Everything you need to know before you hire your videographer, according to Liza Dunsmore of Hakim Sons Films.
How early in the process should a couple hire a videographer?
“We recommend that couples hire a videographer nine to 12 months in advance of their big day. This gives your videographer ample time to get to know you and figure out how best to capture your wedding.”
What are some good questions to ask when interviewing potential videographers?
“The No. 1 question you should ask is ‘How will you tell our story?’ It’s important for you to understand what components a videographer plans to include in your wedding film: music, interviews, cinematic visuals, etc. And you’ll want to know that your videographer is investing some forethought into what will make your wedding film unique. On the flip side of that, make sure your videographer is asking you the right questions! A great filmmaker will have a host of questions for you.”
What are some of the features you can offer a bride and groom?
“On the whole, we offer our couples an artistic approach to telling their story. Whether that means capturing sweeping, Hollywood-like visuals of your special day or giving your wedding a vintage look by shooting in 8 mm, we are dedicated to creating wedding films that are visual works of art. Because we know that each wedding is unique, we offer a wide variety of amenities from which our couples can choose. One of our most popular offerings is our 3D Photo Montage, which allows you to share your most precious photographed moments of you and your fiancé in a highly stylized fashion. Another amenity that we offer is the Same Day Edit. This is perfect for the couple that wants to treat their guests to an inside look at their wedding day during their reception celebration. We also recently added live streaming. Have guests who can’t attend? No worries! We can ensure that they get front row seats by live streaming a video feed of your wedding.”
How long does it typically take to get a final cut after the wedding?
“Turnaround time really depends on what type of film you choose to capture your day. If you go with a Same Day Edit film, then you’ll have that before your day is even over. Highlight films and feature films take a bit longer—approximately six to eight weeks. It’s not unusual for us to spend 40 to 60 hours editing a wedding film. It takes some time to carefully select the right music and best visuals to tell a compelling, emotional story.”
What are some of the processes that need to take place before the big day.
“We like to meet with our couples for an initial consultation and a pre-wedding planning meeting. We also ask that all of our couples complete our concept development survey, which helps us plan the creative narrative for your wedding film. We always attend the rehearsal so that we understand the layout and timing.”
Illustration by Carrie & Seash.
