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By Lei Lydle
Founder and Editor
Last Updated: 12/10/2007 1:27:47 PM |
How To Find Videographer
- Use the Local Videographers listed on this site.
- Get recommendations from your friends.
- Ask your photographer for recommendations.
- Ask other wedding professionals such as the caterer, florist, etc.
- Attend bridal shows.
- Look for ads in bridal magazines.
- Choose approximately 5 or 6 videographers from the above sources and have them send you information about their prices and services.
- From this information choose at least three videographers to interview.
- View an entire wedding video from beginning to end. Also view the separate highlight tapes if they provide them.
- While viewing the tapes, pay attention to the quality - sound, lighting, etc.
- If the tape is edited - is the editing smooth or jumpy? Are there any gaps? Is the lighting consistent? Is it too dark? Does the music fit the scene?
- If there are special effects - do the effects actually add to the video or are they really cheesy?
- Make sure that you like the videographer's personality and he listens to you.
- Ask for references and call them.
- Get a signed contract with all of the details.
- Meet with your videographer again a few weeks before the wedding to go over any last minute details.
Questions to Ask Videographers
- Who exactly will be shooting my wedding?
- What type of equipment will you be using to video my wedding?
- How many cameras do you use to video weddings?
- What type of microphone do you use?
- What type of editing do you do?
- How many hours of coverage do you provide?
- What is your general wedding shooting schedule?
- Do you include editing, music, and titles in your quoted price?
- Can I buy the unedited master tape?
- How much do additional tapes cost?
- What exactly will the final tape be like?
- When will I receive my final tape?
- Do you charge for mileage between the wedding and reception sites?
- Are there any other extra charges that might be added?
- Do you bring back-up equipment in case of a problem?
- Will you need any special lighting or electrical outlets?
- Are you familiar with my ceremony and reception sites?
- Have you ever shot a wedding in these locations before?
- Will you attend the rehearsal to discuss the best shots and angles?
- Will you be at the ceremony site ahead of time to discuss the best shots and angles?
- Can I see a copy of a video tape that you have done recently?
- Are there any photographers in town that you work well with?
- Have you had any problems with any particular photographers in town?
Portions of this article were reprinted with permission from BRIDAL BARGAINS by Denise & Alan Fields (Copyright 2000, Windsor Peak Press, 5th edition, $14.95). Available in bookstores nationwide or online here. For more information, please see the Fields web page at www.BridalBargainsBook.com.
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Lei Lydle, Editor from Atlanta, GA says... |
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Mark is right - this article is very old. I am in the process of researching and updating it! Happy Planning! ~ Lei |
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Posted: 12/10/2007 1:27:18 PM |
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Mark Goldberg from Annapolis, MD says... |
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This list of questions may have been useful sometime in the past, but it is out of date.
First of all, today few videogrpaphers edit and create a master tape. Almost all do the editing on computer and create and edit master file on the hard drive. Tapes are also rarely used.
You suggest asking about things like type of microphone, etc. That is a useless question for the bride unless she is familiar with a wide variety of professional microphones and that technology. For example, if I said "Two lavs, an omni, a hypercardioid dynamic, a condenser shotgun, and a two single point stereos with a UHF diversity and an MDR", what would that mean to you?
It is better to advise couples to outline their event and watch a variety of videos to get educated, then evaluate candidates based on quality of audio, camerawork, and relevance of the video to their needs. |
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Posted: 12/9/2007 2:49:07 PM |
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