demystifying

wedding videography

Cinematographer VS Videographer

A wedding planing guide said a cinematographer is better than a videographer?

Technically there is a difference if we were working in a feature film industry such as Hollywood. But, in the world of weddings, a cinematographer and a videographer are the same exact thing. Some people feel that the term cinematographer makes them look more distinguished and like a master of their craft, some people believe videographer is the better term since it’s the more common searched term. At the end of the day, if we’re just looking at the wedding industry, both terms mean the same exact thing. So which do you go with? Whether the vendor goes by Cinematographer or Videographer, you go with the one that you love! Bottom line just changing your title to cinematographer does not mean your quality or customer experience is better. All that matters is that you love their films and you love their personality.

Cinematic

My friend said I have to get a cinematic wedding film?

Cinematic is a reference to a storytelling style. Typically a cinematic wedding film is less of a music video and more of a story. But keep in mind that anyone can label their style as cinematic. So don’t get too hung up on the term. If you love the films you’re watching then who cares if the term “cinematic” is used.

4K Footage

I keep seeing upgrade fees 4k. What is that?

You know how your TV is high definition but your old TV was standard definition? 4K is just the next resolution. It just means they’re filming your wedding in the cleanest clearest resolution possible to them.

RAW Footage

The Knot planning guide told me to skip RAW Footage… what is RAW footage?

RAW footage is all of the footage recorded on your wedding day. It usually includes the good the bad and the ugly. It’s typically unedited and shouldn’t be considered a wedding film. It’s a bonus. Every studio delivers RAW footage differently. Some deliver it as a bunch of clips. Some create hour-long videos out of it for easy viewing. Either way, RAW footage is basically unedited footage from your wedding.

Highlight Film

My friend said all I need is a highlight film?

A highlight film simply means a shorter wedding film. The industry standard is some where around 3-5 minutes for a highlight film.

Feature Wedding Film

The package I’m looking at has a feature film… what is that?

A feature film is the technical term of a movie you would see in the theatre or on Netflix. So this term just means a long film. How long? That will depend on the studio. To some a 10 minute film is a feature, to others it may be 60 minutes.

Okay we demystified the most confusing buzzwords in the wedding videographer world. Now let’s move on to the 10 questions you should ask any wedding videographer to help find the perfect person for your wedding. This guide is our FREE gift to you. Congratulations on getting engaged. Now, take this guide and allow it to make your planning experience stress free!

HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE WEDDING DAY?

Some videographers are very laid back and hands off when it comes to directing on the wedding day. Some are a little more hands on and like to set shots up and direct. There is no right answer when it comes to which style is correct. But, there will most certainly be a right answer for which style flows perfectly with your wedding day vision. It’s also important to know which style your videographer has to ensure it will flow perfectly with your photographer’s style. After all you want everyone to be in sync and working as a team on your wedding day.

WHAT IS YOUR TURN AROUND TIME?

Turn around time simply means, how long you will have to wait to see your wedding film. The answer is going to vary greatly from studio to studio. You may get an answer of 1 day all the way up to 1 year. There is no correct answer; but it’s very important that you know exactly what to expect from the very beginning.

DO WE HAVE ANY SAY ON MUSIC?

Music selection is one of the most important parts of a wedding film. Some studios are going to allow you to pick your music, some will allow you to pick the vibe, and some will have full control over the music selection. Keep in mind that if you want your film to go on social media it will need to be licensed music.

WHAT IS YOUR STORYTELLING STYLE?

You’ll quickly find that videographers fall into certain styles. Some may be more of a documentary style where they edit your film completely in chronological order and tell the story exactly how it happened. Some may be more of a cinematic style where they use voice overs, card readings, and setup shots to craft more of a “Hollywood” style film. Or maybe you find a videographer that has a completely different style. There is no right answer to which style is the best. But, there will be a style that resonates with you for sure!

WHAT COMES IN OUR PACKAGE AND WHAT IS AN UPGRADE?

It’s not always easy to find value in the first price you see from a vendor. Some include everything you need and some will have a low starting price but you’ll need to add on everything you want; such as Drones, 4K Footage, Hours Of Coverage, etc etc. As always there is no right answer. However, it is very important to know what you’re getting into before you sign contracts and commit to a vendor.

WILL YOU NEED YOUR OWN DEDICATED TIME FOR CREATIVE SHOTS?

During your wedding day there is a specific time slot usually referred to as the “portrait session.” This is the time where your photographer and videographer will take you and your partner out for a creative session. This is everybody with a camera’s favorite part of the day. Here is what you need to ask your videographer. Will they need their own dedicated time during this section. Some videographers are totally fine playing off of the photographers poses and some will need their own time. Neither is better; but you knowing how your videographer handles this are is crucial for making an efficient timeline. Find out before you book so all of your vendors (especially your photographer) can be fully prepared when planning your timeline!

HOW DO YOU HANDLE RECEPTION LIGHTING?

Your reception is an important part of your big day. You may have invested in lighting from your DJ, lighting from your Venue, or even lighting from an outside design company. Knowing how your videographer handles the reception is important. Some won’t use lights at all. Some will use lights on their cameras. Some will professional light the reception using off camera lights. None of these approaches are better than the other. Although, you should be aware that certain qualities of reception videos are only achievable by using video lighting. But, knowing how your videographer handles this before hand is very important!

HOW LONG OF A FILM WILL WE RECEIVE?

It may be a biased viewpoint but I think it’s very important to remember that a longer film does not directly equate to a more valuable film. For example a 1 hour film that is boring at parts is not as valuable to a shorter film that is amazing from start to finish. So don’t judge based solely on length of time. But, it is very important to know how long of a film you should expect out of the package you are booking.

WILL YOU BE OUR VIDEOGRAPHER?

Some studios only film one wedding a day while others have multiple teams and the ability to film multiple weddings a day. There is nothing wrong with hiring a studio with multiple teams as long as you know who’s filming your wedding. A great question to ask is if the person you're dealing with will be the one that shows up to your wedding.

ASK QUESTIONS TO GET TO KNOW THEIR PERSONALITY?!

I can’t give you the exact questions for this part. But, it is invaluable to make sure you click with your key vendors. Remember, you may actually spend more time on your wedding day with your photographer and your videographer than anyone else. How wild is that?! That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your core vendors are people you’ll actually want to hang out with. These awesome people will be a bigger part of your wedding day than just your storytellers. Get to know them, make sure you vibe with them, ask them about their techniques for calming you down and making you feel amazing on your wedding day. It’s true that your photographer and videographer are going to wear many hats on your wedding day. They’re going to be your therapist, your cheerleader, your wedding coordinator when things go wrong, your fixer for unforeseen situations, and the best friend you never knew you needed. It’s a special job for a very special person. Which is why we put together this guide of questions to help you find that special person!

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