Selecting Your Wedding Photographer And Videographer

Choosing the right wedding photographer and wedding videographer for your special day is extremely important. You will be entrusting your wedding photographer and videographer to capture your first family record. Long after your wedding day, this will be one of the few wedding purchases that will remain.

So where do you begin selecting the wedding photographer and videographer that is perfectly you? Before you begin interviewing potential wedding vendors, it is recommended that you and your fiancé discuss what is important to each of you. Discuss the style of imagery that you like and agree to a budget range for these services.

Wedding photography and videography styles

A wedding photographer or videographer that specializes in photojournalist wedding photos and videos will not showcase many posed photos in their wedding galleries, instead showing more candid or spontaneous pictures of your wedding day. While you are likely to get great images of details and locations, you won’t receive as many, or possibly any, set up shots. When looking at a photojournalists work, it is a good idea to see a full wedding album to see how these images are used to tell a story. If family formals or portraits are high in your wish list, you’ll want to ask how these will be captured.

A traditional wedding photographer or videographer will provide you with well lit, classic wedding portraits. The majority of their work will feature posed images of the couple and their families. The traditional photographer may capture fewer wedding day details, focusing more on traditional images of the people at your wedding day. Traditional wedding photography and wedding videography will also provide fewer candid moments.

Artistic photography and videography will often showcase images shot from unique angles, composed with tilted frames or objects in focus while others are not. Artistic shooters will often use lighting to create drama in their images. Often an artistic shooter will concentrate on the unique elements of hour day, and not document the family affair that your wedding day is, in the process of creating fine art. This style often requires a significant amount of post production to create the final image so its important to make sure those services are included.

Stylized wedding photography and videography blends the storytelling elements of photojournalism with elements of traditional photography and videography. Images often have an artistic nature, using blurred backgrounds, different levels of focus and a variety of angles. The stylized shooter will create the environment for your natural emotion and personalities to be reflected and provide coaching to look your best without creating overdosed photographs. Many couples prefer a stylized approach.

Research

The visual nature of this service can make it easier to research in advance than some other wedding services, such as a baker or florist. Before meeting with photographers and videographers, you may find it helpful to read reviews from other brides. The Knot can provide a great source for reviews. Talk with recently married friends about their experience with wedding vendors. Social media sites such as Facebook and Pinterest can give you an insight into recent work from potential photographers and videographers.

The interview

You’ll want to ask questions of potential wedding photographers and wedding videographers, but they should also ask questions of you. Showing an interest in your venue, wedding vision and style shows that they want to understand your unique needs and be sure they can meet them. You should also have the opportunity to see samples of wedding albums, wedding videos, fine art products or other items you are considering for your wedding day. Be sure to see and review all contracts when placing a deposit for services. For questions to ask your wedding photographer, click here.  For questions to ask your wedding videographer, click here.

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Questions To Ask A Videographer

In a previous blog post, we shared questions you should ask a wedding photographer. Today we will share questions you should ask your wedding videographer.

1. How can I view your work? Online highlight wedding videos are a great example of a videographer’s work, but don’t always tell the complete story. It is best to watch examples of how they approach all areas of the day, from the pre-ceremony through the reception.
2. What is your style? While a highly stylized or photojournalistic approach is great for select montages of your wedding day, it is likely that you also want someone that uses a documentary style as well. This allows them to capture your special moments in an artful way, without to much intrusion.
3. Do I receive rights to my edited wedding video? You should be allowed to make your own copies or the videographer should make them for a nominal fee.
4. What packages do you offer? Your wedding day and needs are unique to you. Your videographer should offer an array of packages with options for ceremony only coverage with one videographer to 10 hours with two videographers.
5. Do you work with DJs, photographers and hall managers? Professionalism and courtesy should be the backbone of a professionals business practice. Be wary of a wedding vendor who has exclusivity as a contract term.
6. What attire do you wear to a wedding? A professional videographer should be dressed in professional business attire.
7. Will I receive a personal consultation with my wedding videographer? You should always speak with the videographer filming your wedding prior to your wedding day. This allows you the opportunity to discuss your personal preferences for your wedding video.
8. What kind of lighting do you use? Your wedding day is a special day for you and shouldn’t be a myriad of Hollywood lights. Professional HD cameras allow for the use of ambient light or small camera mounted lights. Anything more may be distracting.
9. When can I expect my edited video? Make sure any videographer you are considering for your wedding video employs a staff of video editors and states in advance when you can expect your wedding video. (Mike Staff Productions guarantees you will have your wedding video within 12 weeks of your wedding.)
10. May I review your contract? Never do business with a wedding professional that does not clearly express what you can expect.
11. Will the videographer require a meal? It is standard to provide dinner for the videographer, DJ and photographer.

For answers to frequently asked questions about wedding videography, click here.

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Video of the Week: Anthony and Ann Marie

Our second Video of the Week comes from Anthony and Ann Marie. Their wedding was July 17,2010 with the Ceremony at St. Columban and the Reception at Addison Oaks. The outdoor romantics are just beautiful. Enjoy!

Click here to capture all your wedding moments with a Mike Staff Productions Videographer.

Sports Illustrated vs. ESPN

I received an email today from Rachel Cytacki of All Things Creative. We now have the honor of sharing the insight of her husband, Dan, a wedding enthusiast. Dan's insight into the wedding industry is impeccable, and to be honest, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Question: If you had a subscription to Sports Illustrated, do you think that would mean you’d no longer want to watch ESPN?

Recently, while working at a bridal show, our booth was near a videographer and I was amazed by the number of brides that told him, “I don’t need a videographer, we have a photographer”

Here are a couple of analogies that came to mind after hearing what the brides told this gentleman...

“What kind of drinks will you be serving?”
“We aren’t serving drinks; we’re going to have food instead”

“I notice there are no chairs for your guests”
“Yeah, we decided to go with tables”

“Where did you meet you’re husband?”
“We haven’t met yet but I’ve seen a ton of pictures”

Ok, maybe I’m overstating things a bit, but in my years of wedding experience, I’ve never heard a couple say “I’m really glad we don’t have a video of the day.” Pictures are wonderful.  I’ve been lucky to work with some of the best photographers around, but there are aspects of the day no photo can capture.

While watching the sample work at the show, there was a great moment captured by the videographer I hope will help you understand where I am coming from. The Bride is putting on her veil, getting ready to head to the church. The camera cuts to her father standing in the hallway seeing his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time. He’s smiling and holding back tears. He moves into the room to hug her. As the father puts his arms around his daughter we can no longer see his face, until the camera pans around the bride to reveal that he’s lost his battle to keep back the tears. He’s beaming with pride as the tears role down his face.

On a side note: here I am. Standing at our booth at a bridal show. Watching this, and thinking about my own daughter crying.

This is just one moment in a day full of moments you’ll want to have, keep, and share with your children and grandchildren.

You probably won't pull the DVD out on a Saturday night when you don't have plans or want to stay in, but wouldn't it be nice to have the option. I think it would be really cool to see my parents wedding, and their wedding was so basic. Weddings have come a long way over the years and being able to document the day is priceless.

About the Author ('s wife)

Rachel Cytacki has been in the wedding industry for over 12 years. With that time comes a wealth of knowledge and relationships making her and All Things Creative a leading choice for wedding and event planning throughout Michigan. Rachel’s goal is to assist you in planning your event so you can enjoy the day with your family and friends.

Videography for you wedding...

Did you know that a recent poll found that less then 20% of brides had videography in their top 10 Must Have Items before their wedding, BUT over 91% wished that had professional, videography after their wedding?

Just so you don't miss out on capturing your once in a lifetime moments, I wanted to give you a sample of a recent wedding highlight video:

The Wedding of Lisa and Chris from Mike Staff Productions, Inc. on Vimeo.

I just love it!! What do you brides think?