How important is a videographer?

I'm a big fan of photography, and it will be an absolute must for me to have an awesome photographer. However, I don't see the need for a video. I'll probably watch it once and then stick in my DVD shelf, perhaps bringing it out once more to show relatives or some such.

Despite this, every wedding I've ever been to has had a videographer. I don't see the point in paying a packet of money for something that I don't see myself getting value out of.

Opinions from my lovely fellow Pashers?

[justnmary]

I didn't have one. At the time I wanted one but I don't really miss it. I did have relatives take the pictures that they took that day and made a disk with them, and I don't even watch that. I don't feel it's necessary but to each their own I guess.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by justnmary

I didn't have one. At the time I wanted one but I don't really miss it. I did have relatives take the pictures that they took that day and made a disk with them, and I don't even watch that. I don't feel it's necessary but to each their own I guess.

Ditto. I would probably watch it only when pissed off at Mike to try to remember why I married him, lol.

[sparklesweetie]

My uncle taped mine - so it wasn't a professional video. However, I LOVE having it on tape - there's so much it shows that I missed that day or reminds me of things I forget after awhile. Now, I don't watch it all the time - but I'd say once or twice a year I pop it in just for fun.

To me, pictures only do so much. I espeically realized this not too long ago when my grandma gave me some home videos - and poof, there was my grandfather, alive and talking, on my tv. That's something that pictures can't do. So, I get the same effect from my wedding video - I hope that I can show it to my kids someday, and they can actually "be" there. But I'm different I guess.

I do think they overcharge though - the cheapest package I came across was $1,000.

[justnmary]

Originally Posted by Heather

Ditto. I would probably watch it only when pissed off at Mike to try to remember why I married him, lol.

[SerendipityCrafts]

My nephew taped our wedding. There is so much shaking that I swear, he was drinking beforehand!

[NovemberGal]

The still photography was probably the most important thing for me, and neither DH nor I felt strongly about a video. Like you, Ciarrai, we just felt it was an expense we just don't see the need for. DH's uncle did video some of it--he wanted to, and we didn't care--and my FIL was going to edit it, but we've never seen it. I think it was more a project they wanted to do, and they've just not gotten to it or whatever, and probably never will at this point. I don't miss it. I do look at my photo album--a LOT the first year or so, less often now, but still semi-frequently.

[Complicated Woman]

We skipped it. I just couldn't imagine myself watching it. I also don't like the presence of the videographer...it seems more intrusive to me than photography.

[Emily]

We didnt have one, I think its a waste of money because I just never think we would ever watch it, and I wouldnt want to bore others by making them sit through a wedding they didnt attend.

We actually went to a friend of Damons place when we were back in NZ and he got out the video of his wedding to his ex-wife and made us sit through it, the weirdest part was that he was living with his new girlfriend and she was there when he put it on!!!

[ladedah]

we didn't do it either.....it seemed really expensive for something we probably wouldn't ever watch....I mean, my parents and grandparents did not have video cameras at their weddings and they've gone through it just fine...

Emily, that is a horrible story about the guy watching the wedding to his ex-wife....I would be mortified!!!

[rachael24]

Originally Posted by Complicated Woman

We skipped it. I just couldn't imagine myself watching it. I also don't like the presence of the videographer...it seems more intrusive to me than photography.

Exact same thing that I thought....Im skipping the video. A photographer is fine!

[wembley]

I didn't really want a video and then we were at thanksgiving and DH's uncle pulled out their tape. We all spent the rest of the night laughing at how cheesy the video was and haw everyone looked. It was bouncy and bad. That made my mind up that I was not going to spend money on a tape that my children would just pull out later for a good laugh.

[Kim&Bob2004]

a friend tapped our wedding as a gift. not professional at all, but we have it on DVD with the old super 8's of my parents wedding reception and my brothers wedding..... all on one, mom went and did it and gave us each one. We have watched it a couple times, there were things I had forgotten and just missed in the hustle and bustle so it was nice, I wonder what I would think nearly 4 yrs after the fact??????????

[justnmary]

Originally Posted by Emily

We actually went to a friend of Damons place when we were back in NZ and he got out the video of his wedding to his ex-wife and made us sit through it, the weirdest part was that he was living with his new girlfriend and she was there when he put it on!!!

Oh my! Was he still in love with her or something? Think of how the girlfriend felt!

[m_t_rose]

We just had a friend tape ours, but we still haven't seen it and it has been over a year.

[The future Mrs.]

the video wasn't that important to me, but jay really wanted it, so we are doing it. i guess its awesome to think that your kids and grandkids can watch it and see how young we looked now! (when we are old and wrinkly!)
Gina

[feb-bride]

I have a DVD of my wedding (professionally done). I don't watch it that often, but I'm still glad I did it. I was actually happier with my video person than with my photographer. I hardly even knew he was there.

Honestly, if a videographer is "in your face" at the wedding and you notice him/her, they are not very good at what they do. My guy blended into the background.

[DavidsWife]

I can agree with you Kerry! However, we were fortunate enough to have a good family friend do our video for us, he does amazing editing jobs and what not. we have been married 9ish months (hahaha) and I have viewed the vid once. I think thats also because I HATE watching myself and hearing my voice...ewwww

Buuuuuuuuuuuut...Deff a cool thing for family to see if maybe they couldn't make the wedding as well as your kids when they're older...

IMO!

[Rare Breed]

We did have a videographer, and I'm personally glad we did. Granted, we only watch the video once a year (on our anniversary), but I'm still glad we had one. Pictures are awesome and all, but there's just something about being able to see it in real time...to relive it through video.

But that's just my opinion, and what I like.

If you don't see the need/value of it, and don't think you'd enjoy having that for years down the road when certain nuances are getting fuzzy...then don't worry about it. tt your FH and see what he thinks...

[jester8ball]

One idea for a videographer is to ask a family member who has just had a child....they are usually familiar with taking videos of their new baby. We did this and my brother-in-law taped it and edited it on his mac. It was fantastic and included hundreds of our favorite pictures into a slide show set to music. It doesn't hurt to ask around the family to see if there is someone with skills that would do the tape in leu of a gift!

I don't actually even see the point of it at all though, even if I don't pay for it. I'll probably watch it once, so it's just a waste of time and effort for someone to make one.

Thanks for the opinions though!

[wedbyjean]

I know I'm a little late in responding to this post, but . . .

True, most couples don't watch their own wedding video more than a handful of times. However, a wedding video is more of an heirloom, a family keepsake to be passed down to your children and, in time, grandchildren.

Also, it is not meant to serve the same purpose as photography. Where photography captures that simgle instant, videography captures the events as they are happening. It captures the movements, and the sounds (you get to hear the music to your first dance, and hear peoples voices). Videography allows you to see things on your wedding day that you wouldn't otherwise get to see, such as the mothers lighting the unity candle.

If you had the opportunity to view your own parents' or grandparents' weddings, wouldn't you want to?

BTW - I am not a videographer.

[MichelleB]

Originally Posted by Ciarrai

I'm a big fan of photography, and it will be an absolute must for me to have an awesome photographer. However, I don't see the need for a video. I'll probably watch it once and then stick in my DVD shelf, perhaps bringing it out once more to show relatives or some such.

Despite this, every wedding I've ever been to has had a videographer. I don't see the point in paying a packet of money for something that I don't see myself getting value out of.

Opinions from my lovely fellow Pashers?

Honestly, we had video shot at our wedding. I believe its worth having along with the photos...what if something happens to the photographs? It's good to have both.

[NovemberGal]

Originally Posted by MichelleB

...what if something happens to the photographs?

Just playing devil's advocate here...what if something happens to BOTH? My pics are in hardcopy (multiple copies), on DVDs in three locations, in two online galleries, and saved on my desktop. The chances that I couldn't retrieve them somehow are slim. Of course, some folks are using film and may not have digital copies around. If I had a video, chances are we'd have a copy of the DVD, and both sets of parents would have the DVD, so probably nothing would happen to all the various copies at once. I wouldn't base a decision on what if something happens to anything, just base it on what format(s) you want and what you can afford.

I'm more worried about wedding photos from my parents and grandparents, who of course don't have video or even negatives. We're in the process of having important family photos, particularly my grandmother's, scanned and restored.

Sorry to hijack; I was just talking to my mother about a possible Christmas gift for my grandma using these old photos.

See, I will be so freaking careful with the photographs that it won't even be an option of something happening to them. There will be so many copies of the photos around that I'm not too worried about that.

Nov, that's a good idea about your grandmother's photos!