Videographers

People often ask whether they should hire a videographer in addition to their stills photographer. Obviously this is a hugely personal decision but it’s worth bearing in mind the following points:

The old proverb ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’ is never more true than for wedding photography. There is only ever one perfect spot to stand, one perfect angle from which to view an event. If you hire two videographers plus two photographers then there will be inevitable frictions. Each wants to do the best job possible – and that means getting in the right spot before the next person! Sometimes the presence of one has a hugely detrimental effect on the work the other is able to produce.

Perhaps these images of videographers at work will clarify what we mean. In each case the videographer would have obtained superb footage, but at the expense of the stills photography.

It is vital that before the wedding the roles of each are carefully delineated, so that each knows who has priority at any given stage of the wedding. If possible get both videographer and stills photographer to sign a contract saying who has priority at each of the key points of the day. At Aurora Studio we always ask that this be done. We would hate that there be any misunderstanding which could cause the bride and groom not to get the photography or the video they wish.

Just as there are different styles of stills photography, so too there are of videography. DO check both out carefully and ensure that each is giving you exactly the type of coverage you require – and that each is compatible with the other. Let me give an example.

At Aurora Studio we don’t do stress – we work incredibly quickly and with huge passion and enthusiasm for what we do. Our formal group photographs rarely take longer than five minutes and our romantic photography looks such fun because it is. The couple feed off our enthusiasm, become very relaxed and act completely naturally with each other. It is their emotion towards each other which we capture.

That’s great. It’s what our style is all about and it’s what our clients book us to do. But very occasionally we encounter  some videographers  who simply can not work with this more modern and creative approach. They insist that the photographer’s role is to create tableau after tableau of group poses. After each is set up they demand that the photographer step aside so that they can video what he has just photographed. So too, with the romantic shots.

Can you see how this creates problems? If we have priority then the videographer can not do his job, because videoing set tableau is what he believes his job to be. If the videographer has priority then ‘our’ photography is destroyed. Instead of the movement, life and captured emotion that epitomises our work, our images becomes on a par with that of much more traditional photographers and are guaranteed to disappoint the bride and groom.

So, if you do decide to have both media covering your wedding then for your own happiness DO check that there is no clash in their styles of working. If there is then decide which media has priority and ask them to advise on companies they can work with easily. I’m afraid I can’t recommend videographers to support traditional photography but if your style of photography is more relaxed and contemporary then I can definitely recommend  two good guys on the Lincolnshire videography scene – Dreamscene of  Grimsby and Raw Liquid Media of Lincoln. These companies are both thoroughly professional and reliable with operators who believe in putting the bride first and carrying out her wishes exactly.