An in-depth review of video package: Full-Length Edited Video v.s. Raw Footage
I often look at other wedding videographer's posted packages and I've been feeling it's time to clarify common types of wedding videography packages on the market as well as the idea behind how I design my wedding video packages and why it's better.
There are several types of video packages you will find online:
Highlight Video Only
What you get: A highlight video of your day. Usually 3-6 minutes long, This should include all important and fun moments of the day plus some designed b-roll and insert shots.
What it takes:
- One videographer with one or two video cameras.
- An on-camera directional microphone and/or
- a wireless lavaliere microphone and/or
- a small audio recorder hide in the groom's jack pocket
- In terms of editing, first of all, all footage from different cameras and audio files recorded separately have to be synced up. This is very time-consuming if doing by hand. Or it could be fast by using specialized software. Then a series of artistic decision are made to arrange the footages and cuts are made to preserve desired part of the footage. Then music track is introduced and markers are placed according to the mood, tempo and beats to have video clips dropped in later. This is usually the most time-consuming part of the project. Creativity is critical. The color-grading is applied for styles. In addition, sound works is important too. Then the video is polished with transition effects and additional fine-tuning. An editor usually go over the same footage at least 10 times and there is a reason behind every editing decision.
What to watch for:
- This type of package usually does not offer a full-coverage of your event. Which means you lose memories of lots details of your wedding over time and it's forever gone.
Highlight Video + Raw Footage
What you get: The highlight video plus all the raw footages captured on the day of.
What to look for: The downside of getting raw footage is that, you have to be patient and forgiving about watching parts of footages that is supposed to discarded. For example, when you press down the record button, it takes a few seconds to get focus, stabilize movement and some undesired sound may also be recorded. In my opinion, it's a pain to watch these footages. I don't understand why other videographers are offering this option, it's like selling a sour dough instead of a freshly baked loaf.
Highlight Video + Documentary
What you get: You get the highlight, of course plus some edited segment of your wedding - say ceremony and the speeches.
What it takes: One or maybe two videographers
What to look for: Do you also get the grand entrance, live performances if you have any, games, first dance, cake cutting? All of which are important parts of your wedding.
How I design my package
What you get: The highlight plus edited full-length edited videos of your ceremony and entire reception.
What it takes: At least two camera setup, but I usually do at least three. During the ceremony, one camera focuses on the bride, the other focuses on the groom and the third is mobile getting reactions of parents and guests and other environment shots.
What to look for: I offer a 3-videographer package and a 2-videographer package. Having the 2nd and 3rd videographer watching the camera the whole time, I can do creative shots from different angles and get people's reaction shots.