If you’re planning a wedding, you’ve probably heard from multiple sources that you NEED to hire a videographer. When you’ve worked so hard to put together the day of your dreams, hand-selecting everything from the save the dates to the napkins, gathered together with all of your favorite people, you need to memorialize it on film. But where do you start? There are a ton of talented videographers in the wedding community, each with different strengths. We’re going to break down some of the things you should look for and questions you should ask in order to find a great fit for your wedding day.
Experience
This one is pretty simple, but when you’re browsing videographers online, make sure they have experience! Check out their film portfolio, go through their social media pages, read their reviews, and ask plenty of questions during your initial meetings. Here are a few questions you should have in your pocket:
- How many years have you been filming weddings?
- What are your package options?
- What happens if there is a last minute emergency?
- What is the editing process?
An experienced cinematography company should be able to answer all of these questions with ease and elaborate on them in a manner that makes you feel comfortable trusting them with filming one of the biggest days of your life.
In Line With Your Vision
When it comes to wedding films, there are an infinite number of different styles. Some videographers stick with an Indie moody style, while others strive for a dramatic and cinematic feel. Be sure to watch multiple films from each company to get a clear understanding of their style and the couples they typically work with. Can you picture you and your loved ones in their films? Do they capture the types of shots you would want? (Touching moments, detail shots, etc.) Does their editing style match with the vision you have for remembering your day?
Open Communication
Ideally, you’ll book your wedding videographer about a year in advance. That doesn’t mean, however, that you will only talk to them the day you book and the day you say “I do!” You want to partner with a company who keeps an open line of communication. A great cinematography company will keep in contact throughout your engagement – answering any questions, getting to know your other vendors, and understanding the “must-haves” for your wedding film. They will work to understand your dream wedding and how to best capture it on camera and preserve it as a memorable experience that you’ll treasure for years to come.
Great Relationship
Along with open communication, you want to have a great relationship with your wedding videography team. When you have someone following you around with cameras on the most important day of your life, you want to feel comfortable that not only will they capture the footage of your day just as you dreamed it, but also that they will put you at ease and be a friend. At byDesign Films, we employ an entire team whose goal is to establish a long and rewarding friendship with each of our clients. We want to know what inspires our couples, which family members are closest to your hearts, and how you fell in love in the first place, so that we can tell your entire story.