How to choose your wedding photographer and videographer
Congratulations on your engagement and I hope this helps you to choose the right videographer to capture your day! These tips should help you ask the right questions when considering your videographer to capture your special day!
As a professional wedding videographer, I understand the struggle of finding the right person to join you for your special day. Most couples don’t realize that your videographer is someone that is going to be with you all day to share intimate moments. For this reason, it is imperative that you feel comfortable with your videographer.
Creating a special video should be fun for you and serve as a long lasting memory of all the special moments from the day! You shouldn’t be worried about when you’re getting your films or even worse, feel like it isn’t what you paid for.
Note: The same questions work just as well for a photographer, and if you are hiring one person to do both they only need asking once.
1. Fun to be with
Getting to know your wedding videographer prior to your wedding can be a really good start to ensuring you are going to enjoy your day; they will be with you for up to 12 hours. One way you can do this is by having a pre wedding meeting or an engagement film. An engagement film can be a fun way to capture you naturally interacting as a couple but also prepare you for what to expect on your wedding day.
2. Easy going
Your wedding day can be long and an emotional day for you. Someone who is calm and easy going can help to ease the stress and worry of your day, particularly if timings start to slip. You don’t want someone who will add unnecessary stress to your day.
3. Storyteller
When looking back at your wedding film, it should take you back to your wedding day with fond memories. You want to make sure your videographer can capture your days unique story, the parts you didn’t see and so you can experience it time and time again.
4. Expectations
Make sure you are clear about what you expect your videographer to deliver and by when. Ensure you discuss with your videographer the options that are available. Most videographers have different packages depending on your budget and on what you want delivered at the end. Talking through this will help the videographer know what is important to you and also recommend a package bespoke to you. This is a complex area but an extremely important part of the booking process. It will determine if you need more than one videographer to capture groom preparation at a different location for example. All of this should be detailed in a signed contract.
5. Budget
There is a lot that goes into creating high quality films including the editing time after your day. Plan a budget for film that sits alongside your photography rather than under it. If one person is covering both, as I do, that changes the maths in your favour. A budget videographer might not have the correct insurance policies, cancellation contingencies or produce the results you were hoping for. Ask to see multiple examples of their work and not just a showreel of their best shots from multiple weddings.
6. Reviews
Read what couples have actually written, on Google and on the independent directories rather than only the testimonials picked out for a website. Look for the reviews that mention the day itself and how the person was to be around, not just the finished film. Those are the ones that tell you something.
7. Availability
Check the date before you fall in love with someone’s work. Good Saturdays in peak season go a long way ahead, and if you are set on one person it is worth asking early. If your date has gone, ask who they would recommend, because most of us know exactly who we would send you to.
Have a look round the rest of the site
If it helps, there is more here on my style and approach, a set of films on the wedding video portfolio, what is included on packages and pricing, and how photo and film together works if you would rather not book two suppliers.
About Me
I understand finding a videographer you can trust is hard. I am passionate about creating memorable wedding films that tells the story of the most important day of your life. I am professional, fun and make it my priority to get to know my couples so we understand what is important to them. I offer the highest quality films using the best of industry leading equipment and for an affordable price.
You may also be interested to read my Do, Don’t and Consider Wedding Videographer Packages Blog
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am based on the Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex borders. I am happy to travel to your day and regularly cover London, Kent, Essex, Berkshire and East Sussex
