For every married couple who doesn’t mind that they don’t have an official video of the day, there are ten others who regret not pushing the financial boat out that little bit further to get their hands on one.
Now you have selected a wedding venue, and we hope you selected a beautiful wedding castle you need to pick a wedding videographer to capture those memories.
Cost is directly linked to the level of service and the expertise of the Videographer.
Video production is one of the most sought after services of today. This kind of services has done well for wedding celebrations.
The digital camera is not the only thing that preserves moments. Every bride and groom will be making memories in a detailed way.
It may be a tricky decision on whether to choose to have your Big Day filmed or not, and most couples will rank wedding viedoegraphy much lower on their lists than other wedding day essentials – however, failing to find the cash to fund one may be a decision you regret later.
Almost as important as the camera and the format is how good the videographer is. A good videographer will be able to pan and zoom smoothly and seamlessly, and can avoid any sudden movements.You will know when you see a good sample and it means the videographer was focused and anticipating getting a great shot.
A few good samples should be enough to get a sense of their style and professionalism. Be especially aware of companies that over-use effects – this can often be to compensate for poor camerawork and stylistically your video could look very dated within a few years.
If you are satisfied with the samples you see online, the next thing to do is ask for a sample DVD.
Any professional videographer will be able to send you at least 2 complete for your appraisal that are relevant to your type of event.
The commonest weakness in ‘home video’ is the cameraperson constantly panning the camera left to right and back again, zooming in and out, all in one shot, from one location. After a short while you get dizzy watching it, and the result is almost impossible to edit or watch.
You must read the small print of the contract in order to determine exactly what you will get for your cash as this does vary greatly, but on the whole you can expect the presence of a skilled and qualified videographer at your ceremony and your Reception, with a fully edited and professional movie supplied on the format of your choice.
The format will greatly affect the video quality, and the quality of any copies that are made, so keep that in mind. Here again, a good camera will only allow the best format to maintain the integrity of the camera.
Anyone operating a professional wedding video service should have Public Liability Insurance, even though they are not legally bound to do so. They should also have the appropriate copyright licences to record the wedding service and any other copyright material that is included in the video.
The wedding videography industry for example is relatively young and there is a huge variation in individual methodology. You could easily find your wedding day turned into a movie set as your videographer orders guests where to stand and how to ‘act’ for the camera. Whilst it is appropriate for a photographer to guide guests for formal shots, for a videographer to do this will only result in a contrived ‘home movie’.
Any interviews and guest messages should be filmed in a controlled environment to avoid distraction or poor sound recording. Those videographers who choose to spontaneously push a camera into someone’s face for comment will capture nothing but discomfort or trite responses.
If you can arrange to meet the videographer in person to assess their professionalism, interest and commitment to producing your film project. This is also the best time to ask questions about their experience, working methods and what is included in the price (see separate notes). If a meeting in person isn’t possible due to distance or timing, then you should at least have a chat over the phone.
Preliminary Questions:-
How many years of experience do you have as a videographer?
Approximately how many wedding videos have you videotaped?
Are you the person who will be videotaping my wedding?
Will you have an assistant or other videographer with you on the day of my wedding?
Are you familiar with our ceremony and reception location?
(If No to above) Do you visit the ceremony and reception sites before the actual wedding date?
What is your style of video production? Documentary or cinematic?
Cost Questions:-
What type of packages do you offer
Can you add in a photo montage, if so, what is the cost?
Does the package include titles for the video, if not, can it be added, and at what cost?
How many hours does this package include?
How is overtime calculated?Are ceremonies and speeches filmed in full?
Are video messages or interviews allowed?
Do they offer a choice of music?
How long will the finished film be?
Exactly how will be DVD be presented?
How many copies of the DVD are supplied?
Do they include highlights of the event?How much are additional copies?
How many cameras & operators?
Does the price include full editing?
How many hours attendance is included?
What sort of preparatory planning is provided?
Are travel costs included?
Do they have public liability & professional indemnity insurance?
Is VAT included?
What is your payment policy?
What is your cancellation policy
Do you offer a money back guarantee?
Equipment
What format with the film be in? (e.g. 4:3 PAL, 16:9 Widescreen)
What type of equipment do you use?
Do you bring back up equipment with you to the wedding?
Do you have a wireless microphone?
Are they covered with liability insurance?
Most importantly on the day enjoy yourself and let the wedding videographer do his job. Hopefully you did your research and selected a good one – so trust him and try to forget that he is there and enjoy your wedding day. If you selected a wedding castle you will have a magnificent back drop for your wedding video. We hope you have a fantastic castle wedding.