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7 Tips On How to Choose Your Wedding Videographer

Written by:

in The Wedding Market

Posted on March 16, 2015

Featured image: A bride interview from the 2013 season filmed by Coastline Studios

 

 

Guest post by Rebecca Dexter of Coastline Studios [Grand Rapids, MI], www.coastline-studios.com

 

 

Something that a lot of folks don't realize is that there is a huge difference between a wedding videographer that comes in a bundle with your DJ, and hiring wedding film-makers with professional equipment and beautiful story telling. However, with a pool of so many professionals, how do a bride & groom go about picking the right company for them? Are they graceful and romantic, or upbeat and in love with instagram filters? Do they want to share their film on facebook with friends, or will they just pop in a single camera shot of their ceremony every fifth anniversary?

 

 

Whatever you are looking for in your wedding film, here are seven things you should always consider before handing over the cash for coverage:

 

1) Style + Creativity

 

vid2 Image by Jessica Darling of http://blueflashphotography.com/

 

The most important thing, in my personal opinion, is finding a company who's cinematography and editing style are something that will reflect you and your wedding day. A lot of companies create beautiful romantic edits of a couple's wedding day, but are very cookie cutter... If their style matches your traditional wedding day and is everything you have ever dreamed of, then you may have found your perfect match. However, if you're offbeat, a DIY bride, or just simply not that traditional, don't settle! There are a lot of companies (such as the one I am proud to work for) that will find music, editing styles, filters, and use phenomenal storytelling in order to make sure your film reflects you and your big day.

 

Vincent Interview 5 A bride interview from the 2013 season filmed by Coastline Studios

 

When sifting through videographer’s websites you should be looking for sample videos that pull you into the video even though you don’t know the couple. As an editor, my goal is happy tears all around, whether you are the bride herself or a complete stranger. If you find you are bored while watching the video samples, that’s a good sign you should look elsewhere. However, if you can find yourself emotionally connecting with a video sample with strangers in it, then you have found a winner.

 

 

2) Coverage + Packages

 

 

There are so many options that you can choose from, and no two wedding film companies will have the same options. So, before you dive in, decide what is important to you. They may offer a beautiful cinematic film (some companies highlights are only 4 minutes, where our packages go all the way to 25 minutes), but does that include a trailer or online highlight you can share with your friends and loved ones? How about a full copy of your ceremony and reception, and if so, do you get them but only from one camera angle, or a finalized multi-camera sequence that is enticing and intriguing?

 

This is also the time to inquire about how many videographers are included in your package and for how many hours. It is important to find out about the team's past experience, and if you know you want a special cinematographer on the team it's important to check their availability before signing a contract. It's also a good time to think about how you will have to plan out your wedding day if your package only comes with 6 hours of coverage; whereas a 12+ hour package would cover every moment of your day without you having to change your timeline.

 

Make sure you read through package details carefully, and are stern in your interview process. The right videographer will have packages and a team that will fit your day and everything you want.

 

3) Communication

 

Personally, this is something I value. No bride ever wants to feel like just another day of wedding season, and if you find that you have to make a lot of phone calls or writing a lot of emails in order to get in contact with a company, that is a pretty good sign of their priorities...

 

What a bride does want is a company who values every phone call, offers sit down meetings before the big day to cover special needs, sends out video tutorials on what to expect (check out our behind the scenes films here and here), as well as questionnaires, and calls to venues and planners to make sure they are fully prepared for your day.

 

4) Equipment & Cameras

 

This is something the average bride could easily overlook, due to being uninformed in industry standards, but will impact the entire look, feel, and quality of the film you receive as a wedding client.  Ask your videographer what they shoot with. Is it High Definition or Standard Definition? What tools do they use for audio recording to get good sound? Do they use any tools to capture more creative or cinematic shots? The equipment used definitely plays a role in what the end product will look and sound like, and after asking a few professionals you are interested in about their equipment you'll begin to be able to get a feel for how the equipment used will impact your film.

 

Image by Jessica Darling of http://blueflashphotography.com/ Image by Jessica Darling of http://blueflashphotography.com/

 

5) Personality + Crew

 

Remember, not only are you hiring the camera crew that will capture your big day, but they'll be around you all day, and basically, guests at your wedding.  Do you “click” with this videographer? Can you get along with them and work with them well? In the 30 to 60 minutes you spend with the person in a consultation or on the phone, try to answer the question, “would I feel comfortable working with this videographer? Is it okay for them to be with my bridesmaids and I, will they be in my face and very aggressive, or maybe even too passive and uninvolved? Are they passionate about doing this, or is it just a hobby for them?” 30 to 60 minutes isn’t a lot of  time to know this for sure, but most people can subconsciously answer this question within minutes of meeting a person.  Make sure you have a team there that will compliment your wants and needs, and that understands how to assertively do their job in a professional, fun-filled manner without annoying guests or getting in the way.

 

6) Turn Around Time

 

Find out how long it will take to get your finished video. Believe it or not, the national average for editing and delivering a finished wedding video is around 9 months. Some videographers take even longer than that! A good target to aim for is 3 to 6 months, but longer times are acceptable if the end product is an involved or highly edited video. Anything longer than 9 months is a bit long in my opinion, but it all depends on the size of the company and the number of clients they are willing to take on.

 

7) Price

 

There are videographers in a wide range of prices and finding one of quality usually means you’ll need to spend about the same as what you’d spend on a good photographer, or more if you opt for special equipment, like a jib, a larger crew, or more hours of coverage in your package. Keep in mind that editing is the most time consuming part of videography, so a large part of the price is often determined by the quality of the end product (but that doesn't mean it is something you should skimp on). Something can be filmed beautifully, but without good post-production it won't be carried out in the final product. So make sure you love their style, that they put in the time and effort to finalize your shots, and that they color correct your final product to give you the best possible film both visually and emotionally.

 

If you are on a tight budget you can still get a high quality, simple wedding video, but it may not be as cinematic or creative as a higher-end priced product. Your wedding has value and is worth filming, and the day goes by so fast that it is easy to forget all the little moments. Make sure you invest in having someone there who can preserve those memories forever.

 

Remember that video can capture your wedding in ways that photography alone cannot. How you spoke your vows, or the emotion behind your maid of honor’s toast... and how could ever forget your best man rapping "Jump Around" before he even gets into his tux? There is the right team out there for you, make sure you find the one that delivers everything your heart desires.


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