Tips on picking a videographer

Videographers have many different ways of dividing up their services. There are some things that you may assume are included in your package but they are really “extra.” Also, there may be some things included that you do not really need. Here are some questions to ask a potential videographer so that you know exactly what you’re getting.

1. How many cameras / videographers are included?
Most videographers will give you the option of multiple cameras and videographers to capture your event. Having at least two cameras to record the ceremony is a good idea because it allows you to capture multiple angles of the same scene. That way, if an important moment is blocked from one angle, it may have been captured by another camera. However, it is not always necessary to have multiple videographers to run both cameras. One camera can be set on a tripod to cover wide shots while another camera can be handheld by the videographer to capture close-up and creative shots. In most cases, a second videographer is an extra charge so you have to decide if that is something that you really require.

2. What elements of the wedding are covered?
Some wedding video companies will charge you extra to cover non-ceremony elements of your wedding day. For instance, some may charge you extra to capture pre-ceremony time like the bride getting ready or the groomsmen goofing around. You should ask what all the videographer is planning to capture. At Columbus Wedding Videos, we think that all parts of your day are important to you and should be captured. We will attempt to capture every part of your pre-ceremony, post-ceremony, photography session and other important moments that you request.

3. Is editing included?
A lot of times, people decide to go with a very inexpensive video package because it is a great price but when they get the actual video footage, it is very choppy with violent camera movements and a lot of boring footage. This is because the videographer gave you the raw footage from the wedding instead of editing it down to a well-polished piece. At Columbus Wedding Videos, we do not charge you extra for video editing. We want every video that we produce to be of the highest quality without any surprises.

4. Do I have to provide music or photos?
Montages are a great addition to any wedding video. At Columbus Wedding Videos, we take great pride in (and really enjoy) creating professional, cinematic photo and video montages of your event. We can use footage that we capture from the event, or footage and photos that you provide us. The same goes for music. We have an extensive music library to pick background music from, but we also gladly accept your own music if you have that one special song that you require!

5. HD or SD?
Most wedding video companies have the ability to produce high definition videos now. However, if you do not have an HD DVD player (like a Blue-Ray player), you will not be able to view the video in high definition. A lot of companies will charge you extra for the HD videos, so make sure that you have the proper viewing equipment before you pay the extra charge!

6. How are the videos delivered to me?
Wedding videos can be delivered in a variety of different formats. While most people prefer DVDs of their event, an increasingly popular method for video sharing is the internet. At Columbus Wedding Videos, we provide you with professionally packaged DVDs and can also upload your wedding video to the web so that it can be shared on sites like YouTube and Facebook.