Filmhaus Blog
Pick the right videographer
by Kitty Gainer on 12/07/11
Your wedding video is a viral part in remembering your wedding in the years
to come.
We want to help you find a videographer that delivers a professional product
and produce a video that you will want to watch over and over again._
1. Does the videographer have a contract? If not: RUN! you will not be
protected and you are risking not having a videographer at all, because if
he gets a better payed wedding for the same day, he'll drop you like a hot
potato!
2. How many years of experience does the videographer have? Does he have a
trained vocation in video production? If not, you might just book a guy who
bought a camera, and your nephew is probably better at shooting your wedding
than that videographer is.
3. Does the videographer work with wireless microphones? If not, you
probably won't hear the vows or the Minister, because the camera microphone
doesn't pick up the audio as well as a wireless system.
4. Ask for a sample DVD. The videographer won't give you one? That probably
means that he doesn't have a wedding video that's good enough to show,
again: RUN!
5. What time does the videographer arrive? Make sure that he will be there
early enough. Does he charge overtime? This can add up quickly, since a lot
of videographers charge $100,- and up for additional hours. If the
videographer asks you on your wedding day if you want him to stay another
hour or two you won't be thinking of the price and that's what they are
taking advatage of.
6. What will the DVD itself, the menu and the cover look like? Ask for
samples here, too, since there are big differences in how the videographer
presents the final product.
7. Does the videographer keep the original material? You want to make sure
your material stays in the videographers archive at least 10 years, so you
can get additional copies in case anything happens to your copy. If he is
not keeping it ask for the original tapes, so you have a back up yourself.
8. Does the videographer ask you questions? A good videographer will ask you
questions, too, he will try to find out what your style is, gives you
choices in how the DVD menu will look like, etc. He will present ideas for
the video and he will also ask about the venue of the wedding to be prepared
for bad lightening situations and he might even come to the rehearsal, if he
is not familiar with the venue. He will also ask for the timeline of your
wedding to be prepared and not miss crucial parts of your wedding.
9. Ask for recommandations or search the web for it. Other clients reviews
can tell you a lot about the way this videographer works.
10. Does the videographer have a business licence, an address, short: is it
a valid business or a private person trying to make a lot of money off your
wedding with no liability?
We hope this will help you find a good videographer. I've worked many many
times with couples wanting me to "safe" a lousily shot video and it's really
hard to make it look great in the editing room. Your costs will be much
higher that way than going with a professional in the first place.
Planning your wedding
by Kitty Gainer on 11/22/11
Do you plan a backyard wedding, a traditional church wedding or a beach wedding?
The best way to get started with your planning is to watch wedding videos!
Not the first step you might thought of when you started your planning, but you can get great ideas for color schemes, decorations, and the overall look of your special day! Visit pages like youtube, vimeo or myspace, search for wedding videos and get inspired!
It's also great to watch them if you plan to hire a videographer, so you can get a feeling for what you want your video to look like!
