I wanted to write this article for many reason, but none more important than to offer some education and insight for the millions of couples getting married each year.
As the wedding industry continues to create innovative new adjectives to describe the same products and services which have been offered for years, I hope this article will help dispel some of the myths about wedding videography.
Choosing a videographer can be an easy task if you know what to look for.
Current trends use words like, “cinematic”, “dramatic” or “documentary” to describe the style of videography a particular company offers.
The reality is that, all wedding videos are documentaries, which by definition is a “motion picture consisting of factual sequences.” What that means is nothing in a wedding is staged or rehearsed (in the formal scenes), creating moments spontaneously, which are captured and edited.
Cinematic videography is yet another way to describe a style or format however, the true meaning of cinematic is “motion photography or motion picture”, and therefore by description all videos are both cinematic documentaries.
What really differentiates one studio from another is the equipment they use, the editing systems, the formats offered, and the experience they have.
Now that the format war is over and BLUE RAY is the clear winner in the High Definition DVD race, your studio should be equipped with a 3 chip, broadcast quality, HD cameras.
In addition, wireless microphones are a must, capturing your vows with incredible digital clarity and of course proper soft lighting.
The next item is the editing system. This area can get a bit confusing for the novice however, we have created a few references which allow you to better qualify your studio.
It does not matter if your editor uses a Macintosh or a PC, what does matter is the edit software they use. The current standards in non-linear editing, includes, but is not limited to CANOPUS, AVID and FINAL CUT for Macintosh users. These software’s, have proven to be among the best, chosen by industry experts. ABACUS STUDIOS USES CANOPUS editing products.
The programs mentioned above are among the best and a good first indication of how experienced your video company is. If you find your studio does not know what software they use, that is a clear sign that they may be subcontracting their work and although there are many great editors who do this work part time, there are many draw backs to a company which uses subcontractor editors.
In many cases, there is a lack of consistency in the end product, since many times there are different systems being used by different editors who have different skill sets. If you work with a production company which does not subcontract their edit work, you are more likely to see a similar quality of work as the sample you saw in the studio, eliminating disappointment after you receive your video. In addition, most studios who send their edit work out usually take longer to complete you video after your wedding, since many of the part time editors have regular day jobs and do this kind of work on the side.
Lastly, full time editors depend on the quality of work they produce and have a goal to make every couple happy for future referrals however, a part time editor does not rely on referrals and often lacks the personal investment which guarantees your wedding video will be edited with your complete satisfaction in mind.
The truth is that there are many great editors out there however, you do not want to leave your wedding video to chance. By ensuring that your video company does all of the editing in their own studio with their own staff, you will ensure yourself a better, more consistent product from a seasoned professional and not uncle Lou, who just got a new computer and decided to try this on the side.
Editors, who edit for a living, usually offer any style of video that you prefer, with consistent high quality edits. The edit is one of the most important part of your video. The edit is what makes a good video great, that is why the movies you watch on television and the theaters take as long or longer to edit as they do to film. The videographer captures hours of video footage, and the editors select only the best footage for your final video. A seasoned professional has the insight and experience to know what footage is good and what footage is bad. Samples, Samples, Samples.
I hope this article helps you make a more educated decision, when selecting a company to capture one of your most treasured days.
Alex