You’ve got the ring on your finger and secured a wedding date; now what? You hire your dream vendor team, one of them being a wedding videographer. These days, hiring a videographer is not an afterthought anymore. It’s something you can remember your special day by and one of those investments you’ll never regret making. We are not saying your aunt, who recently bought herself a fancy iPhone, is not capable of taking nice videos. On the contrary, those videos are priceless and deserve a special place on your story highlights. But why burden a family member with documenting your big day when you can hire a professional videographer? That’s what they do for a living: they are experts in documenting the big moments, the small moments, and everything in between.
After checking your prospective videographer’s availability, we recommend asking them these five questions before you sign the dotted line.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FILMING WEDDINGS?
Your wedding video is something that you will cherish for years to come. So you want to make sure you hire someone who has the skills and knowledge to capture the most critical moments of your wedding day. A busy videographer is usually an indication that it’s a good one. Also, don’t just count out the newbies; if you like their portfolio and they have good recommendations, why not?
HOW IS YOUR PRICING DETERMINED?
Some videographers charge a flat rate, while others offer pre-set packages. So it’s essential to run through the packages and inclusions, especially if you’ve got your heart set on something specific, like a short trailer to share with your loved ones. Next, if you are not one for surprises, find out if there are any additional fees on top of the selected package, like travel fees. You also want to find out if they require advance payment or accepts payment in installments. Finally, make sure you get any agreements in writing.
HOW WELL DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER VENDORS?
This might strike you as an odd question, but a videographer has to interact with multiple vendors to deliver the best product at the end of the day. If they work well with a specific photographer, you may want to consider hiring that vendor and vice versa. Not only do they work closely with your photographer, but they also need to check in with your DJ to capture the most important speeches. In short: You want to hire someone that works well with other vendors.
WHAT IS YOUR VIDEOGRAPHY STYLE?
This is an important question to ask your videographer because they usually have a preferred filming and editing style. These styles range from documentary-style to cinematic. So first, decide what type of style you are drawn to. Then find out if the videographer’s style aligns with your vision. Otherwise, we can guarantee that your wedding video will just gather dust somewhere. Also, to be on the safe side, we would suggest asking for samples of their work.
WHAT INPUT DO YOU WANT FROM US?
Videographers know what they’re doing and always have a vision for your wedding video. However, sometimes that might not align with the vision you have. Take the music selection, for example. You want to make sure that your videographer knows what type of music you like and are licensed to use that. Also, if you have a specific aesthetic in mind, it’s best to iron it out before signing the contract.
Are you still looking for someone to capture all the special moments of your wedding day? Look no further than these expert videographers listed on our vendor guide.