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Should my wedding be videotaped?A Photo May Capture the Moment, You've dreamt about it for a lifetime, planned the day for months and then -- it's over in a day. Only video can capture, in motion and sound every detail, the vows, your laughter, the speeches and the music. Video coverage of weddings is quickly catching up with photographic coverage of weddings. Low light cameras have replaced the bulky and light starved cameras of only 5 years ago. Not having the wedding video taped is the biggest regret expressed by brides, grooms and family members. Couples and their families are delighted with the ability to relive the day, and even see some things that they may have missed. A video is not only an overview of your wedding day, it is a wonderful way of reliving each magical moment with relatives and friends who were unable to be there. Your wedding video will also be valuable to future generations, too.
Even with access to high-end camcorders by the
general public, most friends and relatives don't have the training or
experience as well as the equipment of a professional videographer. A professional has
experience with all types of wedding ceremonies and special events. There is only once chance to get it
right. The professional will set up and capture clearer audio than a well-meaning friend
with a camcorder. Special attention is paid to angles, sound quality, as well as content.
We have no problem with other guests videotaping as long as they do not interfere with our
efforts. When considering a professional, hire a full-time video production company, not a "weekend pro." Camera technique is more involved than knowing how to point and shoot. Just recently the father of the bride brought in a tape recorded on a defective camera. There was a line creasing the picture and the audio was distorted. This was one of the major occurrences that have saddened the family. Other amateur results have been shaky camera movement, bad lighting, inaudible voices, both during the ceremony and reception, camera batteries dying half way through the ceremony. In addition, it may be in bad taste to invite a friend to your wedding and them have them work the entire day.
Won’t the cameramen be obtrusive and disruptive? I have heard horror stories of bright lights during the
ceremony and videographers stepping right up between the minister and the couple. The
kindest compliment anyone ever gave us was "I never even saw you all day". Blue
Sky Video Productions makes every effort to record your wedding unobtrusively and
tastefully, using no lights at the ceremony, remaining stationary and silent throughout,
and using a documentary style in all of our taping. The advent of digital
cameras allows us to shoot with minimal lighting, and we mean minimal.
What's the difference between Digital tape and DVD? Although most wedding videos are delivered on DVD
they are still shot with videotape. Due to the improvements of digital video, most professional videographers also use computers to edit the video called non-linear editing systems. This allows the videographer to cut and paste video clips into the timeline just like moving text in a word document. They are also able to add special effects and transitions to the final video. Once the video has be fully edited, the next step is to put it into a format that is able to be played by the bride & groom. The most common formats are VHS and DVD. All that is needed to produce a VHS copy is a digital to analog converter and a VHS VCR. Although some videographers use professional DVD authoring services, others produce their own DVDs in their own studios. To produce a DVD the videographer uses either a DVR (digital video recorder) or DVD authoring software. DVD authoring software for the professional wedding videographer has the capabilities to deliver a wide range of DVDs. From simple DVDs with basic menus and chapters to Hollywood style blockbuster DVDs with interactive motion menus with submenus and bonus materials, including deleted scenes and bloopers.
Aren't all wedding videos the same? There's no standard certification procedure. There is a wide variety of styles. Evaluate candidates based on their work, their references, and their unique style. In addition, the best for you may not be the most expensive, on the other hand it may not be the cheapest quote either. The best way to come to a decision is to meet with your videographer and discuss what your needs are. A price quote alone can result in hiring a videographer that may not live up to your expectations.
How should I choose a videographer? It’s a fact of life that price plays a key role in determining your selection of vendors, and there is a photographer and videographer for every budget. Once you determine your spending limit, then you can begin to evaluate your vendors for quality, experience and compatibility. Also, 2 cameras should be used for the ceremony, as well as professional microphones and lighting equipment. Ask your prospective videographer what equipment he or she will use at your wedding, and specifically who will be operating that equipment. Ask to see a sample of that person’s work. Don’t merely watch promotional videos - ask to see actual weddings with actual sound, preferably taped in the same locations as your upcoming event.
How much do you tape and how long will the video be? At Blue Sky Video Productions we will do our professional best to deliver a video to you that will hold your interest throughout the entire tape. We know that your wedding tape will be something you will want to watch over and over again. We offer wedding video packages that will capture your ceremony only, your ceremony and approximately four hours of your reception, or if you desire, your entire reception. In all cases, we will give you a video production that captures your event as well as your attention. The final, edited tape varies in length. Our Basic Package video will run about 2 hours. This estimate depends on the length of your service and how much fun you have at the reception. The more energetic your party is, the more tape we record. It's all too easy to record everything and end up with a tape that runs 3 or 4 hours. The sign of an amateur videographer is someone who offers you 2 full video tapes of your wedding and reception. Think to yourself, "When was the last time I sat down and watched a great 4 hour movie?" Your wedding video, like a really good movie, should be enjoyable to watch, not only the first time, but, again and again.
Will my photographer and a videographer work together? Wedding videography is relatively new, only coming into its own in the past ten years. Wedding photography, on the other hand, has been around for almost 150 years! Generally, photographers and videographers get along just fine. In our own experience, we have even become close friends with our colleagues, and problems have been few and far between. You should be aware that there are still some photographers that resent the rapid onslaught video has made on the market. One time a photographer returned the deposit to his client when it was discovered that a videographer had been hired. Remember: your photographer and videographer are working for YOU on YOUR wedding day, so be sure to let ALL of your vendors know exactly what level of cooperation YOU expect. Your wedding day is not the time for a clash of artistic egos.
A contract protects both you and the videographer, and should be comprehensive and clear. Don’t hire any professional with merely a verbal agreement.
Will you use wireless microphones? We use wireless mic as often as possible. We usually give one mic to the officiant, kneeler or attach it to the mic stand that is being used for the room and put another on the reader stand. Only as a last resort will we put a mic on the groom. In some cases we encounter interference with the Church or Synagogue system or stray radio transmissions. In such cases we run secure mic cable and tape it down so it does not get in the way.
What if my ceremony location has restrictions on video? It is the client’s responsibility to find out if there are any restrictions on photography and videography wherever the event takes place and to notify the studio(s) well in advance. Many churches and synagogues have guidelines, such as no flash photography and no moving around during the ceremony, and understandably so. The place of worship is not a television studio. Most officiants realize the importance of video to the bride and groom and their respective families. Blue Sky Video Productions asks for access to the site of the ceremony 1 hour prior to the scheduled starting time in order to set up our cameras and microphones and to make a proper test of all the equipment. It is our experience that churches sometimes fail to schedule enough time between events, so be sure to find out exactly how much time you will have access to the site before and after the ceremony. Photographers, videographers, florists and other vendors need sufficient time to do their best work.
Our prices are based upon our 18 years experience videotaping hundreds of events, as well as the high-quality of the professional equipment that we use, and therefore are not negotiable. We offer a number of Special Event Packages to fit your budget. We encourage you to shop around and compare, but please LOOK at the actual work, don’t just shop by phone.
Will you attend the rehearsal? Blue Sky Video Productions will come to the rehearsal for an additional fee, subject to availability. We are familiar with many sites in the Chicago area, and have taped weddings as far away as Wisconsin. We normally arrive at least 1 hour prior to the start of the wedding to view the site of the ceremony and set up our cameras.
What should I look for in a professional videotape? The picture and sound should be crystal clear. The titles should look professional and be easily read. The production should be tightly and tastefully edited, making the tape more enjoyable to watch than real time raw footage. Special effects should be enhancements to the production and not appear "gimmicky". The most important element to shop for is the actual videographer, whose experience and talents are what you really want.
Yes, you can use whatever music you please. The studio requests that you provide all music to be used (preferably on CD) and assume all responsibility in respect to copyright laws. The number of musical selections will vary according to which options you choose for your video.
Should I provide a meal for the videographers? We are on the job for sometimes up to 8 hours between the time we arrive at the church and the time we leave the reception. It is a welcome courtesy if you provide a meal for your photographers and videographers, and to provide it quickly so that we are ready to work again at a moment’s notice. Don’t feed your vendors last because you will probably want shots of the newly married couple as they greet their guests at the tables. If you cannot provide a meal, we will need to take an off-site meal break sometime during the reception.
What about those obtrusive interviews? We leave it up to you whether you want interviews or not. Usually we circulate before and after dinner and get comments from your guests. We never surprise the guests with a live mic, but approach them and ask if they have a few words to say.
When will I get my finished videotape? Normal production time is 2-3 months after the event. We encourage everyone to gather all photos for the Photo Montage as well as all musical selections and have them to us before the wedding date, otherwise we find that if you wait until after the event to get these materials to us it results in unnecessary delays.
Can you send me a sample tape? It is our policy to not send out samples of our work. We prefer meeting our prospective clients in person and to show several samples of our tapes. This allows us to get to know you and for you to get to know us. This is a very personal service that we provide and we feel that we cannot deliver our best work if we do not meet the principal people involved in the event. The great majority of our work is done by repeat clients & referrals.
Anything else you can think of? Whatever studio you choose to videotape your special day, take the time to shop and look at the actual work, and hire someone you feel comfortable with. Don’t shop price - an expensive video may be awful and an inexpensive video may be very good.
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