Most couples prepare their wedding budgets with a photographer in mind, but how many consider hiring a videographer, too? Wedding videography is a beautiful way for couples to preserve the memories of their special day. Here’s why your photography budget should include a videographer:
Reasons to Hire a Wedding Videographer
Wedding videographers create living memories of loved ones
Videos are a great way to share memories of loved ones with new generations. When I watch my own parent’s old wedding videos, I see how my grandparents used to dance. I also see the facial expressions, reactions, and conversations that occurred throughout that festive night. I watch old relatives that passed before I was born. It is a joyful way to remember loved ones.
More than once, past clients have contacted Four Loves Photo and Film to ask for extra footage of deceased loved ones who attended their weddings. A video of a loved one captures so much more life than just a picture can. It can be so healing to see a facial expression or hear a voice one more time.
The videographer captures moments the couples may have missed during the day
While the bride and groom steal away from their guests for a few moments, what are their guests up to? Hiring a wedding videographer is a great way to capture guests throughout the day. Couples might miss moments like family chatting in the pews before the wedding mass or younger relatives dancing before the reception starts. These can be joyful vignettes of the wedding day to look back at.
Wedding Videos deliver Audio
Not only does a wedding video show you your wedding day, it also allows you to hear the wedding day. The dialogue between father and daughter during a first look, the Best Man’s speech, and vows delivered through heartfelt tears—a strong wedding video team captures these moments with high quality audio for your wedding film.
You will watch your wedding film more than once
A wedding video is something that you, your family, your children, and your children’s children can watch over and over again. It becomes a family heirloom. These videos often become tradition to rewatch on anniversaries. Wedding books with video players inside of them make it even easier to rewatch more often. My son watches my own wedding video almost every day this way.
Just like photo albums can be passed down, a wedding video allows families to share living memories for generations to come.
Not hiring a wedding videographer is a common wedding planning regret
Data from The Knot shares that 19% of couples regret not hiring a wedding videographer for their wedding day. Often, couples look back and wish they had something more to watch, hear, or experience again. Browsing through a photo album may not be enough.
What does a Wedding photographer and Videographer deliver?
Typically, couples need to book a wedding photographer for 8-10 hours coverage. This allows the photographer to capture everything from the getting-ready period to the grand exit at the end of the wedding reception. After 10 hours of capturing photos, a professional wedding photographer delivers anywhere from 800 to 1,000 photos in the final gallery.
Likewise, a wedding videographer capturing 8-10 hours of coverage can deliver a 6-8 minute video of the full wedding day. Sometimes, the final video may be up to 10 minutes, depending on the length and destination of the event.
There is also the opportunity to get separate edits of the wedding day. For example, my personal favorite keepsake is an edit of the speeches at my own wedding. I love that I get to hear my dad and father-in-law sharing stories about my husband and I. Another additional edit could be a Ceremony edit, which showcases just the wedding Mass and RAW footage of the getting-ready period.
Video Example: Wedding Reception Speeches edit. Filmed and edited by Four Loves Photo and Film.
Video Example: First Dance edit. Filmed and edited by Four Loves Photo and Film.
A wedding videographer also has the unique ability to deliver creative angles through the use of drone video and other specialized camera rigs. These extras can create an elevated feel to the final wedding films that still photography alone can’t capture.
What are the advantages of a photo-video team?
- One, cohesive team and style
Different photographers capture and edit photos with varying styles. Hiring one photo-video team helps ensure that the final wedding gallery and film are cohesive in style.
- Non-disruptive communication
A photo-video team that regularly works together naturally has better communication and coordination during events. This means that during the wedding, photographers and videographers don’t necessarily need to talk to understand where each camera should be and when. The photo-video team already knows each other’s positions and priorities.
For example, the Four Loves Photo and Film assigns the lead photographer to shots like the bride’s entrance, while the secondary shooter is responsible for the groom’s reaction. Likewise, both photographers know where to stand clear of the videographer’s camera as it moves around the church.
Hiring a photographer and videographer separately adds an extra step, as these two vendors must spend time coordinating with each other on the wedding day. This introduces more opportunity for disruption during the wedding day as vendors work behind the scenes to create a seamless experience for the couple.
- Photo-video discounts
Many wedding photographers will offer a discounted package price when couples book them for both photo and video coverage. Four Loves Photo and Film offers a discount for couples who book both photo and video coverage with our team.
How to Pick the Right Videographer and Photographer
Especially when it comes to Catholic weddings, picking the right videographer and photographer is critical. While there are many highly-qualified and talented wedding videographers on the market, it is advantageous for Catholic couples to specifically hire a Catholic wedding videographer. Catholic wedding videographers offer specialized videographer services that other vendors may lack. Regardless of the the vendor you choose, we recommend asking these important questions before hiring any videographer:
- Have you ever filmed a catholic wedding before?
- What is your editing style?
- How are you capturing audio?
- What are the costs?
- What is the turnaround time?
These questions will help you find a talented videographer who will deliver exceptional service and a high-quality product.
Costs to Hire a Wedding Videographer
Videographer prices vary widely across the United States. Some vendors charge as little as $500, while others charge upwards of $10,000 for video services. These costs may also change based on region and wedding destination. For example, the cost of a wedding videographer in Massachusetts, where the average cost of a wedding is nearly $50,000, will be more expensive than the cost of a wedding videographer from Florida, where the average cost of a wedding is closer to $30,000.
Four Loves Photo and Film allows couples to customize packages based on their wants and needs. This creates more flexibility in pricing for varying budgets. Florida weddings begin at $4,000 and travel weddings begin at $6,000.
Remember that the cost of a wedding videographer encompasses more than just the final wedding film. Videographers are compensated based on the length of coverage, equipment, post-production editing, and final deliverables.
Summary: Why You Should Consider Hiring Both a Photographer & Videographer for Your Wedding Day
- Wedding videos create living memories
- A wedding film becomes a family heirloom
- Wedding videos deliver keepsake audio
- You will watch your wedding video more than once
- Photo-video teams deliver high-quality work without disrupting the wedding ceremony
- Couples often regret not hiring a videographer for their weddings
Hiring a photographer and videographer for your wedding day is the best way to ensure your memories are captured in a way that you can revisit them year after year. . Inquire with Four Loves Photo and Film to learn more.
Still on the fence? Read more reasons why you should hire a catholic wedding videographer here.
Joanna Schnitzer is a Catholic Wedding Photographer and Videographer and founder of Four Loves Photo and Film. She is a devout Catholic, wife, and mother with a passion for serving couples on the most important day of their lives. Before pursuing photography full-time, Joanna spent nearly a decade as a Youth Minister at parishes in central Florida.
