How Much Does a Wedding Videographer Cost?
You’re probably wondering “How much is a wedding videographer?” The quick answer is expect to spend as much or more for your wedding videographer as your photographer.
A quick google search of “how much does a wedding videographer cost” will get you a wide range of prices from $0-$20,000.
We were reading a post from someone in a wedding videographer forum and they had sent a quote out for $40,000! Granted, it was a 4 day destination wedding in multiple locations and 4 wedding videographers. It goes to show you that there is a wide range of prices wedding videographers charge and many factors that go into the average cost of a wedding videographer.
How to get the most out of this article:
1.) Read the content below.
2.) Take our “Wedding Videographer Cost” calculator below.
Wedding Videography Cost Calculator
Most couples we talk to have no idea how much wedding videography costs. We created this calculator to give couples a better idea of what they can expect to invest in their wedding videography. At the end, you will have a better idea on what you value most in a wedding videographer along with a dollar amount based on your responses. Be sure to read the rest of this article as we explain in-depth all the factors that go into how much a wedding videographer costs.
The Quick Answer to “How Much does a Wedding Videographer Cost?”
$6,000-$10,000+ (Luxury or boutique filmmakers):
· Experience: 5+ years or at least 75 weddings.
· Coverage: All day coverage, rehearsal dinner, multi-day, destination, etc.
· Deliverables: Longer highlight film (8-15min), documentary films (1-3 hours), teaser film, 4K (better quality), same day edits, guest interviews, raw footage, engagement film, social media extras, etc.
· Quality: Exceptional.
· Style: Unique, timeless, sought after style. Excellent storytellers.
$3,000-$6,000 (Professional):
· Experience: 3+ years or at least 50 weddings.
· Coverage: 8-10 hours on your wedding day.
· Deliverables: Highlight film (6-10min), documentary film (.5-2 hour), teaser film.
· Quality: Good/Excellent.
· Style: Unique style. Good storytellers.
$1,500-$3,000 (Growing Amateur):
· Experience 0-2 years or 5-20 weddings filmed.
· Coverage: 6-8 hours on your wedding day.
· Deliverables: Typically include a shorter highlight film (4-6 minutes) and maybe a teaser film or shorter documentary film. Probably not both.
· Quality: Average/good
· Style: Honing in on their style. They might only offer a music video style with little audio sound bites.
0-$1,500 (Beginner):
· Experience: 0-1 year, 0-5 weddings filmed.
· Coverage: 6-8 hours on your wedding day.
· Deliverables: Probably just a highlight film with a song overlaid. Very little if any spoken audio.
· Quality: Below average
· Style: Figuring it out.
Are you looking for a wedding videographer?
We’re Adam and Morgan Post of Post Wedding Films and we are a husband and wife wedding videographer team specializing in creating captivating, candid, story-driven wedding films so you can remember your best day forever. We travel all over the country to film weddings and even travel worldwide for your destination wedding! If you are looking for a wedding videographer we would love to chat and tell you more about what makes us unique!
Wedding Videography Cost will come down to 4 factors.
Experience
Deliverables
Coverage
Company Type
Photo Credit: Katie Shubert Photography
1.) Experience
Experience is the #1 factor in determining the cost of a wedding videographer and you can break experience down into 3 parts: problem solving, quality, and client interaction.
Problem Solving: Wedding videographers who have been filming for 5+ years and/or filmed over 100 weddings have been around the block and have encountered many problems on a wedding day. There are many things that can go wrong on a wedding day that you probably wouldn’t even think about. For example, what happens if the DJ’s mic cuts in and out during speeches? Does your wedding videographer have backup audio? What happens if someone steps in front of your wedding videographers camera to take a picture of you coming down the aisle? Is there a backup angle? What if you’re wedding venue is extremely dark? Is their camera capable in low light situations or do they have lighting options? These are just a few things that can pop up on a wedding day that can affect the quality of your wedding video.
Quality: Quality is subjective but experienced wedding videographers typically produce higher quality films. They are consistent, their colors are beautiful, their films are unique, and they have acquired top of the line equipment over the years.
Client Interaction: Experienced wedding videographers know how to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. They know how to get the perfect shot without making your feel overwhelmed. If you do feel overwhelmed they will recognize it and know to back off and help you relax. They are good communicators and help guide you throughout the planning process to help you create the best wedding video possible.
If you decide to go with a less experienced wedding videographer you can definitely save some money but there is a level of risk you are taking on and the quality of your film might suffer.
2.) Deliverables
Most wedding videographers offer 3 types of wedding films: Cinematic Highlight Film, Teaser Film, and a Documentary style edit of your wedding day. Some videographers might offer just one of these films and some offer all three. The number of films you receive and the length of each film is directly related to the cost of a wedding videographer.
Cinematic Highlight Film: Almost everyone who hires a wedding videographer receives a cinematic highlight film. The longer and more complex the highlight film is, the more it will cost. These films can range between 4-15 minutes and typically include multiple songs and audio sound bites from your favorite people. The highlight film takes the videographer the longest to create so the longer your highlight film is the more you will typically pay.
Teaser Film: These are typically delivered immediately after your wedding. These are short, fun upbeat films that typically last between 30-60 seconds and are a quick highlight of your day. They are fun to share on social media because you typically get them a few days after your wedding when emotions are high and memories are fresh. Some videographers even offer same day edits of these type of films.
Documentary Film: These films document your entire day’s events. They can last anywhere from 30-120 minutes depending on the videographer. They typically include your entire ceremony, speeches, first dances, and any additional clips from the day.
Extras: Most videographers offer some a la carte options or upgrades to the package you choose. Same day edits, guest interviews, raw footage, etc. are a few examples of some extras that you can add onto your wedding video package.
*You can save some money by eliminating some of these films or shortening the length of the films.
3.) Coverage
Number of Videographers: We know a number of videographers who are single shooters and do amazing work. You will miss out on some things from your day with one shooter but you can definitely save some money by only having one shooter. The vast majority of wedding videographers shoot with two shooters. When you start getting into bigger luxury or destination weddings you could have as many as 3-4 shooters at your wedding.
Multi-Day Coverage: Rehearsal dinners are becoming much more popular for photographers and videographers to cover because of their more intimate setting. Often times, people who don’t normally give speeches at the wedding will speak during the rehearsal which can add to your wedding film. We’ve also seen wedding weekends where couples rent out a resort and hang out with their friends and family all day boating, golfing, lounging, etc. If you want to learn more about why you should consider hiring a videographer for your rehearsal dinner, check out our blog on “Should You Hire a Videographer for Your Rehearsal Dinner?”
Hours of Coverage: This can range from 6-12 hours. We’ve found that 8 hours is about the minimum for capturing your wedding thoroughly. You might be able to save some money by going with less hours but you will be missing out on some key moments. You also might find yourself cramming things into your timeline just so your videographer can capture those moments. We’ve had couples hire us for more coverage because of a New Year’s Eve celebration they wanted us to capture at midnight. If you’re planning on a firework show or big sparkler exit at the end of the night you might want to hire your wedding videographer for that as well.
4.) Company Type:
There are two main styles of wedding videographer businesses and depending on which one you choose will dramatically affect your cost of a wedding videographer.
Larger companies or volume brand businesses might have a team of 10 videographers or they might contract work out to other wedding videographers in the area. They might have 4-10 weddings booked each weekend and shoot up to 250 weddings in a year. They have a team of wedding videographers and editors and their goal is to shoot as many weddings as possible with quick turn around times. They have an efficient process which allows them to typically charge less. Their films might not be as unique and might follow more of a cookie cutter style.
Smaller companies or boutique filmmakers might consist of a husband and wife team or a single filmmaker who shoots by themselves or hires a second shooter to help them at each wedding. Smaller companies will likely cost more depending on experience and typically have a more unique style.
Conclusion
Ultimately, wedding videography prices will come down what you value most.
We suggest sitting down with your partner (yes, this should be a team effort), watching a few wedding films and going over your top values in a wedding video/wedding videographer.
Questions that will help you discover what you value:
Do you value a wedding videographer with experience or can you get by with someone just starting out?
Do you prefer a longer highlight film (6-10 minutes) or can you get by with a shorter highlight film (3-5 minutes)?
Do you prefer audio sound bites (speeches, vows, letter readings, etc) or do you like a more music video style highlight film?
What kind of music do you like in wedding films? Lyrical or instrumental?
Do you like more upbeat fun wedding videos or emotional wedding videos?
Do you like natural colors or a more stylized wedding film?
Is it important to have a documentary film (1-2 hours) where everything is covered (Ceremony, speeches, dances, first looks, letter readings, etc.)?
Is it important to you to have a teaser film that you can share on social media right after your wedding?
Do you want your videographer to cover the rehearsal dinner or day before events?
Can you get by with 6 hours of coverage or do you need extra time so your videographer can capture the dance party and sparkler send off?
Once you answer some of these questions, you will be better equipped when you start your search for the perfect wedding videographer!
To see if we’re available to film your wedding!
Family traditions 🇵🇸🇬🇷
Henry and Iman: WOW! We absolutely loved everything these two packed into their day including a traditional Palestinian dance, a Greek dance, donkeys, flying money, and a champagne wall! I mean, COME ON!! If you don’t believe us, just watch! Congratulations Henry and Iman!