Wedding Photographer VS. Videographer: Do You Need Both?
Your wedding day is a momentous occasion filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. After spending months planning such a special occasion, it’s only natural that you want to capture every possible moment so that you can look back on them and remember them forever.
It’s for this reason that photography is a large portion in many couples' budgets, often accounting for at least 15-20%. As a wedding planner, I’m all in favor of this!
You deserve to have lasting memories that you can cherish forever, but when it comes time to book a photographer, a common question often arises: do you need BOTH a photographer and a videographer?
And I’ll be honest – this can be a hard question to navigate. With the rise of short form video content on our most popular social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, it’s easy to get sucked into the idea that you *have* to invest in videography in order to capture your day and have ‘gramworthy content.
But I’m here to say, that’s simply not true. When it comes to making the decision of hiring both a photographer and videographer, it should be based on what makes the most sense for YOU and what you value.
If you’re struggling to make this decision, my hope is that this blog post serves as a pros and cons list to hiring both and helps you further understand the unique role that each professional plays.
From there, you can make an educated decision concerning photography and videography on your big day!
Let’s dive in. ⬇️
Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Hiring a wedding photographer is typically a non-negotiable for couples and it’s something that many couples mark off their wedding day checklist very early on.
The reason for this is because wedding photography gives you:
Timeless Memories
First and foremost, a wedding photographer captures moments that become timeless memories. From the exchange of vows to the joyous celebration, these moments are frozen in time through beautifully composed pictures.
Overall, these images serve as tangible reminders of the emotions and experiences shared on your special day.
Professional Expertise
One of the most important things to remember when hiring a wedding photographer is that you want to hire someone that is skilled in that industry specifically.
Wedding photographers bring a wealth of professional expertise to the table, including understanding the nuances of lighting, composition, and framing, ensuring that each shot is visually stunning.
Their experience allows them to navigate various scenarios, adapting to different lighting conditions and capturing the essence of your wedding with skill and precision.
Documented Candid Moments
In addition to the gorgeous posed photos that come with hiring a wedding photographer, you’ll also get the benefit of having documented candid moments from your entire day.
From spontaneous laughter among friends to the quiet exchange of glances between the couple, a skilled wedding photographer can document these genuine moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
These candid shots add depth and authenticity to your wedding album and are often more treasured by couples than the staged photos!
Versatility
Lastly, photographs offer versatile options for presentation.
Whether you choose to create a traditional wedding album, frame select shots for display, or share images on social media, professional wedding photos provide flexibility in how you showcase and share your memories.
This versatility allows you to tailor the presentation to suit your preferences and style!
With these benefits in mind, you might be wondering what’s typically included in a traditional wedding photography package.
Let’s break it down. ⬇️
A Typical Wedding Photography Package
Wedding photography packages vary based on the photographer and the details of your specific day, but generally speaking a typical wedding photography package includes:
An engagement session to supply you with pre-wedding photos to use on your wedding website, save the dates, and more (this is typically offered, but not required)
8 hours of wedding day coverage to ensure that your photographer has enough time to capture moments from start to finish on wedding day (this includes getting ready photos, decor, the ceremony, reception, and of course the grand exit)
A second shooter to ensure that both the bride and groom are taken care of photography wise and no shot is missed throughout the day
High-Resolution professionally edited images delivered via online gallery so you can view and download your wedding photos and share them with family and friends
Print Release which serves as permission for the couple to print and reproduce the images for personal use.
Additional services often include:
Rehearsal dinner photos
Extra hours of coverage
Albums and prints
Travel expenses
When choosing which wedding photographer to hire, it’s important to explore different package options and choose the one that fits into your budget and desires specifically.
Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Videographer
Although hiring a wedding photographer is often a non-negotiable, hiring a wedding videographer is typically a different story. Most couples wonder if this vendor is really necessary and it’s usually a topic that is heavily discussed among my clients.
Some people know right away that they want both – photos and videos to capture their special day. But others need a little more convincing.
I’m not here to steer you one way or the other, I'm here to simply provide a few benefits of hiring a wedding videographer, so that you can make the decision that’s best for you!
A few benefits of hiring a wedding videographer, include:
Capturing Motion and Emotion
Videography adds a dynamic element to your wedding memories by capturing not just still images but the motion and emotions of the day. The exchange of vows, laughter, and even the subtle gestures are beautifully conveyed through moving images and sound.
If you’re super sentimental and you want to remember and relive every special detail, a videographer might be a great choice for you!
Audio Memories
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but what does that make a video worth?
Videography preserves spoken words, such as vows, toasts, and heartfelt conversations, giving you the ability to hear the voices of loved ones and yourself as a couple adds a profound and personal touch to the overall wedding documentation.
Highlight Reels and Trailers
Remember that short form video I mentioned earlier? Well, if having something like that to share on social media is important to you, videography might be worth it!
Many videographers provide highlight reels or trailers, offering a condensed version of the day's best moments. These shorter clips are perfect for sharing on social media and reliving the highlights in a quick and engaging format.
Storytelling
At its core, a wedding video provides a comprehensive narrative of your day, allowing you to relive the entire experience and share it with others.
Videographers capture not only key moments like the ceremony and speeches, but also the in-between scenes that contribute to the overall atmosphere and emotion of the event.
Many couples love being able to watch these moments back and feel like they’re revisiting one of the best days ever and it’s something that they want to show their future kids one day.
Overall, wedding videography CAN be a special investment that many couples deem worth it. But like everything when it comes to planning your wedding, the decision is ultimately up to you.
If you’re thinking about adding wedding videography into your big day, here’s a glance at what a typical wedding videography package includes. ⬇️
A Typical Wedding Videography Package
Just like photography packages vary, videography packages do too, but generally speaking, you can expect to receive:
6-8 hours of coverage so that the videographer can capture moments throughout the entire day, similar to that of a photographer
A highlight reel so you can have a condensed video of your day to share on social media (typically under 10 minutes)
Raw footage delivered on a USB so you can have unedited clips of the most special parts of your day, including speeches, vow exchanges, first dances, and more
Additional videography services often include:
A full length film
Extended videos or video clips
Extra hours of coverage
Drone footage
Travel expenses
Sometimes you’ll find that the photographer you wish to hire offers videography add-on services as well, which makes it SUPER easy for you. Other times, you may find that you have to hire two separate people and that can make it a little more complex.
3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Hiring Both – A Wedding Photographer and Videographer
Now that you understand the benefits that each vendor can provide and understand what typical photography and videography packages include, you might still be wondering… “are both of these options a good choice for me?”
To help you really make that decision, there’s a few questions that you can ask yourself to get to the bottom of your decision. ⬇️
1. Can we afford it?
When in doubt about something concerning wedding planning, I always encourage my couples to go back to the facts – and the facts in this case is your budget!
Sometimes couples are okay with moving some things around to make both a photographer and videographer fit into the numbers, but other times it’s not worth it for them.
So if you’re undecided and need help making a choice, look at your budget and let that guide your decision.
2. Is this important to us?
Some couples are perfectly happy with just having static images as their wedding day keepsakes. Others want the full effect. And again – there’s no right or wrong answer here.
It simply comes down to YOUR preferences.
3. Will we actually use it?
One of the most common things I hear from people who hired videographers for their wedding is that they watched the video footage once and haven’t touched it again.
In the moment of planning your wedding, it’s natural to feel SO excited and you often think that there’s no way you wouldn’t want to relive the day over and over again.
But the reality is that once your wedding day is over, life goes on you, you get busy, and usually watching wedding videos doesn’t make it onto your to-do list.
Sure, you might pull out the USB on your anniversary or show it to your kids when they ask in the future, but otherwise, it’s often something that sits in a drawer and collects dust.
So my best advice is to be honest with yourself and fully consider if the videos you receive are actually something you will use once the buzz and excitement of your big day is over.
In the end, the choice between a photographer and a videographer, or both, is a deeply personal one and it’s one I can’t solely make for you.
While photographs freeze moments, videos capture the essence of the day in motion. The perfect combination depends on your unique vision for how you want to relive your wedding day.
Whichever path you choose, make sure to entrust this important task to seasoned professionals who understand the significance of your special day. By doing so, you'll ensure that every laugh, every tear, and every heartfelt moment is beautifully preserved, allowing you to cherish the memories for a lifetime. 🤍