For Brides Only : Wedding Videography Survival Guide

If you’re a bride shopping for a wedding video, I have a confession to make. With over 10 yrs of experience I have witnessed the joy and stress of producing a romantic wedding film. In fact, I made several mistakes in the beginning and from that I learned the hard way how to make a great video.

Fortunately you don’t need to be a victim of amateur wedding videography. Let’s take a look at some of the challenges brides face in selecting a video expert and more specifically what you need to know to to receive the very best.

• Experience – Making wedding videos requires attention to detail, a photographic background, and a creative mind. Unlike working on a movie set where the environment is fixed event videography brings forth a multitude of problems and requires adaptability.

No scripts, no retakes, and variable lighting and sound. This is where one’s experience becomes a real crucial element. Why is the video blurry? Is the audio distorted ? Make sure to ask for a demo reel. You’ll want to avoid bloopers and errors in your wedding video. Make sure to ask for referrals.

• Personality – A great wedding requires a coordinated effort by everyone involved.It’s a referral-based business and having a child- like attitude can add a lot of for other vendors. Check with your photographer if he has heard of the videographer you’ve considered. This is a sure way to nip in the butt any potential problems.

A great videographer will stay clear of the photographers’s space and vice versa. A great cameraman will avoid the photographer’s shooting field without interrupting the flow of the day allowing both to do their jobs without incident.

• Privacy - There’s nothing worse than the feeling like your being stalked. If you lust the attention of a Hollywood celebrity you’ll want a videographer that respects your personal space without shining a bright obnoxious light into your eyes. Sure, on-camera lighting is essential for dimly lit rooms but an expert will sprinkle a splash of soft light while preserving the mood.

Generally speaking, I stand back 5-8 feet from the bride and groom whenever filming. This allows for a personal experience of the love laughter, and excitement without overstepping their comfort zone.

• Content – Browse any message board and you’ll come across “ The day goes by so fast I can’t remember half of what I said”. Perhaps it’s the romantic seduction of your first dance or the outrageous slighty-embarrasing toast given by the best man brides need you to be aware of what you bargained for. In other words, don’t assume everything will be covered. Consult with your videographer and provide them a schedule and shot list. Also, make sure to ask how long the edited video will be.

One hour videos tend to document all the important events in a well paced manner. Regardless of the duration, great video wedding recaptures the emotion and feeling of the most important day of your life.

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