Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Original post by AmorPeruano

Dec 26, 2007 08:57 PM

Ive been going back and forth about this for over a year now.......to get a videographer or not to get a videographer??!!!!!

The situation is, my parents always kinda poo-poo'd it saying it was a waste of money, they say spend the X amount of dollars on something else like your honeymoon, and just have 'someone' at the wedding whos invited record the ceremony and reception for you. (My question is, who in the world that is invited wants to be responsible for that half the night....shouldnt they be able to enjoy themselves?! I couldnt ask anyone for that responsibility!!)

At the same token, sadly enough, the cheapest packages I could find for simple basic coverage for the wedding and ceremony is about 1000....thats a lot of $$ for us, even that...for video...but Im afraid Im going to regret if I dont get it !

I wish I did know someone who would take my camcorder and just record b/c I know how to do video editing and all that (I do it for my job) so in a way, I think my parents are just thinking...oh, she can take what whatever the family records and edit it into her own...but thats a lot of work , and a lot of hours....... if I tell my parents I think we should hire one....they're gonna look at me like Im crazy and just wasting my money and getting Bridezilla fever.......

Okay I just had to vent!! Sorry My wedding is in 10 weeks and Im stressing. Its the only vendor I havent decided on.......

lindaronwedding Posted: Dec 26, 2007 09:37 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Posted by AmorPeruano

Hahahaa......I just edited it to add that.....yes, its T-shirt time !!! Its about time..........Im slow!!! LOLOLOLOLL

Talk about slow, I joined 3 months before you did and I'm still just an 'Enthusiast'

Colette Posted: Dec 26, 2007 10:13 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Hey sweetie if it helps you decide, WE added video at the very very last second, like 7 days before our wedding! And I have to say, we are SOOOOO glad we did, both for ourselves and for our foreign guests, (we got copies on PAL for them!). We used Jack from www.hammelenterprises.com, You can see the video recap (just scroll down in my profile), but without a doubt, I recommend it. His tagline is 'Remember with photos... reLIVE with VIDEO.'

You can DEFINITELY get a package for $1K or less, many videographers will do an $800 package too. Check your line item budget and see if there's anything you can skip or scale down, you will NOT regret it!!

teenigrrl Posted: Dec 26, 2007 10:16 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Posted by AmorPeruano

Hahahaa......I just edited it to add that.....yes, its T-shirt time !!! Its about time..........Im slow!!! LOLOLOLOLL

i feel like i see your name on here all the time, i can't believe you just hit 1000 posts!

mea516 Posted: Dec 26, 2007 10:27 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

I can't tell you how happy we are that we had a videographer. It was the best money we spent. Everyone loves reliving the day. We used Bellarino and they were the best!

Butterfly123 Posted: Dec 26, 2007 10:36 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Halo has an 800 dollar package. I was gonna go with them until FH's friend who is a film major decided to do it for us. I wish I could help more. I really wanted video and my mom was saying the same thing, about how unimportant it is. I'm hoping his friend does a good job. As long as he catches the most important moments, I'll be happy

Mici n KC Posted: Dec 26, 2007 10:38 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Posted by Espo22

check craigs list, film students might do it for very little to be able to put it in their portfolio...on the knot, one girl got a 2nd photographer for free bc she was a film student and was happy to be able to be given the opportunity so this way she can have some experience on her resume

I was also going to suggest film students.

jennandrolo Posted: Dec 26, 2007 11:35 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Posted by Songstress

Halo has an 800 dollar package. I was gonna go with them until FH's friend who is a film major decided to do it for us. I wish I could help more. I really wanted video and my mom was saying the same thing, about how unimportant it is. I'm hoping his friend does a good job. As long as he catches the most important moments, I'll be happy

I booked with Halo and got a pretty decent package for $1200...so yea his cheapest should be about $800. Maybe since you'll be booking on such short notice he can work something out with you. Ive read on here alot of brides that have regretted not getting video. It seems unimportant but you'll get to relive the whole day on that dvd and have so much more than pictures to look at.

FutureMrsCarrieri Posted: Dec 26, 2007 11:37 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

definitely book video... like you said, you can't do that day over if you change your mind.

MKEA98 Posted: Dec 27, 2007 01:22 AM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

I definitely think you should book a videographer! The fact that you've been going back and forth for over a year about it, and you're still thinking about it now and are worried about regretting it - I think that shows it is something you do want!!!

One of my friends gave me great advice during this whole wedding planning thing. She said if there's something I'm on the fence about, as it gets closer to the wedding, if I'm still thinking about it, then it probably means I really do want it and should get it!!!

My bro and sis-in-law didn't get a videographer, but luckily, her Uncle did videotape a lot of the wedding. He did a really great job and sent copies to my brother and sis-in-law, her parents, and my parents. My bro and sis-in-law actually didn't even ask him to videotape the wedding at all, they didn't care about video. So it was a really nice surprise for them.

However, my friend's brother didn't get a videographer, and a friend of the family was videotaping parts of the wedding and told them how they'd send them a copy. My friend told me she watched the video, and so many important parts were cut out - like the couple's first dance, cake cutting, etc.

So if you go through a family or friend, you do definitely face the problem of getting someone videotaping it for you who might not get all the important moments. On the other hand, you could luck out like my brother did.

The film student idea sounds like a really good idea so I hope it works out for you when checking it out. But in the end, I do say you get a videographer - even if it is a family member or friend - it is better than nothing!

siffleuse319 Posted: Dec 27, 2007 06:21 AM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

You have FM. My FH is brilliant with filming and editing. If you're interested in just the raw footage...he can save you hundreds of dollars. Good Luck with the search!!!

ILOVEBRIAN2008 Posted: Dec 27, 2007 07:10 AM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

i'll video your wedding if u want lol..my hands a bit shaky though

AmorPeruano Posted: Dec 27, 2007 12:49 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Awwwwe Thank you girls for all the great suggestions... I have a couple more weeks to figure it all out, so Ill let you know what happens! But I def, somehow want a video b/c theres so much as the bride you just dont get to see as its happening, ya know!?

Fausha Posted: Dec 27, 2007 12:58 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Ok I know exactly where you are coming from with the video thing. Me and my FH are paying for our wedding ourselves. So for us to have a video is extra money that we don't really have. For the longest time we've been going back and forth about it. However, we decided to do the video. Because we hear how the day goes so fast and there will probably be things we are gonna miss. So we figured it would be nice to look back and see the things we missed and etc.

If that helps any..........

GinaBambina08 Posted: Dec 27, 2007 01:22 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

I think you should DEFINITELY get a videographer! Photography and Videography in my opinion is not something you should scrimp (so?) on....you will have plenty of vacations to go on with FH in the future, but your photo and video is what you will show your children and grand children many years from now....with that being said, you should definitely get a videographer...but if push comes to shove and you want to save money, you could get a videographer to only record the raw footage of your wedding and you could edit the rest yourself....I'm going to FM you some more info..

futuremrsfab Posted: Dec 27, 2007 01:30 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

What about hiring someone to do it who is just starting out- like a college student- St. John's University has a TV production department- if you call up one of the professors might be able to recommend someone and you can probably get away with paying 1/2 the cost of a normal videographer

AMGBride2008 Posted: Dec 27, 2007 01:31 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

I didn't read thru the whole thread, but I'll tell you, past brides on this board who didn't have a videographer say that that is their one big regret... they all recommend getting one.

Have you looked at alternatives such as Craig's List for videographers? FM Vintagegirl (I think that's her name)... she found one of her photographers on Craig's List so she might be able to point you in the right direction. I bet you could save a lot of $$ that way.

You could also contact a local college's media dept. and see if a student would be willing to video your wedding for a small fee.

Good luck!

TheFutureMrsM Posted: Dec 27, 2007 01:37 PM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Maybe you can get a video company to just shoot your day and give you the raw footage.
What costs alot of money is the extensive editing these companies do. To get the footage into a movie.

I am pretty sure you can get a very low rate for just footage

vintagegirl Posted: Dec 28, 2007 12:55 AM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

Posted by AMGBride2008

I didn't read thru the whole thread, but I'll tell you, past brides on this board who didn't have a videographer say that that is their one big regret... they all recommend getting one.

Have you looked at alternatives such as Craig's List for videographers? FM Vintagegirl (I think that's her name)... she found one of her photographers on Craig's List so she might be able to point you in the right direction. I bet you could save a lot of $$ that way.

You could also contact a local college's media dept. and see if a student would be willing to video your wedding for a small fee.

Good luck!

I don't know video ... its a toss up.. I had a family member do it and I was just as happy.. Sometimes videographers can get in the middle of nice shots, family events.. but I do know a really nice realible videographer .. His site is E. K Peters http://www.ekpetersvideo.com/
If you need any further help let me know..
he is pretty affordable..
If anything you want to invest the money in the photos.. I have a really hard time watching myself on film ( LOL) i even always turn off the video we have of our wedding .. LOl because i am like ahhhh.. the pics I always look at again and again and i can remember in my head how it was..

Wifeynella Posted: Dec 28, 2007 02:01 AM

Re: Pulling my hair out over Videographer issue

for my friend's wedding they used a college student from NYU. they placed an ad on craigslist and it worked. the video was good, got all the needed moments at about 500.