How Much Does Wedding Videography Cost?

After months of planning, and sometimes even years, the big day is finally here.

The venue is prepped and ready for your ceremony and reception, the food is cooking, and the guests are on their way. There is an ominous cloud of hairspray in the bridal suite, makeup applicators are everywhere, and likely someone is making a quick trip to the store for something nobody thought to bring.

The groom finally arrives at the venue and makes a mad dash to the groom’s room to quickly put his tux on just in time for the pre-ceremony photos.

And now the big moment!

The precessional starts, the groom sees his bride for the first time coming down the aisle and sheds a tear. Then the ceremony, I do’s, family photos and portraits, grand entrance, toasts, dances, cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss, sparkler exit, then it’s all done.

Does it really go that fast?

After filming well over 400 weddings, I can say YES! Especially for the bride and groom.

On your wedding day, you will be shuffled off in 20 different directions to get from one event to another, and most of it will be a blur. A fun blur, but a blur! And, while photos are great to hang on the wall and put in an album on the coffee table, they are not a true record of the day to look back on to see what actually happened.

The Bride’s Biggest Regret? Not Hiring A Professional Videographer

According to brides.com, one of the biggest regrets of brides from their wedding day is not hiring a professional videographer. And the key to this is ‘professional’ videographer.

Asking Uncle Bob to set up his camcorder in the back of the ceremony is far from professional and a big gamble if you really want a quality video of your wedding day.

So, now that you are convinced you need a professional wedding video (wink), the big question is; how much does a wedding videographer cost? Well, that is a loaded question.

What Makes A Professional Wedding Videographer – Professional?

Before I get into the nitty gritty about everything that goes into the cost of a professional videographer, let me give an overview of everything you need to know when hiring a wedding videographer and what sets them apart as a professional:

Ask about experience. You can’t redo your wedding so your videographer needs to get it right!
Ask about how many cameras they will use. The more the merrier!
Find out what audio equipment they plan to use. After all, audio is half of video!
Will your videographer use lights if needed? Dark receptions look much better on video when a single light is used to brighten up the scene.
Decide what type of video you want. Highlight video, full feature, featurette, ceremony only. Just remember, the whole day needs to be captured in order to put the footage together no matter what you choose.
Average costs for experienced and well equipped wedding videographers is between $250 and $400 for coverage on your wedding day

Experience

The first thing to take into account is experience. All the best video gear in the world will not make up for the school of hard knocks. Knowing how to react to unexpected situations is an absolute necessity.

There are many wedding videographers out there who have the latest cameras, stabilizers, audio equipment, etc. but have only filmed a handful of weddings (and a couple of them may have been for family members). Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some out there who take to videography naturally and you will end up with a great video. But, this is not a risk you likely want to take. After all, this is your wedding and there are no re-do’s!

So, going with an experienced videographer for your wedding is highly recommended. Of course, experience will cost more.

Cameras and Gear

The second factor you should consider (and ask your potential videographer) is about the gear they will use.

This may sound counterintuitive to what I just said above, but it’s not necessarily about the quality of gear, it is about the RIGHT gear. And, let’s start with cameras. Your videographer should be filming with more than one camera during your ceremony and reception events. If you are looking for a full video of your wedding day this can not be done correctly with only one camera. They should be using a minimum of 2 cameras, and more is better!

Multiple camera angles add variety to the edited video and make it more entertaining. Plus, when there are more cameras, your video is not lost if something goes wrong with one of them.

Audio Equipment

And then there is audio. This is the other half of video that many novice videographers don’t pay attention to.

You can have the best “looking” wedding video but nobody would notice how nice it looks if the audio sounds terrible. Your videographer should be using at least one lavalier microphone on you, your soon-to-be spouse, or your officiant. They should also be using an audio recorder tied into your DJ’s system to record the music and have another source of audio in case the lavaliere fails.

Audio isn’t really noticed….unless it’s bad! So, proper audio equipment is a necessity.

Lighting

Another great thing to ask them is if they will use lighting if needed. Obviously lights are not needed outdoors during the day, but very often, receptions only have creative lighting which is not the best for video.

One strong light is usually enough to improve the image but not take away from the look and ambiance of your reception. The photographer will appreciate the added light as well!

Number Of Videographers

Something to consider is how many videographers will be included. Again, the more the merrier. More “shooters” offer a higher chance of capturing all those wonderful moments at just the right angle.

Two videographers is ideal. With two, the “getting ready moments” can easily be captured for both the bride and groom (even if they are dressing in different locations). And, having one videographer free to move around with a handheld camera adds a lot of variety and creativity to your video.

Video Editing

And now, probably the most confusing part; editing. Editing can make or break a wedding video. Even the best shots and highest quality recordings can seem cheap if not put together correctly.

Editing takes hours upon hours to accomplish and is where a good deal of a videographer’s “style” is developed. One thing to keep in mind; whether you want a highlight video or a full feature video with your entire wedding ceremony and reception events, the videographer has to be there the same amount of time to get the footage.

Whether we are pouring through footage to find all the best moments for a highlight reel, or assembling long clips into a full video, the time in front of the editing computer is nearly the same. I have a lot of couples ask me why a “simple” highlight video is almost the same price as a full video.

How Much Does A Professional Wedding Videographer Cost?

Now that you know the inner workings of a wedding video (probably more than you ever thought you would) and what to ask when on the hunt for your videographer, how much should you expect to pay?

While this is still a loaded question, I will answer it anyway.

Keeping in mind that we are located in the beautiful state of Arizona (because location will have an effect on prices), a videographer who checks all the boxes discussed above should be charging somewhere between $250 to $400 per hour for their time at the wedding then $200 to $500 for your edits.

For instance, our most popular wedding video package is the Signature. This package is $3,200 (as of the day of this blog post) and includes 8 hours of coverage with 2 videographers, up to 4 cameras, audio and lighting as necessary, and a highlight reel and full feature video. Be weary of those offering really low rates such as $50/hr since they may not be confident in their worth because they are not very experienced.

What About Discounts?

Now, these prices may not be in your budget, and I get it. Weddings are expensive and this may be one added cost you just can’t afford.

My first bit of advice on this is to ask about discounts. For example, we offer discounts to members of the military and their family members, first responders, and teachers. Most wedding videographers offer the same types of discounts (and if they don’t, they should!)

Another route you can take is asking your potential wedding videographer if they can work on their price to get closer to your budget. And, this is key! Know your budget, and if you really want a certain videographer, tell them your budget and give them a chance to meet or get close to it.

Weekday weddings are rare and, in most of the country, weddings are seasonal. If your wedding is during the week or off-season, a videographer will likely offer a better price to fill the date.

If you would like to discuss a wedding video with us, Dynamic Video Solutions offer free consultations and would be happy to help.

How Much Should You Spend On A Wedding Video?