Advice for couples
10 things I'd definitely look at and ask about before choosing a wedding videographer.
Your wedding day is full of moments you only live once, yet you'll want to see them again years from now. A glance, a laugh, your parents' reactions, your vows, a friend's speech or your first dance.
Photos keep part of these moments, but video gives you more: movement, sound, speeches, music and small details that a single frame can't capture in the same way. That's why it matters who you trust with your wedding film.
This may be one of the most important points. Filming a wedding is a completely different job from an advert, a music video or a staged creative shoot. At a wedding there's no second take of the entrance, the ring exchange or your parents' reactions.
So above all, watch real wedding films by the videographer. Don't just look for one or two spectacular scenes; try to imagine your own day looking like this. Do you like the look? The colours? The editing? The choice of music? A videographer's portfolio shows how they see weddings.
It's not only about whether you like what you see, but also whether they actually made it. If someone only sends a few videos in a private message, with no organised, publicly verifiable portfolio or website behind them, it's worth looking into it more carefully.
It does happen that someone presents another person's work as their own. If a film particularly catches your eye, check whether it's on the videographer's own website or social media. You don't need to play detective, but a few minutes of checking can save you a lot of trouble.
A wedding film isn't only beautiful pictures; sound matters just as much. Listen to how the vows, the ceremony, the speeches or a spontaneous remark sound. Can you understand the speakers? Is the sound clear?
The picture shows what happened, and the sound brings back the feelings and the words that were said. It's worth choosing a videographer for whom sound recording and editing are just as important as the image.
Equipment isn't everything, but it does matter for a wedding film. Today it's worth choosing a videographer who films in at least 4K. HD and Full HD footage still plays fine, but if you're thinking long term, go for today's standard.
We work with a modern mirrorless camera system, professional memory cards and the right accessories. The point isn't that it sounds impressive, but that we record the important moments reliably and in the right quality.
A 5-7 minute highlight film tells you a lot about the style, but it doesn't necessarily show how the videographer works across a whole wedding. If you can, ask for a longer, continuous film or an extract from a complete one.
Watch the getting ready, the ceremony, the couple shoot, the dinner, the speeches and the evening party, and ask yourselves: if this were our wedding, is this how we'd want to watch it back in 5, 10 or even 30 years?
A wedding doesn't end at sunset. If you'd like the evening party to be part of your film, look at footage shot in the dark, with people dancing and lights changing.
Notice how the images look in low light, how natural the movement is, and whether the videographer captures the atmosphere of the evening.
Your wedding film shouldn't only look good today; you'll be watching it in 10, 20 or 30 years too. It's worth choosing a videographer whose style is modern and fresh, but isn't built purely on current trends.
A good wedding film doesn't preserve the trend of a particular year, but the story itself: youthful and full of energy, yet it won't feel awkwardly dated a few years later.
Before you book a videographer, talk to them in person, on the phone or on a video call. Do you like them? Do they listen to you? Do they understand what kind of wedding you want? Can you imagine them by your side all day?
A wedding is a very personal event, and your videographer will see moments you wouldn't share with just anyone. The human side is just as important as technical skill.
It's worth choosing a professional who can issue invoices, signs a contract with you and clearly sets out what the service includes.
A contract protects both sides and makes clear what the service includes, the date, the payment terms, the deadlines and exactly what you'll receive.
Prices can vary a lot between wedding videographers, but you may not be comparing the same service. Look at how many hours the videographer is there, how many cameras they use, how they record sound, whether there's drone footage, how long and what kind of films you'll receive, and exactly what's included in the price.
In the end, don't just ask “How much does it cost?”, but also “What do we get for it?”
The right videographer isn't necessarily the one with the most cameras or the flashiest Instagram. Watch several films and notice how you feel while watching. Do you laugh? Are you moved? Can you imagine them telling your story like this?
Years from now you won't only want to see the decorations or the dress, but to hear each other's voices again, see your parents' faces and hear your friends laughing.
If you're curious how I'd tell your story, have a look through the LoveLens films and feel free to get in touch.