5 Essential Tips For Choosing The Right Wedding Videographer

Your big day goes by in a flash. Before you know it, people are saying their goodbyes and heading out the door. Of course you'll have a photographer to capture the most beautiful moments of the day, but nothing captures the essence and emotion of your special day quite like a professional wedding video.

At Long's, we're always helping our customers past the initial proposal. As you start to plan out the details of your wedding, we highly recommend considering a videographer. But where do you start when it comes to choosing the right one? We reached out to the local Boston experts at McElroy Weddings to give us some of their top tips for choosing the best video company.

1. Do your research - Look up reviews and awards

Just like with any vendor for your wedding, step #1 is always to look up reviews online as well as awards the videographer may have received. This one may seem obvious, but just because the demo reel you saw on their website looked amazing doesn't mean the company has the best reputation, or they may be difficult to work with.

Use websites like Wedding Wire, Facebook and The Knot to investigate different video companies in the area. All the information listed on these platforms are typically accurate and up-to-date. There are ways to see what awards, reviews and badges the company has received.

McElroy Weddings Pro Tip: "Always remember to look at the most recent reviews and not just featured reviews." Relevance is key, and things may have changed over the years .

2. Ask around to figure out the reputation of the videographer

McElroy Weddings Pro Tip: "Check with your photographer or wedding planner to see if they have heard of the video company you're interested in hiring."

Having a good reputation and loyal connections go a long way. If you hear nothing but good things about the videographer from your venue, photographer, etc, it's a good indication that they are well known in the wedding industry and do excellent work (since other people are putting their name on the line for them). It also shows that they have good communication skills, which is crucial when it comes to videography and the client’s needs/wants.

3. Start your search early!

When it comes to booking your vendors, a lot of companies book up pretty quickly. Securing a photographer and videographer is one of the first things people do after getting engaged, so you'll want to act fast to make sure you get who you want.

The sooner the better! That way, the process is not rushed, and you have time to work through all the details of your wedding day with them. Also it’s less stressful knowing that you have your dream videographer confirmed.

McElroy Weddings Pro Tip: "Typically, wedding video companies will book 6-12 months in advance."

4. Figure out how many videographers you actually need & how much it'll cost

Let’s face it, weddings can be pricey. A general price range for videography can vary from $2,500 - $5,000. It all depends on the company you want to go with and the different packages they offer their clients. Typically, companies offer a minimum of 2 videographers to cover the client’s wedding. This ensures that there is multi-cam coverage as well as simultaneous shooting in separate locations. Make sure to get a price sheet or breakdown of the costs involved.

McElroy Weddings Pro Tip: "Most companies are forced to pay sales tax on their packages, so factor that into the cost as well."

5. Ask about the videographer's approach and the quality of the final product

McElroy Weddings Pro Tip: "The wedding videographer should not be obtrusive to the wedding. They still should be able to capture candid moments without putting anyone on the spot that doesn't necessarily feel comfortable on camera. It should be as if the videographer isn’t even there."

If there is great footage, then it makes the editing process run smoother. It's good to look at the video company's work before choosing them. Make sure that it's the style that you are aiming for and that the quality of the video is also what you are looking for. You want your video to tell your wedding story! Make sure that the videographer is able to capture the love and happiness that comes with your big day.

Still looking for the perfect videographer for your New England wedding? Take a peek at McElroy Wedding's 2016 Demo Video to see some of their amazing work!

Still looking for your perfect his and her wedding rings? Long's has the largest selection of weddings bands in New England! Make an appointment with a Long's wedding specialist or visit any of our five retail locations.