What you need to know to Select a Good Videographer for your Wedding Day
The majority of couples who choose not to hire a wedding videographer will wish they had done so afterwards.
Now you have selected a wedding venue, and we hope you selected a beautiful wedding castle you need to pick a wedding videographer to capture those memories.
Wedding videography in particular is best when it is discreet and observational – the equivalent of reportage photography. If the Videographer charges more for their work there is usually a good reason. It is advisable to watch several videos covering a wide price range before making your decision.
The digital camera is not the only thing that preserves moments. Moments that you have not seen in your wedding, reactions and emotions are well captured because of the different arts applied in video production.
It may be a tricky decision on whether to choose to have your Big Day filmed or not, and most couples will rank wedding viedoegraphy much lower on their lists than other wedding day essentials – however, failing to find the cash to fund one may be a decision you regret later.
Almost as important as the camera and the format is how good the videographer is. Its also nice to see sample here they are at “just the right place at just the right time” to catch a magical moment. You will know when you see a good sample and it means the videographer was focused and anticipating getting a great shot.
A few good samples should be enough to get a sense of their style and professionalism. Be especially aware of companies that over-use effects – this can often be to compensate for poor camerawork and stylistically your video could look very dated within a few years.
Sample DVDs will give you the truest sense of what you can expect from a videographer and you shouldn’t book them unless you are satisfied with this.
Be wary of companies that send you incomplete samples, examples that are several years old, or are wholly inappropriate.
The commonest weakness in ‘home video’ is the cameraperson constantly panning the camera left to right and back again, zooming in and out, all in one shot, from one location. Zooming and panning should be very rarely used.
The format will greatly affect the video quality, and the quality of any copies that are made, so keep that in mind. Here again, a good camera will only allow the best format to maintain the integrity of the camera.
Ask the Videographer if they are covered for Public Liability Insurance and, if possible, ask to see their policy. They should also have the appropriate copyright licences to record the wedding service and any other copyright material that is included in the video.
The wedding videography industry for example is relatively young and there is a huge variation in the way people operate. You could easily find your wedding day turned into a movie set as your videographer orders guests where to stand and how to ‘act’ for the camera. Whilst it is appropriate for a photographer to guide guests for formal shots, for a videographer to do this will only result in a contrived ‘home movie’.
Any interviews and guest messages should be filmed in a controlled environment to avoid distraction or poor sound recording. Those videographers who choose to spontaneously push a camera into someone’s face for comment will capture nothing but discomfort or trite responses.
You should where possible arrange to meet the videographer in person to assess their professionalism, interest and commitment to producing your film project. This is also the best time to ask questions about their experience, working methods and what is included in the price (see separate notes). If a meeting in person isn’t possible due to distance or timing, then you should at least have a chat over the phone.
Preliminary Questions:-
Are you the person who will be videotaping my wedding?
Will you have an assistant or other videographer with you on the day of my wedding?
Are you familiar with our ceremony and reception location?
(If No to above) Do you visit the ceremony and reception sites before the actual wedding date?
What is your style of video production? Documentary or cinematic?
How many years of experience do you have as a videographer?
Approximately how many wedding videos have you videotaped?
Cost Questions:-
What type of packages do you offer
Can you add in a photo montage, if so, what is the cost?
Does the package include titles for the video, if not, can it be added, and at what cost?
How many hours does this package include?
How is overtime calculated?Are ceremonies and speeches filmed in full?
Are video messages or interviews allowed?
Do they offer a choice of music?
How long will the finished film be?
Exactly how will be DVD be presented?
How many copies of the DVD are supplied?
Do they include highlights of the event?How much are additional copies?
How many cameras & operators?
Does the price include full editing?
How many hours attendance is included?
What sort of preparatory planning is provided?
Are travel costs included?
Do they have public liability & professional indemnity insurance?
Is VAT included?
What is your payment policy?
What is your cancellation policy
Do you offer a money back guarantee?
Equipment
What format do you use?
What type of equipment do you use?
Do you bring back up equipment with you to the wedding?
Do you have a wireless microphone?
Does he have liability insurance?
Methods
Do you edit the video after the event?
Who keeps the raw footage?
How long after the wedding does it take to receive the final product?
Most importantly on the day enjoy yourself and let the wedding videographer do his job. Hopefully you did your research and selected a good one – so trust him and try to forget that he is there and enjoy your wedding day. If you selected a wedding castle you will have a magnificent back drop for your wedding video. We hope you have a fantastic castle wedding.
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Filed under Wedding Photography by on Apr 4th, 2009. 
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