Photographer, Videographer, or Both?

Some couples spend the extra money on both a photographer and videographer, but is it really necessary? (expert advice)

photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy/Elizabeth Messina

Capturing the bright smile on your face, glowing skin, and the twinkle in your eyes – a photographer or videographer is hired to make sure you never forget the memories. In some cases, couples opt to spend the extra money to hire both a photographer and videographer, but is it really necessary? Perhaps the following information will help you formulate your own opinions on the pros and cons of both selections:

The Pros of a Wedding Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer means you will have easy, instantaneous access to the results of your special day – meaning no fumbling to stick the DVD into the player. All you have to do is retrieve your precious photo album and flip through the pages. Your photo album is portable, meaning you can share your memories with family and friends pretty easily. If you like to send emails with images to loved ones, photos are quite easy to transfer from one computer to another. All you really need is a file or a scanner.

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A wedding photographer can capture your special day in many different ways, offering a variety of styles, from the traditional group photo that hangs over your fireplace mantle to the artistic approach where touches of color are added to black and white photos.

The Pros of a Wedding Videographer

An increasing number of engaged couples plan the expense of figuring a wedding videographer into their budget because they want a unique memento. However, many brides aren’t too pleased with straying from tradition. For them, a wedding is an intimate event that seems tainted by the presence of cameras, which have a knack for situating themselves in awkward positions. The cost of videography is often more than what a couple expects to pay for this part of the wedding planning.

But, a wedding videographer can freeze special moments in time. You can play your brother-in-law's infamous reception toast over and over again. Seeing the father-daughter dance again could bring a flood of tears. In later years, the video serves as a remembrance of your deceased grandfather during happier times. A wedding videographer can capture the tears, jeers, and laugher in a way that a photo cannot.

Choosing Both a Wedding Photographer and Videographer

If your budget allows it, choosing both a wedding photographer and videographer isn’t such a bad idea. You'll have the best of both worlds – an unforgettable page-turner and the power to stop time, rewind, and play again your special day. It's the traditional approach paired with technological advancements.

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mjrose514

07/07/2011 at 08:14 am

so yeah overall a nice little teaser article, but as a photographer I have to warn you that the last lines of both photographer paragraphs are wrong. First of all MANY photographers will not give you the touch of color to a black and white photograph because it's not their style and it's not artistic, for the most part. And then sharing a file with a scanner is ILLEGAL!!!! It is against copyright LAWS, you are telling people to break the law! Remember you may think that photographers are charging too much, but what you don't realize is they really only get about a third, if that of what they charge to go towards business expenses such as insurance, marketing, replacement costs (yeah that digital so many think is cheaper than film is actually more expensive and needs to be replaced more often), and our time. You may only see the photog a total of 10-15 hours (depending on consultations and whatnot), but there's really SO much more time involved; answering emails, travel time, about 2-4 hours editing files for every hour photographed, then designing the album which can take days or weeks. So when you break copyright law and scan images you are hurting the photographer's family and taking food off their table. Remember about 90% of photographers make about $30,000 a year or less, not exactly the glamour job people think of.

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1908girl

02/09/2011 at 03:02 pm

I was a hostess at a wedding where there was 2 videographers and 2 photographers. No one seemed to bump heads. We hired the videographer for the very reason that he does NOT get in the way. I really didn't notice them at all. When I looked at the video, I was amazed at the footage that they captured. If the videographer has the right equipment, he won't need to be up close and personal during the ceremony. Although the videographers and photographers didn't know each other, they all worked very well during the ceremony. Our videographer www.elvision.net click on 'screening room' and then select a couple to view. Enjoy!!

BTW we are having both. :)

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doolittlebride

02/09/2011 at 02:59 pm

Absolutely disagree with that photographer that posted. I've shot weddings for 12 years and over 350 weddings and yes, there are some bad videographers but I will NOT turn down a couple that hires one! As a bride that just got married, I feel that video is essential because it simply captures things that photography cannot. My husband's best man gave an amazing toast that we would never get to hear again if not for our fabulous videographer. He captured things like people talking to us that we will always treasure.

I generally recommend that a couple tries to at least get raw footage shot so they have something recorded.

Having worked with some great videographers, I always refer my clients to them since they behave professionally and realize we are both there to do a job for the client. Those that don't play nice never get referred.

LOL, looks like I posted last time this came up, too!

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stephfanie

02/09/2011 at 02:50 pm

I'm not sure that this article was entirely helpful or constructive. :)

Do people really have a hard time chosing between one or the other? In my experience (as a makeup artist) most people opt for the photographer and if they can afford both, they'll add the videographer... I've never seen someone with just a videographer and no photos.

I'm getting married in November and have a photographer confirmed already, but video will be an addition based on available budget. You can't put video on a mantel.

Anyway, i think actually these blogs should really be posting more valuable information... this one seemed a little lofty.

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