Do any of you wedding photographers also do wedding videography?

If so.. did you start doing photography first? or you became a photographer after being a videographer?

Which do you find more fun / challenging / interesting?

I have missed a few gigs because i don't know anyone who does videography and some clients want both photography + videography together in a package.. just wondering what you guys would do in this situation.

Contemplating learning videography as I get asked a lot about if i know anyone who can do video (and get asked a lot about solo video gigs as well).

I understand that I can't do both for the same event, but a lot of enquiries are for photo OR video.. and some are photo and video.

I've been pondering this same thing. I get asked a lot about videography.

I looked into videography a little while back, and from what I saw it wasnt worth it. Much more storage needed, more gear (steadycams, several cameras at once, gliders and sliders and follow focus and tripods), much more editing time, and less pay.

More work, more time, less pay = not worth my time. I think it would be pretty tough to book a package at $3k here in SoCal. People do it, but they have been at it for a while.

I was in the video production business for over 30 years (tv/corporate/advertis​ing) before I retired and started my photography business.

Having said that, I would encourage anyone who wants to learn videography to think twice. The investment in gear and software can add up quickly. Yes, you already have a camera that can shoot video but do you have a tripod with a fluid head? Sliders? Focus control? Monitor? Stedi cam? Lights? Editing software? Wireless mics? Multiple cameras?

Then there is the matter of learning how to properly shoot video. I'm not just talking about getting the shot in focus and exposed properly, I'm talking about shooting to create a sequence. Understanding the 180 degree line. How to conduct a proper interview. Shooting cut-a-ways. Shooting a master scene.

You also need to learn how to properly record audio. Using and placing wireless mics. Using boom mics. How to deal with ambient noise.

Then there is editing. Not only do you need to learn the software and hardware, you need to learn the ascetics of editing. Learning how to edit for "pace" and content. Editing sound bites. Selecting the right music (with the rights to use said music) Mixing the audio tracks. Adding effects and how and when to use them.

I could go on and on. I'm not saying all this to discourage anyone from trying their hand at video. I'm simply telling you how it is if you want to become good at creating videos.

Yes. I do. I started off with photography (hence my username..pending change) & now do cinematography too. No doubt, the effort & investment is higher than photo but it's heck of a lot of fun if you truly love the art. I do & I can't get enough of it.

www.momentsmedia.ca
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You can be great at wedding photography, or you can be alright at stills and video. Pick one and become the best at it. There aren't enough hours in a day to focus on both. From my experience with coordinators and higher end brides is that they want an expert on each thing, and they think that if your company is a photo+video company, you aren't an expert at either.

At least in our market, most of the all-in-one companies are lower end.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #15343597
You can be great at wedding photography, or you can be alright at stills and video. Pick one and become the best at it. There aren't enough hours in a day to focus on both. From my experience with coordinators and higher end brides is that they want an expert on each thing, and they think that if your company is a photo+video company, you aren't an expert at either.

At least in our market, most of the all-in-one companies are lower end.

I agree 100%. With video you have to think about what they really want,,processional, vows, Mr. & Mrs Jones and the speeches. If the want video, i refer it out. If they know what they are doing, video is as expensive as photography. You cant do both well and do both well. Something will suffer.

also the companies that put the big elaborate stories together, i know you have seen them.. most of the girls i talk to do want that. They want what i mentioned already.

Whats gonna happen is that the companies like animoto and emotion media are going to get the programs to drop video in the photo slide shows...and that will be the game changer....then companies will offer video slide shows with the Vows and speeches playing with the stills mixed in there and of course the pronouncement......We will all have to offer it eventually when the companies get the software ready.....get ready...its gonna happen. But i dont think its gonna be all that hard.. audio will be important...there will be some investment required,, but i think its coming.

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #15343597
You can be great at wedding photography, or you can be alright at stills and video. Pick one and become the best at it. There aren't enough hours in a day to focus on both.

Agreed. I do both, but never at the same time. My approach, what I shoot, how I shoot, and what I don't shoot, are completely different depending on which one I'm doing.

They require different gear sets - when I do video, all my flashes move out of my bag, and audio gear moves in. Spider holsters come off my camera, and monopod plates go on.

They both have ways in which they're easier or harder. I've done a lot more photography, so it feels easier to me. Also, at the end of the day, with photo I know my work is pretty much done. With video, a lot of the creative work lies ahead. But I'm sure this depends on your style. I try to edit my wedding movies so that there is a narrative story, not just a string of random events.

umphotography wrote in post #15344471
Whats gonna happen is that the companies like animoto and emotion media are going to get the programs to drop video in the photo slide shows...and that will be the game changer....then companies will offer video slide shows with the Vows and speeches playing with the stills mixed in there and of course the pronouncement......We will all have to offer it eventually when the companies get the software ready

I disagree - I don't think adding little bits of video here and there will be a game changer. To do it right, you'd need a tripod and audio gear - otherwise, you're going to have shaky mini-clips with poor audio. It's not worth it.

Not at all. They're two different animals. Photography captures single moments in time; videography does not. Not to say that each field isn't worthy of respect from the other but I really like how a single image can move me in a way that a video, even a short snippet, cannot. Also, with an entire day's worth of such images, I can create a really good album! Videos have a way of telling the viewer how to feel, whereas photos are open to interpretation; I like that ambiguity.

a photographer has an eye for good shots, so does a videographer.. but the editing part is totally different.. a wedding photographer can possibly get similar / decent shots to a videographer with hardly any filming experience, but how they edit it will be totally different.

also one person can cover an entire wedding in terms of photo, but in my opinion you need minimum 2 to 3 people to create cinematic wedding video.