In our previous post, we asked the question: is a wedding videographer worth it? Now, if you’ve already mulled this over with your partner and have come to a decision that, yes, capturing your most precious wedding moments in motion reel is definitely for you, then you’ll want to take note of these four must-ask questions for your videographer (before you book them!).
[1] Can you fit in with our vibe?
Check out multiple videos by the same wedding videographer and you’ll notice a style. It will be in the music choices, the camera angles, and the things the videos focus on (is it more about the bride and groom, and less about family and friends, for instance?) Some are super romantic and cinematic. Some are just a montage of the day with no audio (spoken bits).
You will have your own personalities and priorities. So if there are aspects of the videographer’s style that you’d like to see tweaked for your own film, you need to check upfront whether that is possible. Some videographers will just tell you they can’t change the formula. Others will be accommodating where possible. But a lot of communication about your expectations and what’s important to you, right from the start, will avoid you ending up with something that’s not perfect later on.
If you know you’re going to be fussy about music choices, now is the time to ask the videographer how much input you can have into those decisions.
[2] What is your process for getting to know a couple before the wedding?
When you are paying a decent amount of money, you should expect your videographer to take some prior time to get to know you and your partner – and your wedding day. For example, you’ll at least want the videographer to know who is in your immediate family, and which aspects of the day are especially important to you. Will the videographer meet with you? Does she/he have a questionnaire for you to fill out to help them familiarise themselves and document?
[3] Do you have insurance and a written contract?
Reputable, established videographers will have both of these and you probably don’t even need to ask. But if you have had any red flags whatsoever, you should ask these questions ASAP.
You’ll occasionally see newbies or surprisingly cheap videographers who offer the world, and you might be happy to take a chance on their work. But if they don’t have insurance it is a tell-tale sign they are not an operator with good systems in place, and it should be another red flag. (And if Aunty Joan trips over a badly placed tripod your guy might not be able to pay her hospital bill).
If a videographer can’t provide you with a contract outlining at least (a) what will happen if they have to pull out of filming your wedding, and (b) when your video will be provided, then you can be left without much recourse to legal action if things go pear-shaped. Occasionally you see people having an understandable rant on Facebook because it has been a year or more and they still haven’t received their video (or photos). But they never had anything in writing to say when the product would be provided, which makes things very tricky.
[4] How many cameras do you use?
You might have a videographer filming solo with one camera, and you’ll end up with a vastly different product to a videographer who operates two or three cameras. Some videographers will discretely wander between multiple cameras so that the bride and groom angles are covered, as well as shots of family and friends.
Wait…. what? Price hasn’t been mentioned yet. Well, we’re assuming that by the time you are chatting with a videographer in this kind of depth, you’ve already established that they are within your budget. But in fact, the price should definitely not be the number one consideration.
This initial chat is your chance to see whether you get along well with the videographer. They will be spending a lot of time with you on your wedding day and their personality can make or break some sections of your day (preparation and photo shoot being the big ones). You need someone who you like and feel comfortable around. If you can’t decipher this from a phone call, insist on meeting for a coffee and a chat so you can check them out in person.
Thanks to Michaela from Your Wedding Story for these tips! Michaela is a Brisbane wedding videographer, awarded runner-up in the 2017 Queensland ABIA awards.
Photo: C+B Creative
