Have you ever found the options on a wedding videography package to be
confusing and too technical. Well here is a general breakdown of most
of the categories you will ever have to deal with (use the navigation to
the right to skip ahead). This way the next time you look over wedding
video package options, you can make an educated decision as to whether
the services are worth the price
Cameras
"I don't want the videographers to miss anything, but it how much should I pay for extra cameras and videographers?"
If you find yourself asking yourself this question, you are not alone.
The truth is that there is no way to know because each videographer and
videography company is different. This is a list of the various factors
that determine the type of coverage that you receive:
Style of Cameraman
This is the most important aspect of determining the quality and
quantity of your wedding footage. As you watch one sample wedding video
to another, pay attention to the aspects below to see that style they
have and which style you are willing to pay for (note that the negative
and critical connotations are for humor and a more human understanding):
Tripod Abuser
One thing that I feel has disgraced the profession is the multitude of
videographers that are glued to a tripod. Tripod use (or abuse) has its
purposes, which includes steady shots and smooth horizontal panning.
But this is best for scripted footage, such as having actors and
preplanned shot sequences. Many professional videographers are
well-versed in this, but also have the ability to remove the camera from
its anchor and get quality footage the is only attainable on foot.
Honestly, anyone with one day of training can use a camera on a tripod
efficiently and skillfully and I do not believe this justifies a $50 to
$100 per hour pay scale.
The Running Man
Be wary of the fact that even though a tripod makes the footage
stationary, not being anchored to one can mean that the videographer is
running back and forth to get other shots. This may be distracting to
the ambiance of the ceremony or reception and should be of concern. If
you prefer the better footage with a great videographer, you might want
to compromise and ask him to be less noticeable or distracting. My
personal style is candid, where I often find great places in the
background.
The Director
This can be a good thing and a bad thing. This is also seen in the best
of photographers and the worst of photographers. I have been
unfortunate enough to have seen wedding videos where the videographer
barks orders and the whole thing is caught on tape. "Smile! Turn that
way! Good!" Please avoid this at all costs. If a videographer is good
at scripted shots, you will see the results in the sample footage.
Some people can see it in the faces of the bride and groom
unfortunately, unless they are great actors. This is why I prefer to
use a hands-off approach to get natural and candid shots that reflect
the actual joy they experience on their special day. This, however,
will not yield any scripted sequence and this is an issue described
further in the editing section.
The "2 cameras, 1 videographer" option
This means that one camera does not move. This is good as a backup to
get footage at other parts of the wedding, but you really have to see
footage to see if they use this effectively. If the editor cuts back
and forth to the same frame, it may not be to your liking. Also, the
backup camera ("B" camera) is usually one that costs less that $1000
(while your cameraman may be using a $4000 camera) and this is most
noticeable when edited with the better footage from the "A" camera. I
move around and get enough shots from multiple angles where having a "B"
camera is not necessary.
New Toys, like the Button Camera
These are fun and great, but just make sure that it is worth it. See
footage that actually uses the new gadget and see if you want that in
your video at all, since the small cameras provide surveillance-style
footage and the whole "Blair Witch" shaky-cam effect. Also, be wary of
the fact that the groom may have to wear the camera (which is not that
big) and the transmitter (which is not big either, but can get
annoying for more than an hour at a time). If you like the feature and
understand the pros and cons, I say go for it.
Sound
One option or feature that you may see on a wedding videography package
list or brochure is the use of "wireless microphones." This brings
sound into the picture. Many people do not realize how important audio
can be to the video, since what good is it having your best man speak
words from the heart to the camera with "YMCA" peaking the audio.
Again, see actual footage of actual weddings to see what you will get,
especially in loud situations such as the reception and important
situations such as your vows. Ask the videographer if he is prepared.
One example involves a wedding where the altar was in
front of a water fountain, of which the venue forgot to turn off as the
bride and groom said their vows. My audio was drowned out by the
constant pattering of water. Luckily, I was able to pull most of the
audio out with effective sound editing and proceeded to buy a wireless
lavalier mic the next week. A lavalier microphone is the type of
microphone used in interviews, usually attached to the lapel. Grooms
tend to dislike carrying the transmitter, so I alternatively place it
somewhere near the altar. This also provides two audio streams where I,
as the editor, have the option of choosing the clearer of the two.
Editing
Many videography studios will charge extra for special effects, slide
shows, and highlight reels. Again, take a look at final products to see
what you are buying. Many editors are not professional editors, using
purchased templates to make their final product. This often results in a
"cheesy" feel (I have permission to use that word because my clientele
prefer to avoid "cheesiness" and use that word commonly). Be wary of
paying for special effects where it takes 20 minutes of work to plug in
footage into a template.
Music video styles can vary between great and downright
horrible. Often, footage is clipped and just played to music in the
background. If they take it one step further they will sync the clips
with the beat of the music, often with transitions that may or may not
please you. Many editors get plug-in packages that include wedding
video transitions, for example the video clip morphs into a wedding ring
and zooms off. This can cause what I call "effect overkill" and is the
result of the person trying to let the editing program's options make
the video good by including every possible feature. Here and
there you will see photographers do the same, though it is generally
tolerated less. A real, professional editor can make the footage look
good with simple cuts and then adds special effects to carefully add
emphasis to certain moments. Look at any movie that is done well. Most
of the cuts and transitions are straight cuts or fade transitions that
are well-placed.
Delivered Product
The style of a DVD case is often representative of the dedication and
style that the studio has for its videos, though I would always say to
not judge a book. However, the printing of the DVD is important.
Adhesive labels will peel off in the years to come and may damage DVD
players. The alternatives are inkjet-printable surfaces, which allows
direct printing on the DVD. This isn't as good as silk-screening, but
silk-screens (used on the DVD movies you buy) are expensive and meant
for printing thousands of DVDs.
Make sure that you know how many videos you will receive and how much it
will cost to get any extra copies beyond that. Also, see if you able
to copy the DVD. I only charge for extra DVDs due to time and materials
and I allow my clients to copy their video as much as they like. If
you have the option of getting the video hosted on a website, find out
if there are any extra costs and for how long the video will be hosted
for (some places only offer this service for six months). Here is an
explanation of my wedding video DVD covers and printing.
Extras
Extras, like a love story option or slide shows, are great. Just
remember that some places offer extras to make easy extra money, while
the true purpose should be to give the client flexibility and options to
satisfy personal preferences. See if the price justifies the service.
It's like getting air conditioning (when it is not included) with a new
car; it gives the seller a chance to increase revenue on top of a
closed sale. Explore the options and flexibility of a videographer,
although. It shows skill and talent to be able to cater to each unique
client.
Pricing
The truth: Many studios take advantage of the insane markup on wedding services and price accordingly.
The best advice I can give is to pay for talent and skill. Expensive
video equipment and pre-paid editing templates do not always justify a
budget-tightening price. Many places are run by businessmen that hire
amateurs. . This does not justify the cost
by a long shot, but it allows the studio to have several offices and
spend large amounts on advertising and marketing.
So when you are looking at
wedding videography package
options, try to see what they actually offer beyond flashy terms and
"fluff." Many things should come by default with a wedding video
montage. Be wary of when things are waved around like a banner (like
"including 20 special effects") when they have little bearing on the
caliber of the production. The best advice I could give is to look
around and weigh the price for the end product. Always see actual
weddings, instead of flashy promo clips that do not reflect what you
will show your loved ones in the years to come.
