07/23/2024
When I do Videos, here is something to consider.
Video Services: What you NEED to know about highlights and event video
For many of you, this is your first rodeo hiring vendors for such a large-scale event such as a Quinceanera or Wedding. As a vendor myself who provides photo and video as a service, it's important that we, as vendors, provide you with as much information as possible so that you can make informed decisions when hiring a team for your event. When you are looking for "Photo & Video", it is not universally spoken language between teams. We all operate in our own ways to provide a portfolio with our own individual level of expectations based on experience. Here, I will cover two of the most talked about issues regarding videography I have read or heard.
I RECEIVED A 10-MINUTE VIDEO BUT HIRED A VIDEOGRAPHER FOR 6 HOURS
When hiring a video team to capture your big day, remember that your video will be returned to you as either a highlights video (2-10 minutes on average) or a long-form video (1+ hours). You must understand the differences between these two, as they are not the same.
A HIGHLIGHTS video is a small, highly edited video where the videographer/editor takes small clips throughout the entire event and makes a compilation of the "highlights" of your day which most often includes music, transitions, and special effects. A highlights video varies by the videographer's vision of style and choice of music so it is important that you ask for highlights examples.
A LONG-FORM video is a longer-running video. In most cases, this video is recorded by cameras that are capable of recording continuously, without technical limitations such as a maximum recording time of 30 minutes or suffering from heat shutdown. Due to these challenges, a long-form video is less common than a highlights video. A long-form video will usually contain the full event coverage, the ceremonial or first half of your event is captured in its entirety so that all the important scenes are covered, which you would expect to watch in FULL. Most of the open dance floor is covered; however, it is this part of your event where most of the footage is cut to make the video smaller. Too much recording of the open dance floor can get repetitive and not as entertaining to the client.
MY VIDEO IS MISSING A LOT OF SPECIAL MOMENTS
1. Time frame isn’t filled in and given back two weeks before the event. Timeline not followed as written
2. It is possible that you received a highlights video. There is only so much content that can be crammed into a highlights video, as it is often the length of the song(s) chosen.
3. It's also possible that you received a long-form video; however, only one video camera was deployed. It is important for you to ask the question, "How many video cameras do you run, and how long do they run for?" There are many factors involved, such as the camera needing a battery replacement, the memory card getting full, or a technical issue with the camera. All these may require the camera to be shut down and/or stop recording, which is why it is IMPORTANT to find teams that run at least two cameras simultaneously. Technical issues CAN AND WILL HAPPEN.
Ask for examples of highlights and/or long-form event videos. It is possible you only want a highlights video, a long-form video, or both! Similar to photography, videographers also have their own style of videography, so it's possible the style may not meet your expectations.
Ask how many video cameras are used. Is it just one video camera? If so, where is it placed, and how long is it expected to run? More video cameras recording your event means different angles, which makes your video more entertaining to watch. It also eliminates the possibility of failure when a video camera has a technical issue, there is still one camera feed recording the event. (It actually happened to us once, and we, as a photo and video team, were relieved as the camera failed during the ceremonial part of the event).
Do you record audio? If so, what do you record? Video is exponentially more difficult than photography. Not only is video important but ALSO AUDIO. A videographer's responsibility is to capture the Audio with just as much finesse and technical ability as they would do video. Have you ever watched a video on mute? Unlikely not. Have you ever listened to a video but not physically watched it? You likely have! And for that reason, is why audio is just as important as recording video. You may find the videographer talking to the DJ, asking to tap a recorder into their mixer or speaker, and strategically placing microphones and recorders near DJ equipment or on the microphones that will be used by speeches. All these audio feeds make up the quality of your video, and without good audio, you will be significantly displeased with the video, no matter how good the video looks!
Author, Mario Gamez of New Dawn Photography and Videography Dallas Texas
