Video Sharing for Grown-Ups!










 

 

Wedding Videography Budget Tips: Where to Splurge or Save to get the Right Wedding Video for You. You've invested lots of time into finding the right videographer for your wedding. Now, the issue is deciding what moments you want to make sure make it onto the final product.  A wedding video is your opportunity to capture and preserve your wedding day forever -- from all the wonderful moments you'll witness, to the moments you might not otherwise see. In many ways, a wedding video is priceless; but in reality, they can cost anywhere from $500 to $15,000. Couples generally allocate 10-15% of their wedding budgets to videography, but it's important to understand which factors shape the cost in order to choose the technology, people, and style that's right for you. The Goods: Wedding Video Equipment and Technology Most weddings are taped using one camera (the cheapest route), with a second camera costing between $400 and $1,000, depending on the amount of coverage. The most advanced videos these days are shot using digital video or DV, and are delivered to you on DVD. While they're a pricier option, they have the fun advantage of letting you skip around to watch whatever sections you want, plus no matter how often the video is copied, it won't ever lose image quality. No grainy videos for your future grandkids! Premium sound quality is a must for professional videos so you can relive those vows and that first dance over and over again. The single microphone, which is built into the recorder, costs the least, but the camera isn't always close enough to pick up sound perfectly. Wireless microphones are also used often, but be forewarned that things like fluorescent lighting and the officiant's microphone might interfere with the signal. Digital sound recorders (placed in the pockets of the groom, at the podium, etc.) record the sound on a disk, which is later transferred to a computer and edited along with the video. Since it has to be synced in with the video, it is more time-consuming for the editor - and more expensive for you -- but it's the top way to get premium sound. People: From Beginners to the Best It may seem like a huge money saver to have a friend film your wedding for free. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous road to travel down. The average consumer equipment simply doesn't compare to what a professional uses, and the likelihood of your friend being able to handle disasters if they should occur isn't very good. If you're thinking about hiring someone with some, but not tons of experience, look carefully. A beginner with excellent reels might be a reasonable bet, but run from someone just trying to make cash between acting gigs. Experience is not just necessary for the technical aspects of filming, but for the professionalism (showing up on time, knowing what shots are important) and demeanor (knowing how to stay cool under pressure and interact properly with you and your guests). A trained and experienced videographer is definitely worth the money. Wedding Videographer Packages While the amount of cameras and crew you have will greatly affect your cost, so will the package you choose. We don't recommend shopping by price alone because this estimate varies drastically depending on if additional a la carte services, such as edited-in still photos from your dating days. Get the lowdown on what the package includes or if there are any hidden fees or potential factors that will increase the price. Be sure to see if the package includes the latest in wedding video trends - video sharing to share your wedding with family & friends, and iPod-video downloads of your entire wedding video.  And with all things wedding related, make sure all the terms are spelled out in the contract. There are many types of packages but the most common are the following: Straight Shot/Straight Cut: Covers the event in its entirety as it occurs and therefore is the longest version, often several hours long, since the filming is in real time. There is little or no editing and only one camera is used, making it the lowest cost of all the options. nbsp; Documentary/Interview Style/Director's Cut: Presents the wedding as a story, often with interviews with significant friends and family members and the bride and groom. It is filmed before, during, and after the event. The finished product is a very "watchable" one-hour length. The additional editing costs make it more expensive than a straight shot video.   Nostalgic/Artsy Includes all the bells and whistles, like special effects, dissolves, titles, music, edited-in photos and clips from home videos. Often, more than one camera is used, and interviews are edited in as well, resulting in it being the most expensive choice.>While trimming costs may be important for your budget's sake, remember that your video will become one of the most treasured keepsakes from your wedding - so do your research, consider all your options, and make the best choices for you.