Weddings & Events
How to Choose a Wedding Videographer
September 7, 20267 min read32 Productions · Douglas, GA
Wedding video is the thing couples most often say they wish they had spent more on, and the reason is usually not the budget. It is that they booked on price without knowing what to look for. Here is what to look for.
Watch a full film, not a highlight reel
Anyone can make a sixty-second reel look good with a music track and the ten best shots. Ask to see a full-length film or a full ceremony edit from a real wedding. That is where you find out whether the audio is clean, whether the camera held steady through a long ceremony, and whether the editor can keep your attention for more than a minute.
Listen more than you watch
Can you hear the vows clearly, with the officiant and both people, without the room echo? Can you hear the toasts? If a sample film covers the vows with music instead of the actual words, ask why. Sometimes it is a style choice. Often it is because the audio was not captured well enough to use. Ask how they mic the ceremony. The answer should involve a microphone on the groom and one on the officiant, plus a recorder at the sound board.
Questions worth asking
- 1.How many people are shooting, and where will they be during the ceremony?
- 2.How is audio captured for vows and toasts?
- 3.What exactly is delivered: highlight film, full ceremony, full toasts, raw footage? At what length?
- 4.What is the turnaround, in weeks?
- 5.What happens if you are sick on the day?
- 6.How do you handle a dark reception hall?
- 7.Have you worked at our venue, or will you visit it beforehand?
Ask to see a film shot at a venue like yours. A film from a bright barn tells you nothing about how someone handles a dim church sanctuary or a reception under string lights.
Photo and video from the same company
Two separate vendors who have never met will spend your portrait hour negotiating for the same angle. A photo and video team that works together plans the day as one crew, shares the timeline, and stays out of each other's frame. That is how we cover weddings, and it is the arrangement we recommend when both are in the budget. Read what actually makes wedding coverage good for the photography side.
Red flags
- No full-length samples, only reels.
- Vague answers about audio.
- A price that is far below everyone else's with no explanation of what is missing.
- No contract, or a contract that does not say what is delivered and when.
- Reluctance to say who will actually be shooting your wedding.
What the different coverage levels mean
A highlight film, a documentary edit and raw footage are different products at different lengths and prices. We wrote about what the coverage levels actually mean so you can compare quotes on the same terms. Ask every videographer you talk to for the same list of deliverables and you will be able to tell what the price is buying.
Read the contract for the deliverables
The contract is where you find out what the price actually buys. It should list every deliverable by name and length, the number of shooters and hours, the turnaround in weeks, what happens if the date changes, and what happens if the videographer cannot attend. If a deliverable you were promised in conversation is not in the contract, ask for it to be added before signing. It is not a sign of distrust; it is how both sides remember the same thing a year later.
Meeting before the day
A good videographer wants to talk through the timeline with you weeks before the wedding, wants to know the venue, and wants the names of the people who matter. If you are having trouble getting a call back before the wedding, that tells you what the communication will be like after it. We meet before every wedding we cover, and we bring drone coverage and the rest of the kit already planned for the venue.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book? As soon as the date and venue are set. Popular Saturdays in spring and fall go first.
Do you use drones at weddings? Where the venue and airspace allow, yes, for establishing shots of the venue and the ceremony from above.
Can I pick the music? Music in a film that will be shared publicly needs to be licensed. We choose from licensed libraries and match the feel you want.
Do you travel? Yes, across South Georgia. Tell us where the venue is.
32 Productions is based in Douglas, GA. Call (912) 592-3376 to check your date.
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32 Productions covers photography, videography, weddings, events and business content across Douglas, Coffee County and South Georgia. Tell us what you have in mind.
