So, you’ve got a wedding photographer and you’re thinking about maybe adding a wedding video to the budget.

You have some questions about it before you decide, so today on the blog, I want to focus on those questions to help you make a decision that’s best for you.

Should I add a wedding video?

Well, as a wedding videographer with a couple of decades of experience, I can tell you, yes, but the truth is, it really depends.

Not all couples should get or want a wedding video experience and that’s understandable.

Some simply don’t see the value in it while others do.

What I can tell you is that most couples that put thought into it and decided not to have it completely regretted it after the fact.

Roughly 98% of couples a year after the wedding stated on the Huffington Post and that number is true.

What sort of costs can we expect with a wedding videographer?

It depends. Nationally, you’ll find the average cost of a wedding videographer is about $1,799.

You’ll find those that are under $1,000 and you’ll find those that charge $10,000 or more for your wedding day.

Truthfully, most average couples are going to spend somewhere in the range of about $2,000-$3,000.

Costs will depend on the following factors for your own wedding:

• The region where you live

• How much you have in your budget

• The types of services you’re seeking

Living in a more populated region of the US will tend to cost more, so try to find a neighboring marketplace that has less expensive, yet, equally talented videographers.

You also need to look at your budget. If you only have $1,000 and no wiggle room, try to find a more basic video service.

That leads me back to the types of services you should choose.

Tight Budget

If you’re on a tight budget, under $1,000, we recommend finding a professional that will offer a ceremony-only video. Most times, you’ll find very limited services for an experienced wedding videographer for under a grand.

Mid-Range Budget

Most couples are going to be in this range spending in that $2-3K range. That’s usually going to include the ceremony with a couple of cameras, reception footage, and some sort of highlight or feature film.

High-End / Luxury Budget

If you have more than $3,000 to spend on just video, consider a wedding videographer team with a primary, secondary shooter, an audio specialist, and sometimes a director. These professionals offer a complete cinema-style experience and offer some of the best storytelling in the industry.

How does wedding video compare to wedding photography, what makes it different?

Well, there are a couple of advantages to having a wedding video, the first being motion.

You’ll be able to see how people are with movement and that translates into someone’s persona. For those with older family members or friends, having them in motion is something worth having because it brings back memories that you can relive.

Second, is the audio, what was said, and the sounds of the day.

Many couples love being able to hear the vows or speeches from various people and again it’s something that photos don’t offer.

What about those that disagree about having a wedding video?

Well, some will argue that a video for the wedding isn’t worth the cost. Some typical responses you may read include:

• You can’t hang wedding video on your wall

  • While true, it’s misleading. Would you watch photos on a TV or listen to your wedding video on the radio? No, you wouldn’t. Pictures serve a purpose just as a video does, stating that you can hang a video on the wall is like saying you can’t drive your car on the lake.

• You won’t watch the video but just once or twice

  • Again, this is misleading. Video is becoming more commonplace, just take a look at wedding photographers in the last couple of years, many are adding (or trying to add) wedding video to their business model as we do. Just look at social media and how popular video has become in your feed.

Cheap wedding video vs. Professional wedding video

Let me leave you today with a story that happened to me back in 2015.

A couple came to me about wedding video services and at the time I offered both a ceremony and reception video for just over $1,100.

The couple met me, liked my work, and wanted to book with me, but they chose a much cheaper person instead to save some money. In fact, they hired someone at $350.

Well, I went back to the couple and I offered them a ceremony for free in exchange for being able to compare videos. They agreed.

I then contacted the videographer they hired and asked if I could get a copy of his camera so I could create a multiple-camera edit, even though I had three cameras. The guy they hired agreed. (By the way, he’s long since worked in the business).

Watch this clip I created to show you.

The $350 videographer didn’t have a microphone or a professional camera or a professional-grade fluid-head tripod.

Not only can you see a huge difference, but you can hear it as well and that’s VERY important.

A few things wrong with the $350 video include it not being level, no microphone on the couple or pastor, not cropped correctly, the coloring is off and you can see every time the guy moves his feet because the tripod moves.

This is my point, hire a professional that not only has good professional gear but actually knows what they are doing with experience under their belts.