Wedding Videography Guide
Why should I hire a wedding videographer?
When planning a wedding there are countless decisions one has to make. How many people are we going to invite? What kind of food do we want to serve? What colors do we want to have? As someone who has planned my own wedding, I get it! One thing I always tell potential clients is that no matter what, hire a wedding videographer! Whether you go with my company or one of the other talented wedding videography companies in the Greater Seattle area, I think wedding videography is an absolute necessity when it comes to planning and budgeting for your wedding.
Wedding photography is an essential service as well but while wedding photography can capture certain moments from your wedding, wedding videography captures the “moments between the moments.”
All of those little things you don't think about at the time; laughing with your friends, your partner’s nervous energy as you walk down the aisle.
It’s these little intangibles that all come together when creating a memorable wedding video and something that I don’t believe any wedding couple should be without.
A recent poll found that of the over 1100 recently married brides who were surveyed, 79% of them regretted not having a wedding video! That’s 4 out of every 5 brides, and that is a remarkable number when you think about it.
Cost
Weddings are expensive! Everything involved with a wedding- whether it be the chairs, the food, or the flowers- seems to cost more than it would normally.
When corresponding with many of my potential wedding clients, I have found that when budgets get tight and things need to be cut, their budget for a wedding videographer seems to be one of the first things to go.
This pains my heart when I think about it because twenty years down the road, your food will be gone, chances are you won’t remember the colors of the chairs you sat on at the reception, but your wedding video will still live on. You can show it to your children, and grandchildren. You can sit down every anniversary and watch it with your partner, reliving every moment of your special day. What other service can provide that?
Tradition
“Not everybody has a wedding video, so why do I need one?”
This is a thought that crosses a lot of couples’ minds. Their parents didn’t have a wedding video, lots of their friends didn’t have one and they are under the assumption that they will be fine without one as well.
When meeting and talking to potential clients at the numerous wedding shows I attend, often times I find that it’s the parents of the bride and the friends of the bride who end up gravitating towards my table.
Do you want to know why?
They REGRET not having a wedding video and they know how much they would pay in hindsight to have one. I am constantly in shock with the number of conversations I have with people (even family and friends of my own) who deeply regret not having a wedding videographer there to help capture their day.
Comfort
Not everybody wants to parade around in front of a video camera. I get it! There’s a reason I’ve spent the better part of 10 years building a career where I appear BEHIND the video camera, it’s easier and far more comfortable. Most people don't have the desire to appear in front of the camera, and that’s completely fine.
The most successful wedding videos are the ones when the couple is real and authentic. Don’t be scared away by the thought of appearing on video. Your wedding videographer will be inconspicuous and won’t make you feel awkward, I promise you! Your children and grandchildren will thank you.
What things to consider when selecting a wedding videographer?
Now that we’ve gone through some of the reasons to hire a wedding videographer, what should you keep in mind when trying to select which wedding videographer you want to hire for your wedding day?
style
What kind of style do you want for your wedding video? There’s a lot to choose from. Maybe you want a more stylized look or maybe you want something with audio captured from the ceremony? Every wedding videographer’s style is different and I encourage you to watch 4 or 5 wedding videos from each company’s portfolio in determining which particular shooting and editing style you like the best.
Personality
Your wedding videographer is as involved in your wedding day as your wedding photographer, so I would recommend making sure that you are all on the same page. Most of the time my wedding clients book me for as many hours as the wedding photographer, therefore we are going to be in close quarters for a majority of the wedding day. From getting ready in the hotel room in the morning, to sharing the dance floor with your partner for your first dance, your wedding videographer is going to be there every step of the way. Make sure it is somebody you get along with, and trust!
What comes in the package?
Each wedding videography company offers different wedding video packages depending on time needed or deliverables the client is looking for. Some companies charge a flat daily rate, and some charge by the hour.
It's important to see what you are getting with each wedding videography package provided, but it is even more important to see what you are NOT getting.
Some companies may provide a more expensive all-inclusive package. Other companies might charge a lower starting rate which requires the couple to pay extra to receive custom options such as a full ceremony edit, wedding toasts or RAW video delivery.
Whichever way you look at it, the number isn't always the most important factor. A cheaper option might seem great until you realize that it only includes a 3-5 min highlight video and none of the ceremony or toasts. Make sure you do your research and compare a variety of options before deciding on which company to hire for your wedding videography.
Turnaround Time
One of the first questions I get from wedding couples during the booking process is, “How soon will I get my wedding video?” That is a GREAT question.
You’ve spent a year or more getting ready for your wedding, sweating over every little detail. You don't want to have to wait a long time to relive all of the wonderful details from your wedding day.
Every company’s turnaround policy is different and I would recommend going over it with them in detail.
My goal is to have your wedding video edited and ready for you to view 1-4 weeks following your wedding day. Some videography companies promise you will receive your video in “one year or less.”
Other wedding videography companies will finish your wedding video in a few months. Just make sure you are comfortable with whatever turnaround time policy your particular wedding videography company has.
Music
Music licensing for your wedding video is very serious. There are many wedding videography companies that do not follow the proper steps in order to ensure that you have a legally licensed song for your wedding video. This puts you and your wedding videography company at risk for lawsuits coming from the record companies in retaliation for unlicensed music.
For example, Ed Sheeran’s record company (as well as any major recording artist) does not allow his music to be used in wedding videos. Any company doing so is in violation of music copyright laws. Make sure you work with a company who will take the time and the money to legally license a song just for you and your individual wedding video. There are thousands of artists in all styles and genres of music who who you can use legally in your wedding video. You may find companies that illegally source music, but if they are flexible enough with their morals to illegally use a song in your wedding video, what does that say about the ethics of the company in general?
In Conclusion
I hope that this article answered some questions you may have had about wedding videography. Did I miss anything? Do you have a follow up question? Please feel free to email me directly at reid@bestmadevideos.com. I want this to be a living article where I can continue to add advice and insights for years to come. Best of luck in your wedding planning!
Cheers!
- Reid, Owner - Best Made Videos®