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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Communicating With Your Wedding Vendors

On your wedding day, you will trust your vendors to execute your dream wedding plans. One of the biggest mistakes brides make on their wedding day is not communicating well with their vendors. (Want to know the others? Click here.) To avoid this mistake, try some of the following strategies.

Form a Photography and Videography Plan

After the wedding day, you will have very few tangible memories more precious than your wedding photographs and video. When working with a professional photographer and videographer, it is important that you convey your vision to them so they can create the wedding keepsake you desire. Form a photography and videography plan that is built upon your unique wishes by letting them know if you prefer photojournalistic, candid or cinematic images – or a mixture of each. The more specific you are about the type of images that appeal to you, the better your photographer and videographer can capture those images. Discuss images you would like to capture through the day; poses you love and the ones you hate, but don’t create too large of a “shot list”. You want your wedding photographer and videographer to have some artistic license. That’s how he or she captured the images that made you want to hire them.

Discuss Your Musical Tastes

It’s your wedding reception and you should have a say in the soundtrack. Work with your wedding DJ to identify songs that he must play, should try to play, and should absolutely not play. While you should have input in the music played at your wedding reception, it’s not a good idea to create a playlist for the entire evening. A professional DJ knows how to read a crowd and can identify the best song to play next to keep your wedding reception rocking.

Create a “Loose” Timeline

It’s important that you create a timeline for how you would like your wedding day to flow. It’s just as important to realize in advance, that you will need flexibility in your schedule. If the timeline is so tight that a red light on the way to the wedding reception knocks the whole thing off track, you’ll spend the rest of the day chasing time. Work with your vendors to identify when you would like important events to take place, such as the grand entrance or cake cutting, but allow some flexibility. You wouldn’t want to miss pictures against a beautiful sunset because the timeline says you should be visiting table 27 at that exact minute! Click here for the timeline of a typical wedding reception.

Appoint a Helper

It’s your wedding day and you should enjoy it. There will be moments throughout the day that your wedding vendors will need to verify or clarify information from your plan. Consider appointing a close friend, that isn’t a member of the bridal party, to assist your vendors. They can help identify people for family formals, move items between venues, check the setup of the wedding reception decorations, and locate people for your grand introduction. They can also be the point of contact for florists, caterers and other vendors on the day of the wedding. If you decide to appoint a bridal helper, be sure to share her contact information with your wedding vendors too.

We’re ready to help! Email us or call 248-689-0777.