Weddingguide


	YOUR WEDDING DVD
	by Olive Juice Productions

	Someone once asked us that if you had the option to choose between (a) an
	album with photos taken at your grandparents wedding or (b) a video taken of
	their wedding day in full colour and sound, which will you choose? Sadly,
	today about 40% of bridal couples choose to go without a professional
	videographer.
	Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life, filled with
	precious moments and you need to keep the best record of it to treasure.

	Do you want a DVD?
	If you aren’t sure whether you really want a wedding DVD, our advice is to do
	it! This day which involved so much planning, excitement, anxiety (to name
	only a few!) will be over in only a couple of hours and a DVD will help you to
	relive the romance, emotions, love, sights, laughter, sounds and even
	moments that you would never have seen otherwise.

	Think of the hustle and bustle to get to the church in time, exchanging your
	wedding vows, opening the dance floor with your special song and those silly
	(yet wonderful) toasts given by friends and picture it in life-like moving images.
	A wedding DVD is something to treasure for many years to come. We had
	many couples who when first seeing their DVD said they can’t believe they
	even considered not having a DVD.

	Options Available
	You don’t have to go through a lot of trouble to find someone who will
	produce your DVD for cheap (or even for free!). Except for cheap options, there
	are usually many friends and family members who are very keen on filming
	and editing your wedding day. Unfortunately there are many aspects of
	videography that can only be learned through experience and your wedding
	day is too important to trust an amateur.

	Wedding budgets are tight these days and the DVDs are most likely to stand
	out as an area where money can be saved. If you decide to go for a cheaper
	option or ask a friend to do the job, remember that they will not have the
	technical skill to capture the event and edit it into a high quality product.
	Make sure you understand and accept this fact. So, go for the best option that
	you can afford, because at the end of the day any video footage is better than
	no video footage at all.

	Video vs Photo
	Both of these art forms are very expensive and it is tempting to choose one
	over the other. Couples will easily say that they already have a professional
	photographer to capture the day’s events, so why do they need a
	videographer. It should be noted, however, that live film was never intended
	to interfere with photography (and vice versa). These two should in fact
	compliment each other. Wedding photographers capture portraits that are
	essential for your perfect day, but a photo can only capture one moment in
	time.





	Videographers capture all of the emotions and hidden moments with
	live film to create a video story with motion and audio.
	Professional videographers will spend from about four to ten hours with you on
	your wedding day, and another 35 to 50 hours editing the video footage by
	adding graphics, music and other special effects. You should therefore budget
	an amount similar to your photography budget (or more) if you keep in mind
	that the videographer needs to be reimbursed for his professional equipment,
	time and experience.

	Video Tips
	When looking for a videographer, the following should be the most important
	to the bridal couple:
	Personality: the videographer’s personality and editing style should be
	compatible with yours. Some videographers, for example, like to play around
	with their couples and let them do fun things, but some people are more
	reserved and are more comfortable with a more conservative or “fly-on-the-
	wall” style.
	Quality: look at the quality of the videographer’s end product. Take the time
	and look at samples of his/her work, as well as a couple of full-length DVDs.
	The picture should be crisp and in-focus (and not make you sea-sick), the
	audio clear and the final product need to keep your attention throughout the
	entire DVD.
	People: the final product should be able to give you a glimpse of the
	emotions and feelings of the people on that day. The couples and guests
	should not look uncomfortable in front of the camera.
	Equipment (and use thereof): ask him/her how many cameras (and
	cameramen) are included in the package to cover the day, what type of
	lighting are used (stand-alone soft-box lights, lights mounted on the cameras
	or no lights) and are microphones used for clear audio.
	Read the contract (and the fine-print!): There are many different packages
	available, but be on the lookout for extra costs, like travelling, accommodation
	required and paying extra for more coverage and copies, etc. All of these
	could impact on the final price.
	The videographers who will be shooting the DVD on your wedding day should
	be able to meet you for a pre-wedding discussion to go through all the details
	(and there are so many) of the day. This will ensure that everybody is aligned
	and know what is expected of them.
	A professionally shot and edited DVD of your wedding day is a family
	heirloom that can be treasured for many years to come and you should
	therefore certainly explore and discuss this option further. You may need to
	manipulate your wedding budget to accommodate this, but if you can
	somehow manage, find a way to get the best videographers you can afford.
	To preserve your wedding story forever will be a decision that you won’t regret.
	Just remember that you can always discard a DVD that you don’t like, but you
	can’t create a DVD that you didn’t shoot!