
smoothly flowing story of your wedding day
And,
unlike Steven Spielberg or even your photographer, your wedding
videographer has only one take to capture your wedding day activities.
The ceremony or special events can't be stopped and done over if
something isn't perfect.
Your wedding videographer must be the:
*Producer *Director *Photo Manipulator
*Lighting Technician *Audio Engineer *Designer
*Cinematographer *Editor *Project Manager
and
they must perform all of these jobs well to produce the wedding video
that you hope for and deserve. Pricing varies depending on experience,
services offered, time spent, etc., but can easily range from $1,000 to
$7,000.
Q. How long have
you been in business?
A. A more experienced videographer should do a better job for you. Using an
established business means that they are in business for the long-term and
probably will not shut down next week.
Q. How many cameras do you use? Does that mean a
second videographer?
A. If you are having "two cameras",
then find out if that means a second videographer or just a camera on a tripod.
Having a second videographer is more expensive than just a camera on a tripod
(usually kept on wide angle). A second videographer can be well worth the extra
cost due to the extra coverage you will get. Be sure to discuss camera
placement and any videotaping restrictions ahead of time with your
videographer.
Q. How can I see samples of your work?
A. Be sure you are seeing samples of the actual
videographer who will be videotaping your wedding. This is especially important
when dealing with larger studios that may have several crews that they send out
on the weekend. Some videographers will send out demo tapes and others will ask
you to schedule an appointment to visit them. Some videographers have video
clips (called streaming video) on their website where you can view their work
while you are on the internet. If possible, try to meet with the videographer
before you sign the contract.
Q. What other services or special effects do you
offer?
A. This allows the videographer to talk about
what else they offer and how they may differ from other videographers. Some
examples are childhood/dating photo montage, wedding/honeymoon photo montage,
bridal preparations, love story video (the two of you describing how you met,
etc.), short-form video, highlight video, recap video, concept video, rehearsal
coverage, big screen presentation, etc. This is also a good time to ask the
videographer if they use special effects such as black & white,
sepia-toned, slow-motion, animation, etc
.
Q. What about the contract?
A. When you decide to hire the videographer, ask
to see a copy of the contract. Ask how much of a deposit is required and when
the remaining balance is due. Make sure everything you want in your wedding
video is spelled out. As it gets closer to your wedding day, the videographer
should request a "planning meeting" either over the phone or in
person. Most videographers are hired six months to one year in advance, so you
need to make sure nothing has changed. Ask your videographer if they will
attend your rehearsal - some videographers attend, some do not. It should also
state when you will get your finished video.
Q. What will you charge to videotape my wedding
based on the coverage I am looking for?
A. If you are on a certain budget, let the
videographer know that upfront. If your budget is flexible, wait to ask about
pricing until you have explained to the videographer what you are looking for
and after the videographer has talked about skill, equipment and service.. A
professional videographer with up-to-date digital cameras and non-linear
editing can start around $1000. A more seasoned professional offering many
extras can charge upwards of $5000 and more. These prices are only a guideline
as pricing can vary region to region. It is hard to put a price on talent
unless you view their work. Remember, your videographer is creating a family
heirloom. Great video is not expensive, but it is priceless!
