Chicago Wedding & Party Resource 2017 Spring / Summer

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C A T E G O R Y H E A D E R
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
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weddings. Ask everyone you interview
if they’ve shot any weddings where your
wedding is being held.
Pay attention to the sound quality and
lighting on the sample videos – it will make
or break the end result. Make sure your
church and reception hall are both well-lit
during important events.
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS
Once you’ve decided on what kind of video
you want and who you want to help create
it, hash out the details. Are there special
shots you’ve seen in friends’ videos that you
want to include in yours, for example?
Now is absolutely the perfect time to talk
about music. If you have a special song
you’d like to use, talk to your videographer
about it. Some pieces of music are simply
harder to edit to than others. For that
reason, your videographer may ask you
to select from his or her library of music.
Music will play a big part in your finished
product. Get this detail ironed out early.
Recruit a family member who can help the
crew identify certain people you want to
be sure to include. In the same vein, you
should also see the raw footage of your
wedding and point out any special scenes or
people who are “must-haves” in the finished
product. If you’re interested in owning it, be
sure to ask your videographer if your raw
footage is included in your package, or if it’s
available for an additional fee.
WISE UP ON TECHNOLOGY
There are some basic points you should
know.
Most videographers use digital cameras,
so your main camera concern should be
one camera or two. For a straight cut, one
camera is the norm. If you’ve decided on
a documentary-style video, two cameras
should be required. A good videographer
can capture a lot with one camera, but they
can’t be everywhere at once. Two-camera
shoots allow you to capture both the main
event being filmed as well as reaction shots,
all of which will be edited together later.
For example, with two cameras, you’ll be
able to have one camera capture your first
kiss, while the other camera captures your
mom’s sweet – probably weepy – smile.
One camera or two, make sure your crew
brings along back-up equipment in case of
equipment or human error.
Microphones are the other important
element of the day. You’ll want to be able
to hear your vows, after all. Wireless
UHF (ultra-high frequency) mics are the
standard these days. If your wedding is
indoors, the groom will be wired (behind
his boutonniere, usually) but not the bride.
The groom’s mic will be sensitive enough to
pick up anything the bride says. If the space
is large and prone to echoes, mics should
be placed appropriately to pick up sound
– on the podium, for example. If your
wedding is outdoors, everyone should be
wired – groom, musicians, officiant, etc.
But footage is just the diamond in the
rough. Editing is what will make your
video sparkle and shine. Make sure the
video production company spends time
editing product.
THE BOTTOM LINE: COST
Plan to spend about as much on
videography as you spend on photography.
Variables will affect the price: How long the
videographer will be with you gathering
footage, the talent of your videographer
(and editor, if they’re not the same person),
and the technology used to capture and
process your video.
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FACTOR IN PHOTOS
You might find a studio that offers both
photography and videography. There are
several good reasons to consider this one-
stop-shopping approach. You’ll have one
less vendor to deal with, and if your still
photographer and your videographer are
accustomed to working together, they won’t
get in each other’s way. Their work will be
complementary and you’ll have a more
unified-looking wedding album and video.
TRUST YOUR GUT
Just as with your photographer, it’s
important that you feel comfortable with
your videographer. Referrals are helpful
to point you in a general direction, but do
your own homework.
When interviewing candidates, be sure to
find out who will be in charge of filming
your wedding and see samples of that
person’s work. It’s best to see at least one
complete video from start to finish instead
of a “clip reel” of highlights from many