Is It Worth Getting A Wedding Videographer?

They Have The Equipment

Although a phone’s camera can now rival that of an actual DSLR, there is a limit to how well it renders on bigger screens. While the latest iPhone 12 can shoot in 4K, that doesn’t mean it is as good quality as those captured on proper DSLRs such as the Blackmagic Design camera, or the Sony Venice camera. Not only do these cameras film in 4K, but they can also film in 6K and 8K. These cameras are highly coveted in the film industry, with the likes of major studios using them for their feature films and TV shows.

These cameras can cost thousands of dollars, to rent them alone, and if other equipment is needed, such as lenses, microphones, lights, and tripods or stands, it can cost as much as the wedding itself. That’s why hiring a videographer, especially the right videographer, can be useful. They’ll either have the equipment already, or they know where to find it for much cheaper.

They Have The Knowledge

When it comes to shooting the right thing, a professional videographer already knows what to do. They’ve been trained to know where to point their camera, how far the zoom needs to be, how focused the shot is and how to hold their cameras steady. After all, professional filmmaking isn’t about shooting anything and everything. It’s about stylising the shot, changing the exposure, the ISO, and the aperture to create a certain look for the footage they’re shooting. 

While you can do that automatically with your phone, and its filter effects, sometimes those filters aren’t authentic enough. What that means is, while you might be able to change the way a certain shot looks, it won’t have the same effect manual filters can provide. Sometimes the exposure can be too high, and difficult to adjust, other times the black points can be too dark. Professional videographers know how to manipulate their cameras, especially cinema-quality ones so that the filters are perfect for every environment they’re shooting in. For example, if the receiving party takes place at night, the footage from a professional DSLR will be perfectly visible, whereas a phone’s camera may produce grainy or footage that’s too dark to see.

They Know The Right People

Of course, a wedding video isn’t just about the footage that’s taken. After all, videographers don’t always work alone. Sometimes, especially for large weddings, two or more videographers are necessary, because it can be difficult to capture the right action that comes with a wedding. For example, one videographer shoots the bride and groom, as they take their vows, while the other shoots the reaction of the congregation, or while one videographer shoots the best man giving a speech at the reception party, while the other shoots the reaction of the bride and groom.

Sometimes, knowing where to shoot can be difficult, especially if that videographer is working alone. So, by bringing along a team, they’ll be able to capture all angles of the wedding, the party, and the reaction of everyone at the wedding. Not to mention, if the videographer is busy capturing moving footage, they won’t have time to take any stills, so they’ll most likely bring along a photographer to help. So, the all-important photo shoots can be taken, while being filmed at the same time, to further immortalise the moment, both in the final wedding video and in the album of still images.

They Can Edit Or Know People Who Can Edit

Capturing footage is only part of the responsibilities of a videographer, they should also know how to edit or if they can’t, they at least know people who can edit the footage for them. While depending on family and friends to take videos throughout the wedding for you, and compiling them together, it can be repetitive, and you won’t know which footage to choose from, since many of them might be from the same angle, at the same time. So, by relying on a professional, who’ll shoot from several angles, and use different types of filming styles, the final wedding video will be much more interesting.

By editing the styles in a way that reflects the theme, mood and importance of the wedding, the videographer can create an everlasting memory, that evokes powerful emotions in those who watch it, especially if they were there, and they are reminiscing through the video. After all, they’ll have the resources, or at least they’ll know someone who has those resources, to edit their footage, and if requested the footage captured by those who attended the wedding, in a way that resonates with those who watch it.

Consult The Professionals

It can be tempting to only rely on the footage taken by family and friends, at weddings, but having a professional videographer there, to capture the important moments, and the reactions they incite, will be beneficial, regardless of the result. After all, they have the tools, the knowledge, and the network of people to create a wedding video that fits the style of the wedding, the mood and atmosphere of the day, and the desires of the couple who wants it. So, if you’re considering hiring a videographer, do your research, before you start consultations with them, to see what prices are best for your budget. If you’re a videographer looking to hire a video editor for your footage, have a look at our prices, and our portfolio, we have a range of outsourced video editors who’ll be happy to edit your footage for you.

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