How to Choose a Videographer

by Bill Cafarelli, President of the Professional Videographers Association of Connecticut

Videography is a recent and exciting way to capture your Wedding Day. Imagine showing your children and grand-children what your wedding was like, back in the good ole days, with all it’s joys and emotions with relatives, friends, and locations.

Choosing a Videographer should be fun and enlightening. One of the most important things to do first is to SEE the prospective Videographer’s work. This is best done in their studio where you may view several representative videos, perhaps even some from your church or reception hall. Your videographer should be professional, experienced, give you references if you request them, belong to videography associations like the Professional Videographers Association of Connecticut, and be licensed and insured since most catering halls require this, and he or she should be amendable and knowledgeable in all aspects of your special needs.

Your videographer should dress appropriately and be available for consultation, he should investigate ahead of time the unique demands of your clergy, ceremony, formal photography session, and reception locations.

Your videographer should attend the rehearsal if possible in order to meet with the person conducting the ceremony and to discuss any particular location needs. Since some church policies or clergy will require the video camera to be located in the rear balcony or off to the side of the altar, it is essential that these limitations be discerned in advance. It is also helpful if the videographer introduce himself to the photographer before the day’s activities begin, so that they can become aware of each others constraints, and thus complement one another.

There are many aspects on the technical side of the video process. Basically the equipment used in the acquisition, editing and copying of your video should be ‘broadcast quality’. The use of lights by the videographer in certain situations is a must, but because of ever improving camera ‘low lux’ technology, these lights should not be as obtrusively bright as they were in years past. Some of toughest environments requiring added light prohibit there use. Churches for example will not allow the use of video lights, some will not even allow the use of flash photography. So if it’s dark inside the church with large stained glass windows, then you can expect your video to be a little dim and some of the colors a little off.

The tactful use of a small video light will greatly improve the quality of the video image. The use of lights too large and bright may be offensive to your guests, or none at all may result in a substandard video. Discuss with your videographer how his video lighting will be accomplished. Some of the specialties you may wish included on your video could be growing-up pictures, footage of the bride and/or groom getting ready before the ceremony, editing, titling, computer graphics, audio dubbing several of your favorite songs, interviews and recapped highlights of the day’s activities. You can expect to pay extra for these services, or you could book a cost saving package which includes everything you want.

It’s important to choose a videographer you’re really comfortable with and have complete confidence in, after all, like the photographer, you’ll be with them all day.Your videographer is also a great source of advice on other wedding pro-fessionals like florists, cake decorators, photographers, bands, DJs, limo companies, catering halls, hotels, balloons etc., when you think about it, the videographer has seen and worked with them all. Take advantage of all that experience, ask your videographer.

Remember, it may be a year or more in advance when you engage your videographer, and a deposit is required upon booking and contract signing, so you may want to get back in touch at least a couple of weeks before the ceremony to catch up on your latest itinerary.

Many people will spend $800 for professionally arranged flowers, $500 for a professionally decorated cake, $800 for professional limousine services, $700 for professional music/MC services, $2500 for a band, $2000 for a profession-al photographer, and perhaps $15,000 for a reception hall. When the wedding day is over, and for generations to come, you’ll still have your video and your photographs. What will these videography services cost? You can expect to pay around $1000 for basic edited ceremony and reception coverage, and $2000 for a two person two camera all inclusive package.

When viewing a videographer’s work, you will become aware of the many intangibles which become subjective through the eyepiece of the camera and in the mind of the videographer director/editor. You will instinctively know when a particular videographer’s emotional style clicks with your own. Like photographs, your video will bring you everlasting and endearing memories of your wedding day for generations to come.

Videographer Checklist

Things to discuss with your videographer:

• Getting ready
• Ceremony
• Formal Photography Session
• Reception
• Interviews
• Special requests

• Photographs
• Titling
• Computer graphics
• Music added
• Review special effects you want included

• Length of the finished video
• Additional copies
• When will the video be completed
• Travel costs
• Lighting
• A contract