Bad quality wedding video, how to talk to videographer

Definitely ask for the raw footage! Even if my video were not bad, i’d still want to have the raw footage!

im so sorry you’re dealing with this

If you ask for the raw footage, be prepared to pay a lot of money if they’re willing to give it to you. Unless it’s included in your initial contract, most photographers/videographers won’t give out raw footage.

I would definitely express your concerns with facts and limited emotions and see if there’s anything that can be done.

I might write down what you want to say to him and call instead of email. It’s really easy to hedge things or flat out ignore problems via email. If you write out what you want to say it will allow you to process your emotions before calling and talk with them calmly about your justified disappointment.

I would call and arrange for an appointment (at a time you and DH can attend)

I would cry too, it makes me sad to hear that your video turned out so badly! 😢
Did you see sample videos before booking him that were much better quality? Also definitely email with the things you thought weren’t executed With quality.

Raw footage might be (and probably is) in the contract. It is in mine and it was included in about 5 other videographers that I inquired about. It shouldn't be that big of a deal, they already got paid, what else are they going to do with it? Good luck and sorry this happened. This is a fear of mine.

Read your contract. I would call AND email. For 2 reasons--email: documentation, time stamp, verfication you've reached out to your videographer and what you said. I would discuss with him/her first and say "Hi, we're really glad to get the wedding video, but I'm going to be honest I was a little disappointed. I found the quality very blurry and was expecting it to be clearer and I was hoping you captured xyz. I found the editing to be a little choppy, bad, not well timed etc. I was wondering if perhaps this was a mistake? I will call you later, at X:00 on Wednesday to discuss this with you." Most wedding vendors want to make their clients happy and if they are a professional, they will expect this and appreciate the courtesy.

As an ex-video editor, I can tell you, it may be an accident and the wrong file with the right name. It's easy to put the wrong file in the right place or vice versa. It very likely can be a mistake if the work this particular person produces is not in similar quality.

If they give you a hard time, I would just write a negative review on Google, WeddingWire, Yelp, the Knot, etc. I don't believe they can pay to have them removed.

I work in the videography business (not wedding, but commercial production) and unless its in your contract to give you raw footage, you'll either have to pay a ton for it or they can refuse to give it you. The only reason they would is because its still their creative footage and they probably wouldn't want others editing it.

I'd definitely be very specific in the things you want changed. Some companies even let you make edit requests before the final version. Ask if this is the final or if you can request changes.

Hey everyone, thanks for the good advice! Just wanted to give an update, we have not heard back from the videographer. He has not responded to any of the ways we have contacted him. Hoping to hear back soon...

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Hoping you hear back from them soon. If you don't then I would send a certified letter so you have the proof that they received it. Good luck!