Should I hire a Wedding Videographer?

That’s right, I’m a wedding videographer that is answering the question “Should I hire a wedding videographer?” How convenient, right? I have captured 100+ weddings for people who decided that it was right for them to hire a videographer for their wedding. However, I have to be completely honest and say that there have been some I questioned why I was there. They didn’t seem to care about the video, didn’t want me to be a part of some of their special moments, and got half the coverage time that they did for photography. I had one couple who literally didn’t want me to capture their couple shots with the photographer. Why did they pay for me to be there? Because someone somewhere in their planning journey said they HAD to have a videographer for their wedding. 

That being said, I’m not going to say everyone needs a wedding videographer. However, I am also a husband who doesn’t have a video from my wedding day, and that’s something I can never get back. If you’re worried about living with that exact regret, read on for my experiences and advice. 

So the first question is: Why hire a wedding videographer if I already have a photographer? What is the point of having both? Should I go with one or the other? Also, in today’s economy, how much is the video worth?

This, surprisingly, does have an answer. I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying “A picture is worth 1,000 words.” If a video is recorded in 24 frames per second (the standard for motion pictures) then the answer would be 24,000 words per second. For context, it would take the world’s fastest typist two and a half hours to type that many words.

So what does that mean? Well, it doesn’t mean anything. All it means is that I’ve stretched an already tenuous metaphor far beyond its limits in order to prove a point that I have a vested interest in proving.

So let’s look at some actual reasons!

Top Reasons People Hire Wedding Videographers

Audio

My wife and I have no record of any of the 7 speeches that were made by our wedding parties and family. This still bothers me because I remember the speeches being one of the most moving moments of the day, but I could barely tell you why because 5 years later, I remember almost nothing. That’s just 5 years. You could say that the wedding party should have written it down, but let’s be real. Most of them didn’t. The one that did was my dad, and in the post-wedding haze, we never got a copy. I’ve brought it up a few times, but he never knows where it is. 

This same logic also applies to vows and letter readings, but also quite a few other invaluable moments: the sermon that the officiant delivers, the blessing before dinner, and any number of first looks with family and the wedding party.

Additionally, the microphone you’ve likely forgotten you are wearing will pick up so many little moments that you’ll find yourself listening to the raw audio by itself! One that sticks out from an August wedding last year is the bride’s sweet prayer right before she went out. She only said it to herself, but now, it’s in her video as a testament of that love and faith forever. Another one – on the totally opposite side is from a May wedding. The groom’s pre-wedding jitters were displayed in a string of curses that his wife and my wife still laugh about and treasure. 

I could probably go on about how important audio is, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll wrap it up here: no one but a professional videographer can reliably capture all of these audio moments, and audio is the biggest thing that sets a videographer apart from a photographer (or content creator, for that matter). “Should I hire a wedding videographer?” If you can’t live without these audio moments captured, the answer is “yes!”

Lifelike Memories

A picture does indeed tell a thousand words. But is a thousand words enough to tell your entire story? For some people, I would definitely say that it is. And perhaps this isn’t an entirely fair comparison because your photographer is giving you an entire album, not just one picture. But I would argue that each one of a photographer’s pictures tell different stories. This is beautiful in its own way, but it’s no replacement for a highlight video. 

Sitting down to watch the video of your wedding day is not just a moment, it’s an entire experience. Moving pictures provide more context and create a more lifelike retelling of the day, which when you add in audio of your vows and some emotional music can be a truly immersive experience that will move you to tears or laughter decades after the wedding day.

Plus, given that a wedding highlight video provides more context and is more immersive, it’s the perfect thing to send to any family or friends who couldn’t make it so that they can experience all the emotions with you too!

Longevity of Investment

Photos and videos go hand in hand here. They are, together, the only things that you will actually keep long after the wedding day, save for some cute mementos with flowers or DIY decor. If you’re on board with the idea that a wedding video adds to a wedding photo album by providing greater immersion and context, then all of the arguments for having a wedding photographer that my wife discussed in this blog post can be extended to the question “Should I hire a wedding videographer?”

Is there a better experience than sitting down with your kids (or grandkids (or great grandkids (or great great- I’ll stop))) and flipping through your wedding album? Yes, there is! It’s watching your highlight video! While a photo album may lose significance over time as the memories associated with the pictures fade and you can’t remember what was going on in most of them, the greater context and immersion of a wedding video could even gain significance over time by making you actually feel like you’re there again.

Of course, this isn’t entirely objective. I believe there’s merit to both the album and the video (that’s why we offer both), but one is not a replacement for the other. Flipping through an album, having photos hang in your family rooms, and trying to recollect with each other about what was happening is all part of the experience. However, reliving a wedding in the fullness of a highlight video is also part of the experience when we’re talking about sharing these moments with your family and friends. Going through the Raw Footage is another completely separate experience from all of the above that we’re about to talk a little more about in the next point.

Raw Footage Vs. Raw Photos

Have you ever wondered why no photographers will sell unedited pictures? Don’t worry, it’s not a red flag. It’s because offering the raw images would only take away from the client’s experience. Raw photos don’t add anything. Rather, they strip away the artistic vision and leave you with a worse quality image. If you’re a photographer yourself, I could understand wanting to edit them in your style and enjoy the process, but otherwise, you don’t actually want to see that. 

Raw footage, on the other hand, is like the home movie of wedding videography. Sure, not all of those shots are pretty. Not all are perfect. They won’t all make it in a shareable highlight reel. Nonetheless, video has a charm to it because there is still something to be experienced when you strip away the perfection. The laugh of a friend you won’t always be able to hear, the jokes whispered in the bridal party, the stolen kiss in between “photo moments”. 

In my opinion, Raw Footage is one of the crucial components of a wedding video package that I wouldn’t go without. Some videographers (ourselves included) include the Raw Footage in every single package because we think that if you’re paying several thousand dollars, you deserve as much out of it as we can reasonably give you. In the case of Raw Footage, that’s every single second we were recording. Other videographers will have it as an add-on that you can pay a little extra for. If you are the type of person that wants to get the biggest bang for your buck or doesn’t want to forget a minute of your day, this is absolutely a non-negotiable.

Common Aversions to Having a Videographer

The Wedding Production

If you look for wedding videos online, the first results you see may look like a movie trailer. For some, that is exactly what they want. They want a team of multiple videographers with cinema-level cameras, huge lights and diffusers, and a drone flying overhead during the whole ceremony. That being said, I want you to know that luxury and cinematic wedding videos are only two styles out of a huge range to choose from in the industry. More power to the Hollywood filmmakers that want to capture high-end events, but not all of us believe a wedding is a production. If you’re reading this point, I imagine you feel the same way. 

It’s your wedding day! This isn’t a magazine shoot or a film set. You’re not models or actors (unless you are!). You’re simply two people who want to celebrate your love for each other and spend as much time as you can with your loved ones.

Know your videographer’s style before you book them. If you really don’t want to interact with the camera people at all on your wedding day, then there are some photo/video teams that specialize in true documentary storytelling – no posing at all, just genuine moments captured as they happen. On the style spectrum of candid versus posed, a true documentary film would fall 100% on the candid side. Our personal style at Next Door Digital is Authentic, Timeless, and Storytelling; 75% candid and 25% posed, with most of the posing taking place during couple shots and other set-apart photo moments.

Camera Shy and Privacy Talk

I’ve heard this one many times before! Should I hire a wedding videographer if the thought of having two cameras walking around makes me want to die? I get it! I’m camera shy too. My wife and I did a professional maternity shoot with our last baby, and the whole time, I felt like I was supposed to jump behind the camera and start directing things. 

Two cameras following you instead of one may be more intimidating, and it’s okay to be nervous! We’re used to working with people who consider themselves to be camera shy. I believe it is part of our responsibility, as your media team, to give you confidence and make you feel as comfortable as possible in front of the camera. Personally, the poses that we tend to lean towards for video involve more movement and less direct posing. Instead of having you smile at the camera, we’ll just give you a prompt like “hold hands and walk together.” This allows our couples to experience a genuine moment with their partner, and more often than not, our clients turn out to be naturals in front of a camera!

Don’t let camera shyness make or break your day! If you value the memories and would love to have them after the fact, don’t miss out because you’re worried about the camera. Just find you a team that you vibe with and that shoots in a style you feel comfortable with! I would be remiss to not have these photos because we felt awkward in front of the camera: 

Alternatives for a Professional Videographer?

Content Creator

I’ve seen some arguments that wedding content creators are a cheaper alternative to a professional photographer or videographer. This is a common misconception, and ironically I don’t often see this argument coming from the content creators themselves. Having a professional content creator at your wedding can be a great addition if you’re looking for short-form social media content with a fast turnaround. This does not replace the timeless, heirloom-focused, full day coverage that videographers and photographers offer.

That’s not to say that what a content creator provides is not valuable; an experienced content creator will know exactly how to work alongside the photo/video team without distracting or getting in the way. I’ve personally worked with several great content creators who did this flawlessly.

All that to say: if all you want is some nicely done phone work to post on social media and share with family/friends, a content creator is a way better option than a family member with a phone. These professionals have wedding experience and can guarantee results that a hobbyist or family member cannot. However, if you want a real heirloom piece, with recorded audio and sharp, creative imagery, a content creator is not going to be a cheaper option for you. You will be choosing to go without. 

Family Friend

There’s nothing wrong with hiring someone you know personally to be your wedding videographer. However, it’s important to make a distinction here. Is your friend a hobbyist interested in cameras, or do they have actual experience in the wedding industry? There’s a reason not every videographer is willing to film a wedding. Many professional videographers refuse to do weddings due to the high pressure, the fast pace, the more candid setting, or the lack of control over the environment compared to a studio shoot. 

I’ve heard so many tragic stories about beginner photographers and videographers who were trusted to capture the wedding of a close friend or family member and were unable to deliver properly. Often this is due to lack of wedding experience. You don’t get a redo on these moments, so if you’re okay with gambling on someone you want to support, that’s great! We all had to start somewhere. However, if you’re expecting grandeur out of a beginner, it can create harsh feelings and damaged relationships. These types of situations can actually harm a beginner’s confidence and career, rather than helping it thrive. 

Home Movie Style

Another videography alternative is to rely solely on the videos recorded by guests. I’ve seen this done with QR codes that allow guests to send in photos/videos, as well as having a communal camera that gets passed around throughout the day. If you have a decent amount of guests who are on board, I think this is a great idea to possibly get some fun guest POVs. However, it most definitely isn’t a reliable replacement for professional videography. 

The home movie approach offers no guarantees. There are no contracts or set turnaround times. There is no guarantee of quality. The angles and framing will likely be sub-optimal, and there definitely will always be poor audio quality. On another level, it can potentially take guests out of the moment and make them feel unnecessary pressure. There’s also not even a guarantee that any guest phone videos will ever make it to you, even with the fancy QR code add-on. When placing the responsibility of capturing a once in a lifetime event solely on a group of uncoordinated friends and family, there is simply too high a margin for error in my opinion. This is, once again, an addition to photo/video and not a sufficient replacement. 

Rule of Thumb: If you’re doubting at all whether you will regret not choosing to hire a wedding videographer, chances are: at some point, you will. If you’re worried about going with a friend that does videography as a hobby or has only done set-based content, maybe let them work alongside a pro so you get both? If you have read through this whole article and your heart never skipped a beat, congratulations! You can safely answer the question “Should I hire a wedding videographer?”

Still on the fence about a professional photographer? Check out what my wife says in this blog post that I referenced earlier on! Or browse for other wedding tips and tricks <3

Ready to pull the plug and secure your memories? Heck yes! Browse our wedding packages and contact us today to check on availability and get your date on our books! I can’t wait to meet you all.

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