Just like photography, your wedding film will be an aspect of your wedding that will become a family heirloom and an element that will help you remember your day. Fortunately, the days of cheesy videos are long gone and there are several companies now that produce high-quality wedding videos for their brides and grooms. I asked Mary, the studio manager for the Phoenix-based wedding videography company My Wedding Film, which questions she feels couples need to ask while interviewing their videographer. Here are some of the questions she suggests asking while choosing someone to document your day on video:

What is your turnaround time?
Similar to photography, each wedding cinematographer will have a different timeframe for editing and delivering your finished wedding video. Editing hours of footage from a wedding down to a film that you will want to watch for the rest of your life will take some time, so don't be surprised if you have to wait a little while to receive the final product.

How much input will the couple have in the process?
Do you get to select the songs you want included in the video? Do you prefer a more classic look or are you looking for a funkier styled video? Are there special effects you want included or not?  Find out when you meet with your potential wedding videographers how much say you get in the final style of the film.

What is your shooting style? What do you do to be unobtrusive?
The last thing most couples want at their wedding is their videographer acting like paparazzi with a camera in their faces and their guests faces the entire time.  What type of lighting do they use to as they document your day? Ask them about their shooting style and see if it fits with your style.

Who will have a lapel microphone during the wedding? What natural audio, if any, will be used in the finished product?
Some videographers do not use any audio feeds at all, so their final wedding videos do not include any of the vows, toast or other special moments that you may want to hear again.  Find out what audio they will be capturing during the wedding day and how that is generally incorporated into the final wedding video. Also ask to see a complete wedding video, so that you can see first hand whether you like the way audio is or is not used.

Are you including video in your wedding?  If you're already married, did you have a wedding video created for you?

PS - My Wedding Film's new blog-site launched TODAY, so be sure to check it out!  While you're there, be sure to watch their Wedding Genius interview with The Invitation Lady herself, Rikki Hernanskey. Rikki cracks me up every time I see her, and this little highlight will show you why. 




PPS - Leave a comment and we will donate a can of food to our local food bank. You can read more about our Cans for Comments Food Drive here.

{photo by Darby Elizabeth Photography}