What You Can Expect A Wedding Videographer To Cost In New England?
When looking for a wedding videographer for your special day, cost is a huge factor in who you choose. Wedding videography ranges in cost depending on a few factors such as experience, portfolio films, personality, care, integrity and dependability. These are what changes cost based on the person or company who films the wedding. However, wedding videography also ranges in cost by the package that is booked as well. These include the amount of hours, film length, location, travel, number of videographers, and additional services that are included in the video package.
Wedding Videography Costs Based On The Individual
Most of the time consumers overlook the fact that when you are buying into film/video products, the end result isn't strictly the only factor to look at. You as the end consumer are buying into the brand, company, and mostly the individual who is going to be there on your special day. Here are 5 characteristics to look for in a highly skilled videographer and what they will cost you.
Experience
Every highly skilled wedding videographer will have experience one way or another. Personally I have had experience in multiple different ways that will help me on your wedding day and qualify me as a professional in the field. First off, I do not believe going to college for filmmaking qualifies videographers. I say this because many of the people I went to college with either don’t work making videos or weren’t highly skilled. Although college will make you more knowledgable on the technical and theory side of things, it does not make someone a good filmmaker. Great filmmakers are made by experience and trial/error, as do most good things in life. However, the most beneficial ways that I have grown in my career have been through experiences such as being a lead videographer for nationwide companies, second shooting, and shooting for passion (because I love the craft). Experience as it is in any field, comes by putting in the reps. An experienced wedding videographer will have countless wedding jobs under his/her belt and know how to make the proper decisions on the most special day in one’s life.
Personality
Although these are in no particular order, personality is an awesome benefit to have in a wedding videographer. Since this individual will be with you for the majority of your day. Can you think of a scenario where we are shooting portrait videos of you and your newly wedded wife/husband and the videographer doesn’t let the photographer get shots of the couple. Another example is if a videographer is rude or self centered. Although it seems far fetched that you would run into either of these examples, I have seen it time and time again. You want to make sure you click with your videographer before hiring one based solely on their work.
Care
Care is a character trait that many don't consider when looking into who they want to hire as a videographer. Care is not given by massive companies as it is by the smaller mom and pop owned companies. I have heard many times about the big national wedding photo or video chains. Companies that solely focus on profits much higher than client experience. Horror stories that no couple should have to face on their wedding day. That verse working with a videographer who is self employed with just him or a small controlled team is the better option. You want to make sure whoever you hire shows a level of authentic care for your video project and isn’t there to solely make a quick profit and be done.
Integrity & Dependability
Integrity and dependability go hand in hand. Integrity with a good videographer will make sure that this videographer has your best interest in mind. It is not the hardest of tasks to show up and do the job. Afterall, from a bird's eye view you may have a decent looking video at the end of it. However, there are little things such as good audio, dressing for the occasion, or keeping good communication that sets the highly skilled videographer apart from the rest. Dependability is also a huge must in this videographer. On your wedding day you only get one shot to capture a bride walking down the aisle, a first kiss, a first dance, or a first look. You want to make sure you hire someone you know has your back and is skilled enough to get those important shots. Additionally, if they happen to get sick or if a health issue comes up you want to make sure they are a dependable person who is able to get a backup for your special day.
Portfolio Films
Last but certainly not least, portfolio films. Portfolio films are great to see when looking for a videographer. This shows experience and gives you a good idea of their style. The reason I have this lower down on the list is because although they are important, they don’t necessarily come first. As I mentioned above you can gain experience from multiple different avenues. Some of which aren’t a film of the videographers. Meaning, the videographer doesn’t own the right to promote the work he is doing if he does it under another company's name. However with this being said the videographer should have some kind of portfolio whether on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, or their website. Make sure to view his/her work beforehand to make sure the professional produces a great product.
The Cost Of A Wedding Videographer In MA & RI
The true cost of a professional in this category will range significantly. It depends on where they are located, the cost of a package, length of the film, travel, number of shooters, and any additional services they may provide. However, depending on the market you are in, at least in the Boston or Newport Rhode Island area, you’re looking at 4k on the low end. On the highest end, the luxury wedding videographer can run up to 40k working with celebrities or top tier individuals. The range for a fair priced experienced videographer for one day of shooting would be from 4-5k to 15k. Although this is a big range there are professionals from all skill levels and talents. Remember a videographer doesn’t get paid for just the final product either. There are many emails, conversations, deliverables, character traits, and editing time that go into making a professional wedding film for this special day in one's life!
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