Is a Videographer Necessary for a Wedding?
🎥 In my personal opinion, videography or my more favorite term, cinematography for weddings often gets overlooked because when people think of weddings, photos come to mind. Now, don’t get me wrong, photos are important, and I always recommend having a photographer on hand to freeze those moments in time. However, having a videographer (cinematographer) to compliment a photographer is the best combo. 🎥
Photos capture glimpses of prominence permanently on a still frame but video bring those frames to life again. Wedding videography (cinematography) literally recreates your wedding day as if you are getting married again! Without the depressing thought of actually getting married again because your previous wedding didn’t work out. No! Count wedding videography (cinematography) as a method to experience your wedding for the first time, again and again without the judgement from others for getting married “again and again”. It’s a win win for everyone involved! 😅
Also, in case you’re wondering if it’s ironic that I am using still images to promote why it’s so important to have a videographer (cinematographer) at your wedding… PLOT TWIST!!! These are all video stills from a wedding I will be posting very soon! So I am not a hypocrite hahahahahahaha.
Going back to the importance of videography (cinematography)… let’s talk audio! Photos cannot capture audio! Want to listen to the most important words you spent months rehearsing to say to your special someone? A photo cannot tell you those words but video can. Want to see some movement during your reception photos? Have no fear, watch the video that features your dance lessons you spent so much money on in action. Also, everyone loves slow motion.
These are many reasons as to why, yes, you absolutely need a wedding videographer (cinematographer).
How Much Does a Wedding Videographer Cost in NJ?
Everyone is different in this regard, as it varies on experience, availability, equipment used, number for hours offered, perks, etc. Thankfully, I have an easy to follow bullet point list of what you can expect:
Entry Level (Around $2000): This sounds like a lot but it’s not. Less is not always more, less is actually less. The biggest price cut comes down to the number of videographers you have. In this case, that would be one. More info on this later as to why having one videographer might not be the best solution for your big day.
Mid-Range ($2,500 – $4,000): This is often the most popular option. You are paying more because more is more. Full day coverage, ranging from 6 – 10 hours, having two videographers for the best possible scale, access to drone video for those gorgeous landscapes, access to all raw files, and overall better high production quality product.
High-End ($4,000+): This tier means you know what you want and you have the means to get it. Typically this means even more hours cause you don’t sleep anyways. Want another videographer, sure thing! 3 is the new 2. These kind of wedding packages don’t come often, but when they do, you remember the experience that was this option.
What to Look for in a Good Videographer?
Finding the right person can be challenging and overwhelming. Here are things to be on the lookout:
- Portfolio Style: It’s great to see work they have done previously. This can give you a gauge on what you can expect when working with them.
- Experience with Weddings: See how long they have done weddings and most importantly, how many weddings they have done. Anything over 100 is an amazing start. This means they have mastered the art of getting it right once because during a ceremony, there are no repeats of capturing that moment.
- Client Reviews: Look them up on Google. The more reviews they have, the better. You can see what previous couples thought of their services and who knows, maybe you’ll eventually be one of those “I’m so happy I booked them” people.
- Sample Full Films: Having various length of videos ranging from as short as 2 minutes to as long as 10 minutes can show you what kind of video they can create if you want something short or long.
- Communication Skills: No one wants an awkward person in charge of the most important day of your life. Now they don’t need a bachelor’s in public speaking but communication is key. Pay attention to the before, during and after.
- Equipment and Backup Plan: Many videographers are the same. Camera, stabilizer, etc. Do you want what everyone else has or do you want personality and creativity? See what kind of gear they are rocking with and maybe go with someone who is “different”. Ask them questions! See how they handle situations when things don’t go as planned. Just a heads up, it is perfectly normal for things to no go as planned during weddings, so your videographer should know exactly what this means. If they don’t, major red flag.
Do You Need Two Videographers at a Wedding?
This is a HUGE plus if you can swing it. If there is anything to grab from a video package, having two videographers is a big win for many different reasons.
Here are just some of reasons why having two videographers will benefit your big day:
- Multiple Perspectives: Throughout a wedding, the next scene needs to be set up like a ceremony or reception. Videographers have so much to work with like audio, something photographers never need to worry about. If you have two videographers, one can focus on setting up the next major scene while the other can continue capturing the memories happening in real-time. This means, that no matter what, there will be something getting recorded. It is always better to have more footage than missing that one part you wished you got on camera.
- Simultaneous Coverage: A single person only has two arms to hold one camera. If you have more than one videographer, you can now have two cameras at once. During the ceremony, this can multiple to multiple cameras capture various angles. More coverage means the kiss down the aisle, the first dance, and the first look are viewed from different perspectives, which, to a much finalized video by the end of it all.
- Enhanced Storytelling: The lead shooter often needs to capture the big moments like the first look, ceremony down the middle, speeches during reception, cake cutting, etc. Having a secondary videographer means they can get super creative without worrying about wasting time because they are already being filmed by your first videographer. Think smarter, not harder.
While the lead Videographer captures your special moments. The Second one can capture your guest’s reactions, the tears of joy, the smiles, the laughter and everything else that you never get to see unless it was captured.
- Peace of Mind: Rest assured, there will always be something filmed. No matter how stressful the day may seem, you will always be thankful that more was captured and not less.
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When you decide to have your wedding and are looking around for vendors to capture all your once-in-a-lifetime moments, yes, it is very important to have a videographer on your team. It is also even more important to have two of them.
For couples in New Jersey, JKPCelebrations provides a blend of experience and cinematic artistry, ensuring your wedding day is preserved as a treasure for years to come. Let us help you turn your special day into a film you’ll watch again and again. Book your free wedding consultation today.
