Hiring a videographer

WEDDING TIP #1 – WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY
As a photographer, clients often ask what I think about them hiring a wedding videographer to film their day. I have mixed opinions on the subject. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best in the business (and I will be happy to pass along their contact info to any of my future brides). I have also worked with some of the most obnoxious, obtrusive, annoying, and unprofessional videographers too (I will also be happy to provide the names of those to avoid as well).

Right now, I’d say about a quarter of the weddings I shoot have a videographer. I really don’t have a problem with them as long as they are professional and respectful of what is going on during the day. Too often, I am hired as a wedding photojournalist, to document the day as it unfolds and fly-on-the-wall-like as possible, only to find that the client has hired a video crew, that is in your face all day long with a big ol’ rolling tripod and bright light that lights up the place like Blackpool illuminations, posing everything and turning your day into a bad reality show.

When my sister got married, I told her for the price of an average videographer, she could buy a top of the line digital video camera, and give it to our uncle. The quality of those cameras is amazing and our Uncle Davy did a great job. They took the raw footage and edited it on their iMac and made a cool little DVD. Of course, that is no replacement for a high end videographer who would do an amazing job, but in my humble opinion it is a better option than hiring a budget videographer.

So, if you are one of my future brides and you are thinking of having a video please contact me if you’d like the names of a like minded videographer who will do a fabulous job. Or at least contact me and I will let you know who to avoid at all costs.