Do I Need a Videographer?

By: Crystal and Jason Melendez

Some couples just don’t like the idea of a wedding video and want nothing more than a good photography package to preserve their memories. But before skipping over this chapter altogether, take a few moments to consider what you’ll be getting with a good videographer, and how the possibilities offered by the latest technical gear and editing equipment stack up to your friend’s camcorder or photography alone.

What Videography Will Give You

Couples often feel as though their wedding day went by in a blur. After months of planning and effort, the big day comes in a rush, and everything happens so fast and with such emotion that before they know it, the day is over. A good wedding video is like a time machine that can take you back to your wedding day any time you like. You can experience all the sounds, action, subtle details and endearing moments all over again, including those you might have missed or might otherwise forget. It’s a living documentary that will be available to your children, their children, and so on. Imagine being able to watch your grandparents’ wedding, or their grandparents’!

Do the words “wedding video” invoke thoughts of a cheesy soundtrack, amateurish screen wipes and complete, unbroken coverage of the chicken dance? Today, digital video and editing technology make it easier and more affordable than ever to create wedding videos as engaging and sophisticated as quality television documentaries, complete with voice-over interviews, flashbacks, professional scene cuts, special effects and more. The style you choose is up to you, but you have more choices for capturing the sights, sounds, and action of your special day now than ever before.

Professional or Amateur?

Common question: “I have a friend or family member with a camcorder. Can’t he take my wedding video?”

Our view on going the amateur route with photography and videography is that you should resist the temptation. These are real mementos of your day, and you don’t want just anybody with the responsibility of capturing such a special time in your life. We’ve hear countless stories about individuals missing important events, running out of batteries, and in general just producing shaky or dizzying footage. You’ll inevitably have those guests who bring their own cameras and camcorders, and the highlights they capture will be great, but certainly not a complete story of your day. And you have to ask yourself even if a friend or family member was charged with the responsibility of documenting all the special moments and details of your wedding, will they be able to enjoy themselves as much?

A professional videographer will use his experience, artistic sense and eye for detail to capture the details and moments as completely as possible. Modern editing techniques, soundtrack mixers, and special effects can produce a video you’ll love to watch again and again and will be proud to show to others.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, of course. If you’re on a mega-demanding budget, can barely afford a good photography package, and are having a small, intimate affair—perhaps with just immediate family and the closest of friends—go ahead and ask one of those attending (or accept their offer) to handle the role of videographer. You can even have the raw footage professionally edited at a later date when you can better afford it, producing a more compact, sophisticated overall production. A professionally edited video is one you’ll be more apt to watch often and show others. Just keep in mind that the quality of video produced by consumer cameras are almost never up to par with the kind of equipment that a good pro would use.

Videography vs. Photography

Ask a photographer and he’ll probably tell you that photography is more important. Ask a videographer and he’ll stress the equal importance of both. The real question is, how important is videography to you? Remember that while you can’t put your wedding video in a frame above the mantle or pull it out of your wallet to show a friend, a photograph can’t capture the sound of your voices exchanging vows or the sounds and activity of your reception party.

When it comes to wedding videos, there’s something about the live-action capture of such a special moment that can take you back like nothing else. Consider how popular movies are today as a way of telling a story. Videography is quickly becoming less of an optional side-kick to photography and more of an equal partner in preserving the memory of your day

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Crystal and Jason Melendez are the authors of e-Plan Your Wedding:
How to Save Time and Money with Today’s Best Online Resources.
For more information, please visit http://www.eplanyourwedding.com