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Tips for finding a great videographer
Almost every day there’s some brand new “videographer” out there advertising. With camcorder prices dropping, there are multitudes of people who will gladly take your money and deliver an inferior product. With just a little investigation, you can save hundreds and get a great video...
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Great video is more than just “video”
Uncle Lenny has a camcorder, and he’s just offered to tape your event for $50. It might sound like a great deal on the surface, but before you let him set up his tripod, there are some important questions to ask...
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TIPS FOR FINDING A GREAT VIDEOGRAPHER
Get the right team for your wedding!
If you’ve been watching the event videography market for any length of time, you’ve seen it yourself. Almost every day there’s some brand new “videographer” out there advertising. With camcorder prices dropping, there are multitudes of people who will gladly take your money and deliver an inferior product.
Fortunately, there are a few tips out there that can keep you from being taken to the cleaners. With just a little investigation, you can save hundreds and get a great video you’ll actually want to watch again and again. Read on, and make sure the videographer you hire can say "yes" to each of these!
1. Do they have great audio?
That might seem like an unusual point to start with, but in reality it's one of the most important parts of your video. Does your videographer have enough microphones to pick up everything that goes on? Will he have a mic on the pastor? The groom? The Father of the Bride? Will he mic the podium for readings and make sure the musicians are set? This is the only way to get exceptional audio at your event.
Some videographers will claim that one or two mics are enough, or worse yet, they'll tell you that their camcorder has good enough built-in mics. If you hear either of these answers from a videographer, run!
2. Will they bring multiple cameras to your wedding?
NEVER, and I repeat NEVER hire a videographer who will only bring one camcorder to your event. Even the still photographer brings a few cameras.
The problem with bringing only one camera is that you're stuck with one of two options: one static unchanging angle, or a camera that's constantly moving around. These both produce poor video that won't be pleasant to watch. Plus, what happens if his one and only camera goes on the blink during your service? Now you've paid for a video that is forever lost.
Ideally, a videographer will bring at least three cameras to a wedding ceremony, and two or more to a reception. Having multiple camera angles gives the video a far more professional look, and if something happens on one camera, others are there to make sure you get your video.
3. Are their cameras professional grade 3CCD models?
If you're paying someone to make a professional video, it only makes sense that they have professional camcorders. One of the most important parts of a professional grade camcorder is the optics chip, called a CCD. Professional camcorders use a 3CCD chip setup, which gives you more realistic, sharper, vivid colors. Camcorders with only 1CCD are trying to do three things on that one chip, and consumer camcorder CCD chips are as much as half the size of professional models. Simply put, there is no comparison in quality between pro and consumer grade camcorders.
4. Do they have a relatively recent demo?
I once spoke with a woman who complained about videographers, saying she spent $1,500 on her wedding video, and it was awful. When I asked her what the videographer's demo video looked like, she admitted she never checked to see if he had one!
A demo video is the window to a videographer's soul. Even if you don't watch it (and you should!) you should make sure your videographer has a demo. Additionally, the demo should be from a recent wedding, and it should be the same video that the bride gets. I've seen piles of demo videos from other videographers that are some sort of compilation, or they're a wedding from five years ago. Those might be neat videos, but they don't represent what the videographer is currently producing.
5. Will they attend the rehearsal?
I'm always surprised at how many videographers skip attending the rehearsal. This is perhaps the most important time a video producer has to ensure the wedding day will run smoothly. Rehearsals give the videographer time to scope out the area, determine what shots are best, and make sure everyone is on the same page for the big event.
6. Are they professional in appearance and attitude?
A few weeks ago, we were shooting a wedding reception with an awful DJ. He would go out for a half hour "smoke break", come in for ten minutes or so, and then go right back out. At one point he was out smoking and I actually wound up changing the music at his sound system. Why? Because he walked off leaving a song on repeat, which had played four times in a row!
Surprisingly, many couples forget to ask about the professionalism of their vendors. This is extremely important. Just as you don't want a DJ who misses the first dance because he's out smoking, you also don't want a videographer (or photographer for that matter) who get in the way, wear loud colors, or block the view of your guests, the real attendees of your event. If they don't know how to get the best shots without getting in the way, hire someone else.
Conclusion
While we hope that you'll consider us for your wedding, no matter who you go with, make sure these questions are answered. Without doing so, you may be opening yourself up to get pinched with an awful video you paid to much for.
