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By Kimberly Bean
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Lasting Memories: Choose Your Videographer Wisely The point of the wedding video is to give the couple a lasting memory of their wedding day, something they can watch for years to come. A good videographer will elegantly capture candid moments: the groom gently touching his new wife's face during their first dance, or the flowergirl sticking her finger into the cake icing. So, should you hire a professional videographer, or rely on a friend or family member to film your wedding day? Without question, hire the professional! Although it's a nice gesture for a family member to offer, there is no comparison between someone with years of experience in wedding videos, and someone who rarely picks up a video camera. Your wedding day is special, so don't risk blurry shots, shaky camera work or missed video opportunities. A professional understands all aspects of shooting a beautiful wedding video, including the importance of silence while filming. A well-intentioned uncle will most likely laugh, cry and cough over some of your video. Sound is tricky, and a professional can make adjustments to increase or decrease background noise, and ensure that audio is functional and effective. Another benefit of hiring a professional videographer is the editing process. They have the equipment and expertise to add unique graphics and titles, utilize color effects like sepia and soft filtering, and know how to match music seamlessly with the video. A friend with a small hand-held video camera likely won't have the experience to edit a professional quality wedding video. Many videographers are members of a professional organization, and can provide you with extensive references and comments from past clients. Always ask to see sample tapes, as this gives you an idea of the style of the videographer as well as the quality of the finished product. You'll know when you've found the right videographer, as his or her creative and artistic style will reflect the theme and vision of your wedding. Outline your expectations with your videographer. Some couples choose a videographer to shoot the basics during the ceremony, reception speeches, and first dance. Others want the videographer to compile video of best wishes from family and friends, or to add baby pictures of themselves to the beginning of the wedding video. Important details also include contract details such as non-refundable deposits, liabilities and copyright issues. Some videographers will charge a bundle for additional tapes, and prevent copying by scrambling the tape. If you're not well-versed with video terms, brush up on them before you hire a videographer. You'll need to ask questions about digital editing, wireless microphones and tape format. Find out the costs up front, and get the details and times in writing – arrival time, what events are to be included, and if he or she will stay for the entire reception. Often wedding vows, photos and dinner can be delayed, so don't skimp on time. As a backup, find out the cost of any additional hours over and above the contract, in case you're stuck on your wedding day. If you plan on heading to a park or beach for some outdoor video, make sure you ask if there are extra costs for another location. You don't want the videographer and photographer competing for shots, or the flash of the camera interfering with a great video shot. Introduce your videographer and photographer before the wedding so they know when to give each other space. Also, before you hire either of them ensure that they are committed to complete cooperation, and working together. Professional videographers and photographers are experienced at capturing shots without being intrusive, so it shouldn't be a problem for them both to happily co-exist at the ceremony and reception. A good videographer will ask for your opinion before he edits the video. For instance, do you want to cut Aunt Martha's boring speech down to 5 minutes, or include it all? Do you want to keep the shot of your inebriated maid of honor falling on the dance floor? Some couples will want a lighthearted feel to their video – complete with bloopers or funny speeches. Others want a refined, formal video and will opt to edit out unexpected hitches or silly anecdotes. Videographers are not cheap, and you should be suspicious of extremely low quotes. Expect to pay anywhere between $3,500 and $10,000 for a complete wedding package plus editing. If your budget is tight, cut expenses elsewhere rather than compromising on the wedding video. It will last a lifetime, much longer than the flowers or cake, so focus on getting an experienced and talented videographer you can trust with your wedding memories.
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