How Much Does Your Perfect Wedding Videographer Cost?
Many different factors drive quality and cost in wedding videography, but understanding them will make the process of finding the right videographer for your wedding successful and painless.
Planning your wedding is hard. In an industry where everything costs more than you anticipated, budget matters, and getting the best value for the best service matters.
When you and your partner decided to go down this wonderful road together, you never thought there would be this many decisions, different options, and, unfortunately, conversations and disagreements about your budget.
Then you have to repeat this cycle for the venue, food, dress, suits, planner, photographer, videographer, flowers, invitations, transportation, and so on.
We have conversations about budget with every couple we work with. While we can't speak to every aspect of your wedding, we can help inform you about wedding videography costs.
We created this Wedding Videographer Cost Guide to explore:
The different types of wedding videographers
The benefits and drawbacks of each
What factors impact your wedding video cost (and what shouldn't!)
How much a quality wedding videographer costs
We hope this information will help make your difficult decision of choosing a wedding videographer a little less so.
The Process
So you decided that you want a wedding videographer. Why wouldn't you? You want clips to share on Instagram and obviously that whole thing about reliving the day you married your person over and over again, but yeah, mainly Instagram.
You log on to The Knot or Google to search for wedding videographers, and well, this is going to take longer than you thought; there are 50 options.
The cost and services are wildly different, and half are already booked up on your date.
To make matters worse, dad asks why one of your friends can't just film it on their iPhone. He doesn't get it. You must have the likes. Does he not know how much thought you put into your wedding hashtag? And of course, you'll show your kids one day.
The percentage of couples who choose to have a wedding videographer is growing each year. Pictures are great, but that's not enough for most couples.
You are spending so much money on your day, and you'd like to be able to see and experience it again. You want to relive the walk down the aisle, the surroundings, your first dance, the speeches, and everything else you put so much time and thought into. Most of your wedding day is gone within hours. Video is a way to remember the details forever.
What Are My Options?
There are four different types of wedding videography options, and they are all treated the same online. If you don't know this going into your search, and most don't, it can be very confusing when you start to request quotes and narrow down your options.
The four categories of wedding videographers:
Independent Experienced Videographer
Independent Start-Up Videographer
Large National/Regional Videography Company
Small Local Videography Company
These options all have their benefits, and understanding them better makes choosing the right fit for your wedding a lot easier.
Independent Experienced Videographer
It seems simple, but when you choose an independent, experienced videographer, you select that person to film your wedding. They film every wedding they book and are there for every step in the process.
It's a great way to develop a personal relationship with your videographer if that is important to you on your wedding day.
Many of the absolute best wedding videographers film weddings as their only profession and can make an excellent living. They have a vast portfolio, and it's easy to get to know their style and quality of their work by watching a few videos.
The most highly reviewed and sought-after independent videographers come with the highest price tags and fast bookings. They work the best venues and higher budgeted weddings.
Well-reviewed, more mid-priced options with a portfolio you love can be the best value in wedding videography. Like most excellent products, the demand often outweighs the supply, and they are the quickest to book dates.
Be sure to book at least 12-months in advance if you choose a videographer from this category.
This category does come with some drawbacks, with the most prevalent being slower edit times.
The number of videos in their backlog tends to pile up during peak season, and it might take longer than anticipated to get your finished product. Most of the negative reviews you will see in this category are because of slow edit times.
Be sure to see if this person works with an assistant and if it is built into the price. The best wedding videos can incorporate different angles of the same shots. A second videographer is an expensive add-on, so get the information before you book.
It's also always a good idea to ask them about their equipment and when they last upgraded. View their recent videos and see if the picture quality is at a level that you're comfortable with. If you see clearer, sharper videos from other videographers, it may be a sign that this videographer has not updated their equipment in a while.
Independent Start-Up Videographer
We'd categorize this as someone who has shot less than 20 weddings or cannot provide you with at least ten reviews.
Some of the most talented filmmakers begin in wedding videography, so hiring an inexperienced videographer can be a great decision for your wedding. There is an opportunity to get a great wedding video at a lower than average price.
Spend time watching their videos to make sure you are comfortable with their quality and style. Know what to expect with the final product before you agree to buy it. If they check all of your boxes, you can wind up with a steal.
A trained eye can find these videos' quality to be a little lower on average. Videography is a talent people spend many years crafting and perfecting, so filming weddings takes many reps.
Weddings may seem formulaic, but no two weddings are alike. It’s a 9-hour live production where things can go wrong at a moment’s notice, and there are no timeouts or do-overs.
Audio can be especially difficult as every DJ/Band/Church/Venue’s sound setup is different.
Startups usually run on a tight budget, and equipment standards are not as you would find with experienced videographers. They are less likely to have backup equipment, making handling difficult situations all the more so.
This category comes with some of the same drawbacks listed before: slower edit times, 2nd videographer not guaranteed, equipment standards, and general inexperience.
If video isn't near the top of your wedding wish list, but it's something you do want, taking a chance on a start-up videographer is a great way to save on your budget.
Large National/Regional Wedding Videography Company
Most couples don't even know that large-scale wedding videography companies exist, when in reality, they dominate the featured listings on The Knot and Google ads.
If you are searching for wedding videographers, it's impossible not to run into these companies. They just do a really good job branding themselves as independent filmmakers.
They service multiple metropolitan areas across the US with many sales representatives and scripted communication campaigns. If you're looking for a more personal relationship, there are better options.
Many of these companies produce good work and have grown to such a level of success for a reason. They offer:
Quick turnarounds
Multiple packages that are moderate to low priced
More flexibility for less conventional weddings
Two videographers often standard
Increased availability
Some of these companies hire experienced, dependable, high-quality videographers who only choose to freelance a few weddings a year. Some hire less experienced options for lower rates.
You just don't know but need to find out.
Before hiring a large-scale company, request samples and reviews of the specific videographer who will be working your wedding, and comb through the company's recent, local videos to get a feel of what the talent is in your region.
Their homepage video shot three years ago in Chicago has little to do with your upcoming Boston wedding.
If you need something fast and flexible for a moderate price, hiring a large-scale company can be the perfect fit for your wedding. Just make sure to get the entire story before you book.
Small Local Wedding Videography Company
You can also find small local wedding videography companies in your area. A small company means a team of 2-5 lead videographers.
For most of these companies, wedding videography was once their full-time job, but they have moved on to different projects in their videography career. They enjoy the work but no longer personally film all of their weddings due to the demanding schedule.
Many of these companies perform other video production work but still have a subsection of the business devoted to weddings in their area.
You are essentially hiring a small video production company to film your wedding, which comes with benefits and drawbacks.
These companies generally employ a small team of experienced career videographers. They have higher production and equipment standards that live up to their professional occupational demands. These factors lead to a wedding portfolio full of high-quality, local, recent examples with skilled edits and quick turnaround times.
They have more availability than an independent videographer thanks to their small team, and two videographers are often standard.
It's a more personal experience than with a large-scale company, but if the wedding day relationship is significant to you, it might not be the right fit.
Hiring a small, local company is a mid-priced option with a high-quality finished product. It's an excellent alternative to higher-priced, independent videographers without sacrificing production or video quality.
Be sure to:
Watch multiple videos to see if there is production consistency
Ask about company style and equipment standards
Request individual samples and reviews from your videographer
Ask how many lead videographers they employ
Meet with your videographer if that's significant to you
If a company is who they say they are, they will honestly answer all of your questions.
What Impacts the Price?
While we went over some of the factors that contribute to the wildly different price ranges already, let's look deeper into what truly drives the price of a wedding video.
We ranked this list from the most impactful cost indicators to the least impactful.
Location
The local economy will have an impact on wedding prices in the area. Videography is no different.
Demand
Is the videographer in high enough demand to book enough dates at their chosen rate to justify charging whatever they want? You'll find this with the top independent videographers.
Supply and demand apply with all of the categories. A start-up videographer who charges a low rate will no longer charge a low rate once the demand for their services increases.
You may find the occasional steal with the proper knowledge and research, but most videographers charge a rate at which they can book an entire year's worth of weddings. The demand drives that rate.
Experience Level
How much do the videographers get paid for their time? It is the difference between an experienced independent and an upstart. It's why large-scale companies can charge less than small companies. Their videographers trend less experienced and get paid a lower rate.
Number of Videographers
You would be surprised how many couples do not factor this into their decision. Multiple videographers are necessary if you are genuinely looking for a high-quality, well-edited wedding video.
Equipment
Ask about equipment standards and watch recent videos to see for yourself. A high-quality picture requires high-quality equipment, and the best videographers use the best gear.
Ask about equipment contingencies. Wedding Videographers should be recording audio from 2-3 different sources and have a backup camera on every shoot. Technical difficulties happen and your videographer needs to be prepared.
Coverage
Most videographers have a minimum package of 6-8 hours and prefer longer sessions as it might not be worth it business-wise to commit to a popular date for short coverage.
Adding additional hours comes at an hourly rate (Average between $100-250/hour).
The best videographers insist on including the wedding day preparation. Some of the most candid moments are captured on film when the couple is getting ready with family and friends. Any full wedding or highlight film appears incomplete without these moments.
For shorter weddings (3-6 hours), a videographer or company may be able to accommodate you with a custom package on an open date.
Length of Finished Video
There is a difference between a full edit (45-60 minutes) and the more popular highlight video (6-15 minutes), but any 5-10 minute difference should not significantly impact the final price.
Drone Coverage
Cost should cover the drone videographer's hourly rate, ranging from $100-300/hour. Drone coverage is not necessary for the length of the entire wedding, and a good videographer can usually get all of the aerial shots in an hour or two.
Raw Footage
Many videographers and companies charge a high rate for you to own all of the raw footage of your wedding. That needs to stop. It only takes a very small about of labor to send the raw files via dropbox or another avenue. Even if you are only paying for a highlight video, you should be able to own all of your wedding footage.
How Much Does a Good Wedding Videographer Cost?
We hope you have an excellent handle on all of the factors that go into wedding videography by now and are more prepared to choose the perfect fit for your wedding.
It certainly differs by location, so if you live in an area where home prices are high, expect to pay more; if not, you could pay less. Research your area!
A wedding videographer who produces a high-quality finished product costs anywhere between $2,500 and $5,000.
This number should include two videographers, a highlight video, 6-10 hours of coverage, and the raw footage.
It is tough to justify spending beyond this range in terms of the tangible difference in the final product.
Determine what you think is a quality video. Decide how important that is in terms of your overall wedding budget, and then figure out what you are willing to pay. If you do enough research, you'll be able to find a fair price.
Understand what you're looking for, know precisely who you are hiring, and find the right fit. It's out there for every couple.
How Do I Choose?
You found a few good companies that fit in your budget, how do you choose the one?
Seek out and rely on reviews. Do not rely solely on testimonials from the videographer's website. Use the Knot, Google, Facebook, and Wedding Wire to find at least 20 reviews of your videographer. Let the words of people who have been in your situation before guide you.
Watch video samples. Your finished video will likely look very similar to the sample videos on your videographer's website or YouTube page. Make sure it's shot and edited in a style you enjoy.
Are there aspects of the sample videos that you especially like or dislike? When talking to the videographer, ask if they can customize certain aspects of your video.
Experience Matters. You may be able to tell from the number of reviews and sample videos, but remember to question your videographer before booking. Ask to see examples of full-length videos even if you're only considering a highlight video. Most videographers can look great in a short highlight film, but creating a 30-60 minute film showcases their true skill level.
What is most important to you in the final product? Do you want the best-looking highlight film possible? Having the most coverage, so nothing gets missed?
Depending on your budget, you might have to make some tradeoffs, but determining what is most important to you in your wedding video goes a long way in choosing the right fit.
Transparency in the wedding industry is often lacking, and it is notorious for its high costs—budget matters and getting the best value for the best service matters. Most couples simply want to find the right fit.
But that's impossible if you don't know your options and what differentiates them.
Many different factors drive quality and cost in wedding videography, but understanding them will make the process of finding the right wedding videographer successful and painless.
Seek out and rely on reviews, watch video samples in your area, ask questions, and be informed. The right fit is out there!