What does it cost?
If you want someone just to record the ceremony, the normal range in Sydney is $1000-$1500.
But you can definitely find cheaper. You can Gumtree or Airtasker it. (The trade-off is quality and reliability.)
If you want highlights + long version, $1500-$2000 is at the low end, and $2000-$5000 is normal.
At the top end in Australia, there are people charging $20,000+.
Internationally, I've heard of US$50,000+ (for multi-day destination weddings).
How long does the editing take?
Around one month is fast, but you'll absolutely find some companies who deliver it within two weeks (or are happy to charge extra for a rush order).
My feeling is that 2-3 months is normal. Really busy studios can take 6 months to a year.
People tend to get married in spring or summer. For many companies, if you're shooting back-to-back weddings, then you're preoccupied with holding your head above water during October-February, so you accumulate a backlog. It's during late summer to winter that you can catch up on the backlog.
Why should I get a videographer if I already have a photographer?
Because photos don't move or talk.
What questions are important to help choose a videographer?
If you care about budget, then narrow it down to the companies that you can afford, and then sort them by reliability and turnaround time.
How do you assess reliability? Referrals and reviews are the best way to get an independent read.
If you care about quality, then ask yourself whose work you like best, whose videos make you feel something -- and watch a couple of videos from the companies on your shortlist, not just one video. When you meet the vendor, ask them who shot each of the films that you like and whether that person will be present on the day, and also who edited those films and whether that editor will be doing the editing -- because many companies in Sydney outsource to some extent.
Another question is, "Do you have experience with [insert culture] type of wedding?"
Cultural familiarity and speaking the language do help; but they don't make as much difference as people think, because the videographer is constantly following the action and looking to press record anyway.
What does a standard video package include?
Most have shorter video + longer video. (Some will have shorter video only or longer video only.)
In terms of time, an 8-hour package is probably the sweet spot, because that period takes most weddings from ceremony to first dance.
People don't care about DVDs or BluRays anymore (I have large boxes of cases and disks in my house if anyone wants them). So, the physical deliverables tend to be USB or nothing (ie, download only).
One videographer or two?
Put it this way -- one videographer who's really good is better than two who are rubbish.
But all things being equal, two is better. Gives you more angles, better footage and the ability to film in two places at the same time (eg bride prep and groom prep).
More importantly, it gives you more reliability. Less chance of missing the shot.
If unsure, go with two videographers. (If unsure how many photographers, go with one.)
What does "cinematic" mean?
It's more a marketing term than anything else. But wedding films basically live on a spectrum from home video through to Hollywood (or Bollywood).
Hollywood = multiple angles, controlled lighting and movement, high-quality cameras, lenses, audio.
Home video = distracting movement, bad audio, and a single bad-quality camera.
What's a "highlights" anyway?
The language varies, but usually it's a short video for sharing online. Around 3-5 minutes is pretty normal, because it's the length of one song, and because after that time it's harder to keep a video interesting.
If it's more like 5-15 minutes, then that's when terms like "short film" or "feature" come out.
Some companies produce 30-60 second "teasers" or "trailers".
How long is a "long version"?
Around 60-90 minutes covers ceremony and reception for most weddings.
For particular cultures, it can be more like 2-8 hours (for instance, multi-day weddings).
Usually, your long version won't have all the dancing. It's more common to have first dance + one or two dances, or else a mashup of moments from dance floor.
Can I choose my own music?
Most companies will say "Yes. Give me a selection of songs." But some say, "No, that causes copyright problems."
Most videographers (including me!) also prefer to choose the music ourselves in order to have creative control over the video; the music is a huge part of the emotional punch.
Usually you'll be fine with copyrighted music, because YouTube (for example) collects a fee that it distributes to the artists, so you can still upload there to share with your friends.
But some of the time, and depending on the music, the platform will block you.
When should I have booked my videographer by?
Most couples book 6-18 months ahead of the wedding. I'd say around a year ahead is the most common.
Most people get married on a Saturday during spring/summer, with few weddings happening between Christmas and New Year. So, there are around 23 days that you're competing with other couples over if there's a vendor you really like.
However, many studios aren't going to turn away work and say, "Sorry, already booked"; instead, they'll just bring in a contractor.
Should I ask for raw footage?
Most wedding companies will charge extra to supply it, or will simply say no. The reason they'll say no is that they don't want you to see out-of-focus or shaky or badly framed shots (it reflects badly on them; they've fixed up and weeded out these shots for the final edit).
In addition, most are worried about any "hot mic" moments when they swear or whatever, and some are worried about giving away trade secrets.
Personally, I'm skeptical that most couples would ever watch those hours of unedited clips. So, my advice is no, don't bother paying for it -- unless you are a content creator yourself or have editing skills.
What gear should they use?
How they're using it is much more important than what they're using. It's better to hear a master play a cheap violin than a beginner play a Stradivarius.
Also, gear isn't much of a differentiator anymore. People can make feature films on smartphones these days. If your eyes are telling you that you like the quality of a vendor's videos, then that's the main thing to know (along with who actually shot them).
You don't need to know the price tag on the camera, just the price tag on the service.
Yes, there are some people out there shooting weddings on GoPros; and, yes, I personally think that's as dodgy as hell. But you know what? You can get really good quality out of GoPros too.
More important than what is how many. Two, three or four cameras is better than one camera in terms of the final video's quality.
Can I just hire a camera to record my ceremony?
If you're going down this route, put someone in charge of the camera, so they can adjust it and move it around if needed.
But there's a big difference between that and a professional recording. A hired camera will just be a single angle the whole time, and the audio will be bad.
My partner isn't comfortable being on video
If your partner is really uncomfortable, the videographer doesn't need to cover them during bride/groom prep, but can start from the ceremony and just film them when they're already on show, which is pretty much the whole of the rest of the day.
But, realistically, most weddings are going to have a photographer -- so, there's already a camera pointed at them and a person telling them to pose. Adding a second camera isn't going to make much difference.
Tips for livestreaming our wedding?
Sure. I've written some notes here.
Should I get a drone?
Some videographers will supply a drone anyway -- it's sort of par for the course -- and some will charge you extra, usually around $500.
The drone is never used that much -- sometimes just 3-5 shots, each lasting a few seconds. If you're in a beautiful country location, then those shots could be spectacular. If you're not, then paying $100 per shot might not be worth it.
In any case, don't just get a drone so it can hover 10m in the air and your guests can look up and wave. No offence, but that's kind of cringe.
Should I get a same-day edit?
This is a video that's edited the same day and played to your guests before or after speeches.
If you have the budget for it, I think the question to ask yourself is how it goes with the vibe of your wedding. I tend to feel it suits larger, more formal, sit-down events better than casual, low-key events where people are walking around and mingling.
What happens if it rains?
The times of the day when you're outside are ceremony (maybe) and photoshoot.
Most couples will have a backup ceremony plan in case of rain; so, if you move it indoors, then that avoids moisture-related camera problems. Similarly, some couples have a backup photoshoot location for rain (or just do it at the reception venue).
But if you want an outdoors ceremony in rain, one of the easiest solutions for a videographer is a plastic bag. They can make a hole in the bottom, wrap it around their camera with the lens poking out, and if the lens is weather-sealed, then they just need some waterproofing for themselves.
If the lens is not weather-sealed, things can get dodgy.
Still figuring out what you want?
If video feels like something you might care about, but you're not sure where to start, feel free to get in touch. I'm happy to answer questions, talk through options, or just point you in the right direction.
Thanks for reading, and all the best for your wedding day!
