The All-in-One Promise

“It slices! It dices! It grates! It will even julienne french fries.” Somewhere along the way, on TV or at a trade show, we’ve all heard a salesman promise their tool can replace every other tool in your kitchen. Yet, when you get home, you discover that while the gadget will do all of the tasks on the list, it doesn’t slice as well as the knife, dice as well as the foot processor, grate as well as the grater or julienne the fries the way you like them.  Believe it or not, some photographers will try to tell you they can do it all, too.  They’ll tell you that you don’t actually need a wedding videographer!

Regardless of the size of your wedding budget, it’s hard to fit everything you want into what you can afford to spend.  When a photographer says they can put a single package together to replace multiple  vendors and do so at an attractive price, it’s tempting to cut corners.  When they tell you they can provide a video along with their other services, here are some things to consider.

Length of the Finished Video

When a photographer tells you they can be your videographer, too, ask them the length of the finished video.  You may discover your “video” isn’t a video after all.

Highlight videos to share online with family and friends are quite popular, but that’s not the same thing as a professionally-produced full-length wedding video.  We include a highlight video as part of our packages and you can choose from several styles, but sometimes highlight videos are merely a slideshow created from a series of photos. The primary differences in videography and photography are movement and sound, as in photography doesn’t have any.  Sharing the action is more fun when there is actually action.  So when your photographer tells you the length of his finished video, you’ll know that anything shorter than a full length Hollywood movie might not even be a video.

Type of Camera

When it comes to cameras, photographers usually shoot video with a DSLR, a digital single-lens reflex camera.  The videos from these devices are great, but there’s one drawback.  They only have 29 minutes of recording time and then they shut off – automatically.  What if that 30th minute is when you say I do?

Sometimes photographers will try to cover up the shortcoming by suggesting that no one has time to watch a full length video and they can capture the highlights with their camera.  The problem is most highlights don’t come with a warning signal.  Those moments are the spontaneous, unexpected treasures a dedicated videographer will capture, because their camera keeps on rolling for hours and hours.  Then we choose the best moments to include in your video and add scene selection so you can watch as little or as much as you want to at any given time.

The Unmanned Videocamera

The most expensive thing about videography is the videographer.  Some photographers overcome the shortcomings of a DSLR by actually setting up a videocamera, but most leave it running without anyone to monitor it while they photograph the wedding.  While this brings movement and sound to the video, the resulting video will be stale when compared with a video actively recorded by a professional videographer and the sound will not have the quality of ours.

When our videographer is recording he’s using all the features of the camera to follow the action, get wide shots and then adjust the videocamera for close-ups.  The stationary camera is going to get the action, but only from one focal point, so there is no variety to make it interesting.  A dedicated videographer can also monitor several audio tracks.  We put wireless mics on key players, bring wireless hand mics in case they are needed and can plug directly into the venue’s sound system, all while the videocamera is picking up the ambient sound.  Then we mix it with the video to feature natural sounding audio for your video.  It makes a huge difference in your enjoyment of your wedding video.

Some Do It Right

While many photographers take shortcuts to provide videos at a reduced price, there are actually photographers who do it right.  They use a real videocamera and they hire videographers to do the recording.  They’ll cost more than the ones we’ve been describing, but you’ll be happier with the finished product.  We just happen to think you’ll be happiest with LeniCam Video Productions as your wedding videographer.  Call us and let’s discuss your wedding.  We’ll find a way for you to afford what you really want, a full-length, professionally-edited wedding video customized to your specifications.

A wedding day is one of the most important milestones in life.  A wedding video captures the sights and sounds of the day.  It’s one of the few things you can buy for your wedding that will be a part of your life after the festivities are over.  It’s true value increases with time.

Planning Ahead

Most of the brides we met at the recent bridal shows were just beginning their wedding planning.  Many were still unsure of their exact date or venue.  The July 2015 bridal shows seemed to primarily attract women who were planning a wedding in May of 2016.  When we asked if they’d booked their videographer, we could tell most of the brides-to-be hadn’t given videography a passing thought – and who can blame them with so many details demanding their attention.

We understand the urgency of finding the right venue and the perfect dress.  In fact, because we’ve been capturing weddings for twelve years, we may understand it more than most.  That’s why we urge you to keep vidoegraphy in your budget.

Every Decision is Critical

Because a wedding is such an important milestone, every decision concerning the event seems monumental.  To make it even more challenging, every item associated with weddings seems prohibitively expensive and everything comes with added costs brides haven’t included in their budget. so most brides go over their budget.  Just Google “Overbudget Bride” and you’ll see the result.  Here’s recent article from Bride’s magazine which discusses this common problem.

At the same time, our media rich society is focused on urging brides to spend more.  Television channels air shows like Four Weddings and Say Yes to the Dress.  Social sites such as Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook feed the frenzy.  Wedding Wire and the other wedding specific sites clamor for a bride’s billfold.  It’s almost as if they are telling you that you can buy happiness.

That’s how videography ends up getting cut out of the budget.  Most brides want a full length wedding video to commemorate their special day, but many end up settling for a slideshow from their photographer or a brief highlights video.  We love wedding photography and include the popular highlights film in our packages, but nothing can replace a full-length professionally-produced wedding video and the longer you’re married the more value the video has.

Choose Wisely

The real purpose of a wedding is to initiate a new journey with the love of your life.  It’s not a destination in and of itself.  That’s why wedding videography is such a smart choice.  The cake will spoil, the dress will go out of style and the favors will be forgotten, but if you have a wedding video, the value of each dollar spent is multiplied over time.

“It went by so quickly!”  That’s what every couple tells us.  They spent months and years planning the perfect event and the day is such a whirlwind, they can’t recall most of it.  A full-length, professionally-produced wedding video restores their memories.  Photography delivers precious moments, but videography saves all the sights, sounds, and movement of your day, not only for the bride and groom, but for little people who weren’t even born yet and would like to hear mommy and daddy’s vows or see them dancing together some day in the future.

Book Now

Don’t let videography get squeezed out of your wedding budget.  Call us today and book your wedding date.  In the days and weeks after your wedding you’ll be glad you did, but in the years and decades to come, you’ll be even happier.

LeniCam videographers interview groom at Ashton Gardens.

When is the Right Time to Book Your Videographer for Dallas Wedding?

We hear it a lot. “I really want a wedding video, but I’m waiting to see if I can afford it.”

We hear it a lot and it breaks our hearts.  Much too often we see  brides who delay booking videography and then discover they can’t afford it.  Sure, we hate losing a potential booking, but wedding videography is more than a business for us.  We see our work as an investment in the future.

Most of the things you spend money for on your wedding have a one day shelf life.  Of course, there are exceptions.  You’ll probably save the top of your wedding cake to eat on your first anniversary and some wedding dresses are handed down generation to generation, but most everything else is swept away; from expensive floral displays to notes played by the live band.  It’s all as ephemeral as bubbles and sparklers at the end of the day – unless you’ve got it all on video.

What the Experts Say

If wedding videography is something you want, then Martha Stewart suggests you put it in the budget from the beginning.  She suggests a full ten percent of your budget should be set aside for photography and videography.  She acknowledges that “discussing finances is like watching a love scene in a movie with your parents,” but it has to be done and it makes all the other uncomfortable discussions go a lot easier.

So once you’ve got it in the budget, when do you actually hire us?  Most specialist recommend 8-10 months before your wedding day.  Here’s a couple of experts we respect, but you’ll find that most others agree with these.

• The Knot Texas – “8-10 months before… Research and book your wedding professionals. Interview vendors: photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ, florist.”
• D Wedding – “Eight to 10 months before…Hire your photographer and videographer.”

Why So Soon?

Wedding Videography comes in all sizes, prices, technology and styles.  It may seem that there are plenty of videographers out there to choose from, but when you actually start comparing them to each other, you’ll find it’s a very different story.  When you take everything into consideration, there will be only a handful of videographers that actually fit your criteria.  The closer you get to your wedding day, the fewer videographers you’ll have to choose from, because other brides may have already booked your top choices.

Because there are so many videographers out there, it will take time to narrow down your list.  Then you won’t want to depend on highlight films and price lists posted on the internet.  A wedding video is more than a 60 second teaser.  You’ll want to know your videographer’s style, what’s included in the price they are quoting and if their equipment is even allowed in your venue.

If you’re planning a wedding, we’d like to talk to you.  We’ll sit down with you and ask questions about the details of your wedding and your budget.  We’ll show you the customization options you have and let you preview actual wedding videos we’ve produced.  Then you’ll know if LeniCam Video Productions is the right videographer for your wedding day.  We happen to think we just might be.  Call us now at 972-378-0446 for your appointment.