Not all Columbia SC videographers are the same

The differences among South Carolina Videographers

Not all Columbia SC videographers are the same.  Similar to other businesses you may patron, videographers have various levels of talent, skill, experience and know-how that separates them from the pack.  So what do you look for to make sure you find the right professional to film your all-important wedding day?  I will tell you some things to look for and how you can go about choosing the right South Carolina Videographer for you.

Ten things to ask any potential videographer BEFORE hiring them to shoot your wedding

1. Do you have a demo?  Better yet, do you have 5 demos?  If a "videographer" cannot produce at least five demos of their work, the you probably don't want them to video your wedding.  Experience in the business and skill with the camera and sound equipment will help a lot to make sure that your wedding is captured the best possible way.
2. Specifically what cameras will you use to film our wedding?  After getting the model number, do a little research on the web to find out what they are shooting with.  If the cameras they use retail for less than $2000, the you will find that they do not produce broadcast quality shots that you are looking for.
3. How do you capture the audio from the wedding day?  The vows?  The ambient sounds?  Skilled videographers have to be audiographers as well.  (I don't know if that is a word or not)  They have to have the right equipment and microphones capturing your voices, the officiant's voice, any readers' voices, and the ambient sounds.  It takes a lot of know-how and practice to capture the sounds of the day and you want to make sure that your Columbia SC videographers can do it.
4. When can I expect the delivery of the finished videos?  So often, videographers are committed to a full-time job and they work on videos on the side.  These folks have a 6-8 week delivery time for your video.  I have heard of videos taking up to one year before delivery.  Find out what to expect in advance before contracting with the videographer.
5. What type of style do you film / edit my video in?  The videographer's style can make a huge difference in the final product or video.  Some film in a strict documentary style which is similar to a well-made home movie.  These document the day in chronological order and include most everything that happened from the day.  The videographer may take several hours of footage and hardly edit it at all.  You will end up with a video that is 2-3 hours long.  Still others will take a more cinemagraphic approach to the video and you will see that the finished DVD plays more like a movie.  The interesting points of the day are kept to accurately retell the story, but without boring the viewer with too many details. 
6. Can I see a full wedding?  You really should ask this question.  Seeing a full wedding means that you can watch how your wedding video may be constructed.  This is important to watch how a videographer handles the transitions between the happenings of the day and how well they do filming the reception, departure, etc.
7. Do you have a time limit?  You should ask this of any professional you hire with regards to your wedding.  Unless otherwise specified, your videographer should want to stay until you depart. (not applicable in all occasions)  That way, the videographer has the entire day's event on film and can retell the story accurately.  I have seen photographers walk out after 6 hours of photos only to miss the grand departure or some other moments in the video.
8. Do you have a contract?  Videographers without a professional contract should be avoided.  This holds true for all of your dealings with wedding professionals.  A contract says that they will do what they promise and should outline the specifics of the service to expect. 
9. Who will be filming and who will be editing?  This is an important question because there are many entertainment companies out there who will get a contract with couples only to send a freelance videographer to shoot the wedding and then use a freelance editor to create the final version.  Freelance videographers will never give you the care and skill as an owner/operator.  Freelance people are just getting paid by the hour, and not really being judged by the quality (or lack thereof) of the video.
10. What kind of payment plan do you offer?  The details of payment should be clearly spelled out in the contract.  This way, there is not any confusion when you come close to your actual wedding day.  A deposit should be a must with anyone, because you don't really have a contract without payment of a deposit.  It is a protection for you and for the professional.