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To Video or not to video, that is the question
By Elisa Delgardio

Splurge on Professional Videography! It may seem to be out of your budget, but can you really afford not to document and preserve those priceless wedding memories?

When a client tells me they don’t want a wedding video I have to stop myself from screaming
“Are you crazy?” But, I know they’re not crazy. As a matter of fact, I can be pretty sure that
they just don’t want a bad wedding video.

After years of ‘blooper’ shows depicting wedding horrors filmed by Uncle Harry, it’s difficult not to cringe when you hear the words ‘wedding video’. After all, we live in the ‘age of media’ where all life’s little occurrences and major events can be documented by anyone with general knowledge of how to operate a camera. There is no shortage of bad video footage; video which is often taken for free and given as a gift to the newly married couple. These homespun videos feature bad sound, terrible lighting, blurred images and enough unsteady and quick moving motion effects to make just about anyone dizzy! In comparison to a professionally produced
tape, the amateur counterpart is really only successful at capturing embarrassing moments and unfortunate mishaps. Professional videographers, on the other hand, specialize in recording and documenting this most special day in a way that will be cherished by all. Many videographers are members of professional associations; recognized associations include the Professional Videographers of America (PVA.com) and the Wedding & Event Videographers Association (WEVA.com). Professional associations require members to be established in their field and adhere to a code of conduct. However, it is most important that a videographer have an occupational license (issued by the county and/or city in which their business is located) and adequate insurance coverage. They should also have good quality recording and editing equipment that is current with today’s technology; this will result in a more superior product. Almost twenty years ago, I was interviewing vendors for my own wedding. Back in the day when wedding videos were relatively new to the market, they were proportionately expensive. I recall my own choice to spend over $1,000. for the best quality video I could afford as opposed to paying half that price for what I considered ‘inferior and unwatchable’. I know some people thought it was frivolous, but I have never regretted the decision. During the first year of marriage, we watched that tape about two dozen times: we shared it with people who couldn’t be at the wedding and we reveled in the segments that made us laugh. As time passed, so did many of our older relatives; their memory lives on in our wedding video. Now, we share the video with our daughter who is ten. By today’s standards, some people view the video as a bit cheesy – I must admit – but it is irreplaceable.

I always suggest to clients that they interview a few professional videographers and view some sample tapes. Where most amateur videos may be boring to watch – especially when you don’t know the participants – an artistically produced high quality video (or DVD) is always enjoyable, heartwarming and meaningful. Then I share with them the hindsight experiences of other couples I’ve worked with. For example, at a recent wedding, the father of the groom surprised the couple with a special song; he arranged for a piano to be set up in the reception room, and then he performed the song he had composed to honor their special day. Although they will always remember this touching moment, they can not re-experience the sounds and emotions with family and friends in the future because there was no video. Susie Weiss, owner of Wonderful Weddings, believes that “video helps to keep the memories alive”. She prefers to see her clients who may be on a tight budget to opt for an inexpensive video package instead of deleting the video altogether. This can often be accomplished by requesting an unedited tape, or foregoing some of the more time intensive “montage” sequences. The WEVA website (www.weva.com) offers a Brides Guide which describes the value of professional video and video styles, among other features. The WEVA site stresses that “talent, technology and time are three key factors which will affect the pricing of your video”.

Booking Tips - It is important to have a Contract or Letter of Agreement that specifically states:

1. Client Contact Info - Names, addresses and phone numbers of the couple, and parents if
necessary
2. Event Info - The day, date, month, year, the type of event (Ceremony, Reception, etc.) and the
start time for each specific event
3. Location Info - Location(s) of the event, complete with names and numbers for key contacts at the
location(s)
4. The amount of coverage time, including start and end times
5. The name of the person(s) (videographers) who are scheduled to cover the event, along with their
emergency contact info
6. Description of the ‘package’ that has been purchased, including the number of cameras, number
of copies, length of the finished DVD/tape, and any special extras such as montages or
interviews, etc.
7. The total cost and payment terms, including costs for overtime and travel (if applicable)
8. The timeframe for returning the finished product to the customer
9. Your rights as a customer in the case of equipment failure, etc.
10. Signatures of all parties involved.

[Written and Submitted by: Elisa Delgardio, PBC A Flair for Affairs_ Orlando, FL USA Member: ABC, ISES, OWP]