How to Choose a Wedding Filmmaker
People who start out in the business of video production usually work on weddings, believing it's an easy route to the market. Worse, they shift to another production field to make more money as soon as they think they're already good. The result is that some areas of wedding videography have become dominated by the inexperienced.
As a consumer, you simply have to be careful in picking a videographer for your wedding.
Looking at Demos
When screening a prospect, the first thing you have to do is ask for a demo tape of their previous work. If they don't seem happy to give you one, strike them off your list. They should give you entire videos and not just best of compilations. And ask them for some references too.
Communication
The wedding videographer must be a good communicator. Observe how he talks and listens to you, and also how he responds. Poor communication can compromise the quality of your final video.
Approach
Different videographers have different approaches, and you have to pick one that suits your preferences. Documentary, reality TV, and cinematic are three of the most popular styles used today.
Price
It's hard to specify a price range because videographers charge different fees. However, one thing is for sure - you should avoid cheap quotes. Wedding videos typically require pricey equipment and days of skilled labor, and neither is cheap.
Video Equipment
Unless you're familiar with wedding film video equipment yourself, it would be of no use asking what equipment the crew will use. How many cameras will be used is the more important question. One camera will not suffice for capturing all the precious moments that will unfold on this occasion. At least two is fine, but three is great (the third camera is usually static and provides creative options).
Editing and Polishing
It's basic - editing is important. The quality of the editing makes a lot of difference. These are questions you should ask:
- How long will it take to get the final product? -Can they give you more than one version (for example, a full version, a 20-minute compilation of the highlights, etc. - What captions, titles, and other details are to be included? - Will they put a title menu on the DVD? - What music is included, and how will you handle the copyright issue?
If you're a bit tight on the budget, you can always ask a videographer to give you the raw file, and then have it edited later on when you have the cash.
Video Format
Ask what video format will be used, and if you can get it in widescreen high definition. In the future, when people are so used to HD videos, they will find yours crappy if you have it saved in low def now. And always ask for a master quality version in the original format so you can edit it and move it to a different video format anytime.
Ownership of the Video
Usually, a videographer will retain copyright of the final video so you have to pay them extra for each copy you request. While this sounds unfair, you probably don't have much choice. In any case, it's good to know in advance. Check this post at http://www.ehow.com/how_4968173_start-wedding-videography-business.html to learn more.
