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Now that you’re in the process of looking for a wedding videographer, we’re certain you have a lot of questions. But what exactly should you ask a wedding videographer? In this article, we’re going to give you the top 10 questions you should ask your wedding videographer. We hope these questions will diminish any stress you may have regarding the videography process, and give you valuable insight when it comes to working with a wedding videographer.
So without further ado, here are…
The Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Videographer
1.) Why Do You Love Making Wedding Videos?
Before you start working with a wedding videographer - or any wedding vendor for that matter - it’s always a good idea to know WHY they love doing what they do. A videographer with a strong sense of WHY they shoot wedding videos, and WHY they LOVE shooting them, will ensure that they’re not just seeking to collect a paycheck. The last thing you want is to work with someone joining you on your wedding day to do the bare minimum and walk off with your money.
When you ask a wedding videographer, “Why do you love making wedding videos?” their answer should feel genuine and focused on your interests as a couple. Their response should sound clear and spoken with a sense of purpose. It should seem like they’ve been asked this question so many times that they don’t have to think about their response. They should genuinely love filming weddings and preserving their client’s precious memories.
At Cinescope Video, we shoot wedding videos so newlywed couples can preserve and relive the most special day of their life forever. We preserve your precious memories so they never fade away, no matter how much time passes. This is WHY we do what we do, and it’s a mantra you’ll see articulated over and over again on our website.
2.) What Makes You Different From Other Wedding Videographers?
When you ask a wedding videographer, “What makes you different from other wedding videographers” you’ll most likely get an answer regarding their visual style. The videographer will talk about how they like to move the camera, the types of shots they collect to assemble your finished wedding video and an overview of their creative process as a whole. While this information is good to know, especially since you want to hire someone with a sharp eye and a sense of style that interests you, nothing is more important than HOW they work with others.
Your wedding videographer isn’t just spending the day with you and your future spouse. Your videographer is going to be working with your family members, relatives, photographer, wedding planner, DJ, catering, venue staff, and many others, all while collecting footage throughout your wedding day. You want to make sure you’re investing in a wedding videographer who can clearly articulate how they work with different people and ultimately make everyone feel relaxed and respected.
Your wedding video shouldn’t be centered around the videographer’s “vision”. Your wedding video should be focused on telling your love story in the most stress-free way possible. Be sure to invest in a videographer that works well with others and is there to provide you with stellar service from start to finish.
3.) What is Your Videography Style?
When you ask your wedding videographer, “What’s your style?” you’re essentially asking them how they accomplish the finished look of your wedding video. If you’re not familiar with the world of wedding videography, there are essentially two types of videography styles:
Documentary Style - This is a more traditional approach to wedding videography. If your wedding videographer says “documentary style” it should inform you that your wedding videographer is going to shoot footage in the most non-invasive way possible. They’re there to simply observe and capture candid material to assemble your finished wedding video. This style can also include interviews with friends and family, members of your wedding party, and distant relatives you’re unable to see frequently.
Cinematic Style - This is dynamic footage that feels movie-esc. If your wedding videographer tells you “cinematic style” they’re letting you know that they’re going to pose you for lots of shots to achieve a specific look. To make your life easier, they’ll be working hand-in-hand with your photographer to achieve stunning visual images and hopefully prevent you from having to be posed twice. You can also expect to do a bit of acting and modeling on your wedding day, which will result in a breathtaking finished product. These are most frequently referred to as Wedding Films.
At Cinescope Video, we like to mesh the two styles and create what we refer to as a “Cinematic Wedding Video”. What this means is we will capture 80% to 90% of our footage in a candid format, all while looking for solid compositions and dynamic lighting, but we will also be posing you for a handful of select shots to create some short cinematic sequences in your wedding film. Essentially, we like to give our clients the best of both worlds.
At the end of the day, a videographer’s work speaks for itself. If you want to get a sense of how your wedding video is going to turn out, simply ask your videographer to share some of their work examples with you.
4.) Do You Make Cinematic Highlight Films or Documentary Wedding Films?
Building off of the previous question, asking your wedding videographer, “Do you make cinematic highlight films or documentary films?” will inform you of what your finished wedding video will look like.
If your wedding videographer makes cinematic highlight films, you can expect to see lots of dynamic shots and strong compositions. These cinematic highlight films typically include footage captured on sliders, gimbals, and even drones (usually for an additional cost).
If your wedding videographer makes documentary wedding films, you can expect to see lots of candid material, perhaps some short interviews with friends and family, and some handheld footage from events that popped up unexpectedly.
Neither style is “better” than the other. They are simply a reflection of your videography preference and the style your wedding videographer likes to shoot their material. Just be sure to look at some work examples to see which version of videography you like best. Whichever version you select will dictate how your footage will be shot and what your completed wedding video will look like.
If you'd like to see examples of Cinescope Video's work, you can easily do so by visiting our Wedding Video page.
5.) What Can We Expect From You On Our Wedding Day?
What you’re really asking is, “Do you know how you’re going to film the major events of our wedding day” and “How are you going to be helpful to us and our wedding guests?”
When you invest in a wedding videographer, you want to be sure you’re selecting someone who is there to do more than set up a camera and some microphones. You want to invest in a wedding videographer who will take the time to gather the footage that resonates with who you are as a couple, who is willing to jump in and assist someone who needs a helping hand, and who enjoys collaborating with other wedding vendors. You want to invest in someone kind, respectful, an excellent communicator, and who knows how to make you feel relaxed on your wedding day.
This is why having a face-to-face meeting - or even a Zoom meeting - with your wedding videographer is so important. Having an introductory conversation with your wedding videographer in person will give you a clear sense of how they act and how they carry themself. You want to work with a wedding videographer who you have an instant connection with. If you hit it off right away and are comfortable being around each other, your wedding day will be substantially less stressful and your finished wedding film will surely meet your expectations.
When you ask this question, your wedding videographer should also be able to provide you with a technical breakdown of your wedding day’s major events. Your videographer should be able to explain to you how they intend to capture footage during your first look, wedding ceremony, grand entrance, speeches and toasts, and even the b-roll/detail shots throughout the day. Knowing the finer details of your videographer’s working style will help manage expectations and leave nothing up to the imagination. You and your wedding videographer want to be on the same page to ensure every detail is accounted for and your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible.
6.) What’s Included In Your Wedding Packages?
A majority of wedding videographers will have their video packages listed on their website, but it’s always wise to ask them upfront what’s included in their videography options, just to ensure nothing is being overlooked.
The other great aspect of talking with your wedding videographer about their various wedding packages is the wealth of knowledge they can provide to help you narrow down your selection. Your videographer should have a strong understanding of the packages they offer. Having a one-on-one conversation with them will grant them the opportunity to ask you questions to get a better understanding of your wedding day schedule. Once they know the details, they will be able to help you narrow down the options and find the best wedding package for you.
Many wedding videography packages will include variations in working hours, specialized equipment, or even having two videographers working on your wedding day. At Cinescope Video, we provide our clients with wedding packages that allow them to purchase the raw footage from their wedding day. This way our clients can save the footage and preserve every precious moment for years to come. It all boils down to selecting a package that best suits your needs.
7.) What’s NOT Included In Your Wedding Packages?
Knowing what’s NOT included in a videographer’s wedding packages is just as important as knowing what is. By asking your videographer this question, they will be able to give you a rundown of additional videography elements that may be of interest to you.
Some add-ons typically include drone footage, adding an additional videographer for a shorter period of time, specialty shots that require advanced planning, and more. Just because it isn’t listed in a videographer’s package options doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Always ask what’s NOT included so you can get a bigger picture of what your wedding videographer can do for you.
8.) Which Wedding Package Do Your Clients Usually Choose?
This is a great way of asking, “What package is your most popular one?”
By understanding which wedding package most couples usually pick, it will give you a chance to get some insight and discover what makes a specific package so popular. Sometimes it’s the price or the hours of video coverage, or the fact drone footage is included, or perhaps it’s all of the above. Knowing the details of a videographer’s most popular package will give you the chance to see if its specifications align with the events of your wedding day.
A bad wedding videographer will spend their time trying to entice you to select their most expensive video package; the one with all the bells and whistles. A good wedding videographer will ask you questions about your wedding day to gain a stronger understanding of the events you’d like covered. Knowing the finer details of your wedding day will give your videographer the chance to work with you at determining what amount of coverage will be too much and what will be too little.
If you’d like to see what wedding packages Cinescope Video offers, you can easily do so by visiting our Wedding Videos page.
9.) How Long Does It Take To Deliver Our Finished Wedding Video?
It’s always smart to ask how long it’ll take for you to receive your finished wedding video. Knowing this will allow you to manage your expectations regarding turnaround time, and build up the excitement for your wedding video’s release.
On average, the typical wedding video takes 6-8 weeks to deliver. This is the same amount of time we offer all of our wedding clients at Cinescope Video. Assembling a wedding video can be a tedious endeavor. It requires browsing through hours of footage, aligning audio files, color correction, sound mixing, adding titles and graphics, and more. Added to this, chances are you’re not your wedding videographer’s only client. They may have several clients they’ve shot for and are currently in the process of assembling a handful of wedding videos at one time. Knowing this, it’s easy to see why a finished wedding film can take several weeks to assemble.
Some videographers offer shorter turnaround times and even same-day edits. If you hire one of these wedding videographers you’re guaranteed to pay a higher price, due to the fact they’ll be working with a larger team of people in order to pull off a shorter turnaround time.
10.) How Do We Recieve Our Finished Wedding Video?
It’s always important to know how exactly you’ll be receiving your completed wedding video.
While some videographers still offer DVD options, a majority of them have moved to digital distribution. This means you’ll most likely receive a digital copy of your wedding video that you can save onto your computer or transfer to a hard drive or flash drive. Having the digital copy will also allow you to make DVD copies on your own, if you choose too.
In addition to this, a majority of wedding videographers will send you a link - either through Youtube or Vimeo - so you can share your finished wedding film with all your friends and family.
It never hurts to mention to your videographer any release preferences you may have for your finished wedding video. If you tell them upfront that your grandparents would love a DVD copy of the finished wedding video they will be able to make accommodations to fulfill your request.
Book Your Wedding Videographer
Now that you know the top 10 questions you should ask your wedding videographer, you’re better prepared to start the process of booking one. Wedding schedules fill up quickly, so don’t hesitate in reaching out to your top choices.
If you’re interested in working with Cinescope Video to capture those precious memories on your wedding day, you can simply fill out our wedding form to check our availability and start the videography process today. We’d be delighted to work with you and help you preserve the memories of your special day forever.
Cinescope Video has been shooting weddings since 2020, and our clients couldn’t be happier. Wedding videography isn’t about pretty flower shots and cinematic flare. It’s about giving our beautiful brides and grooms a finished keepsake they will cherish forever so they can relive their wedding day years and years down the road. It’s about crafting a visual love story - your love story - that’s just as unique as you are. It’s about capturing those special moments through a lens so they’ll never fade away.
We hope you found this article informative and useful. We hope you’ll consider working with Cinescope Video on your wedding day, but even if you don’t select us we’d like to congratulate you on your engagement all the same. Congratulations to you and your future spouse. May your wedding day be blessed and filled with precious memories. We wish you both a lifetime filled with joy and happiness.
Enjoy your amazing wedding.
Email: cinescopevideo@gmail.com
Phone: (313) 889-2463
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