Wedding Videography: Make the Most of It
By Raashka Mannie

03 February 2022

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many do you think a film is? For many couples, it’s priceless.

There has been an ongoing debate on the necessity of wedding videography for years. All the experts swear by it, while some couples remain on the fence. Well, times are a-changing, and now wedding videography has taken a firm place in being one of the must-have aspects of any big day.

Wedding photography is that part of your day that captures those all-important snapshots; wedding videography, on the other hand, elevates those moments through sound and movement. There’s nothing quite like witnessing your first kiss as a married couple in motion or watching your eyes sparkle as you laugh with your loved ones. The need for wedding videography is in its beauty: you’re awarded more tangible memories of your special day, unfolding before you like no time has passed. This is especially important for the ones who can’t make it for your day.

Cosy micro weddings in your backyard or fitting venues and elopements are more common than ever during the pandemic. It’s meant that couples have had to alter or scrap wedding plans altogether to adapt to a new lifestyle. However, loved ones still want to see them tie the knot – and that’s where wedding videography shines. Now, more than ever, it’s a window into a day that you and the ones you love will treasure.


Image by Zanda Photo & Video

How does wedding videography really work?

It’s simpler than you realise. Wedding photographers and videographers work in a similar fashion, which is why many of them offer both. Couples get to talk to their wedding videographers about their vision for the film – what’s important to them, the moments they care about, the atmosphere they prefer, any special requests, what style they have and so on. It builds on the foundation for the wedding film, allowing the videographer to know them as a couple better and get all the right shots. During the big day, they’ll be in the background, for the most part, filming away. Any good wedding film is crafted based on clear communication and understanding between the couple and the wedding videographer. That’s how you end up with something remarkable.


Image by Chris Turner Photo + Video

But do I get a say when it comes to my wedding film?

Of course. Your creative input matters to any wedding videographer worth their chops. If you’re keen on a specific shot or have a favourite moment that you need to be included in your wedding film, all you have to do is let them know. There are some finicky bits concerning copyright laws when it comes to music, so be sure to discuss this with your wedding videographer in advance.


Image by Grey Area Productions Photo & Video

What sort of wedding films actually exist?

Long gone are the days of grainy, 6-hour long footage that is unedited and missing chunks of dialogue. Wedding videography has morphed into a flexible art form and another way to look back on your big day fondly. Depending on your videographer, you can have films ranging from 2 minutes to 12 minutes, capturing the moments of you getting ready, gliding down the aisle, toasting to your marriage and everything in between. They’re cinematic, artfully shot, professionally colour graded and delivered in the crispest quality.


Image by Greg Campbell Wedding Photography & Film

But I still don’t get why it’s important?

Think back to the crucial moments in your life. Not just your wedding day, but anything else of value to you: graduations, births, first steps, birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and celebrations of every kind. There is probably some homemade clip of you and your loved ones, no matter how shaky or silly, that you watch with a warm smile on your face. Wedding videography is vital for the same reason: documenting important or life-changing events matters. These memories matter. Someone’s laugh or voice that you thought you’d never hear again could sing out to you one day, and you’ll find a new value in your wedding videography, making you all the more grateful for it.


Image by Hollow & Co. - Photo & Video

 

7 stellar reasons you should hire a wedding videographer

 

And if you’re still not totally convinced that you can easily find the right wedding videographer for you, we’ve got plenty more advice. Unlike that one time you dyed your hair on a whim in the bathroom sink, we won’t let you regret this. After all, muddy green hair is much easier to fix than a missing wedding film.

1/ Don’t let your effort go unnoticed

As a couple, you put so much effort into your wedding. You plan the timeline, the flowers, the outfits, the catering, the menus, the games, and so much more. You plan for months on end. You possibly lose sleep or time for all the planning you put in. For all the time you put in crafting the perfect day, the day itself can go by in a blink. Wedding videography is an essential step towards preserving this.

2/ Sharing is caring

Possibly one of the best reasons we have is that you get to spread love with your wedding film. Show your friends, your family and everyone you love. The ones who couldn’t make it – especially because of COVID-19 – will be eternally grateful to you for having captured the big day. Also, everyone who looked super hot at your wedding will have another memory of it. Who could ask for more?

3/ Sound it out

We love wedding photography. We’re advocates for incredible wedding photography (have you seen our list of wedding photographers? They’re geniuses). However, wedding photography cannot capture your wedding vows or speeches. It cannot keep laughter, cute conversations, giggles and all those golden tidbits safe for you – not the way wedding videography can. At least half the value of videography is hearing everything all over again.

4/ Do a double-take

Pretty much every couple has a consensus on this, but wedding days go by awfully fast. All your preparation seems to whizz by, melting like butter on a hot skillet. You never actually know what you might’ve missed because of the whirlwind of emotions and activity. Wedding videographers, who are busy on the fringes with a keen eye, collect all the moments that matter most, including the ones you may not have had a chance to take in.

5/ A modern-day heirloom

This is a very new age to say, but a wedding film is quite a cute thing to pass down. If you’re fortunate, you’ve probably seen some unsteady footage of your parents or grandparents being married and felt a little glow inside. You could do the same, except a million times better, because wedding videography has turned into a bona fide art that makes a bona fide heirloom for your future family members.

6/ Don’t you forget about me

The truth is, memories fade over time. You’ll forget the way your partner rubbed their hand against yours during the vows or what colour the pin in your hair was – but wedding videography will remind you. Years and years down the line, you’ll still have that irreplaceable day in your possession, perfectly edited and all yours to relive as many times as you want.

7/ No regrets

You get any number of things that couples regret when they look back on their wedding day, whether it’s not getting a moment to eat the menus they planned or, lo and behold, not hiring a wedding videographer. Don’t be that couple.


Image by Patrick Dizon Films

 

The checklist: every question to ask your wedding videographer

 

Have we finally got you onboard? Are you making the leap? Before you make one of the best decisions concerning your wedding day and book your wedding videographer, we’ve got a handy list of questions for you to consider. You’re going to want to know just how much you gel with the person filming your wedding – and a bunch of other details, too. Thank goodness you have us.

1/ The date, time and place:

  1. Is my wedding date available?
  2. How many other weddings will you photograph that weekend?
  3. Have you shot at my venue before?
  4. If not, do you plan to check the venues out in advance?
  5. Will you go to an additional location with or without extra charge?
  6. Is there a travel charge for my wedding?
  7. What is your rate if you have to stay longer?

2/ The background:

  1. How long have you been shooting weddings?
  2. On average, how many do you do per year?
  3. What sets you apart from other professionals in the area?
  4. Do you often shoot weddings that have a similar size and style to the one we are planning?
  5. Can we see the complete films of a few of your recent weddings?

3/ The packages and pricing:

  1. Do you accept payments in installations?
  2. How many rounds of revisions are included in the wedding videography package?
  3. What other deliverables are included in your wedding videography package?
  4. When will we receive the contract?
  5. How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?
  6. What is your refund or cancellation policy?
  7. Can I customise a package to fit my needs?

4/ The logistics:

  1. Will you be the one shooting my wedding?
  2. If not, how many other photographers will be on-site? When can I meet them?
  3. How many other weddings will you photograph that weekend?
  4. Will you have any assistants with you on our wedding day?
  5. How do you operate on the day?
  6. Will you use dialogue from the day or just music?
  7. What input do you want from us, and what do you prefer to have the final say on?
  8. Do you have liability insurance? Does it also cover your assistants?
  9. How do you record audio?
  10. Will you be posting about our wedding on your website and social media? Will you be submitting our photos to magazines or blogs?

5/ The aesthetics:

  1. How do you choose music for the film? Can we have input?
  2. Do you use drones?
  3. How would you describe your video style?
  4. How would you describe your working style? Are you active and instructive, or someone that prefers to be a background worker?

6/ The products:

  1. How long will it take to edit the video? What’s the turnaround rate?
  2. How is the final film delivered?
  3. Who owns the copyright of the final film?
  4. Am I allowed to request changes after the fact?
  5. Is the film watermarked? If so, we get that removed?

7/ The gravy:

  1. What is the backup plan if you cannot shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
  2. How will you and your assistants be dressed?
  3. Have you ever worked with our wedding photographer, florist, DJ, planner, stylist, etc.?
  4. Do you carry backup equipment?
  5. How do you back up your footage, and for how long?


Image by Kiri Marsters Photo + Video