Videography is a must!

I do get this often from couples with a very tight budget, “We don’t want a wedding video!”

I know I have to uphold the wishes of my clients, but I believe it’s also my job to educate them on modern day videography.  So here are my thoughts to all those out there thinking about not having wedding video.

Today’s modern videographer goes by many titles — cinematographer, visual artist, filmmaker, storyteller.  Whatever you want to call us, we all have our own unique way of telling your story. Your wedding day is a story in itself that must be told.   There is something for everyone and every budget.   It’s just a matter of setting your priorities straight.

I say this with full conviction: VIDEOGRAPHY IS A MUST!  “A wedding is a LIVE event, you wouldn’t go to the movies to watch a picture!”

Before everything else, photographs of your wedding are priceless, beautiful, and definitely much-needed.  I cannot contest that truth.  However, even the best photographer can’t capture the sound of your laughter, the emotional crackling sound of your voice when you say your vows or your father’s toast of how he remembers you when you were still a baby in his arms and how he dreaded the day you would walk down the aisle.  Imagine this: a video shoots 50 frames per second (at least in this part of the world!)  That’s 50 pictures per second!  So in one minute you already have 3,000 photos!  If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth…you do the math!  An experienced wedding videographer knows how to capture every raw and true moment of your wedding.  These moments get pieced together to evoke an emotion.  Aside from the obvious benefits of hiring an expert (i.e. professional equipment, experienced eye, dedicated shooter, editing skills) a wedding video has the magical ability to make those ethereal moments tangible all over again.

Sometimes I wonder if couples still think video is the same as it was in the 80’s.  Unfortunately, that style is still true here in the Middle East.  Think about this, videography has only been around for a little over 25 years.  THAT’S IT!   So because of it’s infancy, people remember the cheesy edited videos and the image of a video guy holding a giant camera with cords and a spotlight attached to it.  People still think bigger cameras are better, which is not always the case .  If that does not appeal to you, then there are fantastic options nowadays, and they’re totally everywhere!  People may have a dozen reasons why they shouldn’t have a videographer, but sometimes fail to remember why they should.  I make it my duty to tell clients why they need it and why it’s just as important as photography.  Here’s a great tip: “If budget does not permit for videography, then perhaps it’s time to revisit the spreadsheet and cut down on the nice-to-haves which you can do without during your big day.”

We offer lots of options.  The FABULOUS options are:

1) Long Form videos: These are the traiditional videos your parents would think of when you say video.  Typically long and boring to watch, yet, you get the entire day, ceremony, and reception to watch.

2) Highlight films: This is the most modern and popular form to date.  The editor takes the best clips of the day and make an emotionally charged 20-40min film that anyone can watch without getting bored.  There are lots of ways to customize this.  All you have to do is talk to the videographer for more insights (i.e. raw footage, adding full ceremony as a separate chapter on dvd).  Let them know what you want!

3)Same Day Edit : This is my absolute favorite for those of you who “don’t want a video” , with a bonus option for those who want a little something different at their wedding.  The S.D.E. basically captures the wedding day up until the first dance.  All the while, they are being edited behind the scenes so that at a scheduled  time slot, a screen is produced and everyone gets to watch a 4-8minute highlight of the entire day right there and then!  This is always a memorable tear jerker and show stopper!  Another option I’ve seen is to show it the next day at brunch reception (called appropriately Next Day Edit).  The bonus is that if you prefer, you can ask them to stay and film and work out a deal to collect the raw footage.  It’s like getting the best of both worlds!

4) Love Stories: This is my second favorite option for those who “don’t want video”.  It has the same effect and production value as the Same Day Edit but the difference is that it is filmed ahead of the wedding day and documents your life together prior to taking that leap of faith:  how you met, how your relationship started, and how you realized you both want to take what you have to the next level.  Your whole story is documented with music, emotion, and some very creative and funny cut-aways.  The more humor you inject, the more entertaining your video will be 😀

There are other options to chose from.  In fact, you can even think of a concept yourself and have your videographer execute it for you.  This is definitely one of those “you get what you pay for” industries.  So please, after you hire a wedding planner, go get a videographer in parallel with a photographer.  There are no take 2’s in a wedding.  No rewind button to play.  It’s painful to regret in the end.

Watch this video and you’ll understand the power of video. After you watch, imagine what you would’ve missed if this were just a still picture!