It. Here’s a better question if I have a videographer, should I hire. It? Here’s a better question if I have a videographer, should I hire? Hire a good photographer. I’m Jason Monroe. I own and operate highway 61 Films. We’ve been making wedding films in Chicago since 2009. I think a videographer can be just as important, if not more important than a photographer, because it allows for things that photos can’t recreate, such as seeing yourself walk down the aisle, hearing your speeches and toasts from your family members, and bridal party during the reception, hearing your vows again, that’s hugely important. Hearing letter readings from getting ready moments, having all of that wrapped up in a cinematic way. With music, there’s a lot of emotion. Just as like with watching a film, it can kind of help you relive your day in a way that looking through photos can’t do. So I think it’s ultimately even more important than photography in some ways. Hire a good photographer. I’m Jason Monroe. I own and operate highway 61 Films. We’ve been making wedding films in Chicago since 2009. I think a videographer can be just as important, if not more important than a photographer because it allows for things that photos can’t recreate, such as seeing yourself walk down the aisle, hearing your speeches and toasts from your family members, and bridal party during the reception, hearing your vows again, that’s hugely important. Hearing letter readings from getting ready moments, having all of that wrapped up in a cinematic way with music, there’s a lot of emotion. Just as like with watching a film, it can kind of help you relive your day in a way that looking through photos can’t do. So I think it’s ultimately even more important than photography in some ways.
Here are some tips and tricks to film a great video that stops the scroll:
You’ve got 3-5 seconds to stop the viewer’s scroll. Be creative… start with a phrase like:
We’ll put your name and bio in the title and links, so you can say something more general like:
Give them your hot take, and don’t hold anything back.
check out how Sal nailed it in this video and so did Megan in this one and Nichole told it straight (from her car).
Do you feel like the industry charges more “because it’s a wedding” and they know it’s an emotional purchase?
Do companies think that they can charge more for weddings since the bride and groom may be willing to spend more on their dream wedding?
Hey wedding pros – is this higher price tag justified? Why? Do you charge more for your service if it is a wedding?
This is a taboo topic, whispered but not discussed… until now.
Welcome to The Uncorked Project!
2 comments
I have been asked this so many times... does the wedding industry inflate prices when they hear it's a wedding?
Here is my honest answer (as a former wedding photographer)... NO. Did I charge more for a wedding than a 50th birthday party or a family portrait session? Yes, absolutely. I charged A LOT more for a wedding.
Was I taking advantage of the emotional sell? Absolutely not.
The main reasons I charged more for a wedding were: the unseen amount of work involved in the 12+ months leading up to the wedding, the skill level needed on the day, the INTENSE pressure to create perfect "portfolio level work" no matter what the reality of the situation- but mostly it is to compensate for the time AFTER the wedding in post production.
Little known fact about wedding photography - the real job is sitting at a computer editing photos. Photographers spend many hours behind the computer carefully selecting and editing photos. They make adjustments, crop, and adjust colors to ensure each image it's best. Don't forget the time it takes for batching, renaming, importing, exporting and uploading the photos and preparing them for delivery.
Do you think this justifies why photographers charge more for weddings than for other types of shoots?
Couldn’t agree more! And on the videography side its an absolute ton of data + editing discipline.
Its a double sided coin- weddings are extremely high pressure but also high reward when we nail it.
Our products (photo video) in particular are the only thing that genuinely will last forever . Having fun and ALSO nailing the product is worth the price of entry and frankly more.