How to avoid a video nasty
For many brides and grooms, that special day passes in a bit of a blur - a flurry of fleeting conversations, photos and having to be in all places at once. But a wedding video can provide a wonderful lasting memento of the occasion, catching all those amusing incidents you missed while you were involved with the receiving line or photographs. It provides a vivid record of all your guests, the venue, the speeches and even the ceremony itself. A copy of your wedding video also makes a great gift for friends and relatives who were unable to attend.
For a truly slick, professional and infinitely watchable video, you generally need to hire a professional video maker. However, the cost can be prohibitive. For a high-quality professional wedding video, be prepared to pay anything between $750 to $2350. "A good professional video maker using proper professional equipment should not be charging less than $750," warns Jan Parry, a wedding video expert who runs the Association of Professional Video makers.
If your budget won't stretch to a professional video, the other option is to ask a friend if they would be willing to video the big day. Many people own camcorders or digital video cameras and they are also easily hired. Obviously, an amateur video will never be as polished or perfect as a professionally made one, but it can still capture all the joy and fun of the day, albeit in a rougher and readier fashion!
Top tips for using a professional:
- "Book a video maker who is a qualified member of the Association of Professional Video makers," says Jan Parry. "Just because someone hasn't joined the Association doesn't necessarily mean they are no good, but by joining, they show they are running a serious and professional business. All qualified members have to pass an assessment before they are recommended by us."
- Book your video maker well in advance. All the experts agree that the best ones get booked up very early, especially at popular times of the year. Ideally, you should book one up as soon as the date and venue have been confirmed.
- Once you have found a videographer whose work you like, find out exactly what is included in their price, advises Keith Owens. "Ask if there will be any extra charges for editing, adding titles and dubbing music and whether you can choose your own music," he says. "Ask how many copies of the video are included in the price and how much extra copies will cost." He also suggests asking if the videographer will carry back-up cameras in case of camera breakdown.
- Obviously, the wedding video will include key moments like cutting the cake and the first dance. But the bride and groom should also let their video maker know if there are other special moments they want to capture, such as the moment the bride's parents see her in her dress. If there are certain people you want included in the video, assign a bridesmaid or usher to point them out to the video maker.
Tips for using an amateur
- If a friend or relative is videoing your wedding and has never used a video before, don't expect marvelous results from their first attempts. Make sure they have a few days to practice using the equipment before the big day. This will allow them to read the instruction booklet, to find their way around the video camera and do some practice videoing.
- An inexperienced video maker should not rapidly zoom in and out towards people the video will not focus quickly enough so the effect will be blurry. It's worth getting hold of a tripod and attaching the video camera for some parts of the wedding, especially the ceremony. The video footage will be steadier and more professional looking. Also remember that it's better to take too much footage rather than too little the video can always be edited down after the wedding.
- If a friend is videoing you're wedding, once they have captured the vows on camera, ask them to turn off the sound. Rather than having their running commentary, lay a soundtrack over the video perhaps your first-dance song, a favorite love song or music from the disco.
