What should a wedding videographer charge?

[argento]

Of course...

[argento]

The advert has only been in for a week - and I've just had a lady asking if I'm available for THIS WEEKEND!!

Flippin' 'ell!! That's a bit earlier than I wanted

She's gonna call tonight to confirm...... :o

Any advice on rainy wedding shooting..?!

[argento]

BTW - Totally off topic, but does anybody know of a web site that lists forthcoming wedding fares?

[Alan Mills]

A tad more for this discussion...

A mate of mine is a photographer and does a lot of wedding, charging at least four figures for his work. I had a chat with him about videos.

He says that from his experience, hiring a wedding videographer is a dying thing. Not because people don't want a video of their wedding but paying someone the amount of money they will charge is just too much given that most people have a friend with a video camera.

I think he phrased it a little strongly but I can see his point. Why pay £500 for something when you can do it without the frills as a freebie?

[argento]

Any good news Millsy !!

This lady seems to want just the arrival and the photos afterwards filming - Quoted her £225 and she seems happy..... :

[Marc Peters]

I can't understand why it would be declining. Everyone has a camera, but people ALWAYS get a photographer. Infact, from the feeling around a few forums, the opposite is claimed - people are spending the money they would have spent on the photographs on the video. Technology will always be one step ahead of the consumer, so this will always be the case.

At the end of the day a PROFESSIONAL will always be better than your mate down the pub with a camcorder. Better quality, more imagination and much more experience. How many people have a 4 grand camcorder lying around plus all the paraphenalia to go with it?

Of course, you risk "Mr I've got a camcorder" charging you an obscene amount for a crappy video - but if you pay the right price, you'll get a bloody get souvenir.

[LJR]

Originally Posted by millsy Why pay £500 for something when you can do it without the frills as a freebie?

You mean like take photos

It's a lot easier snapping pictures yourself and getting the developed than it is filming a wedding with a camcorder and getting it out to a VHS tape or DVD. Plenty of wedding videographers will make a fortune and I completely disagree with the statement it's a dying trend. With the improvement in technology across the board from the camcorders to the authoring to DVD it is very much a growing industry.

All you need to do is go to wedding fayres (and goodness only knows there are enough of them in our area) and show your work - just like photographers do. After all, how many wedding photographers are there compared to videographers? They're the ones who need to be really competitive with their pricing. You put up a show of some good videos at a fayre and I believe you will get work.

Just don't put up the sinister one you're doing for the competition :twisted:

[Alan Mills]

I'm just the messenger guys. Just passing on the thoughts of a photographer friend.

In fact I think you're right. Strill hire a photographer when everyone has a camera right? Same for videos eh?

I think he may just have a chip on his shoulder about it. Sees it more as competition.

[Marc Peters]

Strill hire a photographer when everyone has a camera right? Same for videos eh?

Definately. Although I'm far from a professional (hey, they get paid by definition), I feel *my* wedding video was a cut above the normal "mate's attempt". I actually asked to borrow some DV material from some other people's cams. It was never used. The difference? It's my hobby into which I've invested a LOT of time and effort.

If you had a friend as an amatateur photographer, you *may* consider getting him to do it on the cheap. But get someone that takes holiday snaps with a minolta to cover your wedding, you may as well kiss your memories goodbye.

[Alan Mills]

And another thing I thought of.... after reading about it in a magazine

You will need to factor in the costs of the music licencing. I think we had a thread about this once before (any takers for diggin it out?). Basically, if you video the disco (or whatever) and recorded music is playing then you need to licence it. Also for any live music you might pick up in the microphone. From what I read recently in an article in DVME magazine (sorry Marc) you can expect licencing fees of close to £100 per wedding if you do things legit - and you should do if you're being paid for it.