IN SEARCH OF A VIDEO PRO

From that breathtaking moment you glide down the aisle, to the close-up shot of you and your partner saying your “I Do’s”, having these memories on video means you can relive the day in all its glory for years to come. Rene Hart explores the fundamental elements to consider when looking for a wedding videographer who can perfectly capture the spirit and magic of your big day.

Your wedding day is one of the happiest days of your life, and you and your partner will want to cherish the memories forever. A videographer can capture every special moment as it happens. Your wedding video is a precious keepsake, which is why it’s important to find a professional who will capture your wedding day the way you would like to remember it. There are a few considerations to take into account when searching for a wedding videographer who shares your vision.

EXPERIENCE

Both knowledge and experience are two of the most important factors to consider when choosing someone to capture your special day. For many years after, you’ll look at your video to remember all of your favourite things from your wedding day, so you’ll want a videographer that knows how to catch all of the little details. Hiring an experienced videographer is one of the best ways to ensure this happens. Knowing how many weddings your videographer has worked on will give you an idea of the level of professionalism and experience you can expect to receive on your wedding day. You’ll also want someone who knows everything there is to know about their equipment and editing. The videographer should be equipped to handle unforeseen challenges, as well as anticipate the valuable and smaller moments that inexperienced videographers may miss.

PRODUCTION STYLE

An experienced videographer will ask questions about your vision and who you are as a couple. They should aim to capture and edit your video to fit your vision, while also incorporating their creative style. Not only do you want to get a sense of your videographer’s personal style, you also want to make sure their style aligns with yours. Make sure you and your videographer are on the same page about what is expected from the final product, as well as what kind of story you want your video to tell. Viewing samples of your videographer’s previous projects will give you a sense of their style of work. If you prefer your wedding video to resemble a movie, which may include a trailer at the beginning and montages set to music, a cinematic style will be a good choice. This involves the videographer shooting different scenes of your wedding, and editing them together later. If you’d rather incorporate raw footage of your wedding, choose a documentary-style video with natural sound and minimal special effects. These videos are generally shot consistently throughout the day, and show the progression of the wedding from start to finish.

EQUIPMENT

Although you may not be familiar with the technical terms behind video production, it’s a good idea to ask your potential videographer what kind of equipment they use. This will give you an idea of their level of expertise, as well as what the setup will look like on the day. Most videographers can get the job done with a camera that’s no larger than a photographer’s, however some video equipment can be obtrusive and may interfere with the ceremony, so you’ll want to make sure that your videographer’s equipment won’t get in the way. Having good sound and lighting is just as important as capturing a great picture. Your videographer should be able to capture the best sound and provide the best lighting for your wedding video. It’s a good idea to ask your potential wedding videographer how they will capture sound during the ceremony and reception. They may use lapel microphones for clearer footage, or they may plug straight into a celebrant’s PA system to ensure they capture every word of your ceremony.

PACKAGE OPTIONS

Many videographers offer a variety of packages to help you receive the services you’re looking for, and they should align with both your expectations and budget. Review the options carefully to make sure everything you want is included at a price that you’re comfortable with. The length of the video is an important factor to consider. Many videographers produce short trailers or highlight films of two to five minutes, which can easily be shared online. Other options include short-form wedding films of 10 to 20 minutes, as well as feature-length videos of 45 to 90 minutes. To ensure you know how much video time you’ll have throughout the day, make sure you determine how many hours you’d like to be filmed. Consider things like the length of the ceremony, whether you’d like getting ready shots, or if you want footage of everyone on the dance floor after dinner. All of these elements will determine how many hours you need your videographer to be present. Check that your package includes all of the important details, such as how many videographers you’ll have, as well as cancellation policies. If it’s not outlined in the contract, don’t assume it’s included in the package. To ensure you’re not surprised with any extra costs, remember to ask about overtime charges in case the ceremony or reception runs longer than expected.

TURNOVER TIME

Producing a wedding video is a lengthy process and there are many steps that your videographer will need to do before the film ready for viewing. They will need to go through all of the footage to piece together the story that will best represent your wedding day. After the footage is pieced together in a timeline, there is still music to add, as well as colour correction that the film may need. Throughout the post-production stage, the wait time varies between videographers. Depending on their editing process and schedule, you could wait anywhere from a week to months for your video. Ask your videographer what their typical turnaround time is, so you have an idea of when you’ll be able to see receive your video. Remember that a good wedding video takes time, so as long as you’re happy with the finished result, a long wait isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Capturing your wedding day through video is an investment – it’s something that you’ll be able to relive over and over again. Whether it’s capturing the first kiss or your first dance, you are spending money on solidifying memories for an entire lifetime. Make finding the right videographer a priority, and you’ll see it in the end result; a film of your wedding day that comes out exactly the way you imagined it would.