How Do I Choose A Wedding Videographer?

You’ve already made a great decision by choosing to document your wedding day on DVD. But how do you choose a videographer? It may be tempting to have “Uncle Charlie” tape your wedding on his new home video camera but do you really want to trust your special day to “Uncle Charlie”? Long Video Services, a member of the St. Louis Videographers Association, offers 10 questions to ask when speaking with videographers to help you make your memories of your wedding day just as special as the day you said, “I do.”

1. “What’s Your Experience?”
Ask what the experience is of the company and videographers they use. How did they go into videography? What is their background? Are their videographers and editors trained on the latest equipment? A high-quality camera and state-of the art editing system is useless unless the person operating them is a seasoned professional. How do they stay current on the latest trends? The video industry changes quickly; you don’t want someone using shooting and editing techniques from 15 years ago.

2. “Are You Well-Equipped?” Don’t worry; you don’t need to read up on cameras and technical jargon to know if a company uses high-quality, cutting-edge equipment. Their cameras should preferably be professional grade, 3-chip digital cameras. This will allow for great picture quality in most lighting conditions. Most professional editing today is done digitally, using computer software. You also want to know if the editing work is “outsourced,” sent to another company who does only post-production, or done on site at the videographer’s studio by someone familiar with you and your needs.

3. “Samples, Please!”
Ask to see samples. Watch several samples to get a feel of the videographer’s work. Does the shooting look clear and smooth? Are subjects lit well? How do things sound? Can the wedding vows be heard? How is the post-production? Are the effects, transitions and graphics pleasing, and do they resemble things you’ve seen on TV, or do they seem cheesy and jarring? Does it look like a lot of time and care was spent on post-production? A great DVD can take hours of editing and post-production. Most companies have samples on their web sites, but you should view samples off of a DVD as well to get a better idea; don’t be afraid to request that a DVD be mailed to you. Because of privacy, some videographers will not release entire weddings as samples (would you want your entire wedding from start to finish handed out on DVD like business cards?), but most will either visit you to show you one or invite you to their location.

4. “Will You Be There for Me?”
Since most videographers are booked months in advance, you’d like to know you’ll hear from them again before the wedding day. Think about the first contact you had with them. Were they pleasant? Did they return your calls or emails promptly? Were they eager to give you more information? Then ask the videographer how they handle communication after you give them your deposit. Can you contact them at any time with questions? Will they make an effort to collect details from you that will help them in covering your wedding day? How many weddings does the videographer book in one day? Will they be juggling several jobs besides your wedding? You want to make sure your event is given the attention it deserves.

5. “How Will You Handle My Big Day?”
A good videographer will be able to give you details of how they will cover your ceremony and reception. Most good videographers are able to adapt to shoot in any environment, but will they pay a visit to a location beforehand if they’ve never worked there before? Do they communicate with the clergy ahead of time concerning possible shooting restrictions? Will they get some footage of your photography session if possible and if you desire it? Do they get greetings from your guests? What is their usual attire? Is it business-like? Will they give you an emergency or cell phone number in case you need to get in touch with them for last-minute changes?

6. “What’s Your Shooting and Editing Style?”
You’ll find you can get a feel for a videographer’s style from their samples, but also ask the videographer to tell you about their style. Ask them to compare their work to a popular TV show to give you an idea. Will they be willing to listen to your vision as well? If you’d like to see your video shot and edited a certain way are they up to the task? Most editors will welcome your input prior to beginning your project.

7. “Have You Made Other People Happy?”
Ask if the videographer has feedback or references they can show you. If you’re not convinced, ask if you can contact one or more of those references to see how satisfied they were.

8. “What Can You Offer Me?”
The videographer should offer a variety of packages and options and explain them well. Do they offer coverage of the bride’s house, ceremony and reception? How many hours of coverage does a package price cover? Can you add extra hours if you need them? Do they offer a second camera to capture additional footage? Are they equipped to produce a photomontage and show it at your reception if you desire? Would they be able to produce a mini-documentary about how you met if that’s something you wanted? Knowing you could have these things if you wanted them can give you a clue about the videographer’s expertise and professionalism.

9. “Not ‘How Much?’ but ‘What am I getting For My Money?’”
The saying, “You get what you pay for” is usually true with anything, but is especially accurate when it comes to wedding videography. It’s tempting to purchase a package for $799, but research carefully what that means. Review the above information and see if you’re getting something that you’ll want to show your children and grandchildren years from now. In addition, a lower starting price may mean you’re paying additional money for each and every extra that may come standard in another company’s prices. You’d be better off paying more for a package that includes a company who communicates effectively and meets your needs every step of the way, a professional, experienced videographer who will capture your day in a memorable way, a DVD that’s been edited using the latest technology and looks like something you’d watch on television, and most of all, piece of mind that your memories are being preserved the way you expect.

10. “Finally, What’s the Bottom Line Before I Sign on the Dotted Line?”
The videographer should clearly explain what services are included, how much those services cost, and how you will pay for those services. A contract should spell out all the details of your day, including locations and times, and be relatively easy to understand.


Long Video Services is ready to answer all your wedding video questions! We are members of the St. Louis Videographers Association and we are ready to work with you to document your special day in a memorable way. We look forward to hearing from you!