How Much Does a GREAT Wedding Videographer Cost
How Much Does a Wedding Videographer Cost?
When it comes to wedding planning, one of the most important decisions a couple will make is choosing who will capture their big day on film. Wedding Videographer cost is certainly an investment, but it’s worth it to have a beautiful record of your wedding day that you can watch and share for years to come. Here are some tips for finding the right videographer and understanding the cost.
Figuring out what Wedding Videographers Cost
According to popular Wedding websites like Wedding Wire & The Knot, a Wedding Videographer cost ranges from $1,000-$2,500. But, I’ve seen videographers in the Erie, Pa area charge as little $700 and as much as $6,000. So, who do you trust and how much do you budget? It can be a very challenging area to make a decision. In addition, it’s a decision you need to make early on in your wedding planning. You’ll need to put aside money in your wedding budget. Also, you’ll need to check and make sure the pros you like are available. If you wait too long you won’t be able to find someone you can trust.
What Goes into Wedding Videographer Cost?
First, you might be wondering what goes into Wedding Videographer Cost? After all, it’s only a 6 hour day, right? So…so…so…wrong. Let’s break it down for you.
The Gear
The first thing that you need to consider is the gear or equipment a wedding videographer is offering you. Just like with everything else in life there are levels of quality. If a Wedding Videographer is quoting you below the local average cost, you can bet he’s using low quality or beginner gear. This means more chance for mistakes and missing key moments of your wedding day. These are moments you can’t get back, ever. In addition, wedding video coverage is more than just the visuals. It’s the audio too. A low cost videographer may not bring proper audio recording equipment with them. If they do bring some, they may not understand how to use it properly. This is important to know if listening to your vows is your dream.
On the other side, a Wedding Videographer who is quoting you on the higher end, most likely has invested in higher quality gear. Some of these pros purchase equipment that is movie making quality. The visual and audio production will leave you feeling like a Hollywood star in your own feature film.
The Experience
This is a core piece of the Wedding Videographer Cost puzzle that you can find out right away. Simply ask: How many years of experience do you have filming weddings? Add to that: How many weddings have you filmed? And then ask the very important question: How many weddings do you accept per year? Follow with: How many weddings do you film per day?
You want to make sure you’re happy with all of these answers before hiring anyone. Just because $700 sounds like a good deal, doesn’t mean it is if they don’t have the experience to capture your wedding day and preserve the feelings. There is not right or wrong answer for how many weddings or how many years will make someone worth it, but they should be honest with you. And, if your budget is lower and they are honest and tell you they don’t have any experienvce and are learning, well at least they are honest and you know what to expect.
An experienced pro is going to charge more because you’re paying for his real life learning. He’s been through it all. He’s had grandma stand in front of him with a cell phone blocking his view. He’s had to deal with all sorts of emergencies, lighting conditions, personalities, and things that would make you shudder. He’s used all of these moments to learn and grow. He’s well seasoned and worth your investment.
The Time
Finally, the time. This goes back to our orignal mis-conception of Wedding Videographer Cost. After all, it’s only 6 hours. Why does it cost so much?
Easy answer: It’s not just 6 hours. Let’s break it down here:
- Pre-wedding time (meetings, emails, story boarding, etc.) 8-15 hours
- Day before Wedding (checking, prepping and packing gear) 5-10 hours
- Wedding Day (loading gear, travel, unloading, setting up, reviewing plans, shooting, reloading, travel, unloading) 10-15 hours
- After Wedding Day (Sorting film clips, selecting clips, editing, syncing audio, syncing music selections, buffering) 30-60 hours
You can see that the hours invested by a professional range from 53-100. Now, imagine you’ve only set aside $700 for your wedding film. That breaks down to $7 an hour. That’s less than minimum wage. Do you trust someone who values their service as worth less than minimum wage to preserve your wedding day memories? I bet you had no idea that’s how much work goes into a 5-20 minute wedding film. It’s something most couples never consider. Wedding Videogr
So, What Does Erie Wedding Videography Cost?
After reading this you’re probably wondering how much our Wedding Videographer Costs? Our team prides itself on taking the time to get to know our clients so we can create a breath taking wedding film that perfectly highlights your day. Reach out for more information and to talk to our In House Wedding Coordinator.
Find out: Why You’ll NEVER Regret Investing in a Wedding Videographer!
