How to hire a competent videographer

Many brides, grooms and clients ask why Should I pay for a pro video when my friends or family can tape it with their camcorders ? Even with access to high-end camcorders today, most friends and family don't have the training and or experience as well as the professional broadcast equipment of a professional videographer. Professional video production companies do this work full time and  pay special attention to camera angles, sound quality, lighting as well as content. They also use multiple cameras to capture all the angles of a wedding whereas an amateur cannot afford to use multiple cameras. The production company also uses state of the art editing techniques to create a professional presentation.

Another question we get is aren't all wedding videos the same ? There's no standard certification procedure. There is a wide variety of styles. Evaluate candidates based on their work, their references and their unique style. The best way to come to a decision is not by price alone. Meet with the videographer and discuss what your needs are. A price quote alone can result in hiring a videographer thay may not live up to your expectations. Make sure to ask the videographer to see a completed wedding or video they have done. Demo tapes only highlight the best video clips they have compiled. You should ask to see at least three videos they have produced.Look for shots that are stable shot mostly with a tripod. Why pay someone to do a video for you when the shots are shaky out of focus and you can't hear the sound. Make sure the videographer uses multiple audio microphones to capture every person that speaks. Look for quality of the video, make sure it is color corrected and is not over saturated or completely dark. Many of the cheaper companies are chep for a reason. They are mostly amateurs that have purchased consumer grade quality equipment and are advertising themselves as professional production companies. When you meet with them ask them about their qualifications., did they attend a college for broadcasting or video production. Ask them how many years they have been in business. Are they fully insured. Do they have backup equipment in case a camera breaks. Do they use multiple microphones. What editing system do they use. Most professional editing systems used today are Apple's Final Cut Pro, Avid or Adobe Premiere.  All these qualities are important when hiring a competent videographer and might mean a pleasurable experience for years to come or could be a major dissapointment for years to come.