A bit overwhelmed: photography/videography

We booked our separately. I don't think they've ever worked together, but I'm not too concerned about it. They are both professionals and, being in the wedding industry where they have to work with other vendors on a regular basis, I'm sure they will be able to communicate and coordinate with each other that day so that everything goes smoothly. If you are concerned about how the photographers work with videographers and vice versa, you can ask them that when you get a chance to interview them. Also, the photographer may be able to give you some recommendations on videographers (and the other way around), and this will probably be someone that they've worked with before or have similar styles as their own.

I chose not to go with a videographer.

When I was choosing my photographer, initially I was interested in the "editorial" style - you know, those dramatic, jaw-dropping photos? Then I realized I was more interested in seeing how happy FH and I look than seeing dramatic pictures of me in my dress. So my advice is to start with style.

Decide which is more important - photos or video. Book that one first, and then ask for references to the other. A good photographer can recommend a videographer with a similar style (so it's cohesive), and vice versa. Or you might want a documentary style videographer but a vintage style photographer!

I decided photos were more important, and when I chose my photographer I asked her about videographers. All I really care about is getting the first look and the ceremony in a video format...so my photographer is actually throwing that in for free! She made a wonderful half video, half photo slideshow for our engagement pictures, so I'm really excited.

Also, be careful when you say you want the rights to the raw files. Because a photographer might say yes to that, and give you the actual HUGE raw files that unless you have the (expensive) program to work with are useless to you. Again, talking about my photographer, when I purchase a package from her it includes the high-resolution JPEG files with full printing rights - she even signs the release and sends it to me. So I would be able to print photos as big as I want at Walmart, if I so choose.

Photography and videography was very important to us as we are also wedding photographers on the side (more my FH, I'm his second shooter. He started out as a landscape photographer and has recently moved into doing more weddings, families, etc). So we were also very picky about our photography style and like you, we wanted the raw files (sort of).

Now I'm not sure if your idea of raw is the same as what I consider raw. On a DSLR camera you can shoot pictures in jpeg or raw, any photographer that knows what they're doing shoots in raw, then they have special software (like Lightroom) where they edit the picture then output it as a high resolution image with no watermark and fully edited. Some photographers call this product the "raw file". However, a true raw picture is straight from the camera and you have to have certain software usually to read it. My FH wanted something sort of in between, he wanted the edited files but there is a way you can output it as still sort of a raw picture but with the edits done to it but it makes it so the edits can easily be undone or you can change it on your own. My FH wanted that in case he would like to tweak a picture or two. We found a photographer that would do that because he saw my FH's work, trusted him enough to not do some crazy ugly editing technique that would give him a bad name. So if you truly want the raw files to edit yourself (on top of what the files that are edited by your photographer) then you'll probably have to prove to them that you'll edit them nicely and make few changes. The photographer will not want to give that away if you're going to make their work look bad. However, if you just meant you want the pictures in high resolution so you can print them and you don't want to edit them at all by yourself, then ignore what I just said. If you want just pictures straight out of the camera with no edits and you don't plan to edit at all, I don't think you really want that. Pictures straight out of the camera are sometimes not cropped nicely, the lighting could be slightly off, the exposure could be off, etc. This is why the editing process takes so much time, photographers don't always get great shots straight from the camera (especially if you want a lot of candids) but that's why they edit. Okay so that's my speech about wanting the raw files. Just explain to the photographer exactly what you want, just saying "raw files" may be misleading.

Now as far as your question about whether to have a company that does photo and video. We actually found our videographer first. We saw the way they edited things together and loved it. They asked us in our meeting who we were using as a photographer. We hadn't picked one, so the videographer said "I'm already married but if I had to do it again, I'd use so-and-so" and he commented how easy it was to work together. After looking at so-and-so we decided it was a good fit, so I know they'll work well together. However that isn't necessary. We were photographing a wedding in December and the videography company that was there was one we hadn't worked with and they were great. It was funny sometimes the videographer would give an idea for them to do and then we'd repeat it for the camera (like helping put on the groom's jacket or putting on the ring bearer's tie). The reason we had to repeat it is because the camera needed flash, so the videographer didn't want a bunch of flashes the whole time. So the two can easily talk and work out who will stand where, etc. It's very easy for professionals to do that.

We're getting married in an expensive region (San Diego) so we're paying $3900 for photography and $2100 for videography. Each one is for 8 hours and two people each.

Flying a photographer in I'd say is only necessary if they are the only one with that unique style. But remember they're going to charge for probably two nights at a hotel (the night before and day of), they'll charge for the second shooter, they'll probably charge a little for food, and probably to bring all their camera gear. But I know in a place like northern California, "cheap" would be about $3000 so if you know a photographer who charges $2000 and you love their style then it may be worth flying them in.

Okay that's a lot of info, hope it helps!

Yeah they are not going to climbing over each other to get a shot. Like others have said, pros do weddings almost every weekend. During those weekends they work with other pros. If you have someone coordinating the nights events (DOC or DJ) shouldn't be a big deal. Some brides Ive booked have had all of us meet with her like 2 weeks before the date at the venue so we can meet and get an idea of what she wants together.

Ive been in more than a dozen weddings over the years.... this is what I have learned along the way. I am so excited to be finally planning my own wedding!

Your wedding film and photos are all you are going to have for tangible memories to pass down to future generations. Aside from home movies your wedding film will be more than likely the only video you have of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and your significant other.

my advice is that -

Its important to make sure that they are similarly priced, you don't want to go with one that is significantly more than the other - thats about the only time that working together wont go smoothly.

1st scenario

Going with cheaper photographer (2k range) from what Ive seen is often a little cheesy, old school and they like to pose you in unnatural positions that don't capture your true personalities. This will clash with your video team if you went with someone high end (4-5k) because they capture things as they naturally unfold and filming you stopping to smile while putting on jewelry.

2nd scenario

Going with a cheaper video (2k range) this is going to be someone who is either inexperienced or is a dinosaur. They are going to get in the photographers way, use those horrible on camera lights that no one looks good in and the end result isn't going to be as good as you expected. Ive even been in the room where the video had the bride read her card aloud from her groom 3 times.... yes 3 TIMES. This isn't going to go well for the (4-5k) photographer... they are going to have trouble documenting what they need and what you paid them for.

The best wedding photo and video combination I have ever seen at all of my friends weddings was readyset film and zev fisher photography. The photos were amazing and the video was hands down the best Ive ever seen... and Ive seen a lot in my tenure as bridesmaid :-)

You also don't want to go with the same company for photo and video. Ive seen that a couple times and my friends were not happy with the end results at all.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

Wow. Here I was thinking the same company might make things easier for photo and video. We are definitely into the more candid documentary style. We thought about leaving a tripod up for the ceremony and toasts, just in case we decide to go only with photography, but I started to reconsider that. It is quite a bit of money for one, let alone both! I get that it's important to do it right because you'll have it a long time. I've found that I'm pretty picky on style, wanting clean, classic quality and a fresh or youthful attitude when it comes to working with professionals.

I've seen the same company makes thing easier cause its very likely they have worked together a lot.

I chose a photographer who's photos I love. My videographer is actually 2 shooters And I just love their work. They have worked with many photographers but my photo has not worked with a videographer before so it will be new to her. I have faith they will all be fine!

Hi NatureGirl, I'm not sure where you're located, but about 1/4 of our wedding are destinations. It sounds like your style is similar to our style, so I'll try to address some of the topics above for you:

• We are open on 1/9/16, haha!

• We work hard to make great photos in the camera, so they're not heavily edited, and look clean and high quality. Another benefit is that all of the photos are of high quality, not just a few edited photos for the blog. *Yes, we edit our photos, but we don't have to rely heavily on photoshop to maintain our consistency or style. Please request all potential photographers to share a few entire wedding galleries, so you know what you're hiring. We take an average of **** photos, whereas the typical photographer is in the 800-1000 image range, with only half of them edited.

• We work with separate videographers all the time, however there is no guarantee of the level of professionalism of the other party. We've experienced a wide spectrum here.

• With separate vendors, you will invariably have multiple people competing for the same angles, and there is no guarantee your photos and video will have similar styles.

• We always include the high res files, as well as printing rights. Additionally, the print pricing on our gallery is about the same as Walgreens, but much higher quality. We don't try to nickel and dime people, so that you can fill your home with photos. *Walgreens has us beat on 4x6 pricing, but that's only because our wholesaler doesn't go as low on the small prints. You're welcome to print small photos there, but I recommend you order enlargements from us at the same price and higher quality.

• I agree with what Amanda says about about striking a balance with the quality of photo and video, and even agree with her on the generality about avoiding companies that do both photo and video. Photography and filmmaking are actually quite different disciplines and skill sets, and it is quite rare to find people who can do both well. Actually, it's not easy to find people who even do a good job independently - as you know there is a big difference between average photogs/videographers, and extraordinary photographers/cinematographers. I've found that a lot of videographers simply put together a montage of video clips to some music, and the end result is something that seems cheesy and does not engage the audience.

We work hard to make quality photographs and also amazing films that are more about storytelling than just fitting some clips to music. Here are a couple examples:

Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix: (Going to be featured in Arizona Bride’s fall 2015 issue)

Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152910536638564.1073741869.54087743563&type=3

Film: https://vimeo.com/121301090

ENTIRE wedding:

http://jasonhicks.pass.us/jessicamiles

Telluride, Colorado:

Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152227355513564.1073741863.54087743563&type=3

Film: https://vimeo.com/120362433

ENTIRE wedding:

http://www.jasonhicksproofing.com/event/Courtney-Tim

Send us an inquiry and we'll follow up with our pricing guide.

Bless,

Jason & Daris

Photography was *the* most important thing to me. I booked my photographer and videographer separately for that reason! Any professional should be able to work with the other without any problem.

I just booked my videographer "last minute" (ie: 5 months out lol) after not having originally planned to have one, so I didn't do a bundle, but I don't think I would have, anyway. Photography and videography are very different, and what really makes a wedding film great is the editing. I agree with annakay that professionals should be able to work together, and the tip about selecting similar price points makes sense, too. We just did that naturally, but I see how you might not want people of vastly different levels working so closely...

I sometimes work with videographers, and many I've never met or worked with before. As long as they're experienced videographers, there's never an issue, we work together and discuss a quick plan of action before the event. It's when you hire a film student to save on the budget that they get in the shots etc. Another thing, you say you want two photographers? Have you discussed this with the photographer you are considering booking or did this just come from a bunch of discussions on the internet? We all work differently, go to the horse's mouth. It makes no difference if it's the same company, most do not offer both.

Oh, and no self respecting professional photographers give you rights to RAW files. Print rights to color corrected hi res JPEGS are more standard.

Hi, I highly recommend Peter Lane: http://peterlanephotography.co.uk

brilliant photography work!

Check out Samantha Turchin Photography

I went for budget photographer and no videographer... If I were you and wanted to have both coordinated then I would look into a place that offers both!

We booked different people for photo and video. Professionals should know that photographers always get priority over the videographer. When you interview them you should ask them if they're used to working with the other being there.

Other than this, just start searching locally for your vendors. Screen them by their websites/e-mail them and find out general price brackets. Narrow down your choices to 2 or 3 photographers and 2 or 3 videographers and interview all of them in person. For photography ask to see a full set of shots from only 1 wedding. It will tell you how many of their photos are actually good. It's easy to pick a few good ones to put on a website, but those might be the only good photos they took. You won't know until you ask.

The next step is to carefully examine all of the contracts. Know exactly what you're receiving in your contract and when you're receiving it. Find out about deposits, final payments, etc.

You also need to pick vendors that are personable and that you will be happy to spend your entire wedding day with.

Good luck.

I totally understand the feeling. I have been doing a lot of research and I think that it is better to book them separately since they will be more specialized/experienced plus you def want close ups on your wedding day ) this is who I am going with for video http://allurefilms.com/philadelphia-wedding-videography/