What to Look for When You Hire a Wedding Videographer

If you are getting married then you will want to preserve the memories of your wedding for the rest of your life, and while photographs are a good way of doing that, video is even better. A good videographer will capture living memories of your special day, so you can watch the ceremony and the celebrations whenever you feel like it.

Recording video is a skill, though, and one that is harder than it looks. Sadly, there are a lot of wedding videographers out there who are ‘people with good cameras’ who think that is all that it takes to do a good job. Anything relating to weddings tends to be quite expensive, and those people are trying to cash in on that expense. As someone planning a wedding, you want to find the best videographer you can afford – one that will get the best footage possible first try, because you’re not going to want to repeat your vows just to “get another shot”!

Finding a Good Wedding Videographer

A good wedding videographer should have a large portfolio of weddings that they have worked on. They should be happy to show you previous weddings that they have worked on, and – most importantly, you should like that footage. There is more than one style to filming – it could be that you don’t like the soft focus, the camera movement, the way they use zoom, or the angles they use. It could be that there’s something specific you love about the way that a certain video looks. Don’t choose a videographer based on price or convenience then ask them to change the work they do – find one that you like the work of and then try to agree on the details.

Another thing to consider is how well you get on with the videographer in question. You don’t have to be best friends with them, but it does help if they are personable. Ideally, they will be busy and out of the way most of the time. With that said, you will have to interact with them and so will your guests, so make sure that you won’t find their presence irritating.

Consider getting in touch with some of the couples that have worked with the videographer before and asking for references. Ask them whether they were happy with the footage they were given and whether it was supplied in a timely fashion. In addition, ask how the videographer conducted themselves at the wedding. It’s unlikely that you will hear any horror stories about them getting drunk and insulting a bridesmaid, but it’s a good idea to ask just in case!

Make sure that you discuss the package that you are buying clearly, in advance. Are you getting a fully edited DVD? Will it cover the wedding and the reception? Will there be footage or shoots separate from the main service itself? If you know what to expect in advance it will make the day less stressful because you will have one less thing to think about, and it will help to avoid any frustration or disappointment after the event.

Any good wedding videographer will be happy to explain to you exactly what they are offering, and will accommodate any requests, within reason, to “pay special attention to the uncles from Australia” or “get a few extra shots of my niece” that might make the video even more special for you. It’s your day, and they will want to help record exactly the memories that are most important for you.

Jared Lee

Jared Lee is a co-founder of San Francisco Bay area video production company, Level 2 Productions, LLC. Jared is passionate about videography and creating unique and memorable video content.

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