Questions About Choosing Your Wedding Film

The videographer is typically onsite from an hour or more prior to the ceremony through the departure. However, some brides will stage a departure early to capture it for the film in order to reduce the number of hours the videographer is onsite. Or the bride may choose not to have the videographer stay to cover the departure.

Should I have a 2nd or even a 3rd videographer?  If so, for how many hours?

When you turn to face each other to say your vows, the videographer will typically be in a position to get a closeup of your face. With one videographer from that position, it is not possible to get a similar closeup shot of the groom's face. A second videographer would be positioned on the opposite side facing the groom in order to get a simultaneous closeup of the groom's face during the vows. Also, a second videographer would be dedicated to coverage of the bridal preparation during the pre-ceremony time. For the reception, a second videographer is beneficial for first dance, parent dances, etc.  For the toasts and cake cutting, a second videographer will provide shots from a different angle in the event some guests step into the 1st videographer's shot. Finally, for dancing, depending upon the size of the crowd, a 2nd videographer can be covering a different side of the dance floor.

Is a 2nd videographer mandatory for the entire evening? In many cases the answer is 'no'. We suggest a 2nd videographer at least for pre-ceremony and ceremony. We also recommend a 2nd videographer for the special dances and toasts when possible. After that, it depends on the size of the crowd.

What about a 3rd videographer? Many high-end wedding film production companies use a 3rd videographer for their premiere product line. The first two videographers are responsible for filming the primary action during the ceremony and reception. A third videographer will typically be free to seek out and film shots that might otherwise be missed, such as the mother of the bride's reaction during the bride/father dance, etc.

Should I Have My Wedding Filmed in 4K?

4K, also known as "Ultra High Definition" has 4 times the number of pixels as high definition.  Ultra High Definition TVs are available.  But they are not yet the norm.  Should you care about High Definition for your wedding film? The decision is still up to you.  Consider the probability that sometime in the future, you will have 4K capability in your home entertainment center. When a wedding is filmed in 4K, it can still be produced and delivered in standard DVD format, High Definition BluRay format, or full 4K format. If you do not yet have 4K capability, consider having your wedding filmed in 4K.  Then request delivery in non-4K as well as 4K. 2nd Generation Films offers an option to film in 4K.

Should I Consider Drone Coverage?

Aerial footage of your venue is always a nice "wow factor".  Drone coverage is becoming more popular for wedding films.  In most cases, it will be an additional option with an additional charge.   There are a couple of things to consider.  First, drones are typically used for opening shots of the venue  They are very seldom used during the ceremony due to a) noise, and b) liability.  Some videographers may have stock drone footage of your venue.  If so, you could save money if they agree to use their stock footage in your film rather than filming your venue specifically at your wedding.  If you are considering a drone, you should ensure drone usage complies with all rules and regulations for your venue and get approval from your venue prior to your wedding.

No matter how many videographers and videographer-hours you choose, 2nd Generation Films will film everything that is relevant that occurs during the hours we are onsite. Once we have captured everything, you can then choose from several different options for length and style for producing your video based on your desires and your budget.

In the next article,  I will discuss the production of your video.

Contents

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - How Many Hours Should I Have the Videographer Onsite?

Part 3 - What Do I Want My 'Main Video' to Look Like?

Part 4 - Production Video Options from 2nd Generation Wedding Films

Part 5 - Video Delivery

Part 6 - Choosing a Videographer for Your Wedding