The Insider's Guide To Selecting A Great Wedding Videographer

 It's a dream come true...

You can actually enjoy seeing your wedding day played out all over again on a wedding video with the quality of a Hollywood production. Video Technology has gotten THAT good. The question is have all wedding videographers gotten that good? The answer is NO. There are a number of wedding videographers who have honed their skills and led the way in developing superior wedding videos. And then there are the amateurs... part timers... and inept videographers who aren't so good.

The goal of this report is to help you find a quality videographer who can produce an excellent wedding video for you. The insiders secrets revealed in this report will help you realize a dream your parents didn't have; the ability to relive your wedding day whenever you want. Read this report carefully and when you begin to shop for your wedding videographer, insist on excellence.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY WEDDING VIDEOTAPED?

Video is the only way to capture sights...sounds...and motion. Your wedding day is the most important day in your life. You'll want to relive it with your family and friends. And you've spent an enormous amount of money on your wedding day with Flowers, Band, Limos, Reception Hall and lots more, the only way to see all of these items as they happened with motion and sound - is with video.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL INSTEAD OF USING A FRIEND TO VIDEOTAPE MY WEDDING?

VITALLY IMPORTANT! An amateur-produced wedding video won't be watched very often because it is boring. The problem starts with the equipment. The typical camcorder does not have the features needed to produce superior image quality. Problems get worse when you listen to the sound you get from a typical video camera: it's hollow and very difficult to hear...especially in large open areas like a church or reception hall where sound reverberates off the walls and ceiling. Next, the typical amateur doesn't have the means to edit the video into a tightly-knit production that tells your love story with emotion and impact.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL VIDEOGRAPHER, BUT HOW DO I FIND A GOOD ONE?

First make sure they are using Professional Equipment and not Prosumer Equipment. Ask if they use a 3-CHIP BROADCAST DIGITAL CAMERA. This is very important, because some videographers still use an analog camera.The picture quality difference is tremendous. Most professional videographers are now shooting in the new Digital format. Digital video is better because it will hold up better in the editing process. It should provide a crisp, clear picture. Next, make sure they have professional editing gear. Ask if they are using a NON-LINEAR DIGITAL EDITING SYSTEM. A non-linear system means that the raw digital footage is input into a computer and then edited in the computer. This type of editing provides more versatility in the editing process and also provides better picture quality. A lot of Videographers send their work out to be edited, hire a company that has editing on premises because they will be more careful on the editing process and will have the means to fix anything immediately and usually without charge. Make sure they have more than one editing bay. During the busy months it's difficult to get jobs out on a timely basis. When there are two edit bays, jobs get out that much faster. Finally, view his Demonstration Video. This is their showpiece. They have worked hard to put together a demo that shows off their abilities. If you like it, proceed to discussions of packages and price. If you don't like it, move on...no matter how low the price. NO PRICE IS A GOOD PRICE IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR FINISHED WEDDING VIDEO.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A GOOD VIDEO COMPANY?

When looking at their demo tape, make sure it flows smoothly with clean edits and a crisp clear picture. Some companies emphasize special effects while others focus on style and emotion.

Special Effects: The use of special effects is a matter of taste. As a rule, you don't want them overdone because that can overwhelm your story and make your video look cheesy. Animations and special effects put in just for the sake of putting them in is amaturish and should be avoided. Elegant videos use them sparingly. Higher end companies use less special effects and better camera work to showcase your wedding.

Dual Camera Coverage: Two Cameras can be better than one in certain situations. A two camera production gives two different views of the same event to make your video more interesting. A good editing job ties the two cameras together to make your wedding story fabulously compelling. However a single camera job properly shot and edited will look great also.

Make sure that BOTH CAMERAS ARE 3-CHIP DIGITAL CAMERAS, this will insure that the cameras will look the same. If the cameras are not the same type, then the colors will be different from camera to camera.

Audio: This refers to the sound of your video. Many videographers don't put that much effort into providing good sound. Make sure your videographer is using a Wireless Lavalier Microphone for the Groom to wear during the ceremony. This will insure excellent audio especially during the vows. There should also be a microphone where the readings are going to be. Listen for this on the demo tape and ask if you are not sure. Make sure they use a Wireless Microphone during the reception for dance segments and any special interviews. There should be a microphone located near the band or DJ at all times to insure good audio during the reception itself.

IS IT EXPENSIVE TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL VIDEOGRAPHER?

Hiring a videographer is just like hiring or buying anything else, You get what you pay for. You can find videographers for as low as $1000.00 but that is usually a low end company. High end companies will cost more but they are worth it. A typical High End videographer usually costs about $1900 and up. There are less expensive ones, but beware, the packages may be similiar but the work may be vastly different . Look at the companies demo tape very carefully. One word of advice is don't look for the cheapest, because you will probably get what you pay for.

WHAT ABOUT A DIGITAL MASTER AND A DVD?

Make sure your videographer can edit your video onto a DVD. Some companies will offer you a Digital videotape. This is a DIGITAL videotape that you can put away in a safe deposit box. Since your video is edited on a computer, the best version is sitting on a hard drive. But a videographer can't give you his hard drive, so the next best thing is to have your wedding mastered onto a digital tape. It usually costs more but it's well worth it. If anything ever happens to your videotape or DVD, a brand new one can be made with the original quality by making a copy from the Digital tape. DVD's are made from digital tapes. This is another reason why you should get a digital master. DVD's are becomming very popular and will soon overtake VHS, so get your wedding transferred to a DVD.

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Finally, make sure your videographer is a videographer and not a photographer who also offers video. These photographers will look out for their photography OVER the video. Would you book your limos from your florist? No, because they're two different businesses.

Photography and Video are not related and shouldn't be grouped together. Also, look at the facility they are working out of. Be wary of Home Based Businesses. They don't have to have an outside office but it usually means they are  doing more work and have many happy customers.

Your videographer should be shooting no more than 100 weddings a year. When a company starts getting towards 150 weddings, you become just another wedding and there is very little customer interaction. The company then becomes a broker for shooters, so you'll never know for sure who is going to shoot your wedding.

That brings me to another very important point, ask for references.

A good wedding videographer puts 20 to 30 hours into a single video between shooting, editing and client meetings. These professionals work hard and earn their money. Excellence shows. You will get more than your money's worth when you hire a quality wedding videographer.

By the way make sure your videographer brings backup equipment to your wedding. They should have backups for camera, batteries, monitors and more.

Please come and visit us in Pine Brook. I'd love to meet you and I'm sure I'll put together a tape that will knock your socks off.

Jack Dempsey
Kleer Video Productions
(973) 227-7922
jack@kleervideo.com