Excerpted from Mark Goldberg of Spectrum Productions
SHOULD MY WEDDING BE VIDEOTAPED?
Some brides feel that video taping is intrusive and would
rather opt for still photos alone, but with today’s higher powered lenses
and better quality microphones, the professional videographer can capture those
perfect images without having to be in the middle of things. Video can also catch
those unique brief moments throughout the wedding day that are missed by still
photography. Spontaneous audio is another bonus of video. Hearing your vows repeated
and listening to comments of friends and family throughout your special day can
be some of your fondest wedding memories
WHY SHOULD I PAY A PROFESIONAL
WHEN MY FRIENDS CAN TAPE IT WITH THEIR CAMCORDERS
Most consumer video fails for several reasons. Any or all
of the following mistakes or shortcuts can easily be made by anyone other than
a professional videographer: - Inadequate
attention to sound
- lack of research and coordination
to learn the flow of the event
- no use of tripod
- inadequate
battery capacity
- use of only one camera
Hiring
a professional videographer generally insures these oversights will be avoided.
AREN'T ALL WEDDING VIDEOS
THE SAME? SHOULDN’T I SEEK THE LOWEST BID?
There is no standard
certification procedure for wedding videography. There is a potpourri of styles.
Evaluate candidates based on policies, performance and reputation. A price quote
on the phone is meaningless unless relevant to your desires and event logistics.
WHAT KIND/SIZE OF STUDIO IS BEST - LARGE OR SMALL?
What is most important is
quality of work and service attitude. Large studios employ a stable of subcontractors
to do the work and tend to use a standardized approach. Small studios and independent
videographers tend to shoot and edit their own work and therefore likely to be
more personalized
HOW MUCH WILL THE VIDEO
COST?
Let your overall wedding budget
and the amount set aside for photos be a guide. Good video requires an investment
equal to or greater than photography. If you have to cut back on something, eliminate
fancy editing, montages, and effects. Make audio and picture quality your priority—you
can always come back later for fancy re-editing if desired.
DO
I NEED MULTIPLE CAMERA COVERAGE?
I recommend two cameras for the
ceremony—one in front and one in back. It is hard to do it all from one spot.
It is a widely held misconception
that more cameras mean more intrusions. It is actually the opposite, because with
more cameras, the operators don’t have to move around as much. SHOULD
THE VIDEOGRAPHER ATTEND REHEARSAL
Yes,
unless it is a fairly standard wedding ceremony at a location where the videographer
has worked previously. The non-repeatable action of the ceremony demands that
the videographer pre-plan the camera positions and moves in order to get the best
shots while remaining unobtrusive HOW CAN I SPOT
THOSE WHO ARE NOT REALLY PROFESSIONAL?
A
legitimate videographer should have a thorough technical understanding of the
tools and techniques of the trade. They should be able to answer your technical
questions without defensiveness, evasion or double talk. A quick tour of the editing
suite, while they explain their services, can reveal a great deal about how professional
their final product will be. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK
FOR IN EXAMPLE VIDEOS?
Clear,
understandable sound and crisp clear images with good accurate color and smooth
camera work are important characteristics of quality work. A burned out white
dress indicates a cheap camera was used or the videographer did not light the
scene properly.
However,
due to severe restrictions imposed by some churches, there will be instances where
even the best videographer will not get the best results, but this should not
dominate their portfolio.
Don’t be mislead by slick
5-7 minute music-video style demos. Insist on seeing samples of wedding videos
they have produced for actual brides. WHAT IS
MY RECOURSE IN THE EVENT OF DISPUTE OR BAD SERVICE?
The logical first step is to state your case, clearly
and calmly to your videographer. Even before the actual taping, there should be
a clear mutual understanding of what’s expected. Many problems can be fixed
with a single corrective edit. Today, business are very sensitive to their public
image. Make integrity a prime selection criteria. WHAT
CAN I DO TO HELP THE VIDEOGRAPHER DO A GOOD JOB FOR ME?
Provide your videographer with
all the details of the event so they can anticipate how best to shoot superior
footage. Let them know who you definitely want included in your video. A finely
detailed timeline of the ceremony and reception is a must for the videographer.
Being aware of what you expect in a video and communicating that with the videographer
can prevent disappointments. CAN I COPY MY TAPE
AT HOME FOR DISTRIBUTION TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS?
Aside from copyright violation,
the quality degrades rapidly when you are not dubbing from the master video tape. Excerpted
with permission from Mark Goldberg
of Spectrum Productions - Gaithersburg,
Maryland
Visit Mark Goldberg's Spectrum ProductionsWEB
Site
for more useful information about Wedding Videography. |