Why does wedding film cost so much?
Wondering why the typical wedding videographer cost is so expensive? Here is an in-depth explanation of the WHY.
Planning a wedding can be an extremely expensive event. Most couples are footing the bill themselves, with little to no help from relatives. However, when you’re spending so much money on all of the details of your big party, it’s important to consider the long term–what precautions are you taking so you will remember this important–and expensive–day? You’re so busy on the day of, it may fly by without you even getting the chance to look at the centre pieces that you spent a LOT of money on!
Many couples look to wedding videography to resolve that worry. Wedding cinematography not only lets you revisit the important details that made your day yours, but it also lets you listen to your vows being spoken at the altar, hear the sweet speeches from your friends and family and sway to the beat of the music as you watch your first dance as a married couple.
It’s a very important investment that will become a family heirloom. Everyone from your grandparents to your children (who may not even exist yet!) will love pressing play and diving into the history of your family.
Even though it’s such an important day, many couples still struggle with understanding the cost of hiring a wedding videographer. A common misconception is that when the word “wedding” is tacked on to a service, companies jack up the price. This is NOT TRUE! There is a lot of equipment, time, education and liability that goes into filming weddings.
Below is a visual representation of what you get when you purchase our lowest wedding videography package:
The cameras we use and our special camera profile settings are what give our films a cinematic look. The lenses in the middle smooth skin and let us capture details. The lens on the right allows us to film from far away, like from the balcony of a church that restricts our access during the ceremony.
A battery charger and multiple back-up batteries are essential. We need enough power to film for six to twelve hours, as well as have some extras on hand for emergencies.
All cinematographers carry a back-up camera. If for some reason the camera malfunctions, we won’t miss a minute of your wedding day. A tripod and monopod are necessary for capturing clear, stable shots and the slider is for steady, cinematic pans.
Wireless microphones, one for the groom and one for the officiant, pick up perfect audio. Footage is stored on massive external hard drives and high-powered computers with the latest editing software are needed to manage and edit footage.
These aren’t one-time purchases either. Cameras and computers need to be professionally serviced from time to time, hard drives need to be purchased and editing software needs to be renewed yearly.
PLUS:
EDITING TIME - 20-35 HOURS/WEDDING AT $140/HOUR
EDUCATION - $1000-$5000/YEAR
The time it can take to edit a 3-5 minute wedding movie can be anywhere from 20-35 hours at the editing dock. We don’t let just anyone take a stab. All our editors are trained and spend hours and hours of time and education into learning the craft.
We didn’t even include the years of experience that each one of our wedding videographers have. And not to mention the pressure on this day because it’s a live event and anything can happen and we have to ready to capture it.
We also didn’t mention the insurance policies that we pay every year to make sure everyone involved is protected should an emergency happen. Venues require proof of insurance before they allow us to work there. So, in conclusion, this is just behind scenes idea of why wedding videography costs what it costs.