It may be tempting to forgo hiring a professional video production company or to ask a friend to take videos, but trust us when we say that failing to do so is one of the top wedding regrets for couples who don’t. If you’re on a tight budget, there are better solutions than skipping beautiful videos; instead, use these frugal tips to save money on wedding videos.
- How long have you been in the wedding industry?
Make sure your filmmaker is ready for everything because weddings are “run and gun” shooting scenarios with no setups or second takes. In addition to being prepared for unforeseen difficulties, they must also foresee priceless, minute details that less seasoned vendors could overlook, such as the groom’s tender glance at the bride and his impending squeeze of her hand, which requires the camera to pan down.
- How many videographers will be in charge of filming my wedding?
You should hire two videographers to create a unique and engaging wedding video, and they should be booked via the same agency. It is crucial to have multiple views during the ceremony, and typically more than one videographer is required. To guarantee that they collaborate well with your photographers and avoid getting in each other’s way (and into each other’s photographs!), keep the number of them to a maximum of three.
- Have You Worked With Other Wedding Videographers Before?
Asking your other vendors for recommendations for videographers may be a more successful strategy than searching for wedding videos on blogs (guilty as charged!). Every cinematographer will claim you are “unobtrusive, but this is a subjective term. Therefore it’s best to consult your other vendors. This is how you rate a potential vendor (who knows from experience).
- How would you describe your production style?
A competent video production company should be able to describe their video style with clarity. With a teaser at the start and montages set to music, a wedding film in the cinematic style resembles a movie and necessitates more intensive editing. More realistic sound is incorporated into documentary or journalistic recordings, and the order of the video will reflect how your wedding day unfolded. Videos with a retro aesthetic can be made with 8mm tapes or filters after the fact. It may be a problem if a seller describes their style differently from how you would interpret it.
- What parts of the wedding day do you film?
At first look, this could seem like a simple inquiry, but as you examine a possible vendor’s films, you might find that specific parts of the wedding day still need to be included. One of the most common complaints in our sector is that couples didn’t realize some things wouldn’t be captured on camera.
- What kinds of equipment does your video production company use?
The days of videographers arriving at a wedding with large, flashy cameras on wheels are long gone (well, at least they should be). Nowadays, most vendors utilize smaller, more identical cameras and gear than your photographer would. A skilled videographer should have a backup camera at all times.
- How do you handle the music for the wedding film?
Your wedding video’s soundtrack sets the mood, and in the film below, the upbeat tune and evocative lyrics transport you to paradise alongside the happy couple! Tell your videographer what genres of music you enjoy (and detest) so they can incorporate them into the video. They should be receptive to your suggestions, and you should respect their judgment because they know the tunes that will be most effective for editing. Inquire whether they’ll be using licensed music (especially for anything posted online).
- What types of packages do you offer?
Videographers either use all-inclusive plans or à la carte pricing. The length of the videos should be taken into account. Many videographers create brief highlight or trailer films (2–5 minutes) that are simple to publish online. Other choices include feature-length videos and short wedding flicks (10–20 minutes) (45-90 minutes). Asking for raw video exclusively could make sense if you’re on a low budget. But remember that unprocessed video is precisely that—unprocessed. Although there will be camera movement and blocked shots, you may always have the movie edited after the fact.
- How is the footage recorded? How do you deliver the final product?
Find out if your videographer records the footage on tapes or hard drives. You always have a permanent backup using cassettes. Find out how they back up their work if they utilize hard disks. Please find out how many precise copies you will receive once the video is prepared; they will deliver it on a DVD or Blu-Ray.
- When can I expect to see my wedding video?
While some videographers take up to a year, others can complete a video in as little as eight weeks. An extensive procedure is involved in creating a wedding film, and numerous phases must be completed before it is ready for viewing. The editors must gather and review the video before beginning to put the tale together that will best capture your wedding day.
