For time immemorial, couples that are tying the knot have chosen wedding prints as the medium in which to preserve the happy memories of their wedding day. In more recent decades, wedding videography has presented a viable alternative that has grown in popularity over the years.
Most couples planning to get married will usually budget for professional photography, but may also consider including videography as an extra, if their budget allows.
However, if your wedding budget is limited, your decision may not be quite so clear-cut. To get the best results, you may need to explore the pros and cons of both specialist services.
Artistic Vision
Professional photographers and videographers have great artistic vision that is put to creative use in different ways. While a photographer is very comfortable focusing on his subject and snapping away, his videographer counterpart prefers the use of motion.
With wedding photography, you and your partner will be asked to strike a pose, or to look natural. Videography, on the other hand, typically goes with the flow and follows your actions. Regardless of whether your movements are scripted in any way, or you’re being real, video will document the story as it happens. In some situations, your videographer may have to get a creative with their filming angles, in order to get the winning shot.
Communication Considerations
To ensure that the visual highlights of your wedding day are captured in the best possible way, it’s absolutely crucial that you have a great relationship with the professional that you hire. The photographer or videographer should have a warm and friendly manner, and be able to confidently give you all the information that you need to make a choice. The more relaxed that you feel in their company, the better the results your chosen pro can produce for you on the big day.
It’s a good idea to ask plenty of questions, and to view professional portfolios. You can also check out the testimonials from other couples that have previously booked the services. While it may be tempting to hire someone who is up-and-coming in their field, it could prove to be a costly gamble in the long run. Someone who lacks sufficient wedding experience may not genuinely be able to deliver on your expectations.
Equipment Basics
When your photographer arrives, on your wedding day, they are likely to be armed with their go-to cameras, flashes, and a couple of lenses. While some photographers work alone, others may bring along an assistant. The lack of obtrusive equipment means that the photographer can easily mingle with your guests, and capture candid shots.
A videographer usually shows up with much more cargo. Some like to use a single camera for all of the shots, while others prefer to set up a tripod, external lighting, and microphones. If you’ve requested aerial footage, they will also have a drone and additional fancy gadgets that will all require space in your wedding venue.
Reportage Style
Reportage documentary is a highly popular style, both in photography and videography, because it captures your romantic wedding day from start to finish.
The photographer should ideally have a flexible approach, and take many different styles of photos, from reportage wedding prep that leads all the way to the church ceremony, to posed portraits and group shots at the reception.
The videographer will need to maintain a similar style throughout the entire day. To end up with a spectacular love story mini movie, this pro will rely on their editing skills.
Editing Essentials
Many professional photographers edit their photos with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop software. These programs are cheaper than high-quality video-editing services. The turnaround time for wedding prints is also much quicker than video production.
If you lack the patience to wait weeks to relive one of the happiest days of your life, videography may not be for you. The delay is partly due to the videographer having to take time finding their favourite well-lit clips, cutting them down, checking quality and consistency, and setting the whole ensemble to music, to create your stunning wedding video.
Double Benefits
Couples that can afford to hire both professionals can definitely benefit from having a greater choice of memories to enjoy for years to come. To achieve this result, two individuals that complement each other professionally should be hired.
On the day, an inexperienced and cheaper videographer can easily compromise the wedding photography. And of course, a photographer that lacks skill could do the same to video footage.
As the fee for hiring a highly experienced professional may cost more than the services of two average pros, it’s worth budgeting and investing in the one person that is top of his or her game. The higher fee will buy you the peace of mind that you need, so that you can relax and enjoy your wedding day.
The Best Deal For You
If you really can’t decide between video or photography for your wedding, perhaps your best bet is to find a charming and friendly professional photographer who is on your wavelength, and can deliver high quality wedding prints, as well as video!
Ask to view their professional photography and video portfolios, to check if they share your vision. If they do, you may be able to cut a great deal for a combo of the two popular artistic mediums.
