Videography Opinions/Advice Needed

ArynBaker · February 2012

So I am having a low budget wedding and originally videography didn't fit into the picture, however I have managed to stay at or under budget for everything thus far and now have two options for videography and need advice on which to choose.

The first is four hours of unedited video. The second is an edited full ceremony coverage package. Both are the exact same price.

I can't decide if it would be better to have the raw footage of some of the reception as well as the ceremony or the already nicely edited video of the ceremony. The ceremony is the main part I want to be recorded, obviously, so I don't know if having to find an editor is worth the 3 hours of reception footage. Opinions?

lopezalonso · February 2012

Most places offer the raw footage in addition to the edited version. Does he second vendor not do this? I'd prefer the raw footage and would get it edited at a later time. You can always shorten it but you can't ever get back the memories someone else cut out.

StephieDee · February 2012

I think having the 4 hours unedited would be my choice. There's a lot of other meaningful moments besides the ceremony that I'd want on film.

What part of NC are you in? I'm in western NC and found a videographer on Craigslist. His videos are great and he had some references that I checked. He's filming for 5 hours plus editing for about 1/2 of what other people were charging. I can give you his contact information if you're interested.

ArynBaker · February 2012

Lopez, The second vendor would still give us unedited footage but it would only be of the ceremony.

Stephie, I'm in Eastern NC, but the wedding will be in Raleigh. I would love the contact info! Maybe he'll travel a bit. Thank you!

tidetravel · February 2012

Another option would be to upgrade your photography package (I don't know what you are currently planning). For us, we chose to spend that part of the budget on a great photographer, and skipped the videographer all together. I am really glad that we did because the memories that those pictures bring out are so much better, IMO, than any footage could have been.

musicalsunlight · February 2012

Holy everything, Tide's sig makes my heart grow.

This is a tough question. I want to say the 4 hours unedited, but if ceremony is most important to you, maybe having it edited might make you happier in the end. Is it just a one shooter straight on type style or is it more in line with a contemporary videographer? I was in a similar place as you, when I hired my videographer about 2 weeks before the wedding because a place in the budget opened up. I was so so happy I did, too. I can't wait to get the edited video back, so which ever decision you go with, I know you will at least be happy that you have some video! I didn't regret it at all.

tidetravel · February 2012

Awww. Thank you MuSu

StephieDee · February 2012

Aryn, for some reason private messages are being wonky right now and won't let me submit anything. I'll try again tomorrow!

thevegetariana · February 2012

Stephie, will you send me the info too pretty please? Whenever PMs work, of course.

LP11509 · February 2012

We didn't hire a videographer but our church had a built in camera up in the rafters. We just brought a blank DVD with us and one of the church staff members just hit record. The church gave it to us for free. My FIL also has one of those Flip video recorders and recorded parts of the ceremony himself. H edited them himself on his computer to blend the 2 videos together, so we have some "wide" footage from the church mixed with close-up footage from FIL. It turned out really cool, and it was free except for he cost of a blank DVD. IDK if it would be logistically possible for you to do something similar with your raw footage if your venue/a family member has a camera available?

Either way, I would probably still go with the raw footage. We don't have any video of the reception and I kind of wish we did now.

noodle_oo · February 2012

I'd go with the edited ceremony. Edited footage is 1000x better than unedited. Unless you will really pay to have it edited later on, you'll never watch the unedited footage because it is a mess until they clean it up. Is there any way you can save up to do 4 hrs edited? Or find a cheaper guy to do it? I have to say I love my video more than our photos. I love seeing and hearing everyone on it. And there are way more people on the video (extended family and friends) than in the photos (pretty much just us, parents and wedding party). Definitely get the video however you can best afford it.

MissNay1019 · February 2012

You could go either way, but be prepared for what raw footage really is. The videographer never turns off the camera (you will see floor, ceiling,etc.), it is very chaotic, there is no color correction or anything like that. You will probably wind up wishing you got the edited one because raw footage looks terrible.

The only way I would get raw footage is if the person who shot it could edit it for me after the wedding (maybe with cash you get from the wedding). It is very hard to edit someone else's video as you tend to shoot with the end product in mind and what you need to make it look good.

I personally would get the ceremony done with editing. Then I would have family/friends video the first dance/entrance/cake cutting at the reception to capture the moments.

ArynBaker · February 2012

Thank you all very much! You all posed good points and I will be asking both vendors a few more questions before deciding anything final.

kateguess22 · February 2012

Definitely edited. If you aren't having it professionally edited, it makes less sense to go with a videographer than to just have a friend videotape it, you know? They can do such a smooth editing job. We are purchasing a 2 hour edited video from our videographer.

lopezalonso · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_videography-opinionsadvice-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:195a36c5-f797-43a7-8a56-5efb7d6d2c28Post:08e6d93e-1b93-45af-9061-afc157e6ce7b">Re: Videography Opinions/Advice Needed</a>:
[QUOTE]Definitely edited. If you aren't having it professionally edited, it makes less sense to go with a videographer than to just have a friend videotape it, you know? They can do such a smooth editing job. We are purchasing a 2 hour edited video from our videographer.
Posted by kateguess22[/QUOTE]

I change my mind about the unedited being better. I agree with this post. As log as you are not getting just a 15 minute edited version, the edited sounds better.

lacey3eb · February 2012

I'd say edited. But we're in NC, too, and our videographer charges $600 for all day and edited videos. He's traveling to Charlotte for us, no travel fees. If you want the info, let me know, not sure if that's in your budget. He did our friends wedding and we LOVE the videos they posted.

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