8 Smart Questions to Ask a Wedding Videographer During Your Consultation Call

Emily & Will’s Winter Wedding at The Cavalier Hotel | Video by: Angelica Therese Films

Choosing the right wedding videographer for your big day is a huge decision, after all, they’ll be capturing one of the most important moments of your life! To ensure you’re hiring someone who fits your vision and your needs, it’s important to ask intentional and meaningful questions during your consultation. Here are 8 questions that will give you the clarity you need before making this crucial decision.

1. What’s Included in Your Packages?

Understanding what’s included in your videography package will help you know exactly what you’re getting. Does it include coverage of both the ceremony and reception? How many hours are included? Will you receive a highlight reel, full ceremony footage, speeches, and other key moments? This ensures there are no surprises later on and helps you decide if it meets your needs.

2. How Do You Shoot on a Wedding Day: Intentional or Posed?

Wedding days can be full of spontaneous moments or carefully curated poses. It’s essential to ask your videographer how they approach shooting, do they focus on capturing authentic, candid moments, or do they tend to guide couples into more traditional, posed shots?

Some videographers naturally work with more of a "fly on the wall" approach, capturing those unscripted moments that truly reflect the emotions of the day. Others might take a more hands-on approach, guiding couples into posed moments to ensure the best possible shots. Ask how they approach this balance, and make sure their style aligns with the type of wedding film you envision. Whether you're looking for a more candid, documentary-style video or a polished, stylized production, knowing this will ensure you're both on the same page.

3. How Do You Handle Timeline and Schedule Adjustments?

Every wedding day has its own rhythm, and sometimes things run behind schedule or take an unexpected turn. Ask how the videographer handles these situations, if the ceremony runs late or if something changes at the last minute, how do they stay flexible without compromising coverage? A professional videographer should be able to adapt to any shifts in the timeline while ensuring no important moments are missed.

4. Do You Have a Limited Number of Weddings You Take on Per Year?

It’s important to ask if the videographer has a set limit on how many weddings they book per year. A videographer who takes on too many weddings might not give your wedding the time and attention it deserves. Conversely, a videographer who limits their bookings often ensures they can focus on delivering quality work for each couple. This also helps with scheduling and ensuring they have enough time to give you a high-quality final product.

5. Can You Work with Our Other Vendors?

Videographers often collaborate with photographers, wedding planners, and other vendors. It’s important to know how well the videographer works with others, especially your photographer. Ask if they have experience working alongside photographers and if they’re open to coordinating with your other wedding vendors to ensure everything goes smoothly.

6. What’s the Timeline for Receiving Our Wedding Video?

One of the most important factors to consider is the timeline for receiving your final wedding video. Ask how long it will take to get your highlight reel and full video after the wedding day. This varies depending on the videographer, but make sure their timeline aligns with your expectations. It’s a good idea to ask for specific dates and milestones along the way.

7. Can We See a Full Wedding Video You’ve Shot?

While reels are stunning, they only provide a glimpse of what your full wedding video could look like. Ask to see a full wedding video (or at least one or two examples) to get a complete sense of how the videographer captures the entire day. A full wedding video showcases everything from the getting ready to the reception, candid moments to heartfelt speeches, and all the unique details you may have missed.

This is a crucial question because a reel can only show so much. A full video allows you to see how the videographer tells the story of the day from start to finish, the pacing of their edits, and their ability to capture different moments that might be important to you. The flow of the video, the emotional highs and lows, and how they build a cohesive story throughout the day are all critical elements you need to understand before committing to a videographer.

8. What’s Your Backup Plan for Equipment?

While it’s rare, technical issues can happen on any wedding day. Ask about the videographer’s backup plan, do they have extra cameras, batteries, and memory cards? Having backup gear ensures that no part of your wedding day is missed, no matter what happens. It’s always comforting to know that your videographer has contingencies in place to ensure they don’t miss a single moment.

Final thoughts:

Choosing the right wedding videographer is about more than just their filming style, it’s about finding someone who understands your vision, communicates well, and is prepared to handle your wedding day with professionalism and care. By asking these 8 intentional questions during your consultation call, you’ll be well on your way to hiring a videographer who will capture your day in the most beautiful way possible.

Good luck, and happy planning!