The DOS and DON'TS of Hiring a Wedding Videographer

There are so many things to think about when hiring a wedding videographer. Hopefully, I can make things a little bit easier by providing you with some of the best practices (and things to avoid) when starting your wedding videography booking journey.

THE DOS OF BOOKING A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER

DO CALL YOUR VIDEOGRAPHER BEFOREHAND:

This is SO important. This can help you avoid any misunderstandings or surprises down the road and ensure that everyone is on the same page. We love clarity and open communication! Plus, you’ll be able to build a good rapport with them before the wedding, which is essential for establishing trust and helping you to feel more comfortable in front of their camera. This will lead to a better final film!

DO GET A SECOND VIDEOGRAPHER

Having a second videographer is often a must. Not only will you get a wider range of shots, angles, and perspectives, but it also helps ensure that everything is captured. This is particularly important during the ceremony and reception, as you’ll likely want multiple cameras capturing the action. Plus, the additional angles will help to make your final film more dynamic and interesting. In addition, having two videographers puts less stress and pressure on the lead videographer. This gives them more room for creativity, often leading to a better final film. 

DO GET A DOCUMENTARY STYLE (DOCU-STYLE) EDIT:

A documentary style edit is essentially everything that your videographer filmed on your wedding day assembled into one chronological long-form video. This an alternative to raw footage (which is usually a bunch of individual clips delivered to you on a hard drive). With a docu-style edit, everything is edited and assembled for you, so you’ll only need to click play once. The docu-style edit is the best way to ensure that you’ll have access to all of the moments that you might have otherwise missed.

THE DON’TS OF BOOKING A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER

DON’T WAIT TOO LONG TO BOOK

Wedding videographers have limited availability and often book up quickly. There could be multiple people inquiring for your wedding date and the videographer is likely to prioritize the clients who sign their contract and submit their deposit first. If you wait too long, you may find that your preferred videographer is no longer available on your wedding date. 

DON'T SKIMP ON QUALITY

It's worth investing in a high-quality videographer who can create a film that you will be able to enjoy for years to come. Your wedding only happens once, so it’s really important to hire a videographer who is experienced, has a solid portfolio, and has great reviews across multiple websites. Overall, it’ll be important for you to do your research and find a videographer who can match your desired style and pricing.

DON’T HIRE A LARGE COMPANY

With a large company, you likely won’t know who is coming to film your wedding until day-of. Your wedding is just another job on their schedule, so they may not pay as much attention to detail or invest as much time in your film as an individual vendor would. In addition, they often have a standard formula for shooting and editing videos, which can result in a lack of personalization and creativity in your wedding film. However, if the reviews are excellent and you feel confident that a particular company can achieve your expected results, you should absolutely go for it!

DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO STRETCH YOUR BUDGET

If you're set on a budget, there is nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding and you get to decide what’s best for you. With that said, if you’re willing and able to have a flexible budget, it can open a lot of doors for you. Quality is incredibly important when it comes to wedding videography, so if stretching your budget means that you’ll be able to book your dream vendor, it might be worth it. 

Overall, it’s important to make decisions that are right for you, your vision, and your budget. This can and will look different for everyone! All that matters is that you’re making decisions that are aligned with your desires and expectations. If you ever want to chat about this or have questions for me, feel free to email me at hello@katiedoylefilms. I’d be more than happy to help :)