Wedding Video Advice
As the UK’s leading wedding video producers, Bloomsbury Films has plenty of experience when it comes to producing high quality wedding videos. To help those seeking to commission a wedding film for their special day, we have put together a number of useful articles we hope will help you with this very important task.
Please click on the articles below:
Choosing a Wedding Videographer
Choosing the best wedding videographer for your day is a very important task, but one that can be more challenging than you might expect! The company you choose will have the responsibility for creating one of the most tangible and significant pieces of family history you will ever have.
Wedding video producers are not all the same. Just like makers of cars, there can be an enormous variation in quality and appeal. Therefore it is important that you get to grips with the issues that are going to play an import part in choosing your wedding videographer. To help you achieve this, we have listed below a number of key points you might find useful:
Wedding Video Samples
The first and most obvious place to start when choosing your wedding videographer is to look at their previous work. Most established videographers will have examples of their work online, but be careful these are recent and not a montage of different ones. A few good samples should be enough to get a sense of their style and professionalism. Things to look out for are the quality of the picture composition and editing; whether the work flows well or feels slow and laborious; whether there is a sense of story or is just random images. Be especially aware of companies that over use effects – this can often be to compensate for poor camerawork and stylistically your video could look very dated within a few years.
If you are satisfied with the samples you see online, the next thing to do is ask for a sample wedding DVD. Any established company will be able to send you at least 2 individual samples that are relevant to your type of wedding. Be wary of companies that send you incomplete material, examples that are over a year old, or inappropriate to your particular type of wedding (e.g. being sent a Jewish sample for a Hindu wedding!) The sample DVDs will give you the truest sense of what you can expect from a wedding videographer and you shouldn’t book unless you are satisfied with this.
Meet the Videographer
Wherever possible it is a good idea to arrange a meeting with your selected wedding videographer(s) before making a booking. This will enable you to assess their professionalism, interest and commitment to producing your wedding film. This is also the best time to ask questions about their experience, working methods and what is included in the price (see separate notes). A successful wedding videographer is less likely to visit you or be available for meetings at the weekend (when they would be working). Therefore be wary of someone who is too readily available since it is likely they are either inexperienced or unpopular.
If a meeting in person isn’t possible due to distance or timing, then you should at least have a chat over the phone. This will still help you assess the videographers attitude and professionalism – and remember wedding video production is a very personal business therefore you should be comfortable with whoever you book!
Video Coverage
A wedding is a live event and filming is very different from other video work such as drama and pop promos where the producers orchestrate everything that is happening. Coverage of the ceremony and speeches must to be rock-steady and reliable and will be much more interesting if you can have close-up details and audience reactions. To achieve this you ideally need at least two cameras to capture the material as well as covering any unforeseen eventualities. Videography is not the same as photography, you need a lot more footage to tell a proper story of your day (a 90 minute wedding film uses the equivalent of 135,000 photographs out of around 810,000 that would have been shot!)
If you can afford it, two cameras will also enable you to film different things happening at once (e.g. bride preparations and guests arriving) and capture a wider range of the spontaneous things that happen during the day. However it goes without saying that having two cameras to film your wedding costs more than one camera. At Bloomsbury Films we offer a choice of packages, but only accept bookings for one camera for smaller civil weddings. Before making your choice of wedding video producer, be aware that the demands for producing a good wedding video will mean a lot of good quality coverage will be needed for editing down into a strong finished film.
Cultural Understanding
It is important when choosing a wedding videographer, that you satisfy yourself he/she have adequate experience of your particular type of wedding ceremony and culture. Sikh weddings, for example, are very different from Anglican weddings, whilst Persian weddings differ enormously from Jewish ones. It isn’t just the ceremonies that differ, it is the customs, the music and the whole character of them. At Bloomsbury Films we have experience of filming many different types of weddings, but this isn’t the case with all wedding videographers. If you choose someone who doesn’t understand the customs and rituals of your particular wedding, then don’t be surprised if something is missing from your final wedding DVD.
Producing a good wedding DVD is in fact more than capturing the rituals and customs of a ceremony. It should ideally reflect the cultural background of the whole wedding day, as well as the personality of the couple. The right music, whether it be Persian, Greek or Bollywood, is essential to reinforcing the character of different wedding types. Similarly understanding the importance of Chazan’s chanting in a Jewish wedding and the Dhol Drummers in a Hindu one is key to a good wedding video. Before booking your wedding videographer make absolutely sure they understand your particular culture by asking for relevant samples.
HD Ready Filming
There is a lot of mis-information within the wedding video industry regarding the term 'HD Ready'. As with any industry, technology in film & video production changes over time, and at first glance, the latest technology can seem the most appealing - however this is not always the case! First and foremost, a good wedding videographer, like a good wedding photographer will shine in any format since it is creative talent not technology that makes great work. However the electronics industry relies on hype to persuade us on the need for the next ‘great thing’. Whatever the latest format is now, bear in mind it will be out of date before long and you should in any case ask yourself when you look at old movies or photos, do you look at the technology or the content?
That said, it is helpful to be aware of the HD formats so you aren’t unduly misled. HD in fact refers to a number of standards, not a single one – so it is a bit like calling all 2 to 6 megapixel cameras the same standard. The basic HD standard is 720p (HDV), then there is 1080i (broadcast HD) and finally 1080p (studio movies). However, HD resolution alone is not a measure of quality, as camera lenses and sensors can also have significant impact. However the greatest influence over quality it is the editing, delivery platform (Blu-Ray/HD DVD) and the screening equipment (CRT, plasma or LCD TV). Don’t make the mistake of thinking that if you have your wedding video shot in HDV, edited and delivered on standard definition DVD it will be anything like shooting on broadcast HD, edited in full HD and delivering on Blu-Ray. Certainly, if you can afford it then you should do have it, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that HD Ready offered by most wedding videographers means anything like it suggests!
Wedding Video Prices
Producing a wedding video to a professional standard costs money and it is important to set aside a realistic budget. The most experienced and talented wedding video producers are usually in greatest demand and are therefore likely to charge more. Whatever you can comfortably afford, it is important you find out exactly what you are getting for your money. You may find yourself paying additional charges for extra services that are included by others! Therefore before committing yourself to a wedding videographer you should ask what of the following is included:
- How many cameras & operators?
- Does the price include full editing?
- What format with the film be in? (eg 4:3 PAL, 16:9 HD?)
- How many hours attendance is included?
- What sort of preparatory planning is provided?
- Are the ceremony and speeches filmed in full?
- Are video messages or interviews allowed?
- Do they permit a choice of music?
- How long will the finished film be?
- Exactly how will be DVD be presented?
- How many copies of the DVD are supplied?
- Do they include highlights of the day?
- Are travel costs included?
- Do they have public liability & professional indemnity insurance?
- Is VAT included?
Note: these are basic questions to assess value for money not necessarily quality and creativity.
Wedding Filming Experience
One chilling aspect of the wedding video industry is the number of videographers who come and go with very little experience. Seducing clients with low rates and phrases like ‘HD Ready’, their shortcomings are only discovered months afterwards when your receive the final wedding DVD (and in some cases never at all!).
A successful wedding videographer will have filmed 100s of weddings, not just a handful. Therefore an easy test of a potential videographer’s experience is to see how many samples they have on their website or ask for them to send you several on DVD.
If you cannot satisfy yourself that even at an entry-level price they have filmed at least a dozen weddings, then you should be very careful of becoming someone else’s guinea pig.
Videography Methods
An often overlooked issue when commissioning a wedding videographer is to enquire about their working methods. The wedding videography industry is relatively young and there is a huge variation in the way people operate. You may find your wedding day turned into a movie set as your videographer orders guests where to stand and how to ‘act’ for the camera. He or she may also fall into conflict with your photographer as they both vie for the best vantage points – only to obscure each others work!
In our experience, wedding videography should be non-obtrusive to ensure material captured is genuinely natural and spontaneous. Whilst it is appropriate for a photographer to guide guests for formal shots, for a videographer to do this will only result in a contrived home movie. Wedding videography is best when it is discreet and observational - the equivalent of reportage photography. Any interviews and guest messages should be filmed in a controlled environment to avoid distraction or poor sound recording. Those videographers who choose to spontaneously push a camera into someone’s face for comment will capture nothing but discomfort or trite. Therefore ask your videographer to describe how they work before booking them.
Wedding Video Equipment
A wedding videographer tends to use more equipment than a wedding photographer. In addition to their video camera(s), he or she will need a tripod and sound recording equipment. The type of camera used may vary - some videographers use small handheld cameras and others shoulder mounted ones. The size of camera is not necessarily an indication of the quality of the filming, although larger cameras do have better sensors but on the other hand are less discreet or manoeuvrable. You should certainly be wary of any videographer using a handheld camera without a tripod during the ceremony or speeches.
Another thing to check is how the videographer records sound. Many inexperienced videographers use camera-mounted directional microphones. However if the camera person finds himself positioned further away that expected, the sound may be inaudible. Similarly if the camera is pointed away from the main subject (e.g. filming the audience), the sound will again be compromised. At Bloomsbury Films we record sound through external microphones using wireless or cable connections. For live music performance we recommend using a dedicated digital audio recorder.
Geographical Coverage
Most wedding videographers cover a local rather than national geographical area. This is because filming a wedding is a long day and travel can be a tiring (and expensive) extra burden. There are very few companies like Bloomsbury Films that provide national coverage – and those that do tend to have a more prestigious reputation.
Unless you are specifically looking for a top wedding video producer, it is rarely worth commissioning a wedding videographer from outside your area. There are lots of wedding videographers around the UK, however if you are struggling to find someone local, do try the IOV or Visual Bride websites.
How to find a Wedding Videographer
There are several ways you can find a wedding videographer; probably the quickest way is searching Google. However be aware that companies at the top of search engine results are not necessarily the best, so be prepared to look through several pages of results. There are also several good websites providing listings of videographers such as IOV and Visual Bride. Otherwise there are some good wedding directories that cover various wedding suppliers such as County Wedding, Hitched and Your Dream Shaadi.
Another way of finding a wedding videographer is looking in magazines such as Brides, You & Your Wedding, Cosmopolitan Bride and Asiana Bride. Wedding shows can also be useful provided you don’t feel pressured to book on the spot – well known shows are the National Wedding Show and the Asian Wedding Experience.
Probably the best way of finding a potential wedding videographer however is by asking people for referrals. This could be your venue, a wedding photographer or anyone else you know who has recently had a wedding video. At Bloomsbury Films we receive around a third of our bookings directly from referrals and we are particularly pleased to received these!
More: Wedding Video FAQ | Wedding Video Music | Top Wedding Venues
