Choosing your Sacramento Wedding Videographer

by Mike  Jensen - Jensen Wedding Films
 

Perhaps we should begin with the question, "Should I even hire a Professional Wedding Videographer?" For a bride on a budget (and you probably are) Professional Wedding Video may near the bottom of the list of wedding priorities.  However, consider the following three statistics in a national survey of brides:

  • Before the wedding, 54% of brides rank video as one of the Top 10 most important bridal services.  That number goes up to 79% AFTER the wedding. 

  • 49% of brides that hired a friend or family member to tape their wedding wished they had hired a professional wedding videographer.

  • Brides that had their weddings videotaped by professionals felt that video more fully captured the emotion of the wedding day (54% video vs. 27% photography), and recorded the history of the wedding day better (60% video vs. 25% photography).

Professional Wedding Video has made remarkable progress in the last few years. The new digital cameras can capture your day in razor sharp detail and lifelike color. Most of today's professional video cameras are extremely light sensitive - rendering stunning quality even at your dimly lit wedding or reception. And new shooting and editing techniques not only make wedding videographers less obtrusive, but more creative. 

Your finished DVD's have an average shelf life of up to 200 years, and if properly stored may outlast your photographs.  Interactive chapters in these DVD's allow you to instantly view any part of your wedding video, your vows, cake cutting, baby pictures, etc.

Ultimately, a professionally produced wedding video captures the powerful emotions of the wedding day like no other medium.  The quality and longevity of today's wedding video is also an heirloom for tomorrow- for generations to come. 

What would you rather have from your grandparents wedding:

  A. Your grandmothers wedding dress, B.Your grandmothers dried and preserved wedding bouquet C. The wedding photos, or D. A video powerfully capturing the essence of their wedding day?.   Many former brides feel strongly that their  video was their best wedding investment.

Finding your Wedding Videographer

  1. The best way is through referral. Ask your photographer, your caterer, or your florist. Ask recently married friends who have been happy with their videographer.

  2. Attend a Bridal Show where several videographers' are showing their work. Book appointments at the show to see full-length video at your wedding location. Remember that you are not buying a wedding demo but a full-length video. And don't forget the videographer's listed on this website!

  3. Don't wait to book your wedding videographer last. The best wedding videographers are booked well into the following year. Don't be caught having to settle for "second best."

  4. The quality of Professional Wedding Video may vary dramatically from company to company. In the Sacramento Market, expect to pay between $1000-$4000. The average price for quality wedding videography is about $2,500.  You will usually pay for what you get. Professional Wedding Video is an investment.  Poorly produced wedding video will have much less value in the future than will a polished, well shot and edited record of your day.
     
  5. Make experience and creativity major priorities. Preferably, when you interview prospective wedding videographers you should view full-length work from your wedding and reception venue.  Avoid booking your wedding videographer solely on the merits of the demo.  Pay equal attention to the quality of the audio as well as the video as you view your prospective Videographer's work.   Unfortunately, some videographers attempt to sell the latest video gear or effects, but may lack the experience to use them properly. What really matters is great camera work, timely editing, and creative artistry. That usually comes with years of experience and continuing education. Many of Sacramento's best wedding videographers belong to the Sacramento Professional Videographer's Association (SPVA) and WEVA International (Wedding and Event Videographer's Association).  These professional organizations offer the latest techniques to hone the skills of the nations best videographers.  Is your wedding videographer an active member?

 

Professional Wedding Videographers from Sacramento and from around the country recently set a new World Record for the number of video cameras to professionally video tape a wedding at the Tsukopoulos Library Galleria!- view here
© 2000, 2006 Mike Jensen
Jensen Wedding Films
Sacramento, CA
(916) 334-9999


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