The practice of recording the ceremony and reception on video has become commonplace on the North American wedding scene. The whirlwind of the event, and the monumental nature of the process is often more than couples can take in, and large periods of time simply don't lodge in their memory banks. With a video recording of everything that transpired on the day, the couple can fill in the blanks and maybe even glimpse a few special moments they would never have seen at all.

2. Will you send me a DVD demo?

We have many videos available on our website or blog for your viewing pleasure. However, if you're having problems viewing our online videos, or if you simply want to see the total quality of our work, we’ll be happy to mail you a free DVD of an actual wedding we have produced. All we ask is that you complete all of the fileds in the reservation request form. You’re under no obligation by completing the form. Simply enter your wedding date in our availability checker at the top of this page. If we're still available for your date, you'll be presented with the form. Please complete all fields to include your mailing address. Use the additional information block provided to indicate that you would like to receive a free DVD demo.

Here are the elements of the videographers work, which you should pay close attention to. Focus, originality, editing and clarity of sound. Shots should be in sharp focus throughout the work. You should feel that the video you're watching is original, unlike any other wedding video you've seen. The colors and lighting should be clear and never gloomy. The shots should not linger unnecessarily, cut away sharply, or go out of focus in a well-edited video. Finally, the sound should be clear at all times. If you are shown interviews, you should be able to understand what people are saying. Speeches should all be clear and without too much ambient crowd noise.

3. How intrusive are you during the ceremony?

Not at all. Just as the development of fast film allowed photographers to take wonderful photographs in conditions of low light, so too has videotape and equipment evolved to accommodate a candlelight ceremony or a church lit only by the stained glass windows.

Good videographers like good photographers, caterers and ideal ceremony and reception venues will book up early, so it's not unrealistic to start looking for a videographer a year or even 18 months in advance. Therefore, once you have found the videographer of your choice, don’t hesitate to contact him or her and inquire about the necessary fees to retain their services. If you’ve procrastinated and find that your videographer of choice is already booked for your date, contact him/her anyway. Often he or she can recommend another excellent videographer that can provide equivalent services.

5. How many cameras do you use to shoot the wedding and reception?

While a good videographer can shoot and deliver a high quality video with just 1 camera (depending upon his/her editing style and skill) a multi-cam shoot is generally considered far more advantageous. Using 2 or more cameras provide additional perspectives without the videographer having to move about during the ceremony and becoming intrusive. We shoot all weddings and receptions with a minimum of 2 cameras. Our Silver and higher packages are shot with 3 cameras.

6. What type and how many microphones are generally used by a professional videographer?

Understand that if your videographer only uses his or her on-camera mics, your audio will most likely be less desirable. Ask if they use any wireless mics. If so, how many and where are they positioned? Generally UHF wireless mics are of a higher quality then VHF wireless mics. At a minimum, either the officiant or the groom should be wearing a wireless mic. A good quality mic properly placed on the groom will normally be sufficient for capturing any audio from the bride. Some videographers will ask the officiant and the groom both to wear a wireless mic. This is the best option and it's also what we do. On rare occasions, the officiant may refuse to wear the videographers mic. Therefore if your videographer wants to mic the officiant, ask him or her if they wouldn't mind wearing the videographer mic. Sometimes it’s better for the couple or the wedding coordinator to ask the officiant than the “lone videographer”. Often the officiant is concerned that the videographer’s mic will interfere with the church or venues sound system. Therefore, you'll want to ask your videographer what procedures are in place to avoid any audio conflicts, thereby insuring the officiant that there will be no interference. We will always coordinate with the sound engineer at the venue to insure we are not transmitting on the same frequencies, which can cause interference. You'll also want to ask if your videographer if any additional vocalists, speakers, readers, or musicians will be miced separately. We normally use 3 wireless UHF mics and 3 or more additional wired mics if required in additions to our onboard camera mics to insure that the best possible audio is captured whether it’s for an additional reader or your string quartet.

7. What type of hardware and software does the professional videographer use?

For the most part, it's irrelevant as to what hardware or software is used in postproduction. In all actuality, why should you care whether a videographer uses a Macintosh ( i.e. Mac, developed by Apple Inc.) or a PC based computer system as long as you receive a quality video? Furthermore, the specific editing software used by the videographer is of no importance to you. What you do need to know is how much time does the videographer dedicate to each production. Do you have any choice in the music selected for the production? What style of edit does he/she produce? Is it a documentary or cinematic style, and do you have a choice? What will be included in the final product versus what will end up on the cutting room floor? Does the videographer provide a long or short form edit, or both? Does he/she produce a wedding day highlight video, if so, is it part of the package or is it something that you have to ask for in additions to your selected package? Are video effects and transitions used? Examples would be: soft focus, black & white, color correction, dissolves, slow motion. If so, do you like these effects and or, do you have any choice? Keep in mind that more is not always best. Also you don't want him/her to use cheesy effects or transitions that will date your video, a conservative approach is considered to be more professional. When effects and transitions are used without calling attention to themselves then they are being used properly.

8. Digital TV (DTV) Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD) what does it all mean?

You may be wondering what the difference is between Digital TV (DTV) Standard Definition (SDTV) and High Definition (HDTV), and should be of concern when choosing your videographer.

First of all, don't get DTV confused with HDTV, it’s easy to confuse the issue. On February 17, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format. Here’s what these requirements will mean for you and your television viewing. If you have an analog television, you will have to purchase a digital-to-analog set-top converter box to attach to your TV set to be able to view over-the-air digital programming. You will not need an HDTV to view free over-the-air digital programming. As long as your television equipment contains a digital tuner, you will be able to view over-the-air digital TV. An HDTV is only necessary if you want to view digital programming in “high definition and or if you want to view the new DVD disk formats Blu-Ray or HD DVD.

In reality however, most people are now purchasing HDTV's. By the end of this decade, more households than not will contain an HDTV. It's oblivious too, once you've watched HDTV programming, you don’t want to watch standard definition SDTV if it can be avoided. The picture quality of HDTV is simply much more pleasing.

There’s still a battle going on between the best delivery format; whether it be Blu-Ray Disk or HD DVD (Note: An HDTV will display both disk formats, it’s all HD, it just depends upon the DVD player used). It’s kind of like the old wars between Beta and VHS. Nerveless, whichever delivery format wins this battle, HDTV is the new and upcoming standard, and will be for years to come.

At this time, your videographer may not have decided which format he/she will deliver your HD content in (whether it be Blu-Ray or HD DVD) but in any case the videographer must be able to shoot your wedding in HD before he/she can produce it in HD. This means he/she must purchase or otherwise acquire HD cameras, which is an additional cost that will, more than likely, be passed on to you the consumer. So, HD should be a consideration when determining how much you want to invest in your wedding video because HD will be the standard when your grandchildren want to watch your wedding video.

It’s important to note that if your videographer doesn't currently shoot your wedding in HD, there’s no way it can be edited and delivered in HD later. So you might want to ask your videographer if that is an available option. If it is, he or she will most likely shoot your wedding in HD and deliver it in SD for now. Then, once a practical, and economical method of delivery is available, he/she can re-author and deliver your video in either Blu-Ray or HD DVD.

It’s also very important to understand that just because a videographer states that he/she will shoot your wedding using HD cameras, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will deliver your video in HD. Also, another major misconception is if it’s seen in 16:9 widescreen format, than it must be HD. This is simply not accurate. Your videographer might well be shooting weddings in HD and displaying HD content on his/her website which would be in a 16:9 screen radio. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he/she is capable in delivering HD content at the present time. So insure that you get the complete details from your videographer so you won’t be disappointed later.

1. Ask about the quality of equipment, recording media, and DVD format they use (DVD-R or DVD+R). Is it updated, high-quality, professional video equipment, including editing and dubbing machines?
   
   
2. What is their complete fee? Is it an hourly charge or flat fee for shooting the wedding and reception?
   
   
3. How many hours of coverage are provided?
   
   
4. What is the cost of additional tapes and or DVD's ?
   
   
5. When will I receive my final tape
   
   
6. Are there any additional charges for mileage between wedding and reception?
   
   
7. Are there any other charges that might be extra?
   
   
8. Do they need any special lighting or electrical outlets?
   
   
9. Do they have online samples of their work.
   
   
10. Ask if they will send you a demo DVD.
    
    
11. Sometimes large video companies show you samples done by the owner, then send someone less experienced to shoot your wedding. Therefore, ask if they will be shooting the wedding themselves.
    
    
12. Ask to get a contract detailing exactly the type of video coverage you're expecting, number of cameras, amount and type of editing, titles and music included in the price, name of camera persons, the date, time, location and appropriate attire to be worn.

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