Choosing the best videographer

Deciding on the best videographer for your event will not be easy unless you have a great deal of experience. The quality and style of videographers varies enormously, so it is worth paying attention to some useful tips we have put together.

1. Samples. The first and most obvious place to start when choosing your videographer is to look at their previous work. Most established videographers will have examples of their work online, but be careful these are recent and not a montage of different ones. A few good samples should be enough to get a sense of their style and professionalism. Things to look out for are the quality of the picture composition; whether the editing flows or feels slow and laborious; and whether there is a coherent sense of story. Be especially aware of companies that over-use effects - this can often be to compensate for poor camerawork and stylistically your video could look very dated within a few years. If you are satisfied with the samples you see online, the next thing to do is ask for a sample DVD. Any established videographer will be able to send you at least 2 individual samples that are relevant to your type of event. Be wary of companies that send you incomplete material, examples that are several years old, or are wholly inappropriate. These sample DVDs will give you the truest sense of what you can expect from a videographer and you shouldn't book them unless you are satisfied with this.

2. Costs. Producing a video to a professional standard costs money and so it is important to have a realistic budget. Naturally the most talented and experienced videographers are usually in greatest demand and so are likely to charge more. Whatever you can comfortably afford, it is important you find out exactly what you are getting for your money before committing yourself. Otherwise, you can easily find yourself paying additional charges for services that might be included by others! Here are some questions you might ask a prospective videographer:

• How many cameras & operators?
• Does the price include full editing?
• What format with the film be in? (e.g. 4:3 PAL, 16:9 Widescreen)
• How many hours attendance is included?
• What sort of preparatory planning is provided?
• Are ceremonies and speeches filmed in full?
• Are video messages or interviews allowed?
• Do they offer a choice of music?
• How long will the finished film be?
• Exactly how will be DVD be presented?
• How many copies of the DVD are supplied?
• Do they include highlights of the event?
• Are travel costs included?
• Do they have public liability & professional indemnity insurance?
• Is VAT included?

Note: these are basic questions to assess value for money not necessarily quality and creativity.

3. Methods. An often overlooked issue when commissioning a videographer is to enquire about their working methods. The wedding videography industry for example is relatively young and there is a huge variation in the way people operate. You could easily find your wedding day turned into a movie set as your videographer orders guests where to stand and how to 'act' for the camera. He or she may also conflict with your photographer as they both vie for the best vantage points - only to obscure each others work! In our experience, event videography should be non-obtrusive to ensure material captured is genuinely natural and spontaneous. Whilst it is appropriate for a photographer to guide guests for formal shots, for a videographer to do this will only result in a contrived 'home movie'. Wedding videography in particular is best when it is discreet and observational - the equivalent of reportage photography. Any interviews and guest messages should be filmed in a controlled environment to avoid distraction or poor sound recording. Those videographers who choose to spontaneously push a camera into someone's face for comment will capture nothing but discomfort or trite responses. Therefore ask your videographer to describe how they work before booking them.

4. Equipment. Similar to above, you might also enquire about their equipment. A videographer tends to use much more equipment than a photographer. In addition to the video camera(s), they should have a tripod and sound recording equipment. The type of camera used may vary - some videographers use small handheld cameras and others shoulder mounted ones. The size of camera is not an indication of the quality of the filming, however you should obviously be wary of any videographer using a domestic camera. Another thing to check is how the videographer records sound. Many inexperienced videographers use camera-mounted microphones. However if the videographer finds himself positioned further away than expected, the sound may be inaudible. Similarly if the camera is pointed away from the subject (e.g. filming the audience), the sound will again be compromised. At Bloomsbury Films we record sound through external microphones using wireless or cable connections. For live music performance we use a separate digital audio recorder.

5. Coverage. Live event filming requires very different skills from other types of video production such as corporate videos and pop promos. There is much less staging and orchestration, so it is important your videographer can work creatively on their feet and is able to think ahead. Certain aspects of your event such as a ceremony, speeches or presentation need to be filmed in a calm and reliable way, you can be certain anyone unaccustomed to live event filming will be waving the camera around in a panic! As specialists in event filming, we always have a multi camera set-up for filming anything that has continuous action like a ceremony. This is to ensure you have full and detailed coverage and to avoid any unforeseen problems or obstructions than can occur in a live situation. Although it is tempting to book the minimum coverage possible to save money, you need to bear in mind that with videography you need a lot more footage to tell your story well - for example a 90 minute film uses the equivalent of 135,000 photographs!)

6. Experience. It is important when choosing a videographer, especially for a wedding, that you satisfy yourself they have adequate experience of your particular type of wedding ceremony and culture. Sikh weddings, for example, are very different from Jewish weddings. It isn't just that the ceremonies differ, it's the customs, music and whole character of them. At Bloomsbury Films we have experience of filming many different types of weddings, but this certainly isn't the case with other wedding videographers. If you choose someone who doesn't understand the customs and rituals of your particular wedding, then don't be surprised if something is missing from your final wedding DVD. Similarly for other types of events, whether it is a live concert, awards ceremony or conference, there are countless small details that only a company with experience could properly manage. Therefore before booking a videographer, be sure they really understand your event.

7. Meeting. Wherever possible it is a good idea to arrange a meeting with your selected videographer(s) before making a booking. This will enable you to assess their professionalism, interest and commitment to producing your film project. This is also the best time to ask questions about their experience, working methods and what is included in the price (see separate notes). Be aware that a successful videographer is less likely to visit you or be available for meetings at the weekend (when they would be working!). Therefore be wary of someone who is too readily available since it is likely they are either inexperienced or unpopular. If a meeting in person isn't possible due to distance or timing, then you should at least have a chat over the phone. This will still help you assess the videographer's attitude and professionalism - and remember event filming can be a very personal business therefore you should be comfortable with whoever you book!