Chicago Wedding & Party Resource 2018 Spring / Summer

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Know Your
Wedding Video
By Anna Sachse, CTW Features
You’re already sold on the advantages
of a professional wedding video. Not only will you get to see the
moments you missed or that passed by in a blur (relatives meeting,
your vows), you’ll have priceless footage of happy loved ones and a
reminder of your great romance, says wedding expert Sharon Naylor,
author of “1001 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Dazzling
Wedding” (McGraw-Hill, 2008).
There’s a marital movie for every taste. If you’re unsure of what fits you,
Naylor says to err on the side of a more traditional documentary-style
version. “We live in a world where technology and effects are outdated
in a few weeks,” she says. “Don’t fall under the spell of ‘I want worldwide
attention for my viral YouTube video’ at the expense of capturing the true
relationships you have and the feel of your day.”
It’s also smart to base your choice on the length of your end product, says
Dom Guntavong, owner of Bay Area VDO Production in San Francisco.
Because post-production is the most time-consuming portion of a
videographer’s job, some now hand over a 15- to 20-minute highlight
reel, plus the raw footage of the whole day. “I can’t tell you how many
times we’ve received emails from couples whose weddings we didn’t
shoot but they’re asking us to re-edit their wedding video to full length,”
Guntavong says. “They realized that there are so many important
moments that were missed or got cut off, such as reactions to the toasts.”
Begin the vetting process by asking friends and other vendors,
especially your wedding planner, for referrals, says Naylor. “Your
coordinator knows who’s a pro and will steer you away from hobbyists
who charge half the price but disappoint,” she says.
Guntavong advises looking at a candidate’s website – a lengthier career
means they’ve been successful working with couples and other vendors.
Ask about pricing, how many cameras will be in action, audio and music,
what you get and when you’ll get it, and, if desired, whether they offer
same-day edits, a very short highlight video edited on site that you can
play at your actual wedding.
Be specific about your desires/expectations and not assume anything,
Guntavong says – just because a sample video contains all the elements
you’d like doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily be in yours. Think twice if a
videographer refuses your shot list or other requests. “There’s no point hiring
someone who takes beautiful shots if none of them are what you wanted.”
Copyright © CTW Features
Just like the dress,
wedding videos
come in many
styles.
Here’s a primer on
how to find yours