Professional Videographers
A new trend is to send guests a “save-the-date” video invitation advising them of your upcoming wedding and giving a hint of things to come.
A primary concern when choosing a videographer is experience. The person behind the camera should be able to prove to you that he's not practicing his skills on your special day. The videographer should be capable of being creative as well as detail oriented. Many amateur videographers start out by working on weddings, so don’t be caught by them learning from their mistakes on your wedding day. Don't hire someone without speaking with him/her first, knowing their background and seeing a sample of their work. It is also advisable to ask others you trust about who did their wedding videography and if it came out the way they wanted.
First, gather information to try and make an educated decision that is right for you. The first question many people ask is “What is the cost for a wedding video?” For those who are inclined to be more discriminate and place a little more value on quality, you will have some decisions to make and you'll be glad you did. In reality, if you look carefully at finding the right photographer, you most likely won't be impressed with the people offering cheap wedding videography services.
When it comes to cost vs value, your investment to hire a really good videographer is almost intangible when comparing the talent, expertise and investment in the time required to produce a video that's worth watching.
A truly talented videographer and those who love their work will work hard to provide couples with something beyond the ordinary. Shooting the video is only the beginning of the process, creating a finished product that is cinemagraphic, emotional, romantic, and yet relaxed, is an art and consideration should be placed on its long term value.
Short list some potential candidates and arrange to meet them in person so that you can talk to them and view their work. Ask to watch a complete wedding video and not just clips from an array of weddings. Points to look out for are smooth and steady coverage, good framing and composition, adequate lighting and clear sound.
Audio quality should not be overlooked. Your videographer should be able to provide sufficient microphones and understand the principles of acquiring good audio for your video.
If possible, try to see a video of a wedding filmed at a similar location and time of day to that which you have planned for your big day. Ask the videographer for names of his last three or four clients for references.
Ask questions like: Do they offer packages and if so what do these include? Do they have an assistant to help them on the day and back up equipment should anything go wrong? How many cameras will they be using? If you’re dealing with a studio be sure to indicate in your contract the specific person you want to shoot your wedding video.
Your videographer’s skills and the type of equipment he uses will have a dramatic effect on the quality and outcome of your video. You have a range of special effects at your disposal such as fade outs and fade ins, animated images and graphic titles. Baby pictures and honeymoon scenes can also be edited in. Be weary of too much sepia, colour tints, special effects and anything that feels dated.
Contemporary video styles may be classified into the following categories:
Straight shot or straight cut covers the ceremony and reception from beginning to end; only one camera is used and there is no editing, making this the least expensive option and the quickest to produce.
Documentary (short form) features ceremony and reception highlights, and interviews with the bride and groom
Romantic is a moderately edited format, usually beginning with stills of the couple from childhood and following their courtship up to the actual wedding day: this might also include interviews with the bride and groom, family and friends.
Timing is imperative if you want the videographer to keep up with the fundamental action. Provide your videographer with a schedule of events in advance and nominate someone at the wedding to advise him who’s who. With that taken care of, you can relax.
A special moment to capture might feature the flower girl or ring bearer being asked what their duty is or a question about what the wedding means.
Due to smaller, more light sensitive cameras, the videographer’s presence should hardly be noticed on your wedding day. This ability to blend into the back ground has resulted in videographers developing their own distinctive styles and approaches, giving you more freedom of choice.
Some wedding videos take months to complete so when you sign your contract make sure you have an idea of when you can expect to receive the finished product. Also find out exactly what you’re getting and whether you’ll have any say in the editing stages. Ask whether you will receive only the edited copy of the wedding video or if your videographer will also supply the raw footage (which is all the material shot during the course of the day).
It’s that extra time spent editing in the videography studio that makes all the difference.
Remember, your videographer will be with you throughout your wedding day so choose someone you feel confident will interact well with both you and your guests. You will find that your photo album and video will compliment each other. You should arrange to reserve your photographer and videographer as soon as you secure your venue. Some dates can be in reservation over a year in advance. Hire the best photographer and videographer that you can afford.
