Q: Why invest in a wedding video?
A: We often hear that not booking a videographer is the one thing brides regret the most. Maybe this is because, of all the vendors you hire, wedding videography is probably the most misunderstood. Many people feel that the photos will be enough or that wedding video is still the shaky, grainy footage we’ve all seen our uncles shoot since the invention of the camera.
First, we are happy to say that wedding video has become more like a Hollywood film and free from the motion-sickness of home movies. As for the photos, unless you are heavily medicated, you will probably never hear your photos speak. Don’t get us wrong, we believe in the power of the still image and the story it can tell and we try to achieve this lofty goal with all of our films. But only by hiring a wedding videographer will you get to re-experience the vows you spoke when you gazed into your partner’s eyes, time slowed down and everything else in the universe faded out of existence for that brief moment during the ceremony. A wedding video will capture your unique personalities on that momentous day for your children to experience in the future. The heart-felt toasts and speeches from your closest friends and family will not be lost in vague memories of the reception.
We are really lucky to be living in a time now when the quality of video has finally caught up with quality of a Hollywood feature film. In the hands of an experienced videographer and editor with the right equipment, your wedding video is not just a faithful document of a momentous life event, but a rich, artistic narrative.
Wedding statistics:
1. Before their wedding, only 50% of brides-to-be consider video one of their top 10 must haves.” After the wedding, that number rises to 75%.
2. 45% of brides that have their weddings videotaped by an amateur would have preferred a professional videographer after viewing the results.
3. 38% of couples have their wedding videotaped (amateur and professional), compared to 98% that have their wedding professionally photographed. Of those that do not have their wedding videotaped, 68% regret their decision.
Source: Breakthrough Marketing Survey, 2006
Q: What kind of cameras do you use?
A: All of our weddings are shot in HD or 4K on DSLR cameras. Our techniques and equipment are constantly evolving to provide the best possible image quality.
Q: How do you capture audio?
A: We use a minimum of 2 mics at the ceremony – one on the groom and one on the officiant. During the reception we do our best to hook up to the DJ’s sound board in order to get the best possible toasts.
Q: Do you charge for travel?
A: Although we are primarily San Diego wedding videographers we often travel all over Southern California. We do not usually charge for travel time within 150 mile radius.
Q: Can we have our raw footage?
A: Yes! We encourage it. We feel that it’s your wedding and you should be able keep the footage for several reasons:
Posterity – this is a snap shot in time from a huge life event that, hopefully, your grand children will get to experience as well.
Format – who knows what video/audio formats are around the bend. Having the highest resolution original footage allows for easy transitions to whatever lies ahead without any quality loss.
Style changes – although we try to keep our style as timeless and “trend free” as possible, inevitably time will take it’s toll. Music, editing styles and sensibilities change. Having access to the footage for a re-edit down the road is a good thing.