Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Videographer

You've decided to hire a professional videographer to film your wedding day. Here's a list of questions to ask prospective videographers that will help you make an informed decision:

What style do you film in?
Whether you prefer a traditional, cinematic or storytelling style video, you'll want to choose a videographer that has experience in that style. 

How long have you been filming weddings?

If a company is shady in any way or produces poor product, they won't be in business for long. The longer the videographer has been in the business, the more likely you are to receive a high quality, polished looking video. 

Can I see a sample wedding video?

Ideally, you should be able to watch an entire video from start to finish, and not just a demo reel. Some videographers include all events in real time, others only produce short form videos. It's important to know which you'd be receiving to avoid disappointment. When watching samples of a videographer's work, watch for creativity and variety in the shots, a steady picture, a sharp image and clear sound, especially during vows and toasts.

What type of equipment will you be filming with? 

Equipment alone doesn't produce a beautiful video, but a professional videographer is more likely to have invested in high quality equipment. A typical equipment list includes cameras, tripods, wireless microphones, and a lighting kit. 

Do you have backup equipment?

Even well maintained equipment may fail without warning, and a professional will be prepared for almost any situation.

How will you capture sound during the ceremony? 

An on-camera microphone is not powerful enough to pick up whispered vows, especially if the videographer has to stand in the back of the church. There should be wireless microphones for the bride and groom to capture the vows, for any readers, the officiant and the musicians.

What is included in the package?
How many camera operators and how many hours of coverage are included? Does the price include editing? How many copies of the video will you receive and on what format (DVD, Blu-ray, flash drive)?

What are your rates?

Find out their overtime and travel rates, cost for additional copies, or any other extras you may be interested in that aren't included in your package (love story, same day edit, etc.)

How long will it take to edit the footage?

The time will vary depending on what time of year you get married and how many weddings the videographer does in a year. Make sure an estimated date of delivery in included in your contract.

Happy planning!