MICHEL & JAY – PART II

The #1 regret with brides after their wedding is not hiring a videographer.  No matter how much you try, you won’t remember everything that happens on your wedding day.  And although your photos will be priceless and freeze thos important moments in time, they don’t show the full range of what happened on your day… little moments like your 80year old Grandma dancing with your nephew, and big ones like your vows and the speeches made by the most important people in your life. 

Ok… so you need video.  What do you look for?

Forget about all the magazine articles in magazines… here’s the real scoop.  Ask your other vendors who they refer.  A great videographer will come highly recommended from one or more of them.  Plus, this will solidify the fact that they will work well together.  You definitely want that on your wedding day!  Defiitely search via google, etc. on your own too – but you definitely want to ask your other vendors their opinion before you contract with them. Be aware that the great videographers are few and far between (very different from photography) so many of them travel worldwide to shoot weddings.

Check out vidoegrapher websites.  If they don’t have samples on their site, or if the samples are old – that is a red flag.  Once you have narrowed down your choices, set up a meeting with them, unless they are out of your area.  Watch a lot of their videos… not just their demo.  Think about all aspects of the production… how is the audio?  Do you like how the story is told?  Does the shooting look professional – not shaky, etc. Go with your Gut… hire who you think will be the best fit for you!

What should you expect to pay for a good video? 

Well it definitely depends on where you are located, but a good vidoegraphy studio usually won’t be charging less than a great photographer in your area.  It’s important to know this ahead of time so you can budget accordingly because a bad video isn’t worth the small amount of money they are paid.  What most people don’t realize is that creating a great video requires a much larger investment in high-quality high-definition equipment than photography, and the post production is also about 10x hours of labor. Not only that, but in order to maintain high-quality customer service and a fast turn-around time, the studio must be full-time and pay really great people to help.  Most brides who value video look at it as an investment since they know all of the material things (DJ, cake, flowers, etc.) AND their memories will be gone unless they secure a great videographer.

On your wedding day, you should not have to think about the videographer.  Don’t worry about having to pose for them, etc.  A great videographer will work behind the scenes to capture amazing video of moments you didn’t even know happened!  Most of all – don’t sweat the small stuff on your big day and just enjoy it!  Once you receive the video you will most likely feel that you would have paid double for the product you receive – it will actually become a priceless heirloom in your family!’

Thanks SO much Julie and Elysium Productions for stopping by today…the tips and the wedding film were excellent….I especially loved the ‘dance’ scene in the film…fabulous!!!