Finding the Right Wedding Videographer

With the average cost of a wedding today literally breaking records…Many people wait until they have the other details nailed down before finding a wedding videographer.  Some know for sure they want a wedding video, and I’ve even been told they know exactly who they want before looking, but for those who are unsure or need some tips on finding the perfect fit, here are some questions to ask yourself to find the best wedding videographer for your South Dakota or Minnesota Wedding:

1. Do you like their work?
When you watch their video examples, do you get teary-eyed or feel connected to the couple? If you want someone who can truly capture your emotion and personality through videography, make sure you watch multiple examples of their work to get a sense for their style, what type of feeling they give you, and how they make the other couples look.

2. Do you like their personality?
If you like someone’s work, its important to setup a one-on-one meeting with them. This videographer is going to be a big part of your wedding day. They will be with you from the very beginning to the very end. You need to feel comfortable being yourself and relaxed, not only for your wedding video to truly show who you are and capture your day, but also to let you enjoy yourself and forget you’re even being filmed. A good videographer will mesh well with you, be seen when you need them, and be a fly on the wall the rest of the day.

3. Do you understand what they offer?
Make sure you read through their packages and understand what they deliver. If you have a question, now’s the time to ask. Don’t be afraid to ask the smallest question if you’re not clear on something. This is what they do every day, if something doesn’t make sense to you as the bride or groom who only does this once, tell them. Be the first person to ask a question and maybe you’ll help other brides down the road.

4. Do they fit into your budget?
In today’s age when anyone with $100 can buy a digital camera, wedding videography can range from $0 for a friend to $50,000 for a top tier pro. We are lucky to have choices today, but be careful you understand why someone costs what they do. Are they truly worth the cost based on their work you’ve seen and what they provide? Or are they just pricing their services to be competitive when they don’t really offer what others in the same price range do? It’s a good thing to look around and find someone that fits your budget. If you’re in the Twins Cities or Sioux Falls area, expect to spend around $2000 to $4500+ for a good highlight film and a videographer who stays with you throughout your day. That number jumps even higher depending on where you’re looking or what you’re adding on, so be sure to shop around and think about the above questions before making a decision on the price.

5. Will you regret not having it?
So you like their work, you love their personality and you clearly understand what they offer, but their price is just not fitting in. You budgeted $500, and they are 4 times that amount…. ask yourself if you’ll regret it. In thirty years when you want to remember your day, will you pull out a 3 hour long DVD courtesy of Uncle Bob and fast forward to the parts you think you wanted to see? Or would you rather pull up a cinematic film of your special moments meticulously put together to replay the emotion of the day?  The choice is up to you.

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If you’re looking for a wedding video to capture your Sioux Falls wedding or Twin Cities ceremony, feel free to check out a few of my examples. If you like what you see – let me know! I’ll send you a pricing sheet, no strings attached. If you’re still interested, I usually like to buy you coffee, sit down, and help you review my packages so you can compare me with others on your list.

Good luck planning your big day!