Wedding videographers' advice?

omar wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:02 AM
Hi, guys I was hoping the wedding videographers could post here. I am wondering about how you charge your clients and the process you go through in working with the clients before the wedding and preparing for your shoot? What are things you consider about the wedding before the actual shoot to prepare?

Do you take a lot of special requests or do you get the freedom to put together your own final cut.

Comments

DJPadre wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:31 AM
holy shit dude..
thats like asking someone to hand you their business model..
No offense, but with ANY business, basic research is a priority.. If youve never done any wedding work in the past, and feel that this might be a way to make a quick buck, think again.. One thign i would strongly recomend would be to shoot for other companies and see how they work their clients. this way you wil get some insight into creating your own model

Noone can tell you how to structure a business. Only u can based on what u can and cant do and what your willing to do for X amount of dollars



jrazz wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:35 AM
What are necessitties you need to know about the wedding before the actual shoot to prepare?

Note this well: BE PICKY. If you see that the person that is wanting to hire you to film their wedding is overbearing an unrealistic, your product will never be good enough and you CANNOT please them. This also holds true for Mother's and Mother-in-laws. At any time in the process (as long as you have not been paid and signed a contract) you can choose to opt out and I would every time. It is good to pass up business that you will not get referrals or good comments from to save yourself from the headache of dealing with people like that. Usually you can tell this during the first consultation. All you have to tell them is that you think you cannot give them what it is they are looking for in a wedding video and explain that their are others out there who can possibly meet their needs.

Charges: They are based on where you live and the going rate as well as the quality of your work and time involved. Don't undercut your competition by offering extremely low prices just to get the job. Be fair and let your work speak for itself. If you are just starting out, film a friends wedding explaining to them that this is your first and you would like to give what you come up with to them as a free gift. Use this to learn what you need to do better next time. I would consider asking a professional somewhere that is not in direct competition with you (a neighboring state or a big city 3-4 hours away) if they would mind letting you shadow them and help carry equipment or help edit some, etc if they will let you tag along. This can be helpful to you.

Special requests: I usually take the freedom to do what I want and what looks good as they consider me "the expert" and "I know what I am doing". They see things that I have done in my other videos and ask if I can incorporate some of them into theirs.

One other thing- the rehearsal is almost always lighted different than the ceremony. Make sure you let them know that you NEED an accurate portrayal of the lighting so that you can A. adjust your cameras accordingly, or B be realistic with them and let them know that the lighting will not make for a good wedding video.
Just my 2 cents,

j razz
dand9959 wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:39 AM
Visit Video University forums at

http://www.videouniversity.com/forums/gforum.cgi?forum=16;

That's where the wedding videographers hang out. You can pay $25 for posting priveleges and get answers to any questions you have.
omar wrote on 6/15/2006, 7:13 PM
> holy shit dude..

I'm sorry but this isn't the forum for "Spiderman: the movie". This is a place for respectful, well educated folks who can speak a full sentence without cursing.

By the way, despite the fact that the questions were not things you shouldn't be able to explain to any of your clients on the spot (if you really do have a business model and even know what it is), you're talking to someone who conducts and writes real, published research for a living.
omar wrote on 6/15/2006, 7:15 PM
> Note this well: BE PICKY.

Thanks J. I actually know exactly what you're talking about. It's no different than many other business transaction I guess. Have you ever used more than one camera to shoot?
jrazz wrote on 6/15/2006, 8:01 PM
Have you ever used more than one camera to shoot?
Yes, I have used up to 4 and I normally use 3.

j razz
DJPadre wrote on 6/15/2006, 10:06 PM
Sorry couldnt help but giggle...

"I'm sorry but this isn't the forum for "Spiderman: the movie". This is a place for respectful, well educated folks who can speak a full sentence without cursing. "

I guess im not wecome here being a disrespectful and uneducated aussie lout that i am...

"By the way, despite the fact that the questions were not things you shouldn't be able to explain to any of your clients on the spot (if you really do have a business model and even know what it is), you're talking to someone who conducts and writes real, published research for a living. "

((good for you mate... Im trully happy for ya... i was actually going to offer to send you my 8 page General agreement and conditional requirements information forms which i offer to all my clients on a daily basis. But you obviously dont need that kinda of information.

You obviously dont know me, so i would strongly recommend you not assume the worst of people before jumping the gun. If you knew my sense of humour, then youd know that snide comments will get you nowhere.

As for weddings, FYI, i do 60 a year on average and im yet to have an issue with my business model or have anything backfire on me becuase i was not prepared. I also train fellow professionals, distribute software and assist with training seminars/tradeshows for afew distributors here in Aus... so my business model is quite successful if you consider an abundance of work which is now "jobs by choice" to be successful

In your case, considering you're "someone who conducts and writes real, published research for a living. " i would recomend you do further reseach before deciding to go ahead with it, because one thing that will not doing you any favours is a hoity toity attitude in an industry which is littered with misinformed, uneducated clients who
will go out of their way to squeeze as much from you as possible.
Be human and you wont have an issue..

Have a good business model, a procedural workflow that works FOR YOU, a good attitude which is NOT above anyone else (clients WILL notice your attitude before anything else) and above all an airtight contract which protects YOU and the client, written in a manner where the client can clearly see what you do and how you will do it.

As for cameras, i would always recomend a backup. I use no less than 2 on any given job and carry a further 2 as backups and redundant audio/video