Bride's Guide to Wedding Videography

Much has been said about the advantages of having a professional video your wedding. Many valid arguments have been given. Later I will re-hash some of them and explain more about them. First I want you to stop and consider the following: If a relative or family friend offers to video your wedding, ask yourself one question.

"HOW MUCH DO I VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIP?"

If they are close to you, they will want to enjoy your wedding too. Working during the wedding leaves no time for enjoying it. It puts a great deal of pressure on that person to perform. If they do a poor job, there will be bad feelings between you, possibly for years to come.

Consider both sides of the family. You owe it to both your families to do your best to provide the best memories. While no-one can guarantee the future, at least you can take every precaution.

The Camera

Video equipment varies greatly in quality and price. No consumer camcorder can come close to the quality of pro equipment. The real indicator is, 'you get what you pay for! If a relative or family friend offers to tape your wedding, ask him what he paid for his camera. A pro will use a high quality camera. This too can vary greatly. There are dozens of models to chose from, and quality will vary here too.

Editing will enhance your viewing pleasure

A well done video will be edited to include the important content and, in the case of a multi-camera ceremony, a good mixture of viewing angles. It may also include music, titles, and a discrete number of special effects. Not everyone that owns such equipment knows how to edit properly. It takes talent, skill, artistic ability, and the right equipment to produce a video that is captures your memories.

Location, location, location

Let's be real for a moment. Location will play a huge role when choosing your wedding providers. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you will have a better selection, be able to obtain higher quality, and most likely pay more as a result. If you live in a rural community, you may have to search longer and harder and maybe even settle for whoever is available, but usually find that the prices are lower. Video is no different.

Different strokes

In major markets, many videographers use broadcast equipment and charge comparative rates. There are also many there who use prosumer/industrial equipment and charge accordingly.
In a small town there may only be one or two videographers and those usually use prosumer/industrial equipment. Is this bad? I don't think so. Many brides couldn't afford a high priced videographer and a mid-priced videographer can produce a video that you and your families will enjoy for years to come. It is important to note here that some videographers that use broadcast type equipment have a certain amount of distain for anyone that doesn't and calls the prosumer/industrial equipment "consumer quality". Another type of videographer out there is the guy who has a camcorder, may be fairly good with it [maybe not!], or may be a photographer, or similar, and thinks that makes him a good videographer. Be wary and check out each person you are considering. Usually, one camera is not sufficient to capture the ceremony properly. The cameraman will have to start and stop, and move around too much to get several angles, or stay in one spot, limiting your view of your wedding. Some even use consumer camcorders.

The future

As technology improves, so does video quality on ALL fronts, What was totally out priced last year will be readily affordable next year. Digital video is the biggest boon to the industry in a long time. look for more videographers to be using this technology as it improves. right now it is just finding it's niche in the wedding market.

In Closing

If you insist on using a relative or friend, then be ready to accept whatever you get. Don't put pressure on them to do more then humanly possible.

If you shop price alone, you stand a good chance of getting burned too. Many people fancy themselves videographers. Some by rights, some not. Ask to see a demo.

If you expect your video to be like a episode of Friends, go to Holly wood with a few hundred thousand and hire a crew.

If however, you want a good video at a good price, I think you'll find plenty of people that offer a decent product.

Remember - different equipment, tapes, and video makers are intended for different purposes. The camcorder you buy at your discount store is for home videos. prosumer equipment usually only available at professional photo-video stores, is specially made for small non-broadcast productions. The cameras and equipment made for broadcast/industrial are for just that and priced out of the reach of small videography companies as well as consumers.