CWPR 2015 Fall/Winter

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P H O T O G R A P H Y , I D E O G R A P H Y & P H O T O B O O T H
C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
62
Just like the dress, wedding videos come in many
styles. Here’s a primer on how to find yours
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.
That said, not all wedding flicks are created
equal. From a straightforward, journalistic
high-definition recording of the day’s key
events to an artsy cinematic video, nostalgic
Super 8 film or cool music video-style com-
pilation complete with a soundtrack and ef-
fects, there’s a marital movie for every taste.
If you’re unsure of what fits you, err on
the side of a more traditional documenta-
ry-style version. We live in a world where
technology and effects are outdated in a few
weeks, much less 25 years. 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. Post-produc-
tion 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.
Begin the vetting process by asking friends
and other vendors, especially your wedding
planner, for referrals. Your coordinator
knows who’s a pro and will steer you away
from hobbyists who charge half the price
but disappoint. Independent review sites
also may be helpful, but be sure to read the
specifics of any complaints as they may not
apply to you.
To narrow your search further look at a can-
didate’s website to get a feel for their style
and experience – a lengthier career means
they’ve been successful working with cou-
ples and alongside photographers and other
vendors. When you meet, 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 edit-
ed on site that you can play at your actual
wedding.
You should be specific about your desires/
expectations and not assume anything. Just
because a sample video contains all the ele-
ments you’d like doesn’t mean they’ll neces-
sarily be in yours. Think twice if a videogra-
pher 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
Know Your
Wedding Video