Your wedding is the big day of your life, and you want to be sure to capture the memories so you can share them with your network, as well as revisit them in the future. The first thing that you must do is to choose a wedding videographer that can provide the service that you’re looking for, at a price that fits your budget.

It’s important to understand that good wedding videography depends to a large degree on the skill and experience of the videographer and video editors. The structure and demands of wedding videography and editing reward competent professionals who stick with the field and specialize in working with couples to create videos that satisfy their expectations. On your part, it’s just as important to follow some basic steps when you’re beginning the process of choosing a wedding videographer.

Do your research

Before you start looking for a videographer, it’s important to know what you’d like them to create. A wedding video can be as simple as a single-camera video of your vows, or it can be a much more elaborate production, done in any number of different styles. To understand what’s available in the market, sit with your significant other and start checking out wedding videos. Take notes on the different styles and effects that you like – Professional video editors can create very different videos from the same footage.

Ask for demos

Most wedding video editors and videographers will have some footage posted online. Those can be useful for getting a look at the basics of their technique and style, but to get a fuller idea of what they can do, ask prospective video editors to send you demo videos of an entire wedding. This will give you a much fuller idea of their skill. Ask for references whenever and wherever possible.

Schedule a sit-down and talk session with prospective videographers

Even if you’ve gotten a good look at the videographer’s work, it’s important that you know you’ll be able to communicate effectively with them throughout the process. Take the time to sit down for a cup of coffee with your prospective videographers and see how well you can communicate with them about what you want in your wedding video.

Schedule a sit-down and talk session with prospective videographers

Even if you’ve gotten a good look at the videographer’s work, it’s important that you know you’ll be able to communicate effectively with them throughout the process. Take the time to sit down for a cup of coffee with your prospective videographers and see how well you can communicate with them about what you want in your wedding video.

Work within your budget

Most of us have our budget fixed when planning a wedding, and high-quality video editors and videographers aren’t cheap. Take the time to balance the potential cost of the wedding video with the other aspects of the wedding day. Don’t hesitate to haggle on the price a bit if necessary, and remember you may have a bit more leverage if you book early and pay up front. It never hurts to ask!

Understand what you’re paying for

A professional videographer will be ready to present a complete list of exactly what you’re getting when you hire them to work as your videographer and video editors. Remember, you’re not only paying for their time in setting up and shooting the wedding, but you need to understand what the final product is. Be sure that you know in what form you’ll receive the video. Will it come as a DVD, or as a stand-alone video file? Will the final version of the video include all the titling? Drilling deeper, what format will the finished file be in? Insist on a widescreen hi-definition format that will look good on a big screen, not just on a mobile device.

Discuss the editing and final video versions

Even the best video editors may not get everything right the first time. Be sure that you discuss and specify with the videographer how many edits they’ll do of the video at the agreed upon price. See if you can be allowed to view the rough cut of the video before they ship you the finished product.

It’s worth the time

You want everything else “just so” in your wedding – from the venue to the music, and from the menu to decorations. Don’t put choosing the right wedding videographer and video editors at the bottom of the list. You’ll want to be sure that what they create for you is a truly memorable reflection of the special day that you’re sharing with each other.