What to Know Before Booking a Videographer

It's normal to assume that good video has a heavy emphasis on good visuals but that is actually a common misconception. If you want to know if a videographer is skilled or not, you should focus on how good their audio is. Think about what you watch on youtube. There are so many people that have mediocre video at best, but you put up with it because their audio is good. If their audio was poor, you probably wouldn’t bother finishing the video!

Groomsmen getting dressed

On that note, one of the biggest reasons why people hire a videographer is for the audio. With photos, you get the visuals but you don’t get to hear any of the audio. Audio from the ceremony and speeches is often so important and it is something that you should definitely consider having captured. 

Family throwing flower petals at a wedding

When hiring a videographer its important for them to get along with your photographer. After all, they should both be after the same end goal, a great finished product for the couple. In most cases, the photographer gets booked first and if you’re interested in having a videographer its worth it to ask the photographer for a recommendation. If you’re out exploring your options is good to ask both parties if they’ve worked together before. 

Bride and groom holding hands walking through an arbour

Personally, if I know there’s gonna be a videographer at the wedding and I haven’t worked with them before I always reach out before the wedding to introduce myself and to get an idea of their working style. I’ve found from my experience there are two kinds of videographers. There are the ones that will basically follow the photographers lead the entire day; needing little to nothing in the realm of their own shooting time. Then there are the ones that like to have their own direction. If you're hiring a videographer that needs their own time, you should consider factoring in extra time during the portraits so that both parties can get what they’re after.

Wilson Lau

Photographer of weddings, and people.