For many couples, wedding videos are the last thing on their mind, when it comes to wedding planning. After all, the most important things are the venue, the photographer, the cake, the dress, and the ceremony and reception. Hiring a videographer might seem unimportant, since you already have a photographer, and it’s most likely your family and friends will take videos on the day. So, why would you need a videographer? There are many reasons why a videographer is necessary, and why you should hire a good one too. Here are 5 worst wedding video mistakes to avoid, if you want the perfect souvenir from your wedding.
1. Not Doing Wedding Video Research
Research is one of the key ingredients for any good investments. Yes, wedding videos are investments. After all, they’re mementos of special occasions that only happen once in a lifetime. So, do you research before choosing a videographer. Sometimes, a website or a show reel may look perfect to you, but did you take a look at the reviews? Did you ask around on those bridal forums? Have you spoken to anyone who used their services before?
Sometimes, we may like the look of something, only to find out on the day that their service is under par. In the end there’ll be major mistakes that we can’t fix, no matter what we do. This is so true for even wedding videography. If you don’t do the research, you may end up paying more, for a service that didn’t live up to your expectations. So, start researching early. Don’t let last minute decisions catch you out, because you didn’t see the fine print.
2. Not Preparing Good Audio
More often than not, a wedding videographer won’t consider the audio of their videos, because they’ll only be creating highlight videos for their weddings. However, some couples may choose to go for a feature film, and this will require good audio. Think about it this way, when you’re watching a good film in the cinema, do you hear every word each character says? Are there any lines that sound muffled? Are there any points in the film where you’re trying to read their lips? No!
The same should be said for your wedding video. No matter whether it’s a highlight video or a feature film, always try to capture good audio. This can help add authenticity to your wedding videos and won’t make them seem like a trailer or an advert. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should have to suffer a man with a boom microphone, standing over your shoulder. It could mean wearing lapel mics, attached to your outfits, when you say your vows, or connecting your videographer to your DJ or band, so they can do a rehearsal or sound check before the actual reception starts. Whatever the case, always have good audio.
3. Using A Friend To Cut Costs
While it is one of the best ways to plan a wedding on a budget, chances are you’re sacrificing quality for quantity. So, although your friend may be great at capturing videos and photos for social media, that doesn’t mean they’re going to have the same professionalism as a certified videographer. Most videographers are discrete, and know what to do when something unexpected happens. Your friend may not. In fact, most videographers will be quick on their feet and even capture things that may seem meaningless but will be important, in the final edit of the film. Your friend may overlook that, or even be too slow to even capture it.
Unless you already have a videographer friend, who knows the craft, don’t trust your family or friend to capture your big day for you. Trust a professional videographer, because they’ll know what to look out for, and how to capture your best angle. They’ve captured hundreds of weddings before yours, so they know what they’re doing. All you need to do is trust the process.
4. Setting A Low Budget
Believe it or not, you will need to set a higher budget than you think, for a wedding videographer. This is not only for the wedding video itself, but it’s also for their equipment hire, their time and energy, on the day itself, and for the time it takes to edit the video. After all, videographers will need several lenses, if not cameras, to help them shoot your video. They may even need microphones, or technology that captures the audio on your wedding day. Not only that, but your videographer will be spending the entire day with you, to capture every moment, no matter how insignificant it is. They will be spending time and energy with a stranger, to capture their best day ever.
So, keep in mind the budget they’re asking from you. Communicate with your videographer what it is you want them to do, and how you want the video to look like in the end. It’s not enough to say, “I want a wedding video to remember the day”, there are so many decisions that need to be made, beforehand, and knowing how much that will cost will help you in the long run.
5. Thinking You Don't Need A Videographer
Similar to getting a friend to film the day for you, thinking you don’t need a videographer won’t help you. After all, while your family and friends may film the wedding, there will be a few moments that may not even be captured on camera, like the bride and groom getting ready, or the vows being said. While your photographer might capture these moments, it’s the video that you’ll most likely want to watch. So, don’t dispense with a videographer just yet. They can be more valuable than you think.
While the videographer may want to use the videos captured by your guests, they will still have the quality you’d want at the end of the day. They can match your tastes, where it’s on the editing floor, on the day itself, or in the way they shoot your wedding. It is in the professional way they handle your wedding, so you don’t have to worry about your family and friends capturing the right angle or forgetting a poignant moment in the ceremony. Your videographer will do all that for you. So, all you need to do is sit back and relax.
