Should we book a videographer for our wedding?
This is my most frequently asked question (ironically) about wedding photography.
Of course, working behind the scenes, I have some insider knowledge and I always help with what to look for and what questions to ask when you’re choosing someone right for your day. But the question I can never answer is if it’s worth it. Only you can know the value you place on things. Maybe you’d be happy doing your own hair and make-up…but you simply can not live without those Jimmy Choos. Or your Groomsmen could wear hired suits if it means you get that stylish Gin bar you’ve been desperate for. It’s all about priorities with wedding budgets.
But what’s more wonderful than re-living all those precious moments and memories, not just in beautiful fine art images adorning your home, but in carefully captured moving picture with the animated faces and emotions of your loved ones?! That’s pretty special.
Here are some things to consider and questions to ask when making your decision.
Videography is a highly specialised set of skills. Unlike photography, it requires movement and sound capture as well as utilisation of light, positioning and composition. The editing is labour intensive and all of this must be consistent, precise and true to their individual style. After making a few videos in the earlier days of my business - alongside shooting, I vowed to leave it well alone. So if you think the prices are a bit steep, consider how much expert work is truly involved, not to mention the equipment.
Your Videographer can’t be everywhere at once. This next bit is important. It is often the case that your Photographer and Videographer will be looking for exactly the same angle and position at exactly the same time and on many occasions I have shared my space with an unwelcome tripod. This equipment can often make its way into your photo gallery too because it’s unavoidable. Equipment placed prominently can’t always be edited out of a shot. It may not be a deal breaker, but it’s something to be aware of. Ask your videographer about how they achieve this discreetly.
Are you booking a videographer because of FOMO? Are you worried that if you don’t have every second on film, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life? I can promise you, almost certainly, that you won’t. The memories you create and share will live with you and the people you love forever. Hilarious moments will still be replayed for years to come and you’ll thumb through your photo album pointing out family members’, outfits and hair styles and all the beautiful details you lovingly chose after months of scrolling and searching. Hashtag no regrets.
You get what you pay for. If the price looks too good to be true - then maybe it is. Of course there will be extremely talented people starting out or looking to build up a body of work and you might get lucky and find someone like that. My advice on this one is find someone whose work you love and make the budget work to get them. If you don’t love your video, for sure you won’t watch it and then it really was all a waste anyway.
