Why does it cost so much to hire a videographer?
It’s mostly because of the cost of all the gear that we have to purchase in order to elevate the quality of your experience and video. I’ll break it down here:
- Camera + SD Cards + Batteries $2000
- 2nd Camera $1,000
- Total cost of lenses: $800
- Drone + ND Filters: $1600
- Audio Equipment: $500
- Computer + Storage Space $1500
- Editing Software $25/month
- Music $20/month
- Insurance: $40/month
This isn’t all of it. It costs over $7000 in just gear to make a quality film. This does not take into account the DAYS that are put in after the wedding day to edit the film. More often than not, when you hire a videographer for your wedding, they only actually make a fraction of what you paid them.
Why does it take so long to edit?
Because it’s a long process. I like to start with finding the music. I use a website called soundstripe.com where, for a monthly fee, I have unlimited access to every song they have. It can take 2-3 days before I find a song that I feel fits the vibe of the couple and that I feel I can edit to. After I’ve found the songs, I go through all of the footage and find the very best parts. Depending on the duration of the wedding, I have around 2-7 hours of footage to go through. This can take another few days. After I’ve gone through the footage, I go through a second time and find the best of the best footage! At this point I’ve narrowed it down to about 20 minutes of footage. From here, I start building your story. I find the most exciting parts of the song, and start putting in the clips that have the most exciting feeling. It can take up to 2 months before I feel happy with how I’ve pieced together the clips. It typically takes me at least double the hours to edit than it does to film.
What is the “60 Second Social Media Highlight?”
The 60 Second Social Media Highlight is just that, a 1-minute quick look at your wedding day. This highlight is designed to fit inside Instagram’s 1-minute video post limit. It’s a great way to show all your online friends and family the very best parts of your day. The 60 Second Social Media Highlight will be delivered 3-5 days after the wedding day. With this delivery time, this makes it a great option for couples who don’t like to wait.
What if I don’t like my film?
The good news is that I usually have other clips that I can choose from that didn’t make it into the final video. They are not always as good, but there are always other options. If you really don’t like your film, let me know what you don’t like about it, and I can re-edit it for you. When you book me, I do offer free minor re-edits. This means if there are a few clips you don’t like, I’ll find new ones to replace free of charge. I want you to feel happy with your video and I’m happy to make that happen.
Why can’t I have all the raw footage?
Although most videographers wont admit it, the magic happens in the edit. If I just gave you the raw footage without touching it, you’d think I was awful at my job. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not because I don’t want you to have access to all the footage of your wedding day. By retaining the raw footage I protect myself from negative reviews. Instead, I have an edit option that I call the “Give Me Everything Edit!” This edit is all the footage of your day that is color corrected, and all the duplicate shots are taken out, and it just goes from one clip to another with no music. It’s usually about 1 hour and 30 minutes long. This lets you see even more of your day, but continues to protect my business. If you have any other questions on this, please let me know.
Can I split up my hours throughout the day?
No. Every package’s hours are consecutive hours. This includes travel time. If you are concerned about not having enough time, consider adding one or two extra hours of onsite filming, or upgrade your package to the next available package.
If you are unsure about how much time you need, round up. If your ceremony is planned for 30 minutes, plan for it to take 1 hour. If you think pictures will take 45 minutes, plan for 1 hour. If you are still unsure, please contact me to help you decide which package is best for you.
Can I choose the song for my wedding video?
Unfortunately the answer is no. This is because I do not risk being subject to astronomical fines for using a song without producers approval. Instead, I use a website called Soundstripe.com where all the music is royalty free. I pay a monthly subscription to have access to these songs and I often spend hours finding music that fits the style of the bride/groom and the wedding.