Choosing a Wedding Video Producer

Australian Video Producers Association AVPA

Being a member of a professional association adds to your piece-of-mind when choosing any service. Although a professional association is unlikely to refund your money if there is a problem, they may put pressure on the supplier if you've been hard done by.

The Australian Video Producers Association AVPA is, as the name suggests, the primary association for video producers in Australia. They have a code of ethics for their members to follow and breaches of this may cause suspension of membership. There are also 3 levels of accredited membership, Standard, Advanced & Master. Where membership implies integrity through the code of ethics, accredited membership combines this with a proven level of technical ability through submission of work for evaluation. Finding a wedding video producer who is not just a member, but an accredited member of the AVPA and you're pretty much assured of professional service and quality.

There are numerous other local video and/or wedding associations that wedding video producers can be members of, too many to list here. Generally, membership shows some standard of service and/or quality. Just make sure that the association itself is respectable. Enquire as to member numbers and membership criteria. Search the net for membership numbers. If you stumble across any "associations" you feel are dodgy, then e-mail the details to us and we will attempt to investigate.

View their work!

View their work. Plain and simple, view their work. Look at whole previous productions, not just 'demo highlights' or fancy web site pictures. Look at the final product. What do the video or DVD covers look like? What do the vows and speeches sound like? What do the menus and/or credits look like? Look at more than one video and more than one video producer!

Now, you're not expected to sit through 5 entire wedding videos to confirm a video producer is up to scratch, but when they're showing you an example, maybe ask to see the vows or credits, or request an example of a particular style or event. If the video is on DVD then it should be a fairly simple task to pick bits out, but be reasonable if it's on VHS, (no asking for credits then isle walk then bridal waltz OK?). When people are selling something, obviously they're more likely to show you the best bits. So just make sure the not-so-best bits are acceptable and not my-dog-could-do-better bits.

Professional Equipment

Do they use broadcast quality cameras? This is more important than Analogue or Digital. Broadcast quality SP betacam will give you a better picture than a single chip digital. Broadcast quality digital is the way to go. 3CCD (3 chip), one third inch CCD chip DVCAM with separate manual sound leveling is the minimum requirement for digital to really be classed as broadcast quality. Digital tends to be smaller (thus more discrete) and there is no loss of quality in transfer from camera to digital editing suite or back again.

What about broadcast quality audio equipment and discrete microphones? I can buy or build a radio mic from parts from my local electronics store for under $20. This type of radio microphone is not acceptable. Other systems I have seen are true broadcast quality. The microphone itself cost $600 to replace not to mention the transmitters and receivers. A sigh from a bride after "the kiss" was picked up by the groom's mic. This is what you're after!

Do they use lights or can the cameras handle low light. Say no to lights. Lights are blinding. Lights upset the photographers' shots. Lights belong in a studio. Enough said.

Bigger is not always better

Seeing a video production studio's name in all the mags, at all the bridal fairs and all over the web is NO GUARANTEE OF QUALITY. All this means is that they have more marketing dollars than most. Now, in saying that, good businesses tend to get more work which means they tend to have greater marketing budgets, so they probably are doing something right. Conversely, just because you haven't heard of someone, doesn't mean they're no good either, Steven Spielberg was unknown once.

Meet with your wedding videographer

Sit down with your videographer and go through your wedding with them. As they will be with you for the full day, it's important that you feel comfortable with your videographers. This is one of the most important criteria.

Who's filming your wedding?

Ask whether the person you're seeing is the same person who's filming you. If not, ask to meet with them or at least see their work. Some (not so good) production companies, like some (not so good) photography studios, just farm the work out to cheap sub-contractors and these producers are to be avoided. Some, on the other hand, have back-up crews for busy periods that deliver the same high quality service irrespective of who's filming. You just need to confirm the quality's not compromised when contractors are used.

Wedding Video Testimonials

Ask to see any testimonials from previous customers. If you can match a letter to a production, all the better. If you know anyone who had a professional video of their wedding, ask them if you can have a look and what they thought of the service. Unsolicited praise is the best recommendation of all!

Article courtesy of Articles
at Guardian Media

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