A professionally produced wedding or event video can become one of the most cherished possessions of a lifetime. Your video or DVD will help you recall some of the happiest moments of your life, as well as the friends and family members who celebrated with you. Choosing a videographer to capture your event is an important decision.

How to choose a wedding or event videographer

All professional event videographers should have, at a minimum, the skills to record your event with clear sound, an in-focus and steady picture, with correct color and exposure. Additionally, a professionally produced event video or DVD can be edited in one of at least three different stylistic ways to tell the story of your event:

Styles of event videography

Documentary style – chronological coverage of the main activities of the event.
Cinematic style – artistic, sometimes non-chronological version designed to amplify and highlight the most emotional and/or entertaining aspects of the event. Often referred to as “cinematic” because of its emphasis on story-telling and entertaining the viewer.
A Combination of Documentary and Cinematic styles – this style strikes a balance between a chronological documentation of the event and sections that are edited to highlight the emotional content of the event.

Important aspects to be aware of:
Single camera vs. multiple cameras
On-camera microphone vs. wireless microphones
Auxiliary lighting when needed vs. no light
Professional camera equipment vs. consumer-level or “prosumer”
Delivery of raw, unedited footage vs. a polished, finished production

Pricing: Just like professional photography, pricing for professional videography can vary widely - anywhere from $500 to $5000 in San Diego alone. These prices are based on the talent, skills, production style and equipment of the videographer.

Tips to aid you in choosing a videographer: It is a good idea to view the work of at least three videographers, one from each of the stylistic categories listed above before making your final decision. Professional event video is an artistic medium customized to meet your specific needs; therefore, it is virtually impossible to choose a videographer by price alone. Even if the videographer’s price at first seems beyond your budget, proceed with looking at samples of their work. It is important to know the types of products available in wedding and event video before you make your final decision on whom to hire.

Never rely on just a “demo” tape/DVD or a brief Web sample. We suggest viewing samples of an entire wedding as well as the wedding highlights to obtain an accurate overview of the videographer’s capabilities and style. A well-produced video will capture your attention, move your emotions and draw you into the story. It’s a pretty good bet that if the videographer has the skills to make someone else’s event or wedding video entertaining for you to watch, then he or she can create an emotional video for you that will be a joy for your friends and family to watch for generations to come.