Videos are great for capturing the motion and emotion of the day. Share them with those unable to attend and even with those who did. A professional videographer will capture more than just the traditional wedding highlights. Discuss other happenings that you have planned for the day with the videographer so that every special moment is recorded.

How to identify right videographer:  

1. Does the videographer belong to a local professional association such as the Bay Area Professional Videographers Association (BAPVA) or the national association, Wedding and Event Videographers Association (WEVA)?
2. Does he/she keep and enhance skills through seminars and workshops?
3. Can he/she answer technical questions clearly?
4. Does he/she have a resale license and liability insurance?
5. Does he/she bring backup equipment?
6. Does he/she have the BRO seal of approval?
    

Choosing the right videographer:

• Ask who will be shooting the wedding and who will be editing the video; ask to see samples of that person's work.
• Evaluate DVDs for focus, color, exposure, steady camera work, and subtle transitions between scenes.
• Ask to hear the real sound recorded at a ceremony. Music sometimes can be used to mask bad audio.
• In samples, is there a nice mix of scheduled events and unscripted candid moments?
• Does the music match the images? Are the images cut to the beat of the music? Is the music unique or something you've seen in every other video?
• Make sure you see videos that actually were delivered to clients, not just the best from a variety of weddings. "Demos" may or may not be indicative of the quality you will receive in your video.
• Before the wedding, indicate your preferences for coverage: interviews with guests, important people and moments to feature, etc.
• Choose a videographer whose style and manner of working appeals to you.
• When you find a video that touches you, you've found the right videographer..
  
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• View as many samples on videographers' websites as you can to become familiar with various styles.
• Have the videographer attend the rehearsal. The best videographers will take the opportunity to pre-plan their camera positions in order to get a good view, yet remain unobtrusive.
• Confirm the following items in your contract: date, location, arrival time, total amount of coverage time, number of DVDs, the name of the videographer assigned to your event, and price.
• Inquire about other events the videographer has scheduled before and after your wedding. If your wedding runs late, he may have to leave before the end in order to cover the next event.
• If you are planning to get married in a church or synagogue, find out about rules concerning videography.
• Consider the benefits of multiple cameras. This will give more angles and make for a more interesting video, and it increases the chances that every important shot will be captured, even if a guest walks in front of one camera.
• Ask about the option of having your wedding shot and edited in high-definition.

Money Matters:

• The price of an excellent video will be similar to that of fine photography.
• It depends upon:
• Amount of editing (Editing will take two to ten times as long as shooting the wedding.)
• Quality of finished work.
• Length of time of finished piece. It may be much more time consuming to make a well-crafted 45-minute cinematic piece than a 2-hour documentary.
• Number of cameras and hours of coverage.
• Amount of customization.
• Most of all, the talent of the videographer, and how in demand he/she is.
• Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. That is, compare the same amount of coverage with the same number of videographers. Watch for the behind-the-scenes type of attention and service you will receive. The marks of the true professional may be hidden but will make a difference in your experience and in the final product.