Thinking about Videography

So, you’re beginning to plan your wedding, and you’re wondering if you should even bother to work videography into the overall budget. Aren’t photos enough? While this line of thought is understandable, videography serves to capture more than simply a moving image–it preserves the sentimental and emotional energy of the entire event, and it records the vows and speeches that are only given once, but could be kept with you and your descendants for many lifetimes. The vows exchanged between Autumn and Dustin could easily be lost to time and memory, but instead it is kept perfectly safe and accessible in their wedding video.

Should you budget for videography? The answer is an enthusiastic YES, you absolutely should budget for videography. What’s the point of shelling out money for food, drinks, ceremony setup, lighting, etc. if you can’t reflect back on it, or share this perfection with the rest of your community? It isn’t always the case that your loved ones who are living across the country can show up to your wedding ceremony, as much as they may want to, but a well-done video can help them feel like they are right there, celebrating with you.

Cold Spark Machines for Your Wedding

A highlight of Autumn and Dustin’s wedding video, and in fact of most wedding videos we film at Portland Event Films, were our cold sparks–a type of spark machine that emits a fountain of sparks, anywhere from three to eight feet high in the air, and does not feature any pyrotechnics. These machines give your wedding a cinematic feel, building energy and creating an eye-grabbing visual climax near the end of the video. Cold sparks can easily and affordably be added on to any Portland Event Films wedding package.

‍

The Importance of Lighting and Audio

Lighting and audio both work hand-in-hand with professional wedding videography. In order for the video to appear professional and cinematic, spaces must be well-lit and audio should be recorded into lapel microphones, which are wireless and can be hidden behind the speaker’s clothing. We are typically able to provide all of the lighting and audio tools necessary to complete a wedding video, such as uplights, spotlights, lapel and handheld mics, and speakers.

Even those who opt out of video services should budget for audio and lighting. Oftentimes venues don’t provide mood lighting and can appear too dark, which is not conducive to creating a celebratory environment. When it comes to audio, microphones and speakers are an absolute must to make sure everyone can be heard throughout the event, from the officiant and couple giving their vows, to grandpa delivering his speech during dinner.

‍