Now that you see the value and importance of having a wedding video, the next step involves looking for a wedding cinematographer/video company. It’s important to remember that no two cinematographers are alike. Each have their own style and unique way of doing things. Although the outcome will always result in a wedding video, the process and experience varies. The beauty of the industry is that you have an abundance of choices, but narrowing down your top cinematographers is usually based on style, quality of video, price, and recommendations. Here are some things to consider before hiring a cinematographer:

Style

When hiring a photographer, I bet the first thing you did was look at their pictures/portfolios. The same goes for cinematographers, you need to watch their videos to know their style. In doing so, you’ll immediately be able to see the quality of videos that they produce. Some videos tell a story and are more cinematic and some simply capture the progression of the day. There is nothing wrong with either, your choice is based on preference.

Audio

When viewing a cinematographer’s films make sure you are paying close attention to their audio. To some this may not seem like a big deal, but if you’re capturing the ceremony and reception, good audio is vital for vows, speeches, toasts, etc. There is nothing worse than having muffled, poor quality audio and incorporating that into your film. Most cinematographers use audio to enhance the wedding film and build up emotion, which is so important when telling your story through video. If you hear crisp and clear audio in a cinematographer’s films, it’s a good sign.

Budget

Everyone has a budget. You spend the majority of your money on what you think is important. With that being said, ever heard the saying, “You get what you pay for?” This is so true for your entire wedding planning process. There is nothing wrong with deciding to have a family member use their DSLR camera to record your wedding, but there are options out there for couples on a budget who choose to hire a professional. Most cinematographers or wedding production companies are happy to work with a couple and their budget. If they don’t have set packages, ask them to send you different estimates based on what is important for you. For example, some brides only want a wedding trailer (2-3 min), some only want their ceremony filmed, and some want it all. Ultimately, you are investing in a wedding film that you will watch for years to come. The experience before, during, and after your wedding and the quality of video is essentially what you are paying for.

Recommendations

All of our clients were based on word of mouth recommendations. They saw a friend of a friend’s wedding film and they contacted us. The same goes for any cinematographer, their wedding films speak for themselves. If you found a cinematographer, yet know nothing about them, read what past clients have said about their wedding film and experience. Check out their website, facebook page, and other platforms like weddingwire, the knot, etc.

Insurance

Insurance is not a big deal until something actually happens. Once it does, you’ll be so happy your cinematographer actually has it! Most professional cinematographers have liability and equipment insurance these days. Your venue will mostly likely ask them to provide proof of insurance before they are allowed to film, that way if anything happens, they are covered and more importantly you and your guests are covered.

Free Add Ons

Many cinematographers/wedding production companies have wonderful add ons that are complimentary. Check out their websites for an explanation of their complementary features or promotions that they may be offering. Vela Visuals Wedding Films offers complimentary aerial footage, instagram sneak peek the day after your wedding, snapchat geofilters (custom snapchat filters for the day of your wedding), and “I DO” sound wave prints (the audio details of the words “I DO” spoken during your vows). Check out our website for more detailed information.

Get to Know Them

Get to know your wedding cinematographer. Ask to meet them in person or schedule a skype date. You will get to know their personality, be able to ask questions, and quickly find out their level of professionalism and wedding film competence. If you choose to go with them, make sure you get a contract and deposit receipt. Then, connect them with your wedding planner or photographer so that they can further discuss your wedding details and schedule. When hiring professionals, trust that they will work together as a team to ensure that you have the most beautiful and stress-free wedding experience.

We hope that these tips help you in your search for the perfect wedding cinematographer. If you have specific questions about cinematography or Vela Visuals Wedding Films, please feel free to ask us in the questions below!