Eight things to consider when booking a wedding videographer

Struggling to find the perfect wedding videographer to capture your big day?

In this guide, we’re offering eight essential things to consider when booking a wedding videographer. Covering everything from style through to skillset, prices and portfolio, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Style it out 

Leopard print over velvet? Wallpaper over paint? Everyone has their own tastes and preferences - the things that speak to our individualistic nature - and they should definitely be considered when booking a wedding videographer.

The first thing to think about is how you’d like your filmmaker to work on the day of the wedding itself. While some, like Studio Lester, choose to take a natural approach, allowing couples to enjoy their big day without constantly being pulled away for staged shots, others prefer to take a more hands-on approach, treating the shoot like a feature film. 

The style the videographer works towards when editing the footage is super important too. After all, the last thing you want is a super-modern, artistic edit if you’re looking for a vintage-looking, natural film.

Skills to pay the bills

One thing that sets Studio Lester apart from other wedding videography outfits is our ability to offer a range of skills - including full audio capture, drone videography and a kit-bag that’s full of the latest gear.

The same doesn’t always ring true for other videography outfits, who are often more than happy to charge you a pretty penny without any additional extras. In fact, it’s known throughout the industry that some videographers are more than happy to shoot a full day’s worth of footage on one card, with no back-ups or additional cameras to provide cover if something goes wrong.

In our opinion, the very least you should expect is for your wedding videographer to have the skills required to work multiple cameras - whether solo or as part of a crew - and record full audio throughout the day. 

If they’re using a drone, they should also be able to show you a copy of their PFCO from the CAA - the license required to work weddings and other commercial jobs here in the UK.

What’s the vibe?

Delivering a wedding video is a lengthy process, one that starts long before the day of the wedding and ends months after. Together, you’ll go on a real journey with your chosen videographer, so it makes sense to pick someone you get along with.

Individual traits aside, a good wedding videographer should always be flexible, patient and above all-else, professional. Throughout the entire process, a constant line of communication should be open, whether it’s via email, phone or in-person, and if you’re unsure of any detail at any point, you should feel comfortable asking them questions.

Location, location, location 

So you’ve found the perfect wedding videographer only to discover that they’re based at the opposite end of the country. Fear not, all is not lost. 

While most wedding videographers are happy to travel long distances to cover a shoot, it’s really important to check a couple of things first. 

The first of these is whether or not your chosen wedding videographer can drive, and if so, how much extra will they charge for fuel. If not, you’ll definitely want to discuss travel costs with them - which could easily add hundreds of pounds onto the booking - especially if they’re travelling by train and planning on staying in a hotel.

What’s in the bag?  

There’s no getting around the fact that videography equipment is expensive, but if your chosen outfit is unwilling to invest in the latest cameras, drones and equipment, why should you bother investing in them

At the very least, we’d expect any wedding videography company to be able to record in full HD using a full-frame camera. Off-camera mics are also a must, as are a selection of tripods, gimbals and lenses. We’d also expect any videographer worth their salt to carry a whole host of extra batteries (all fully charged) and SD cards - allowing them to keep shooting without too many breaks throughout the day.

At Studio Lester, we’ve invested heavily in our kitbag, meaning we can go above and beyond for our clients. This means at the very least, our weddings will be delivered in stunning 4K quality - allowing you to watch your wedding movie back at home on the big screen, without any pixelation or quality issues. 

We’ve also got a host of audio recording equipment, two pro-grade Sony cameras and a drone to boot, allowing us to deliver a real wow factor for clients looking for something extra special.

Review the reviews 

If you’re looking to get a sense of whether your videographer is up to the job, try checking out what some of their previous clients have said about their work. Reviews such as these can normally be found in a couple of places.

Start by checking your videographer’s Facebook page. Not only will this allow you to get a sense of their tone of voice and existing portfolio, the reviews section should be jam-packed with high-praise from happy customers that have used their services in the past - provided they’re any good, that is.

Don’t see any reviews on your wedding videographer’s Facebook? Try searching for their business on Google. If they have a My Business page, chances are they may have a few reviews listed on there instead. 

At the very least, you should have access to a handful of reviews - or, failing that, a solid recommendation by word-of-mouth from someone you trust. If neither are available, you may want to consider asking for a sizable discount, or looking elsewhere instead.

Work speaks louder than words

In the modern age, anyone can say almost anything about themselves without anyone batting an eyelid, especially on social media. But what sets creative professionals like wedding videographers and photographers apart is that without a portfolio to back-up their tweets and IG posts, they instantly get found out.

When looking to secure a wedding videographer to capture your special day, be sure that your chosen outfit has a solid portfolio they can show you. Without this, you’ll end up relying solely on what they tell you, with little to no evidence that they can deliver what they’re promising. 

Even if you’re thinking of choosing a wedding videographer that’s just starting out, you should feel confident that they know their way around a camera and can edit their work on a computer. Remember, you’re only going to get married once - so why risk booking someone who might not be up to the job?

Value for money 

As most people who have planned a wedding will tell you: it ain’t cheap. Indeed, research from Hitched has shown that the average cost of a UK wedding has risen by 54% in five years, reaching £31,974 in 2019.

This year looks set to be a little different however, with early trends suggesting more couples are looking to maximise the bang they receive for their buck when planning their big day.

For such couples, Studio Lester provides a great option. Not only do we offer professional wedding videography for as little as £1,250, our combination package allows couples to book both videography and photography for under £2,000 - the cost many professionals charge for photography alone.

For more information on our wedding packages and rates, click here.