Don't Shoot It Yourself!

Couples usually only realise the value of a wedding video after their big day is over. There is nothing more enjoyable than a professionally made film to re-live all the special moments, fun and emotion. Unfortunately, many couples are led to believe that filming their day is a 'fun' task that can be delegated to family and friends. This idea is promoted by 'shoot it yourself' companies who take advantage of their lack of experience without carrying responsibility for the results. Feedback from previous couples is 'don't film it yourself!' Instead, hire a professional videographer to do it for you. Not only will a proper wedding video be considerably more detailed and enjoyable, but it can also work out cheaper than a 'DIY wedding video package'. That's because there are no hidden extras and time isn't wasted sorting out dodgy footage with poor sound.

Top 5 Reasons Why

To help you avoid the many pitfalls of filming your own wedding, we've put together our top five reasons why you shouldn't shoot it yourself.

1. It's not cheaper

Even if the initial costs of filming your event yourself appear low, you will almost certainly find there are hidden extras. Our research shows some companies providing 'Shoot it Yourself' packages charge for things like putting a light on the camera! You may also be charged extra for being able upload your video onto YouTube or Facebook. At Camera Creatives we are professionals who understand exactly what is needed to make an enjoyable film. When you hire us, it's our responsibility to bring all the equipment necessary to do the job – our costs are competitive because we don't take advantage of your lack of experience!

2. Your film is shorter

It may seem a paradox, but it is invariably the case that filming your own event will result in a shorter film. The reason for this is a professional videographer will have the technical ability to ensure more of the footage captured will be useable in the final edit. He/she will also have the creative storytelling skills needed to capture a wide diversity of interesting material. By comparison, your friends or family may only have the imagination of a CCTV camera, so the film ends up shorter because of a lack of fresh and interesting perspectives. Bear in mind your friends will be doing you a favour, so your film may also be shorter because they're chatting at the bar whilst important things are happening around them!

3. The quality is lower

It stands to reason that if you decide to shoot your own event you will be using relatively simple and unsophisticated equipment for the job. No amount of quick tutorials will make up for years of professional training and experience. Even with a straightforward camera there are many pitfalls such as poor sound quality, camera instability, wrong exposure, no cutaways for the edit or storytelling focus. Remember, an editor can only work with what you provide, so if your filming is poor, your finished video will still look like a home movie. A professional videographer on the other hand will always know what to do and will have better and more suitable equipment.

4. You can't relax

Whatever the initial enthusiasm expressed by friends and family to film your big day, they are unlikely to have the time and commitment to see it through. Take it from us, filming an event is hard work and requires a lot of skill, mental stamina and dedication to last all day! Feedback from clients is that when a guest is entrusted with the task of filming, there are many distractions which can easily result in the camera lying unattended in the corner. Remember you cannot edit a film from excuses, so think twice before deciding whether it really will be a good idea to film it yourself!

5. Risks and disappointment

When filming an event there are many potential hazards. These include technical failure, accident, public liability, health & safety to name a few. Without proper skills, you could find yourself bitterly disappointed by your friend's lack of ability or even facing an accident claim without insurance cover! Remember your 'film it yourself' package is unlikely to carry responsibility for such production issues, they can only edit what you provide! A professional videographer on the other hand will have an established workflow, good technical competence and full insurance. Why take the risk of being disappointed?

 

If you would like to know more about our filming prices and packages, please visit wedding video prices.

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