Video is often overlooked or relegated to barely any budget, why is it important for brides to have video or in your case a film?

We do our best to find the bride who says “I don’t want video.”  When we hear that, it usually means they may not know what is possible.  Without a wedding film, couples like Bill and Holly would only have a memory and some snapshots of one of the most emotional speeches we have documented this year.

(If playback stutters, be sure HD IS OFF in the upper right corner of the video.)

Sometimes you can’t appreciate something until you don’t have it.  Often we hear stories of brides who decided to not document their weddings but then AFTER the wedding, they regretted that decision.  Brides can look forward to seeing so many fun experiences they could not see on the day of the wedding.  The tunnel vision that occurs in the hustle and bustle of a crazy day guarantees that many things will be missed.  Our most common feedback when clients receive their films is “Wow – I didn’t even know that happened!”  And the long term benefits won’t even be realized until kids and grandkids come along.  Only THEN is a wedding film truly priceless.  I often ask clients who are deciding, “If I told you I had a movie of your grandparents being married, what would that be worth to you?”  Our own wedding video is now 17 years old and several of the people in our video are now gone.  But their voices, their body language, and their personalities are preserved.

Now that the bride understands that video is an important part of the day, what should they look for when hiring a wedding filmmaker?

A great film has great audio; not just imagery cut to pop songs, but real moments like a reading, or a heartfelt speech.  Sometimes a few quiet words during the bridal preparations can make the difference between a regular wedding video and an emotional wedding film.

That the film captures important moments and tells a great story.  The internet now gives any filmmaker the ability to put full HD examples out there to see.  Brides really need to look and listen to the work.  Many high-end filmmakers will even travel, so if you find the right artist, ask how you can make it work.

Anyone who walks into Best Buy and buys a palmcorder can call himself a wedding videographer.  There are no other qualifications.  However, an experienced filmmaker not only brings the right tools and skills, but also the experience.  Shooting is only a small part of any production.  Dozens of hours are then spent in post-production, including design, editing, color grading, and audio mixing.

What are some questions the bride should ask?

I created a list of 10 REAL Questions You Should Ask Your Videographer.  One of the most important questions to ask is “May I see other clients’ movies and read what they had to say about you?”  Once the skill level is evident, the really important thing is how your personality gels with your filmmaker.  A good relationship with your filmmaker will make all the difference in the world.

A few others are: How will my movie sound?  How do you handle lighting?  How do you vary your shots? How do you plan to tell the story of my day? How long will it take to get my finished movie?  Are you ‘preferred’ by the other companies I’ve hired?  How do you get your shots without being ‘in the way’?  What do you do to make sure our movie is unique to our personalities?