There are so many choices out there. I get it. But how do you find the right choice? How do you even know what makes a good videographer?
When you don’t have a lot of experience with videography, cameras, lenses, etc., it can be hard to figure out who to use. You won’t really even know what to look for or even what questions to ask.
Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
Here, I will lay out three things you need to consider when choosing a wedding videographer. I want to help you figure out the best choice for you — whether it’s me or not ;)
Let’s get started.
#1 How much experience do they have?
There are a million and a half videographers out there — ranging in cost and experience level. When looking for a videographer, ask to see examples of videos they have done in the past. Ask to see their portfolio.
For example, I keep some highlight videos on my website at all times. You can find them here: https://www.brandonhandyweddings.com/
If you were to ask to see examples of my work, I could direct you to this page. If you wanted to see more videos, I have an entire portfolio that you could look through.
Looking through a videographer’s portfolio gives you an idea of their style and how much experience they have.
Another way to get a feel for their experience level is by just asking them.
The best videographers are open and honest about their work and level of experience. If a videographer won’t answer you directly or beats around the bush, you might want to look elsewhere.
One thing to mention is that more experience does often mean a higher price.
There are exceptions to this, though. There are some well-established, knowledgeable videographers (like me!) that strive to provide the highest quality at an affordable price.
But, if you have a super small budget, you could look at someone who is new to videography and wants to build their portfolio. A newbie will be much cheaper. But you have to remember that things can go wrong.
Experienced videographers can anticipate what can and will go wrong. For example, I know that a camera will almost always malfunction at the worst possible time (this was not a fun lesson to learn). This knowledge has prompted me to have at least two backup cameras at all times.
My experience has enabled me to acquire multiple cameras and prepare for the problems that may pop up on the wedding day.
A less experienced videographer may not yet be able to anticipate these mishaps. So, while they may provide cheap wedding videography, they might miss something due to inexperience or lack of equipment. Just something to think on :)
#2 Are they friendly?
Okay, this may seem silly, but it is huge. Weddings can be stressful (Trust me, I’ve been to like a jillion of them now). There’s a lot going on and there are a lot of moving pieces.
It is essential for the videographer to be able to communicate efficiently. They have to work with wedding planners, photographers, DJs, and the bridal party.
This requires a videographer who is easy to get along with (this goes for photographers too).
You’ve got enough to think about on your wedding day. You do not need the stress of an unfriendly or uncompromising videographer.
Things do not always go according to plan. In fact, they rarely go as planned.
A friendly, flexible, easy-to-work-with videographer makes the day so much less stressful. Combine friendliness with experience and *chef’s kiss* perfection.
A friendly, flexible, easy-to-work-with videographer makes the day so much less stressful. Combine friendliness with experience and *chef’s kiss* perfection.
A friendly and experienced videographer can anticipate possible mishaps, have a good attitude, and adjust to get the shot.
Likewise, good coordination skills (and experience) means he (or she) is more likely to contact the wedding planner, photographer, and other vendors before the wedding day to get a plan in place.
It would probably surprise you how many videographers do not do this. They just show up on the day of the wedding and do their own thing with no coordination at all. If I hadn’t had some really great mentors, I probably would have even made this mistake.
But trust me… the day goes so much smoother when you have a videographer that can coordinate in a friendly way.
To test if a videographer is friendly and cooperative, you can text or message back and forth with them; however, I recommend scheduling a call. You just can’t get as much information from a text.
By talking with them on the phone and asking your questions, you can see how they respond. You can judge their tone of voice, see what working with them would be like, and get to know them a little better before booking.
Want to know more? Schedule a call with me today!
#3 What is your budget?
So, this is one question that you need to answer before you book a videographer.
First, do a little research on what a videographer costs near you. Don’t be afraid to look outside of your city (or even state). Videographers often travel for weddings and their travel fee may not be too much. Sometimes it’s worth it to pay a small travel fee if you’re able to find a professional wedding videographer that fits your needs.
Next, look at your wedding budget and see how much you can allot for a videographer.
I know I’m a little biased, but I think you absolutely need to have videography. Pictures just don’t have the same effect. Pictures don’t show the true emotion… you can’t hear pictures. Okay With a video, you get to see and hear exactly what was happening at that moment. It transports you back and you get to relive it all over again.
You don’t have to take my word for it, though. The Huffington Post conducted a survey in which 98% of brides said their biggest wedding regret was not hiring a videographer. Yup, you read that right. 98 percent. That’s almost everyone.
So, assuming that you’ve decided videography is essential (*cough* because it is *cough*), you need to figure out how much you’re willing to spend.
Say the range in your city is $500 to $7,000. That’s a pretty wide range. The lowest end will be those newbie videographers trying to establish their portfolio. The high end will likely be some large company that charges a lot just because they can.
Then there are the guys in the middle (that’s me!) that have a good amount of experience and strive to make high-quality videos that are affordable.
Quick side note: I do not recommend using a large company for your videography. I have shot several weddings for these companies. They use local videographers to do their shooting and then they simply edit the footage. They charge out the wazoo and sometimes take up to 6 months to get your video back to you. The final video quality is no better (and is often actually worse) than what you get from the local videographer. Also, the video is not personalized to the couple because they don’t know the couple. The editor will have never even interacted with the couple at all… Anyway… just don’t do it. They charge way too much, take too long to deliver, and don’t personalize. Support a local business instead of sending your hard-earned money to a company that doesn’t care about you. Ugh, okay… getting off my soapbox now.
Like I was saying, you have to figure out exactly how much you’re willing to spend.
Many videographers offer a variety of standard packages. You can check mine out by clicking the button below.
Videographers can also often work with you to build a package that fits your needs and budget.
It’s okay to have a low budget. Just be aware that you will likely get someone with little experience — which is fine. Every great videographer started as a newbie.
But be sure that you are okay with the possible mistakes and mishaps that come with less experience.
I recommend budgeting a little more for a videographer and getting someone with a good mix of experience and affordability.
There are videographers (such as myself) that could charge much more. But they like being hands-on, affordable, and relatable. They refuse to raise their rates because they want people to have access to high-quality wedding videos that won’t break the bank.
I recommend finding one of those (*hint* you can find one here).
To Sum it all up
For the best results, get a videographer with some experience.
Research videographers in your area and watch their videos to get a feel for their style.
Schedule a call with the videographer to get a sense of their personality. Ask questions to make sure they are cooperative and friendly.
Choose a quality videographer and your wedding day will go much more smoothly. You’ll enjoy your day and end up with a high-quality wedding video that you will cherish forever.
Check out my website to learn more. https://www.brandonhandyweddings.com/