Choosing a Wedding Videographer

1. Book a professional videographer.

Choose someone who makes their living by making films and videos and not just someone who uses wedding videography as a lucrative hobby or to keep themselves busy during retirement.

Does the videographer makes any other sorts of films e.g. broadcast tv or corporate videos, but beware of those claiming to be television professionals who have just been a runner on a few programmes. This basically just guarantees they can make a good cuppa!

Make sure that if they're using extra cameramen, that they aren't just using students from the local college but properly trained people with relevant experience.

2. View a complete wedding video.

Make sure you ask to see substantial examples of work, ideally a complete wedding video, not just highlights montages. Most people can shoot enough decent shots during a wedding of several hours to make a decent 3 minute montage.

Look and listen carefully. Is the picture correctly exposed? Are faces too dark? Can you see the flow of the fabric on that beautiful white wedding dress? Is the shot steady or does it wobble? A tell-tale sign of the amateur wedding videographer is too much zooming in and out. A professional wedding videographer isn't afraid to keep the shot completely still and let the picture speak for itself. Most importantly, can you hear those speeches and vows clearly?

3. Look for qualifications or members of a trade association.

Look on the Institute of Videography's website for recommendations. If you book a wedding videographer who is a member of the IOV, for example, you have at least got someone to complain to if it all goes wrong!

4. Check the insurance and licenses.

A professional wedding videographer will have professional indemnity and public liabilty coverage. They'll also get the proper PPL and MCPS licences which are required to film the wedding service & reception venue and to film dances and dub your music later.

5. Check what's extra.

The overall package might appear cheaper, but many wedding video companies add on extras such as high fees for extra copies of the DVDs. All these charges can soon add up. And as with anything, you get what you pay for. If a company is offering very cheap packages, there might be a reason!

Email: jennifer@4lifefilms.co.uk
Tel: 01422 354430 / 07798 622446
87 St Albans Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 0ND
Copyright Jennifer Page 2008