I had one of my bridal couples come back to me several years ago, wanting to purchase a DVD copy of the wedding video I created for them on VHS tape in the late 1990’s.
Why? Because their children had literally worn out the original tape.
Video is one of only two services you will purchase for your wedding day that will live longer than the day itself (unless you freeze some of your cake). If you’ve considered this, and are unsure if Uncle Bob and his camcorder are up to the task, here are five questions to ask when shopping for a professional videographer:
First: What styles of wedding video do you like? Videographers, like photographers, have different styles. Borrow friends’ wedding videos, amateur and/or professional, and watch them to get an idea of what things you like and what aspects don’t appeal to you as much. A clear idea of what you want will make your choices much easier.
Second: How much money do you want to spend? My rule of thumb is simple: however much you expect to spend for photography, you should expect to spend about the same amount for about the same quality of video. A professional videographer typically brings more equipment than a photographer (as befits someone capturing images, motion and sound), and spends more time after the wedding editing the final product. You can spend more on video than photography, or less. Just be aware that the product quality will rise or fall accordingly.
Third: When you go shopping, ask how experienced is the videographer? Weddings have only one opportunity to get things right. An experienced videographer brings backup equipment and anticipates events throughout the day, drastically reducing the chance of something important getting missed.
Fourth: How much attention do they pay to audio? Audio is 50% of your video. Professional wireless microphones on the groom, the officiant and the musicians are essential, as is an audio feed for the reception toasts. Your wedding video should not sound like it’s coming from the bottom of a tin can.
Fifth: Ask your married friends about their experience with video. Find other couples who’ve had their wedding videotaped and ask them if they wish they’d spent more or less than they did on video. It’s also interesting to ask couples who did not opt for video if they would approach it differently if they had it to do over again.
Armed with the answers to these questions, you’ll be much happier with your choice of wedding videographer. So will your children.
Guest blogger Alan Fitch owns Life Events Video Production and has been preserving wedding days professionally since 1987.
