How to hire the perfect wedding videographer

Hiring a wedding videographer can be intimidating to say the least, which is why we’ve crafted this guide to help couples find the perfect wedding videographer. Read on for a few must-know tips to help you find the right videographer for your wedding.

Things to do before the actual search begins: 

1. Take finding your videographer as serious as you took finding your photographer.
   Hiring the right wedding videographer can be quite the task. There are so many options, too many ways to make the wrong choice, and not enough time in the day. As another big-ticket item on the wedding budget and one whose presence will matter long after the day is done, choosing a wedding videographer is not a decision to take lightly—so the first tip is to commit to the process.
   
   
2. Don’t be afraid to search beyond your city.
   While planners and other vendors can be great resources to help you find the right videographer, sometimes the right videographer might be the one across state lines or even across the country. While most couples will probably be able to find a local wedding videographer, we thought it worth mentioning that many wedding videographers happily travel with minimal travel fees especially to venues/states they’re eager to visit. 

Beginning your search

• Ask others for referrals.
  This is a great way to build your list quickly but it can easily get overwhelming. You can create a post on social media, join a bridal group, or simply google “wedding videographer [insert city].”

• Start watching videos.
  Whenever you watch a video you like, bookmark the videographer. Once you’ve found 3-5 wedding videos you like, go ahead and reach out to those videographers about pricing and availability before getting too invested. 

  From there, watch at least 2 more wedding videos of videographers who are available and affordable for your wedding day.

• Don’t just watch their videos, read what other couples have said about them.
  Cannot. stress. this. enough.
  
  I could say so many things but one of my past brides said it the best:

  “Weddings are hectic and nerve-wracking so if you’re going to have a videographer follow you around all day to capture your life’s most tender moments, you want to feel comfortable in front of them and have them share your joy…I am so thankful not only for their wonderful talent, but for their warm presence on my big day.”It’s great when you can find a videographer who knows how to tell a story, but even better if you can find someone who knows how to work well with your photographer and generally bring positivity and warmth to you on the best day of your life. 

• Learn their “why”.
  You’d be surprised how many wedding videographers show up to weddings just for the paycheck. They don’t care about truly serving you or helping you relive the most special day of your life. To them, it’s just another gig.

  And then there are a handful of us who film weddings because…we don’t have a wedding video of our own. Believe it or not there are quite a few of us! And because we don’t have a wedding film of our own, we bring a sense of joy and privilege to your wedding day that others don’t. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to give someone else something you don’t have for yourself. 

• Ask about delivery.
  Will it be a USB or a digital link? When should you expect your film? Not that it really matters (you don’t want to rush perfection), but it’s generally just good to have proper expectations. The average turnaround time is 3-6 months for wedding films.
  
• Don’t settle for less than all-day coverage.
  It may seem normal to have photographers and videographers that offer 6-hour packages but personally I don’t think you should settle for anything less than 8-hours. Try to find a videographer who isn’t obsessed with up-selling you based on hours. Weddings are all-day events and you should look for a wedding videographer who offers all-day coverage at the minimum.

Final Steps

Like the rest of your wedding vendors, it is industry standard that your wedding videographer will require a deposit to reserve your special day. The purpose of the deposit is let the videographer know that you are committed. It is likely that other couples will be looking for a videographer on the same date, and the deposit gives us confidence to turn them away.