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If interested in photography also, ask about saving money by having high quality photos extracted directly from your video. Both video and photography for one low price! When choosing an event videographer, questions of style are very important, and more so than with photography. This is mostly because of how dramatically editing can change the look, sound, and feel of a video. There are two main styles, with variations. Some videographers use a mostly "documentary" style, mostly staying locked down on a tripod and not moving the camera very much. In editing few fancy transitions and effects are used, and not much is cut out. Others mostly use a more "cinematic" style, in which while shooting they do things like moving the camera a lot during shots, using unusual camera angles, and having people "act" for the camera. In editing they will use a lot of music, elaborate transitions between shots, slow motion, and special effects like sepia, and they may have a lot of scenes out of chronological sequence and cut out a lot things. I like to use both of these styles, depending on the situation. During a ceremony I tend to use a documentary style, but during formals I use a more cinematic style. I also try to make it look like there are at least two camera operators, although it's usually just me! You can see both styles on display on the videos on this page.
The type of equipment used is also more important with video than with photography. This is partly because different types of cameras have very different looks. Videographers use either camcorders, DSLRs, or "mirrorless" cameras. Camcorders are good for ease of use and long smooth zooms, but because of their small sensors they are not good for blurring out the background, and not good in low light, so you get bright lights shining in your eyes in receptions or dark churches. DSLRs with their large sensors are good in low light and for a dreamy look where the background is blurred out, but are harder to use, so shots could be missed or out of focus, and zooming during a shot is difficult. I use mirrorless because I think it combines most of the advantages of the other types, without most of the disadvantages: easy to use but also good in low light, while you can blur the background and do some zooming. I shoot mostly using two cameras at once and mostly 4K (ultra-HD) video. 4K is better quality even if you don't have a 4K TV, and you can extract photos from the 4K footage that are almost as good as regular still photos, and suitable for enlargements. A lot of my customers choose to use this option instead of hiring a separate photographer. Other equipment considerations to consider are drones, gimbals, lighting and microphones. All of these can affect the look, sound and feel of your video dramatically. Here is some info on each of these items: Drones certainly are fun and add a point of view you can't get in any other way, but they require a separate operator and add a lot to your budget. Not many videographers offer using a drone, but I got one this year and will offer that option.
Lighting and microphones: You want the videographer not to be shining a lot of bright lights on people in the reception, because in addition to bothering people, the light is unflattering in the video. You do want the videographer to be using microphones that are close to the important people speaking, such as by having them wear a lapel mike, rather than relying on the camera's microphone. Otherwise the sound will be horrible!
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