Videography
by Craig LaPlante

You’ve planned the most important day of your life and you’ll want to remember it…forever. Hiring a professional wedding videographer will let you relive those memories any time you desire. A professional video costs money, but the results outweigh the price.  Figure the cost into your budget.  If you don’t get a good quality video, you may regret it for the rest of your life. Quality remains long after price is forgotten.

Ask the videographer how they plan to capture audio, an important, but often overlooked element of recording.  Wireless microphones capture more personal events such as your vows and the giving of rings.  A wedding videographer should be an unobtrusive part of your celebration. Even so, don’t hesitate to ask them for ideas that could make your wedding (and your video) that much more memorable.

A second camera captures reaction shots and an additional view of the wedding. Make sure the videographer has a clear understanding of what is expected of them of any special request that you have. Ask for a relative time frame for delivering the finished DVD. Good music selection is an important part of the overall production.  The videographer should use a blend of background music and selected works, such as a romantic ballad or group of songs that enhances your video.

Filming a wedding is one of the most challenging forms of videography… there are NO second takes, if you want your videographer to remain unobtrusive to the day. There is only one opportunity to capture each event as it happens. That is why hiring an experienced wedding professional is so important.

WHAT TO ASK YOUR WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER
 
Ask about the quality of the equipment. Is it updated, professional video equipment, including editing software?

How many cameras are used to shoot the ceremony and do they use a wireless microphone to capture the audio?

Will they have back-up equipment in the event of a problem? Have they shot a wedding in your location before?

What is their fee? Is it an hourly charge or flat fee for shooting the wedding and reception? Are there additional charges for mileage?

How many hours of coverage are provided? What styles of editing do they offer? Are editing, titles and music included in the quoted price?

…and most importantly, how many weddings have you filmed and can I have 3 references?

Craig and Lydia LaPlante are the owners of Classic Video Productions in Kensington, CT  You can reach Craig at info@cvprovideo.com Check them out on the web at www.cvprovideo.com