Picture this: You’ve gotten engaged to the love of your life. You’ve followed every step of our Newly Engaged Guide, and now it’s time to start planning the wedding and booking your top vendors, like the planner, photographer, and, yes, the videographer.
You wedding video is no small task. “A wedding film shouldn’t just remind you of what happened—it should make you feel what it was like to be there,” Simone Masini of Lumos Produzioni says. It will literally be your love story, so you want it told properly.
This is a critical moment in your wedding planning journey, so we asked members of our Directory for guidance. Here’s their advice.
1. Don’t Skip Having a Videographer
Anecdotally, videography is something too many couples skip and ultimately end up wishing they didn’t. (This writer’s own parents still complain about not having a videographer, over twenty years later!) Katherine Keene of Wild + Free Films agrees, saying, “It’s one of the most commonly overlooked parts of the wedding experience—and often, the number-one regret couples share afterward.”
When you think back to your wedding years from now, you’ll want to relive that day in vivid color with sound, motion, and emotion. “Investing in a skilled videographer ensures those fleeting moments are preserved with the same artistry and intention as your photography,” she explains.
2. Understand the Difference Between a Videographer and a Content Creator
Yet another thing no one knew would be possible when planning a wedding thirty years ago! There are now content creators in addition to videographers. These creators capture more of the behind-the-scenes and en media res moments of the wedding day. It’s a great addition to your wedding team but shouldn’t completely replace having a professional videographer.
“If you’re considering hiring both, clarify what each vendor provides,” Osiris and Michele of Modern Love Productions advise. “A videographer focuses on cinematic storytelling, capturing audio, moments, and emotions in a cohesive narrative, while a content creator typically delivers short-form, social media ready clips.” The distinction is key for setting expectations.
3. Don’t Just Use Social Media
It’s all too easy to swipe through a videographer’s Instagram grid and watch their cherry-picked reel footage, set to the tune of Lana del Rey, Marvin Gaye or whichever song is trending on TikTok that day. “Couples should ask to see a full wedding collection so they can understand the videographer’s complete style, not just the highlight moments online,” Chris Jesperson of Storybox Cinema notes. “You want to feel connected to the full story, not only the best sixty seconds.”
The best example of what you’ll receive from your videographer lies in these full-length, 10-minutes films. Keene adds, “Those are the films you’ll return to years later, not the 30-second teasers. A strong body of work should show consistency, storytelling depth, and the ability to translate real emotion into timeless film.”
Once you see these a videographer’s full gallery, Bethany and Zac Holmstrom of Current Films recommend you look closely at the commonalities between these videos and find the filmmaker’s style and what they consistently deliver. They say, “Your expectations should be based on their body of work, not a single film. Remember each client is different, and every film should ideally be unique to that couple. One person’s personal preferences don’t always dictate the final product.”
4. Choose a Style That Resonates with You
Your wedding video may very well become your favorite movie, so enlist a filmmaker who will make it exactly that. Our Directory vendors say time and time again to find a style that moves you. When watching potential videographers’ work, investigate what makes you connect with their videos. “Pay attention to the moments that make you smile, laugh, or tear up. That’s how you’ll understand a videographer’s approach to capturing emotion, pacing, and the unique story of your day,” videographer Laurent Rostaing of Laurent Rostaing Films explains.
5. Connect with Your Videographer
On your wedding day, you will spend the most time with your soon-to-be spouse, your photographer, and, yes, your videographer. You want to commission someone who you connect with. Elaine Jiminez of KEJ Productions elaborates further, “You’re inviting someone to step into one of the most intimate days of your life. Beyond beautiful visuals, you want to feel comfortable and understood. That trust translates on camera.”
It’s crucial you have a conversation with your potential videographer before signing any contract. “Setting up a conversation, even just a short Zoom call, helps you get a sense of their personality, energy, and presence,” Keene says. Similarly, Rostaing concedes, “That first conversation tells you a lot. You should feel at ease and inspired by the person who will be beside you on such an intimate day.”
6. Know Your Key Wedding Day Moments
Osiris and Michele also suggest that you think of the moments from your wedding that you want memorialized on camera. “In addition to your highlight film, consider investing in full edits of your ceremony, speeches, and toasts,” they say. “These are invaluable keepsakes that allow you to relive the heartfelt words and emotions from your wedding day in their entirety.”
7. Clear Communication Is Everything
Once you have aligned with a videographer, don’t hesitate to explain your vision. Derek and Cece Chan of DC Film Co. recommends, “Tell them how you envision your wedding film, then allow them the freedom to interpret it with their own eye.”
In order to give your filmmaker that carte blanche, you should be clear about what your top priorities are with your wedding film. “Sharing these preferences helps guide your videographer’s filming approach and editing process, ensuring the final film reflects what matters most to you,” Osiris and Michele both note. “At the same time, trust your videographer to interpret your day authentically and beautifully.”
Likewise, Rostaing suggests that you address the length, the structure, and the tone of your dream video. “Do you imagine something chronological or more editorial, with or without narration?” he proposes. Be explicit! He also encourages couples to discuss the creative atmosphere they’re drawn to. “Music and sound design play a huge role in shaping emotion. The choice of soundtrack, the texture of ambient sounds, the way voices and laughter are layered. All these details define how your film will feel.”
But Chan brings up a great point about communication, “Don’t wait until after the wedding to share special requests. Let your videographer know in advance so they can plan with intention.” There are some things that can’t be merely fixed in post.
8. Complement Your Photographer
While your photographer and videographer are completely different vendors and categories, you should consider how you can maintain balance and harmony with their two different mediums of film and photographer. This can be on the financial level. If you invest in a luxury photographer, you’d want your videographer to be of the same standard, artistry, and experience.
But it goes beyond mere investment. “It’s equally important that their approaches complement one another,” Keene asserts. “When both are aligned—whether candid and moment-driven or more editorial and guided, the day flows seamlessly. That harmony allows for more authentic, organic moments to unfold, while mismatched styles can create a disjointed, stop-and-go rhythm.”
9. Remember, You’re Commissioning an Artist
Ultimately, your videographer is a filmmaker. You aren’t just hiring them; you’re commissioning them. Don’t forget that these are true creatives you’re working with, and you and your partner are the stars.
“Today, the best videographers are not mere documentarians; they’re visual directors who craft atmosphere, rhythm, and emotion in motion,” Masini says. “When couples recognize that, the result becomes more than a record—it becomes a piece of living art.”
She also recommends that you not ask your filmmaker to replicate someone else’s work. “Choose them for their vision, not their imitation,” she posits.
Ask Your Videographer These Questions
Now that you know the basic groundwork that should go into your decision, these are the specific questions you should ask your videographers, according to videographers.
- Where do you find inspiration behind the camera?
- What is your working style on the wedding day?
- How do you collaborate with photographers and planners on the day?
- What’s included in your collections and how do you tailor them to a wedding weekend?
- How many members will be part of the video team?
- What are your delivery timelines?
- Will any videos shared online be approved by us first?
- Do you help with posing, or do you prefer to document more candidly?
