Videography is the one area of the wedding that is often skipped due to budget, and skipping videography it is one of the most regretted decisions couples make. It may seem like it wont be important now, but years down the road, many couples wish they could re-live their vows, hear their mom or dad give a toast, and see family together celebrating. At the end of your wedding, the food will have been eaten, the flowers will fade, and all you will have left are photos and video.
We spent some time with the very talented Eli of Eli Meyer Studio, a Gainesville, FL videographer, to get his take on what he feels that couples should know about videography and why they may want to revisit having a videographer as a part of their vendor team on their wedding day.
If you want to see some of Eli's work check out his website and follow him on Instagram! We have also included some videos for you here in the blog!
What are some common misconceptions about wedding videography?
"I think the biggest misconception is price vs quality. I believe reaching out to professional established wedding videographers in an area and asking for pricing will give you a good place to start when determining your budget for your wedding. Educating yourself is a great place to start when searching for the perfect videographer for your wedding, as this is a highly personal artform."
What advice can you give to couples looking for a wedding videographer?
"Prioritize your budget on what is most important to you. If video is important, put your budget there. Wedding videos today are works of art. Your wedding film will be cherished for a lifetime, passed on to future generations, and allows you to relive your wedding day forever. This leaves you with something really special, so when looking for a videographer, take your time to watch their work and really identify with a style that you love. We love using lots of audio in our films, and that seems to be a driving force behind the authentic feel of our work. Getting to know your videographer over a phone call goes a long way. Our clients feel comfortable with us and are super excited to have us on their special day because we have spent time getting to know them; this relationship reflects on how comfortable you will be on your wedding day. So before booking your videographer, spend a decent amount of time just hanging out and being more personal with them."
Based on your experiences, what would you like every couple to know before contacting a wedding videographer?
"Having a realistic budget for hiring a videographer is a good place to start. Hiring a photographer and videographer can be a bit confusing when you don't know much about what goes into a wedding, and the pricing is all over the place. Your videographer and photographer will spend the day with you, so I highly recommend hiring professionals that are experienced and focused on giving the best experience to their couples. Couples that choose quality vendors always rave about their weddings."
What are some new trends in wedding videography you are seeing?
"More storytelling aspects, Great drone shots, creative cinematic shots with gimbals, and bride and groom letters to one another, that always brings the house down with a personal touch to a wedding film."
What is your favorite part of the wedding?
"There are so many special moments on a wedding day so it is pretty difficult to pick a favorite, but I would have to say that a first look between bride and groom is always so incredibly special. It is the first moment you get to see one another on the wedding day and it always feels so right and comforting. "
What locations, backgrounds, or places result in best videos?
"Lighting is everything. When you hire a good videographer or photographer, you are hiring their knowledge of light, and how to use available light to bring the best quality out of each situation. Areas with soft light, leading lines, and beautiful backdrops often catch our eye when considering locations for portraits with B&G. Plus we are suckers for that gorgeous golden hour backlight."
What inspires you?
"Love. Love is the most incredible thing we share on this planet. Each couple we work with has a beautiful connection to one another and it is always so unique and inspiring to capture that in a wedding film."
Ok, now some fun stuff!
Any fun or crazy stories you have from your time as a videographer?
"I walked into the reception to see our videographer Rangga being thrown into the air by a bunch of professional football players, crowd surfing into the night haha!"
Apple or Android?
"Apple runs my life."
Do you have any pets? (bonus points for pics!)
"Oh My God! We just got a puppy, his name is Figgy, and I'm speechlessly in love with this little guy. "
Tell us where we can find you on social media! Follow us @elimeyerstudio