Hiring a Videographer in San Diego

When you hire a videographer for your wedding, remember that you are entrusting someone to professionally capture the ceremony AND to chronicle the day for future generations. Imagine, what did your great-great-great-great grandmother sound like? Today's technology affords couples the ability to record their special day unlike any generation that has come before us.

So, what do you look for in a professional videographer? After all, San Diego is full of qualified videographers capable of doing a good job for you. The most important thing to keep in mind when you meet a videographer is to judge how well they listen to you. If they cannot answer your questions to your satisfaction then chances are they won't be paying attention during the wedding. If, during your meeting, the videographer constantly changes the subject then, again, chances are, he might make choices in the editing room that will make you frown.

Equipment

Ask what gear the videographer uses. Why else get married if not to learn about 3-chip cameras, MPEG, wireless lavalieres and non-linear editing? Joking aside, a good videographer will enjoy taking time to explain why investments were made in their cameras and equipment. The best way to judge a videographer is by looking at their work. Trust your judgment.

Many videographers boast lots of new tools and equipment. As you become more informed you will probably hear lots of terms and jargon tossed around. To simplify things we've put this quick checklist together that I'm sure every San Diego videographer would agree goes into making a great wedding video:

• 1. VIDEO - Do they use 3-chip cameras? A 3-chip camera records video differently than most consumer cameras. If you have selected a multiple camera shoot, will all the cameras be from the same manufacturer? This is not absolutely necessary but it helps ensure that the footage will "match" or look the same. Ask to see samples.
• 2. AUDIO - Will they use wireless mics during the ceremony? If so, make certain they use UHF transmitters and receivers. Amateurs often overlook
  audio and any good videographer will have made a significant
  investment in audio equipment. If your ceremony site or DJ
  plans to provide microphones, your videographer may prefer
  to "patch" or connect his equipment to theirs.
  Make sure the videographer has allotted enough
  time to perform this because taping down audio cable can
  become a time-intensive labor.
  You wouldn't want your videographer to be crawling on the ground stretching tape and cable while you and your bridesmaids are with your photographer. He'd miss some great shots.
• 3. EDITING - Videographers are hard at work on your wedding long after it is over. Most of the appeal of hiring a wedding videographer stems from today's editing technology. In my opinion, editing video without a computer is like surfing the net without a mouse. You can do it, but you will go places you didn't mean to and it will take you longer to get where you want to go. Today's videographers use numerous non-linear editing systems; Avid, Final Cut Pro, Media 100, Premiere, etc. It's more important that your videographer knows how to tell your story than which platform they chose to build the video. Get to know their style. Avoid gimmicky effects. Look for video that uses timeless transitions like a simple fade or dissolve. Choose music that has passed the test of time.
  

Budgeting Your Wedding Video

Video production, whether it is at your wedding or on the lot of a motion picture studio can be as elaborate or as intimate as you wish it to be. You are the executive producers. Budget what you can afford, but remember that photos, video and memories are the only things you will have to share your wedding. You should make certain your director/editor is capable of pulling off what you envision as one of the greatest productions of your lives together.

In spite of all the technology and great cameras, good videography boils down to good storytelling. Trust your eyes and ears when you see their samples. And make sure the videographer takes the time to show you a wide array of samples in settings similar to your wedding. If the videographer has not shot at your ceremony location, don't let that be a deal breaker. Ask to see something similar. For example, if you're getting married in a Catholic Church, ask to see a ceremony (of any denomination) that was shot in a semi-dark location.

Services

Do you want a Childhood Photo Montage, is taping the rehearsal important, would you like a Love Story Video, will 1 camera be enough to satisfy your needs? Good videographers ask questions because they want to get to know you and your style.

Some videographers set time limits. It's important for you to know when your videographer will arrive and leave.

Delivery

Make sure you know when you can expect your wedding video to be completed. Turnaround times can take from several days to several months. I've heard of some videographers that take a year or more to return tapes to clients. Ask!

Make sure you get a master. After all of your footage is edited together, the videographer will provide you with either VHS copies, DVD, or both. However, you should make certain that you also get a master on a high-grade tape or DVD. VHS is not a high-grade tape. It is consumer tape. Over time, it fades. DVD is awesome but sometimes it has been compressed to make it fit on a DVD. If you get a master on a high-grade tape it will be the best copy of your wedding that you have. It's the master. You use it to make future DVD's, VHS or whatever new thing that hits the market in the future. It is possible to master on DVD but make certain that you get the highest quality copy of your edit as possible.

By the way, I've heard that some videographers do not provide masters because they want to charge you for future copies. It is also possible to protect DVD's from being recorded (but of course there are ways around everything). If this is agreeable to you, fine, but make sure that you negotiate a time (be it a year or more after your wedding) that the master reverts back to you. Since most videographers are independent businesses you don't want your master to end up in a box buried inside someone's garage.

Which leads me to storage. Store all of your videotapes in a cool dry place in an upright position. Reason being, that over time video can warp. That's why it's important to have DVD.

DVD

DVD is terrific and it will just get better. You can store hours of content on a disc with quality that far surpasses that of VHS. DVD's are so much easier to store. In the past, I could stack every copy of each video I produced in a year and it would rise to the ceiling of my office. Now, I can fit everything into a DVD case no larger than the yellow pages. I've read that by next year, I'll be able to save everything to 5 or less DVD's. We're living in an amazing time. If you want to read more about DVD try here: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

If your videographer offers DVD ask them if menus are included. Menus allow you to skip from scene to scene within the DVD. Because DVD players can fast forward so quickly many couples decide to forego the extra charge of menus. Still, menus add functionality and interactivity to your wedding video and you should consider it if you want a polished wedding video.

STYLE

Most couples want great video but they don't want someone disrupting the day. They search for someone who is "unobtrusive." Of course, no one will tell you that they are obtrusive. "Oh yeah, we get in the way, every chance we get." A video camera and its operator are your invited guest. In my opinion, your wedding videographer should understand your needs, strive to be transparent, possess all the latest tools, be professional and most importantly, be a wonderful storyteller.

If you found this article helpful or if you disagree with any of the content please e-mail me.

John Moore
FrontBurner video

-Voice 619.295.9000
- Fax 619.295.9001
info@frontburnervideo.com