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Rockstar July 2022

Another Videography Question! How Many Hours?

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Lisa, on January 28, 2021 at 8:27 AM

Posted in Planning 28

Thank you to all who helped me out on my last videographer post! I was able to find a couple options who offer full length videos in addition to shorter highlight films. We narrowed it down to two options, and we're trying to decide on which one to book. One option offers up to 4 hours in their packages (though additional hours can be added at a cost, which could change the cost significantly). The other one offers various packages of 6-12 hours.

My question is, how many hours would be sufficient for the videographer? 4 hours seems low, but I guess I don't know what a typical amount is. We are doing a first look about 2 hours before the ceremony, a short 15-20 minute ceremony, cocktail hour, and then the reception. I don't think they'd need to be there for the full reception - we aren't doing a grand exit or anything that they'd need to capture at the end, but I don't know how long into the reception I should book them for, since I would like some video of everyone dancing, etc. How many hours did you book your videographer for? Did they capture everything you wanted them to? How many hours would be sufficient?

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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on January 29, 2021 at 9:14 AM
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I agree that 4 hours seemed a little short! We are planning to do a first look. If we were to book 4 hours, the videographer time would end in the middle of cocktail hour 😬 so, I figured we'd be booking for longer, but not sure if that should be 6 hours, 8 hours, or 10 hours. Do you feel that your videographers captured enough of the open dancing/socializing aspect of your reception in the 6 hours? My biggest wish for the video is that we'll be able to see everything: from the events where it's more focused on me and fiance (first look, ceremony, getting ready, etc), and also on our guests: especially where they're having a fun time dancing/playing lawn games/smores bar/socializing/etc. I don't have much perspective on the timing, so I wasn't sure how long the videographer should be at the reception for (after the formal activities have ended and open dancing begins).
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on January 29, 2021 at 9:16 AM
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Awesome that the four hours worked out well for you!! Did you have a first look? If so, how did you figure out timing with the videographer? With my current (very tentative) timeline, 4 hours would cover a half hour of getting ready, the first look, the ceremony, and half of cocktail hour. None of the reception would be included, so I'm not sure how that would work.
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on January 29, 2021 at 9:18 AM
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Definitely! That's a great point. We weren't initially looking for two videographers, but the two options we're looking at both include two, and I agree that would definitely help capture more footage in a shorter amount of time.
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on January 29, 2021 at 9:19 AM
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They both include a second videographer, so that helps! I agree with you and the previous comments - I'm leaning towards 8 hours, just to be safe. Thank you for your help!
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Master October 2019
Meghan · on January 29, 2021 at 9:21 AM
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Yes, I thought that 6 hours was enough. We had them arrive about 30-45 minutes before we were finished getting ready. That way they were able to get that part of our day, but I did not find it necessary to have them there all morning, so this saved us some time.
They captured our letter readings, first look, pre-ceremony photos, our entire ceremony, post ceremony photos, cocktail hour, spotlight dances, speeches, dinner, cake cutting, anniversary dance, and about 2 hours of our reception. We did our grand exit earlier in the night so any guests that needed to leave could, but I still wanted them included in that. So, that also kept us from having to keep our videographers there all night.
As far as reception coverage, you really don't need that much. There is only but so much dancing they can film before it becomes redundant.
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Champion June 2019
Gen · on January 29, 2021 at 6:46 PM
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Oh we didn’t do a first look so it may be different then! Ours came about 30 mins before the ceremony so he got a bit of us getting ready, the ceremony of course, then while we took photos and some of cocktail hour, and about an hour of the reception. In your case I’d probably do another hour or so to at least get video of your first dance and the toasts!
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on February 3, 2021 at 9:06 AM
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Awesome, good to know! I also was thinking of having them arrive about a half hour before our first look, I don't think they need to be there all morning. Glad to hear that they were able to capture everything in the time they were there, I think 6-8 hours should be enough. Thank you for all the info and thank you for your help! Much appreciated!
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Rockstar July 2022
Lisa · on February 3, 2021 at 9:09 AM
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That makes sense! Looking at timing with the first look, I think somewhere between 6-8 hours should be a perfect amount of time for a videographer at my wedding. Thank you for your help, much appreciated!
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