7 Wedding Videography Tips for Getting the Most From Your Wedding Film
Your wedding day goes by incredibly quickly, which is one of the reasons wedding videography can be such a worthwhile part of your plans. A great wedding film doesn’t just show you what happened - it brings back the atmosphere, the laughter, the nerves, the speeches and all those little moments you may not have even noticed on the day.
If you’re considering a wedding videographer, there are a few simple things you can do before and during your wedding to make sure you get the very best from your film.
From choosing the right level of coverage to finding a videographer whose style you genuinely love, these tips will help you plan your wedding videography with confidence.
And if you’re looking for ideas, take a look through our wedding videography portfolio to see how different weddings can be captured on film.
Table of Contents
1. Set a Budget for Your Wedding Videography
Setting a budget is usually one of the first jobs when you start planning your wedding, so it’s worth deciding early on whether wedding videography is something you want to include.
If having your day captured on film is important to you, set aside part of your budget specifically for a wedding videographer. Prices can vary considerably depending on the level of coverage, experience and style you’re looking for, so having an idea of what you’re comfortable spending will make the search much easier.
It’s also worth thinking beyond the wedding day itself. Your wedding film is something you can come back to years after the flowers have dried up, the cake has been eaten and the last guest has gone home. You’ll be able to hear the speeches again, see the people you love and relive all those moments that passed in a blur on the day.
For many couples, that ability to experience their wedding day all over again is what makes wedding videography such a valuable part of the investment.
2. Book Your Wedding Videographer Early
Once you’ve chosen your wedding date, it’s worth starting your search for a wedding videographer sooner rather than later. Popular dates, particularly during the spring and summer wedding season, can get booked well in advance.
Take some time to look at different wedding videographers and, more importantly, watch their films. Every videographer has their own approach, whether that’s documentary-style, cinematic, traditional or something more relaxed and informal. You want to find someone whose films genuinely connect with you.
Reviews are useful too, but I’d always recommend watching plenty of real wedding films before making your decision. They’ll give you a much better idea of what you can expect from your own wedding film.
Once you’ve found a wedding videographer whose style you love, don’t leave it too late to get in touch. Booking early means you can secure your preferred date and have one less thing to worry about as the rest of your wedding plans come together.
3. Find Your Wedding Videography Style
Before choosing your wedding videographer, spend some time thinking about what you actually want your wedding film to feel like.
There are lots of different approaches to wedding videography. Some films are highly cinematic, with carefully composed shots, dramatic music and plenty of slow motion. Others are much more natural and documentary-led, allowing the day to unfold without constantly asking you to pose or recreate moments.
Have a look through different wedding films and save the ones that stand out to you. You might find that you love the big, sweeping shots - or you might realise that it’s the little things that matter most: your dad seeing you for the first time, a quick laugh between friends, a grandparent on the dance floor or everyone losing it during the speeches.
Once you have a better idea of what you like, talk to your wedding videographer about it. You don’t need to arrive with a detailed shot list. A good conversation about your priorities and the overall feel you want will help your videographer understand what matters to you and capture your wedding in a way that feels genuinely personal.
4. Get to Know Your Wedding Videographer
Having a camera pointed at you for an entire wedding day can sound a little daunting, particularly if you’re not someone who normally enjoys being filmed.
That’s one reason it’s worth getting to know your wedding videographer before the big day. Even a relaxed coffee, video call or pre-wedding catch-up gives you a chance to chat, ask questions and get a feel for how they work.
The more comfortable you are around your videographer, the less likely you are to think about the camera when the wedding day arrives. And that usually leads to much more natural wedding footage.
You don’t need to know how to pose or perform for the camera either. In fact, if you’re looking for a natural, documentary-style wedding film, the whole idea is to let you enjoy the day while your videographer quietly captures what happens around you.
By the time the wedding arrives, your videographer should feel less like another supplier and more like a familiar face who happens to have a camera with them.
5. Choose the Right Wedding Videography Coverage
Wedding videography packages can vary quite a bit, so it’s worth thinking about how much of your day you actually want captured before making a decision.
For some couples, having the story filmed from the morning preparations right through to the evening celebrations is important. Others are more interested in the ceremony, speeches and key moments, without necessarily needing coverage of the entire day.
Think about the parts of your wedding that you’ll want to remember in years to come. Do you want to see the morning excitement as you get ready? The reactions when you walk down the aisle? Your friends and family during the speeches? Or the atmosphere once everyone hits the dance floor?
There’s no right or wrong answer. The important thing is choosing wedding videography coverage that reflects what matters to you. A good package should give you the films you actually want, rather than paying for hours of footage that you’re unlikely to watch.
It’s also worth checking exactly what is included in each package - from the length and format of your finished wedding film to how and when your films will be delivered. Understanding this before booking means there should be no surprises later.
6. Give Your Wedding Videographer Space to Capture the Day
One of the best things you can do for your wedding film is actually quite simple: enjoy your wedding day.
There’s no need to spend hours creating moments specifically for the camera. The best footage often comes from things that happen naturally - a quiet conversation with your partner, a friend making you laugh, your parents watching from the sidelines or everyone letting loose on the dance floor.
That said, it’s worth thinking about your wedding timeline with your videography in mind. If there’s something you really want captured, let your videographer know beforehand. Whether it’s a particular family tradition, a sparkler exit or a few minutes alone together, knowing what matters to you means they can be in the right place at the right time.
It can also be lovely to build a little breathing space into the day. A short walk around your venue with your new husband or wife gives you a chance to step away from the excitement for a few minutes - and gives your wedding videographer an opportunity to capture some natural, intimate footage without everything feeling rushed.
You don’t need to perform for the camera. Give yourselves permission to slow down, take everything in and be yourselves. Those are often the moments that make a wedding film feel truly personal.
7. Relax and Trust Your Wedding Videographer
Once you’ve chosen your wedding videographer, discussed what matters to you and planned the coverage, there’s really only one thing left to do - enjoy your wedding day.
You don’t need to worry about where the camera is or wonder whether you’re doing enough for the film. Your wedding videographer should be able to work around you, quietly capturing the moments as they happen rather than constantly asking you to pose or repeat things.
The more you can forget about the camera and concentrate on being with the people you love, the more natural your wedding film will feel. The laughter, the nerves, the happy tears and all those completely unplanned moments are what tell the real story of your day.
So take a breath, put the schedule to one side and enjoy it. Your wedding day only happens once - your wedding film is there so you can come back to it afterwards.
If you’re looking for a relaxed, natural wedding videographer in Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds or the surrounding areas, I’d love to hear about your plans. Get in touch with Gardner Films to check your date and find out more about my wedding videography packages.
