How do you find a videographer that you can trust? You are taking a risk, after all, and you want your wedding video to be the perfect memory of your day. Since every bride and groom is different, let’s focus on the journey of one couple, who got engaged in December, but already have their videographer sorted.
1. Watch a sample video
Bríd and David came across their videographer the week before Christmas. Bríd, like many other modern brides, was browsing the internet. She found the videographer’s website and watched a wedding highlights video that the supplier had already made for a previous couple. It wasn’t the first wedding video she had seen, but this one stood out. It was cinematic, it was classy, but it was also human. “That’s what I want for mine too,” she reveals. Already, she had a feel for the supplier and knew what he was capable of.
2. See eye to eye
It’s not always possible with the busy world we live in, but if you can make time, it’s great to talk to the supplier in person or at least arrange a phone call. “When we first met our videographer, we wrote down all our ideas,” David explains. Each couple expects something different from their wedding video, and a good videographer will listen to these ideas. It’s important to discuss what theme you are going with for your wedding (vintage, winter, etc…), and to tell your supplier what you think the most important parts of your video will be. If he/she is the kind that charges extra to stay until the dances, for example, it’s better to find out earlier rather than later!
3. Know the lingo
So, is your videographer’s style “Documentary” (normally stiller shots, with broadcast cameras and a focus on extensive coverage) or “Cinematic” (usually a wider variety of angles, with cinematic lenses and a focus on telling the story of your day)? Do you want a two hour epic or a short highlights video for social media sharing? Do you want a DVD, a USB, or online delivery? There’s no wrong answer and a good videographer will adapt to your style. Bríd chose a Cinematic highlights video with some DVD extras because she liked “the vision and the ideas” of her videographer, but also wanted to be able to display the DVD on her shelf.
4. Like your engagement video
It’s not for everyone, but “it’s an important milestone in any couple’s relationship,” says Bríd, “and it’s great to have.” Normally, an engagement video also costs significantly less than a wedding video, so getting the engagement video made can be a way of auditioning the videographer, and deciding if you like him/her or not. For Bríd and David it was a way of testing out their “Instagram” theme, to see if the supplier could bring their ideas to life in a way they enjoyed.
5. Agree on a turnaround time
Videographers don’t always tell you their turnaround time. Some take months, some take weeks. Some will turn it around in time for you to screen it during your speeches! Again, there’s no right answer. Your guests might enjoy the novelty of re-watching the ceremony as they eat, or you may prefer that your videographer spends more time perfecting the colour-grading, editing and sound quality. Bríd and David have chosen a videographer who is “very accommodating” with their needs: three to four weeks. This is long enough to make sure everything is polished, but since social media is important for them, it will mean they can share it while the wedding is still fresh in their minds.
All that remains for Bríd and David now is to send out the invitations! (Or, since they already have an engagement video, they can let everyone know by sending a personalised e-card and a Vimeo link!)
Article by videographer Sean Creagh from Ambition Films.
Website: www.corkweddingvideos.com
Email: info.ambitionfilms@gmail.com
Phone: 086 0819387
