Wedding Forum - Videographer or no videographer?...

A videographer was never something which was on my 'to book' list. When i told my MIL this she was shocked and feels like the day will go to fast to remember and the video is something to see the parts i might miss. Im now torn and would appreciate peoples opinions. Also, if anyone is in the north east region is their any company you would recommend?

I hate myself on video. We didn't have a videographer,we were happy to pay for an amazing photographer but I've never regretted not having a videographer. Nobody should pressure you if you don't want one, just say a firm no you're not having one and they'll just have to get over it x

If you don't mind seeing yourself on video it's a good idea. Your day will fly by, and as much as you try to take it all in, much of it can be a blur. It's a lovely way of remembering, and filling in the gaps as you'll be on cloud 9 on the day

The whole wedding video thing isn't really for us, we have a fab photographer so that's all we want. Both h2b and I have good visual memories so we don't need a videographer :)

They can be expensive. We got my uncle and cousin to just do an amateur recording of the day and it turned out great.

@charlotte - thats a great idea

I love having the wedding video. It's great to have it to watch, and to give to people who couldn't come. I think it was well worth doing. Plus we can see things that we weren't aware of at the time.

Personally, I would no way pay for someone to capture all my sides! I want beautifully edited images and I would just feel so unattractive looking at a video!

My cousin is a film director in Bradford if that's any use? He is a uni student, that has one several awards, filmed music concerts for girls aloud amongst others and is currently working part time filming look north! I don't know what his prices are like or even whether he would do a wedding, but I will happily put you in contact. Presumably as a student, it would be cheaper, but his portfolio is outstanding, so you know you are going to get some good footage. Obviously can't put details here, but if you want details let me know and I will put some info on your wall.

We had a videographer and I'm so glad we did! the day went by so fast and the video has picked up so many moments that we missed! IT's great re-Living the day through the video and seeing all our guests' faces when I walked into the church, and seeing my husband's face when he first saw me walking down the aisle towards him. We went off with our photographer for an hour and a half after the ceremony for photographs in the forestry, so we missed the guests' reactions and everything that went on at the reception before we got there. The video has shown us all that, and I don't feel like we missed out on it now! The photographers couldn't be everywhere at once and with having the videographer aswell we got amazing coverage of the day from all perspectives. I was very fortunate in that my father-in-law is a wedding videographer and did ours for us as our gift but I would still have paid for one even if he wasn't.

Originally my OH and I outright said no we do not want a videographer and then everyone I spoke to who didn't have one either said they wish they did because the day was just a blur and even though they dont like seeing themselves on video it would be something nice to look back on... so this coupled with an amazing deal we found we thought... hell, lets do it! and now we have one booked and I am so happy we have as I know I will want to watch it especially when we have kids.

Look at a few....i found that I would get emotional at other peoples weddings and felt like you got an idea of the entire feel of the day which you just can't grasp in pictures, yes it is expensive but it depends what you want! Some people don't get the same thing from video in which case not for them.....my h2b is v so so about it but we both got 1 thing which the other wasn't fussed about, mine was a videographer his was a hog roast haha

I have removed anything that felt like advertising due to the mods removing my post, its worth noting that I pay to advertise on UKBride so its amazing that the mods removed my previous post when it was actually helpful IMO any reference to WE I am talking about videographers in general.

I feel reading this, like I need to dispel a few myths so here goes.

RE: Getting in the way of the Photographer - Photographers & Videographers should work well together on the day, if you are unsure about this ask both of them if either has a problem working with the other. Their reactions should tell you a story. We certainly happily work with photographers and actively make effort to not get in each others way (inevitably it happens sometimes).

RE: Cost - Yes we are expensive, like Photographers, in fact I know the last few shoots we have done, we have much more equipment than a Photographer and come in cheaper usually. We have to have sound equipment, cranes, dollys, sliders amongst other crazy equipment to ensure we capture everything. (Excellent) Sound equipment alone costs as much as a good DSLR if not more.

RE: Hating the sound of your voice / not wanting to be filmed - For the most part we look and feel like Photographers, we use DSLR camera's to capture the film and we have similar tripods etc, for the highlight video we use music and only use ceremony / speeches in the longer private video you get for personal use. If you don't want your voice in it, we wont use it and that goes for what is filmed, we have a meeting with you and you dictate which parts we capture, exactly like the Photographer does.

RE: iPhone Videos - OK so the same goes for the Photographer here, its not just about the video, its about the editing, creativity, sound quality and experience. Yes you can get Uncle Dave to film it on his iPhone and yes they film HD these days, check some of these DIY videos on YouTube and they instantly remind you why iPhone videos don't capture your day in the way you want.

RE: Memories - There's parts of the day you, as a bride / groom do not see, people travelling on the bus, the other half getting makeup / hair done etc, the fine details you have spent 12 / 24 / 36 months planning that disappear within 24 hours. This is what videographers capture.

RE: students - you're right they will try their best and you may find a few that do a good job but we (good videographers in general not just us) do a great job as its our business to do so, experience counts for a lot in this industry and whilst everyone needs a step on that ladder, for that one day I can't get back, I'll choose experience.

Lastly, I got married in May and of course we had it filmed, I had a Photographer too, a Photobooth and all the other things my beautiful wife told me we needed, it was expensive, I am still paying for parts of it but you know what, I don't regret a thing,
and despite being ill it actually looks like an amazing day, which it was.
Thanks for reading if you did manage to get this far :)
Matt