Make the Most of Hiring a Wedding Videographer
Look we totally get it… hiring a wedding videographer is not only a big decision, but it is also a big investment even in the context of a wedding. Here are our best tips for getting the most out of your wedding videography investment.
1. Find YOUR style
This is by far the biggest mistake that we see people make. If you aren’t working with a wedding videographer that fits with your style and what you are looking for, there is no way that your wedding film or highlight video is going to be what you actually wanted.
It’s always good to watch different wedding videos with different styles of videography to be inspired for your own wedding film. There are many different styles to choose from. Do you want your wedding video to look more like a music video, or a short film with an element of storytelling?
Ultimately it is up to you and your significant other to decide what you want your video to look like. Always discuss this with your wedding videographer beforehand so they know how to shoot your special day and what is important to you.
2. Give time to your video and photo team in your wedding Timeline
If you have been in a wedding party before, you know that the wedding day is a bit crazy and it moves fast! To really get the beautiful wedding highlight film you want, make sure you create intentional time in your wedding day timeline with your wedding photographer and wedding videographer.
Having a sufficient amount of time in your wedding day for couple portraits is key to creating a wonderful wedding film. It allows videography and photography teams to get the shots needed to create your beautiful love story without the disturbance of the craziness of the day.
3. Hire your wedding photographers and videographers from the same company
Team work makes the dream work! It’s always great to have a team working together, rather than two different vendors who have their own different styles and visions. Getting a video and photo team that have worked together for awhile allows the team to create wedding photos and wedding videos that match in style.
When it comes to the allotted time for couples portraits, the team you get will have had enough experience with one another that the time will be spent wisely. The time will not be wasted on directing and redirecting shots since the team’s shooters will have similar directorial styles.
This is a huge bonus for working with Kiley Marissa Photo + Video! I mean, we do work together pretty well :)
4. Include your wedding day prep
You may think “why do I need shots of my makeup artists putting blush on? Or shots of my fiancé hanging with their wedding party?” Well to a videographer wedding preparation is a crucial element of storytelling. Not only is it where a lot of emotions occur ( suspense, excitement, happiness etc. ), but also videographers get more time to get establishing shots to show the environment of the wedding day. These shots allow us to tell the full story of your day.
Videographers don’t need to be there the entire time you are getting your makeup done to get the prep shots we need. But an hour and a half to one hour would be an ideal amount of time for us to gather the prep shots we need.
6. Incorporate a moment that is special for the two of you
There are tons of wedding photographers and wedding videographers that will advocate that you do a first look, and we would definitely agree.
During the first look videographers have the ability to gather more footage of pure emotions coming from both you and your fiancé. The first look also allows you and your fiancé to see each other before the ceremony thus lessening the pressure and stress the day has put on you both.
However, for you, it might not make sense to do a first look. We think it is so special for you as a couple to do something special together during the wedding day. This creates some extra space during the craziness, gets the two of you together, and it creates cool images for your wedding pictures or wedding highlight film!
7. Letter readings & personalized ceremony vows
Personalized Ceremony Vows and Letter Readings really add a storytelling aspect to any wedding film. Letter readings are intimate notes that can be included in your wedding video as a voiceover. We record these whenever we have down time (this usually occurs after prep shots). If you do not have personal ceremony vows we highly suggest including a letter reading.
Both letter readings and personal vows, when added as a voiceover on your wedding video, make your film feel even more personal and heartwarming.