Price is price, right? Well, maybe not so much. Videography package details vary widely from vendor to vendor. Here are a few questions you will want to ask to make sure you are making a fair comparison:
1. How will I receive my video? Will delivery be digital or hard copies such as DVD discs? At Applause, we deliver our films via an online hosting platform that allows them to be streamed and downloaded. The great thing with this type of delivery is you aren’t limited on how many copies you save or who you share the link with! Everyone can enjoy all your films!
2. What will my final video actually contain? A lot of companies will offer competitive pricing, but the end product will be a highlight clip only. Although we love highlights, we believe that for the money you are spending, you deserve your entire ceremony as well. And remember, not all “entire ceremonies” are created equal, either. A single camera in the back and just one close up during the vows is all that is sometimes done to film the “entire ceremony”. Ask to see samples to verify what you’ll be receiving, and what the cost is to add additional films to your package including a Full Ceremony, Full Speeches, Specialty Dances in their entirety, etc. Some will call these "doc edits" short for Documentary Edits. Some companies will also sell you "raw footage". This is footage that didn't get used in any of your edited films and is not color corrected. It may or may not have ambient sound or be set to music. If you are on a budget, "Raw Footage" is not something you will most likely need, especially if you have a package that includes the aforementioned "doc edit" of your Ceremony and Reception.
3. What will my video sound like? Music overlay is perfect for highlight clips, but what about hearing your vows, your readings at your ceremony, your toasts, and your songs during the reception? These moments should be recorded separately (not relying on camera audio) to make the best final presentation. Here at Applause, we record vows with a lapel mic on both the Groom and the Officiant, as well as a separate sound recorder at the ceremony and reception for backup purposes.
4. When will the filming begin and end? What is left out and why? Your schedule for the day can be long, especially when you want your video to tell the entire story. Clarify when your videographer(s) will start and end shooting. It’s also a good idea to ask them if you’ve scheduled enough time for them to obtain the footage they need. Our package sets filming to begin an hour before the Bride is scheduled to put on her dress, and we stay at the reception until we have captured as many friends and family members as we can on the dance floor. Anything we don’t shoot is because we are experienced in getting all the footage necessary to tell your story in a creative way. This is why it's best to hire an experienced Videographer that you can trust to get exactly what they need to create the perfect keepsake of your day without billing you for extra time.
5. What is your video style/approach? Some videography companies aim to have you star in your own cinematic masterpiece. Even if you can afford the extra cost of this style of production, keep in mind with this approach you will be devoting more of your day to working with your videographer than anything else including photography and time with your guests. Our approach is what we call creative documentary. We work around the schedule (and the photographer’s plan) to capture everything in the moment, only asking for a little extra time for custom shots.
6. When Will My Video be Ready? It seems obvious to assume that you will receive your video in a reasonable amount of time. Maybe that’s why most people never think to ask it until after the wedding. Don’t risk celebrating an anniversary before you get to see your video, ask the timeline for completion. We deliver 6-8 minute highlight films within 90 days after the wedding, with full versions being made available as quickly as possible afterwards.
7. What’s Your Backup Plan? Technical equipment is never fail-safe. Having multiple sources for both video and audio is the only way to guard against loss of precious footage taken on your special day. Our package includes redundant sources of both (meaning multiple cameras and multiple audio recordings).
8. How will you cooperate with my Photographer? As long as your Photographer is patient, and both parties are respectful, there should be no problems working together. You may want to ask if the Videographer intends to work alongside the Photographer, or if they will be requiring an entirely separate timeframe for their footage. In our opinion, it's better for a Videographer to work in tandem with Photography. When all goes well, it can be like watching a dance or a relay race, where they become a team, passing the direction back and forth and moving around seamlessly to get their shots whilst avoiding ruining the shot of the other.
Once you have used this list to get an idea of both what is included in your package as well as the overall style and personality of the Videographers you are considering, you will hopefully have it narrowed down to 2 or 3 to choose from. This is when I highly recommend watching as many films from each prospect as you possibly can. You're looking to see what you like about the storytelling of their films as well as if you like the overall presentation of things like shots, colors, and sounds. You will also be able to see if there is a consistency from film to film, or if it seems like perhaps they vary in style or quality. Those variances bring me to my last question:
9. Who is doing the Work? This question should be asked of ALL YOUR VENDORS. You deserve to know if the work will be done by the professional you're speaking with or their colleagues, or if they will outsource the work to contractors.
Above all, BUDGET FOR VIDEOGRAPHY. It's going to cost you, as it is a very time consuming service to provide as well as requiring a large investment in equipment and education.
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