Wedding Videographers: Who to Hire (and What to Pay)
It seems like more and more wedding videographers are popping up every day. While this competition is good news for keeping prices affordable, if the number of wedding videographers is getting larger, so is the difficulty in choosing the right one for your occasion. The records of your wedding day are important, and many couples are more than willing to pay premium prices for professional work; however, the cost of a wedding videographer is not always a good indicator of the service a company will provide.
Hiring a Wedding Videographer on a Budget
Since hiring a wedding videographer is only one small expense in a much larger list of services, many couples are tempted to hire the most affordable outfit they can find. Sometimes this works out just fine. Some wedding videographers are professional camera operators looking to supplement their income, and there’s always a chance you’ll happen upon one of these individuals and get an incredible amount of bang for your buck. On the other hand, many who claim to be wedding videographers are nothing more than amateurs with a nice website or a fancy camera, and the low price you’re quoted could be a sign of a company that is unsure of going rates or standard procedures. This could translate into a wedding video that is worth less than what you paid for, even if you felt you were getting a bargain!
This is why, when hiring a wedding videographer on any budget, you should always request references and take a good look at the previous work of the company. Any professional wedding videographer is going to have samples of their work handy to show prospective clients, and they are typically happy to show off what they’ve done before. Budget aside, you’ll always want to watch the work of any videographer you’re considering to make sure that company’s style is in line with your own tastes.
What to Expect from a Wedding Videographer
Your wedding videographer is there to do a very specific task, and the best ones will have that task down to a science. They can perform their job without getting in the way or stepping on anyone’s toes. They will also have all of the equipment they’ll need for the job and enough crew members to cover the entire ceremony without missing a beat. All you should have to provide a good wedding videographer with is a wedding to document, an outlet or two, and a check; in return, they will give you the best documentation of your special day possible. They will handle all of the editing and provide you with the number of finished copies you asked for, complete with whatever packaging you’ve agreed upon. Just like any other professional you hire, you should expect your wedding videographer to work smoothly, efficiently, and to provide the service they are being paid for. Beware of any wedding videographers you don’t feel comfortable with or foresee friction with, as this often leads to results that reflect these feelings. Having a videographer you get along with is just as important as having one who is capable!
What to Pay a Wedding Videographer
When considering wedding videographers, price is always a concern. In general, the most basic coverage will cost less than $1,500 and will include at least a single camera documentation of the wedding ceremony and at least one DVD for you. A Mid-range wedding video package (in Minnesota) typically runs between $1,500 and $4,000 and will include two cameras during the wedding ceremony, as well as documentation of other aspects like preparations, interviews, and/or coverage of the reception. The top-of-the-line packages of professional wedding videographers are likely to include documentation of rehearsal dinners, multiple camera coverage of the ceremony and reception, professionally edited and packaged copies for you, and many other extras that you might have never considered, but will find add valuable touches to the final product. Such service isn’t cheap, and will often cost $5,000 or more. No matter what level of service you need your wedding videographer to provide, however, be flexible when you choose your package; often, the little extras you can have for a few hundred dollars can make a world of difference in the finished product.
