While video samples and clips over Youtube, Vimeo, or portfolio websites give us an idea of how a videographers work, it would always be a better reference to meet and discuss with these service providers some thorough points on how they deliver their work, especially for your big day.
Of course, not everyone knows a lot about their industry language, so we’re giving you top-of-the-list items that you can use to gauge their knowledge or capabilities towards delivering a quality output. These are also suggested questions that you may consider as you go along choosing your wedding videographer:
1. Video Cam: Make sure they are already using non-jurassic gadgets such as digital high definition, 3CCD or pro-grade HD, or even a DSLR 35mm camera. These would work best at the minimum.
For more tips on choosing your videographer, check out EYP's Wedding Videographer Selection Basics.
2. Coverage qualities: Check on the additional lightings and image sensors that they’ll use. Check videos of weddings taken at night so if ever you plan to have a dinner reception, you’ll know how they go about the shoot. If there’s any possibility, schedule a dry-run of the shoot in your venue during night time to test how image qualities in low light could be adjusted.
3. Audio: Sound is very important -- the exchange of vows, the bestman’s speech, the bride-and-father’s dance music -- they’re all part of the momentous event. See if the videographer has any tool or gadget to pick-up sounds and audio clearly.
4. Editing Software: This is what they use to collate or compose one whole video from all the parts of the wedding that they covered. If they say they’ll use Pinnacle Studio 14, Final Cut Studio, Nero 9 Reloaded, Adobe Premiere Pro, and the like, chances are, you’re getting a quality product!
5. Special Effects: Discuss with your videographer the type of style you want your video to have. Make them tell you or give you an idea of the special effects they plan to incorporate. Agree on the storyboard.
6. Rendering: For the output, request that the videos be recorded or rendered in a blu-ray DVD format.
Never get lost with videography jargons! The more you know about their language, the better you can bargain!
RAVE ABOUT IT!