How to Get the Video Footage You Want at Your Wedding

You have to give up the idea of using amateurs to get the video footage you want at your wedding. Professionals have better equipment, more experience and a more business-like mindset than amateurs. They make videos for a living, and that kind of dedication is what you need to get a perfect wedding video.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide to use a professional videographer rather than the services of an amateur. A pro will cost you money, but the quality of the footage will be better than that of an amateur.
2. Shop around for a professional videographer. Create a list of possible candidates drawn from the Internet and Yellow Pages.
3. Review the qualifications of each of the videographers on your list. If you want to get the best footage of your wedding, you’ll need to screen out the videographers that don’t have what it takes.
4. Make a short list of the best candidates. This is the hard part! You have a small group of very qualified and talented professionals, but you can only select one to make a video of your wedding.
5. Ask each of your short list candidates for a project proposal. This is a rough “storyboard” version of the shots and angles that they will want to use to capture the best footage at your wedding.
6. Review their story boards. Now, select the videographer who has convinced you that they have the right vision to make a video of your wedding.

Tips & Warnings

• One exception to the hire a professional rule: If you have a family member who is a professional videographer, ask them if they would be willing to make a quality video of your wedding as a wedding present.
• Ask if you get to keep the video masters of the wedding footage or not. Some wedding videographers keep the video master and charge for additional copies of the footage.
• Always ask for samples of the videographer’s work before deciding to hire a professional.