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Should My Wedding be Videotaped? What would it be like to view a videotape of your parent's - or even your grandparent's wedding? One of the biggest regrets some couples experience after their wedding is the decision not to have professional video. Conversely, I have found that couples having professional video are more extremely eager to see their video when they return from the wedding trip. Wedding videographers, and the makers of equipment used for wedding coverage, have responded to the market with a wonderful array of techniques and innovations to produce excellent video with almost no intrusion. Despite the wide availability and acceptance of inexpensive, compact high-quality consumer camcorders, the demand for professional wedding video has increased over the years and good videographers are getting ever increasing fees. This indicates that contemporary brides place high value on wedding video and report. After-wedding surveys reveal that those who had their weddings taped consider it an excellent investment, while those who failed to do so are often regretful. Your decision whether or not to have wedding video should be based strictly on your personal desires, since much of the basis of objections to early videos has been eliminated by technical and professional developments in the field. Why should I hire a professional wedding videographer when my friend or relative can tape it with their camcorders for free? Consumer (and even low-end inexpensive "pro") videos fail due to poor audio, inadequate planning and coordination to blend with the flow of the event, use of only one camera, shaky images, and insufficient battery capacity. Like photography, simple videos done by the guests are a nice adjunct to, but no substitute for, the professional video. There is no substitute for a professional who comes prepared with the right knowledge and equipment, respects the rules of your ceremony, and is focused on creating your video and is not there to "party." Some believe that asking a guest to make the official video is bad manners, and if the video fails, the relationship is tarnished. Many clergy have reported to me that problems with the intrusion of video occur most often with guests and not professional videographers. What about all those lights, cables, and equipment? Will it overpower my wedding? I shoot with a combination of highly light sensitive 3-chip digital cameras. Both have excellent low light capabilities. I rarely use stands lights and cables because the room lights are usually adequate. For ceremony recording, I use small wireless lavaliere microphones for the Pastor and Groom to record the vows. On the rare occasion that cabling for power or audio is needed, I hide them behind objects or cover them with black gaffer tape. If you look at wedding coverage from the perspective of an outside observer, you will probably notice that photography, and not video, has considerable more impact on the nature and flow of the wedding day than video. Video has no flashing, no clicking, no posing, and no commands to smile. Professional wedding videographers demanded, and manufacturers responded with high quality low light systems that have met the early objections to video. There is a misconception that an on-camera light is less intrusive than a powerful light on a stand. You may find that a 50-watt light at eye level is more disturbing than a 1000-watt light bounced from the ceiling. Work with your wedding videographer to make the tradeoffs that are right for your wedding. Still, you need to decide on a tradeoff between low intrusion and accurate color and imaging. If you want a live camera broadcast look, you have to accept some lighting. How can we get something that isn't trite or boring? Select wedding videographer who will customize your video, spend time with you at the planning stage, and be alert to the details which will make your event special. A good video provides a path to the wedding experience without calling attention to itself. You may need to increase your video investment to be able to obtain someone who serves a more savvy clientele. I ask all prospective couples how their wedding will be unique and how they want it preserved with video. As our client relationship develops, the often share with me how they met and became engaged, and what each finds special about the other. I ask lots of questions up front, attend the rehearsal if possible, and stay alert at the event. What happens if the current video technology goes obsolete? The most important thing is to get the best production you can in one of today's formats. Some excellent consumer-affordable digital formats are becoming available. Whatever format you choose, the material can be easily converted to the latest for preservation and playback. I recommend that a digital format be used as early as possible, since digital is not subject to degradation from copying. We professionally active and we stay abreast of the latest technical developments. We keep our current and past clients informed and preserve edit masters and camera originals to enable transfer to DVD or other future formats, as well as protect our clients in the event that their tapes are lost. How much will our video cost? Let your overall wedding budget and the amount set aside for photos be a guide. Worthwhile, professional video deserves an investment equal to or greater than photography. If you want video but are on a tight budget, eliminate the fancy editing, montages, and effects. (You already own the pictures, right?) Also think about your overall priorities. For example, perhaps that last hour of open bar could be sacrificed. If video is a priority but your finances are limited, make sound and image quality important but ask for simpler editing and eliminate the photo and ending montages. You have not a cent to waste on an incompetent but cheap videographer! How should we select our videographer? If you're Internet savvy, chances are that you've read numerous tip sheets on how to select a photographer or videographer. Three critical issues are: (1) Do you like the style and technical quality of the videographer's work? (2) Do you like the videographer as a person and will you be comfortable with him or her meeting all of your guests? (3) Can you do business with the videographer? If you are at all tempted to choose based on the lowest bid or the best deal financially, ask yourself this: If the video turned out poorly, would you write a letter of recommendation saying "The video was poor but your price was great." I'm gratified when a couple selects me based on the quality of my work, preference for my particular style, comfort with me as their personal videographer, and appreciation for the value of the video. What distinguishes those "high end" videos costing thousands of dollars? Higher-end videos are those which need make no excuses and capture all of the essential wedding elements. They look and sound professional and have no distracting flaws. There is a creative touch which embodies the feeling of the wedding. Technical quality and level of customer service are the same for wedding videos I do, regardless of price. All have professional equipment and editing. The more elaborate offerings are distinguished by more coverage as necessitated by larger events, or additional creative segments, such as an Introduction Video or 30-minute highlight version. What should I look for in example videos? Clear, understandable sound and crisp clear images with good accurate color and smooth camerawork. NO EXCUSES. A burned out white dress indicates use of a poor camera or improper lighting. Due to the severe restrictions imposed by some churches, there will be instances where even the best videographer will not get the best results. However, a candidate who shows this should also be able to present some good-looking work. Don't be mislead by slick 5-7-minute music-video style demos. Insist on seeing real weddings and hearing the real sound. If you feel yourself becoming hooked emotionally by a music overlay, ask the candidate to turn off the sound. How does the video look then? I show only completed videos of the same generation released to clients. Prospective clients are free to fast forward, or view segments they select for closer scrutiny. I attempt to show examples done at their locations or others with similar features, and to warn them. I won't promise what cannot be delivered if clergy or site restrictions are severe. What specific questions should I ask when initially interviewing candidates? 1. Are you available for
our wedding date and time? Although I advise against detained price questions, it's good to get a general ballpark to determine whether or not the videographer is in your range. Don't ask detailed technical questions unless you can interpret a technical answer. If you get an involved technical answer to a simple question, remember that you are the customer and there's nothing demeaning about asking for a simplified explanation. Candidates who cannot explain probably don't understand it either! Just as prospective clients ask questions to see if a candidate videographer is right, good videographers judge in reverse as well by the type of questions asked. In fact a good candidate will may ask more questions than you do. What are some typical special features? All videographers have their own specialties. However, there are some typical special add-ons and features common throughout the industry. Typical add-ons or enhancements include the photograph sequence at the beginning of the tape, highlight montage at the end, listing of wedding party and family member names in the credits, additional special effects used throughout the tape, and ten- to 30-minute abridged versions of the overall production. The most popular special feature of my wedding productions is the Wedding Music Video option where highlights from the wedding ceremony are custom edited in slow motion to a particular song selection. My experience editing independent films and other successful dramas enables me to edit this shortened, dramatic, movie trailer-like version of your wedding. What is important in contracting? To be binding, a contract requires specification (products and services), consideration (money or something of value in exchange), and legality (illegal contracts are not binding). Simply, if you don't have a written contract with your videographer and have not given a deposit or reservation fee, neither of you has an obligation to the other. The contract should address all the business issues related to the job: schedule of coverage, depth of coverage, features of the finished product, and possibly who the actual camera operators will be, payments, contingencies, and recourses. There is no such thing as a standard contract. Use common sense and insist on everything in writing. At Third Wheel Productions, I read and explain even the "fine print" to clients when they are ready to commit. The only way I will reserve a date is with a written agreement and reservation fee. Do I need multiple camera coverage? Many advocate two for the ceremony - one in front and one on back. One will suffice for small and medium sized receptions. Some experts recommend 3+. Your mileage may vary. It is a widely held misconception that more cameras implies more intrusion. Is the opposite because with more cameras, less operator movement is required. Almost all of my assignments involved two cameras running simultaneously at the ceremony and one for the reception. I will occasionally involve two cameras at the reception. For example, I will set my master camera on a tripod for the couple's first dance and walk the second camera around them for a few moments. In editing I will blend the views and add the second camera arc in slow motion. Should the videographer attend the rehearsal? The non-repeatable, action capturing nature demands that the videographer pre-plan his camera positions and moves to get a good recording while remaining unobtrusive. The rehearsal is the best time to do plan those moves as well as meet members of the wedding family. I attend the rehearsal for almost all of my events. Such is essential to unobtrusive, professional coverage with no mess-ups. How can we avoid problems with clergy restrictions? Most videographers now have a stated policy that acknowledges "house rules" and that it is client responsibility to negotiate moderation of those rules. Most churches and synagogues have attempted to moderate their restrictions to balance the interest in video with the need for decorum in the wedding service when competent professionals are involved. Severe restrictions were usually adopted as a result of unprofessional and obtrusive behavior by videographers or photographers. Arranging for a meeting between your videographer and your wedding official may help greatly. If the restrictions are too rigid and limiting, seek another wedding venue. If the videographer you are considering is not a team player, find another. My policy is to promise only what I can deliver, based on the site policies of their clergy and wedding venue. I believe it is unethical for a videographer NOT to warn clients of trouble if posed by their particular site. I believe that it is important for everyone, particularly the videographer and to proper decorum and respect in houses of worship. This has gotten me more leeway that trying to aggressively challenge house rules. Should I provide a meal for the video crew? Providing some sort of meal is a good gesture that actually benefits you by keeping the crew on site and refreshed. It need not be the regular banquet meal. Wedding video is physically demanding and the workday starts several hours before the ceremony. I no longer require that a meal be required. It's not worth jeopardizing an assignment over a meal. However, I need to know whether or not a meal will be provided so I can plan for an offsite break or bring a cooler. What can I do to help my videographer do a good job for me? Cooperate to the maximum practicable extent by providing all the details of the event, who is important, and anything to help him meet or exceed your expectations. Ask him this same question. Provide a meal. Make sure there's a parking space. Follow the Golden Rule. Furnish your pictures and payments on time. What if my videographer has an emergency and can't do the job? That is a universal risk with special events. Even brides and grooms or their families run that risk. Most contracts limit liability to money return in event of failure. However, by picking a videographer who belongs to a professional association or networks with other videographers, there's an excellent chance there will be backup in such cases. I belong to the Houston Professional Videographers Association (HPVA) and maintain many contacts there. I also belong to Wedding Event Videographer Association (WEVA) and Professional Photographers of America. I have never missed an event due to emergency. How can we avoid putting guests on the spot from that interviewing? I'm against conducting interviews at tables because wedding guests don't like it. I am opposed to confrontation interviewing or anything that embarrasses the guests. I suggest privacy and some advance notice to the subjects. Suggest some relevant topics to avoid redundancy and add a personal twist. Together with my wedding couples, I prepare and event data sheet which lists key people for interviews. Sometimes they want to have particular folks appear in the video without being interviews. We decide on a preferred venue; I suggest a quiet, private are like the hotel lobby. How long is a typical wedding video? For an edited video of ceremony and reception, 70-90 minutes is typical. A recent informal survey at Wedding Video Expo revealed that brides prefer longer videos that capture the day adequately, to highly abridged versions. "We know how to fast forward." However, a new style is emerging called the "short form" which is about 30 minutes long. Offerors of this style usually furnish the unedited tape as well. My typical wedding video is 90 minutes. How much video is actually recorded? About 3-6 hours is actually recorded for documentary-style wedding video. Much is eliminated due to nothing happening at the moment, tapes represent alternate camera views of the same thing, or material is redundant. Those doing in-camera editing try to limit recording to under two hours. I typically record four hours; some of it encompassed concurrent running of two cameras at the ceremony. Catholic weddings are slightly longer. What is in-camera-editing? The videographer makes an on-site or advance decision what is important. He blends angles and compositions so that the original tape will have a semi-finished appearance. There are some who even release this tape directly with no post-production. Videographers working on tighter budgets record about 1-3/4 to 2 hours by editing in-camera and trim it in post-production. The latter approach has merit if the videographer is skilled at it; such usually gives quick turnarounds. This is a popular practice with videographers serving the lower budget market. Tapes released at the end of the wedding are great for immediate gratification, but a terrible loss may result if the VCR used for the premier eats the tape! Can my favorite record be used as background music in the tape? This is a hotly discussed issue today - copyright. Use of music from a copyrighted source is illegal. (The music playing in the background at your party is not a problem unless the videographer wires directly into the sound board.) Legal precedents are hazy with respect to use in your own video. Many videographers insist that you supply the actual tape or CD and take responsibility in case a copyright suit follows. Others use library music to cover montages and transitions. I maintain a library of music which is cleared for use in my productions. Thus I can offer my clients a tape done without infringing the copyright of others. Can I make extra copies at home to save money? If the maker claims copyright, to do so is a legal violation. It also results in serious degradation, compared to tapes made right from the master. There are some technical schemes such as Macrovision which intentionally cause very serious deterioration of copies, but the licensing fee for this is not economically feasible unless high-volume sale is involved. I offer quantity discounts on additional release tapes to discourage at-home copying. Can still pictures be made from my videotape? In terms of sharpness and image quality, still media (film, digital still cameras) are superior to video but the gap is closing. It is now possible to get excellent still images from videotape using capture devices such as Play Inc.'s Snappy. If for some unfortunate reason photographs are lost or missed, your videographer may be able to create reasonable still images from the camera original videotape. For website display, you may even find that video-originated images are indistinguishable from photograph-originated images. Some believe that in the future, wedding photographs and video will be captured by a single instrument. How long will my videotape last? This has disappeared as an issue due to the availability of DVD (digital video disk) and great improvements in videotape formulations. Certainly there will be widely available service to convert personal videos to digital. One of the best guards against loss of your video recording is redundancy. Get several copies and distribute them to other family members and friends. Also, choose a videographer who shoots a camera original and makes an edit master. When DVD conversion becomes widely-available, have your videographer make several disks from the master. With these steps, your video will probably far outlast your color still photographs (and possibly the B&W photographs, too.). (I have personally played 15-year-old VHS recordings and saw no degradation. The Super-VHS and Hi8 formats I added in 1988 and 1992, respectively are even more robust.) What is my recourse in event of dispute or bad service? First, state your case, clearly and calmly to your videographer. Even before the actual taping, have a clear mutual understanding of what is expected. Many "problems" can be fixed by a simple corrective edit. Otherwise, your recourse is the same as with any other business. A studio affiliated with a professional association like the Professional Photographers of America or a local videographer's association has probably subscribed to a code of ethics. You may be able to get the association to exert pressure. Businesses are very sensitive to their public image. Make integrity a prime selection criterion. If you have read this far, e-mail me with this code #: 040867 and I will discount your videography package 100 dollars. When should I get my finished video after the wedding? Some videographers who offer "in-camera-edited" videos actually present the tape to the couple at the end of the reception. At the other extreme are the videos getting extensive editing that may take over a year! The latter figure is partially due to seasonal workloading. I think 1-6 months is reasonable. Completion should be addressed in contract. My productions usually take 4 - 8 weeks after event. Our turnaround time has been decreasing due to more efficient, more accurate editing and better production planning, and requiring client-furnished photographs in advance. Talking with our clients to envision the finished video even before the event has done much to focus the production and eliminate waste. Will video make photography obsolete? No. The special artistic skill of the wedding photographer will always be in demand, but the tools will most certainly change. Snappy, small digital cameras have become popular for grabbing stills but is no substitute for traditional still photography. I expect digital photography to eventually replace conventional film-based still photography within the next five to ten years. Photography is a different medium and is enjoyed differently from video. In my opinion, video will gradually take over some of the functions of still photography to capture "video moments" but I do not think video will totally replace it. How can we best preserve our wedding video?Always rewind the tape and return the cassette to the case or sleeve after each use.
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