Deciding on a Videographer: Is it important to have raw footage?

Oh, i hope you'll be able to hire one! this is a battle FH and i just went through. i won. haha.

to me, i wanted the raw footage. i'm just crazy and wanted everything i paid for. but really, it's up to you. the highlight videos are really what you're going to be watching the most. if getting the raw footage is a make it or break it... i'd say it's not important.

what is the price of the package you're interested in?

I wanted a recording of our full ceremony, so he's giving that to us plus our 8-10 minute video. Fh didnt want a video guy so I'm paying for it on my own (not a big deal to me).

I don't think you need the raw footage - but maybe try and negotiate in a round of revisions so you have some control over the final product. I think it is good to have the trailer 8-10 minute version and then a longer version so you can re-live your ceremony and the big moments!

I think the trailer version is common, but maybe another version with the ceremony and first dance (or whatever moments u believe are most important). The trailer is def good bc it's a little bit of everything, but I personally would want smthn else as well. I know for us the ceremony was very special and meant a lot to us, FH walking down the aisle, me walking down the aisle and our first dance are all things I'll want to have on video with the music that was played during those moments. Maybe even the cake cutting since DH smashed the cake all over my place - basically the special moments. I could imagine eve wanting to watch 4+hr video of the entire wedding (maybe he if caught things that DH & I missed). Don't think I would watch it once.

My FH and I argued quite a bit on me not using the venues photographer and hiring my own, and on top of that hiring a videographer. I basically told him that this is the most important day of my life and I want and need it captured by someone who can create something beautiful. My videographer includes all raw footage. As excited as I am to view what they create, I'm just as excited to watch the raw footage.

I would recommend not getting the raw footage. If you hire a good videographer, all that will be leftover in RAW is video that was not good enough to make the actual video, so if it costs more to get the raw (as it should, 6 hours is a TON of footage, meaning you'd likely need to purchase a drive to transfer it all), I would just let the videographer know what specific parts of the ceremony/reception you want to make the 30 minute. My 2 cents.

I only watch my raw footage...the edited one I hardly watch. The edited one has classical songs that we didn't actually walk down the aisle to, and I notice the difference. Plus I just like to watch the full ceremony.

We are getting a one minute trailer, 5-8 minute highlight, 60 minute edit of the whole day which includes the full ceremony, and then the raw footage also. because i'm getting the 60 minute edit of everything, i probably would have been ok without getting the raw footage. but with how much i'm paying, i'm happy to be getting literally everything i paid for. lol.

maybe see if they can do a longer edit as well as the highlight, then that way you don't really need the raw footage.

Our videographer will capture the whole ceremony, grand entrance at the reception, toasts, important dances, and garter and bouquet toss. I wanted this because I wanted to be able to look back 20 years from now and actually watch us get married and say I do. Pictures are awesome, but I can't hear myself say "I do" in them. To me, it isn't a waste of money, but some people are totally happy with just their wedding day pics, and that's okay, too.

On a side note, my parents watch their wedding video every year on their anniversary.

We are getting the raw footage and the highlight. It was important for me to see everything that a highlight may not have!

I wanted one but its not in our budget. My mom has a video camera we are going to set up to record the ceremony. It is really the only thing i care about for the video anyways and its free =)

Same as @Kianna - we might hire one for just raw footage, not a huge fan of all the editing they do. I LOVE raw footage at weddings - and if that means an amateur or just a camera set up that is fine with me

She does have a 30-60 minute option which includes majority of the ceremony, toast, first dance etc...but it would be an edited version.

Anyone in the DMV region that would recommend a videographer that's reasonably priced? I'm hoping to find something under $2k!

Whoa Joyce! I live in Bel Air, MD too and I'm using a videographer.

Janeen! Who's your videographer if you don't mind me asking? Is there a private message function on weddingwire...?

I was wondering if you knew that because I don't. lol

I'm using Ethan Wise. Here are links to two of his videos:

https://vimeo.com/75173078

http://vimeo.com/92195006

His 2015 pricing is $1600.

This is his webpage:

http://www.ethanwisefilms.com/

Awesome Janeen!!! I will let him know you referred me

I sent you a message in the mailbox thing that I just discovered existed. In the drop down menu of Planning Tools>Mailbox

I want the raw footage personally but I also play around with editing so I want to do a "bloopers" type thing as well.