Wedding Video Questions
by ALTA RESORT VIDEO PRODUCTIONS

Should my wedding be videotaped?
You've dreamt about it for a lifetime, planned the day for months and then-- it's over in a day. Only video can capture, in motion and sound every detail, the vows, your laughter the speeches and the music. Video coverage of weddings is quickly catching up with photographic coverage of weddings. Digital cameras have replaced the bulky and light starved cameras of only 5 years ago. NOT taping the wedding is the biggest regret expressed by brides, grooms and family members. Couples and their families are delighted with the ability to relive the day, seeing things that they may have missed. A video is not only an overview of your wedding day, it is a wonderful way of reliving magical moments with relatives and friends who were unable to be there. Your wedding video will be valuable to future generations.

Why should I pay for a professional video when friends could do it for free?
Most friends and relatives don't have the training, experience or the equipment of a professional videographer. A professional has experience with all types of wedding ceremonies. There is only one chance to get it right. The professional will set up and capture clearer audio with a wireless mic than a well meaning friend with just a camcorder. Special attention is paid to angles, sound quality, as well as content. When considering a professional, hire a full-time video production company, not a "week-end pro.". Camera technique is more involved than knowing how to point and shoot. Just recently the father of the bride brought in a tape recorded on a defective camera. There was a line creasing the picture and the audio was distorted.  Other amateur results have been shaky camera movement, bad lighting, inaudible voices, both during the ceremony and reception, camera batteries dying half way through the ceremony. It is very difficult to fix something that is unfixable. Professionals can post-produce your video, where friends usually cannot.

How much does it cost?
Like your gown, the caterer, the photographer and your rings, there is a wide range of pricing for wedding video. The adage is very true that you get what you pay for. Professional video production can range from $500 to $3000 depending on the service you want. Within that range is also a wide range of value between services as well. The contemporary bride knows that not all video companies are created equal.  To determine a starting budget for video services use the following rule of thumb: weigh the importance of your memories as they are recorded through video and photography. For example if the video is half the importance of your photography, the factor is 1/2 -- or if the video is twice the importance then the factor is 2. Take your total photo budget and multiply by the factor. In the case of a $1000 budget for photos and if your video is half as important then budget for $500. If video is twice as important, then budget for $2000--if it's the same then budget equally. What's the big deal? Is video really that important? With most couples the over-riding theme of their wedding is proper budgeting. Spend too much and there isn't enough money to go around, spend to little and you'll fall short somewhere. Most people will forget a poor meal, a boring DJ, an old limo, or slightly faded flowers. In a week or two, all those problems would fade away. But in the case of your photography and video, you bought them to stir your memory. Video is usually last on your list before your wedding BUT 1st on your list the day you get back from your honeymoon! Videotape is cheap - Memories aren’t! Wouldn't a few minutes of planning to professionally videotape your wedding be worth it?

How much do you tape and how long will the video be?
At ARP we will do our professional best to deliver a video that will hold your interest throughout the entire tape. We know that your wedding tape will be something you will want to watch over and over again. We offer wedding video packages that will capture your ceremony only, your ceremony and part of your reception, or if you desire, your entire reception. In all cases, we will give you a video production that captures your event as well as your attention. The final edited tape varies in length. Our Basic Package video will run about 35 minutes. This estimate depends on the length of your service and how much fun you have at the reception. The more energetic your party is, the more we record. It's all too easy to record everything and end up with a tape that runs 3 or 4 hours. The sign of an amateur videographer is someone who offers you 2 full video tapes of your wedding and reception. Think to yourself, "When was the last time I sat down and watched a 4 hour movie?" Your wedding video, like a really good movie, should be enjoyable to watch, not only the first time, but, again and again.

Do I need both a photographer and a videographer?
Video isn't meant to replace photography, only to complement it. While photography captures one selected moment in time, video provides a complete replay of your wedding, full of sights and sounds. In booking packages, decide which one is most important to you and book accordingly!