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Let me begin this entry by saying that I LOVE great wedding videographers. I adore the finished product of well filmed and edited wedding videos that can capture the magic of a wedding, like the video Mrs. Emerald posted from Still Motion. A talented, professional videographer can immortalize a wedding day into a treasured keepsake for years to come.
Unfortunately, the Eggplants hired the OPPOSITE of a good wedding videographer.
In my last post I mentioned how important wedding photography was to me. We budgeted beacoup bucks to hire the best photographers. All of my wedding-related decisions revolved around the question, “Would this look good in our pictures?” Well, you can imagine my horror when I started receiving the non-pro pics from my friends after the wedding, only to find that our wedding videographer had found his way into a fourth of the photographs!
See the evidence below from pictures taken by various friends:
Exhibit A shows our videographer’s first offense: Don’t wear white if you’re a videographer/photographer!
When I opened the hotel room door to welcome our videographer on the morning of my wedding, I was horrified as he took off his dark coat to reveal a gleaming starch-white shirt. At that moment, I knew that he was not a skilled or experienced videographer. We’ve all learned in second grade science class that black absorbs light and white reflects it. All professional videographers and photographers will show up to your wedding wearing dark colors so that they are less obtrusive and do not reflect light. Obviously, if you are going to hold a camera, carry a HUGE lamp and be near the bride and groom all day… don’t wear white!
Exhibit B shows our videographer’s second offense: Don’t stand at the altar if you’re not part of the bridal party!
What the heck is our videographer doing?? I understand the need to get the shot, but he’s standing in the bridal party lineup like one of the girls! I should have lent him a pink dress and heels. At least he would’ve blended in better. The above picture is also a good example of “Don’t Wear White.” If our videographer was wearing black, you would’ve barely noticed him.
Exhibit C shows our videographer’s third offense: Don’t film key wedding moments from obvious places!
When Mr. Eggplant showed me this photograph, I was at the Honolulu airport, waiting to board the plane to Kauai. My initial shock turned to distress, and then crying. Yes, bridezilla came out after the wedding was over. I am embarrassed to admit that I bawled at gate 37 of HNL international. All I could imagine were visions of our videographer’s round little head appearing in all of our wedding photographs. I was so upset until Mr. Eggplant gently reminded me that our wedding photographers were very skilled and they would not let an obtrustive videographer ruin our wedding pictures.
Exhibit D is just another photograph that shows the sum of all offenses.
And lastly, here is the difference between two professionals and an amateur. Notice how Ray and Erwin are wearing black. Notice how Ray is standing and Erwin his kneeling so that they are out of each others’ line of sight. Now, notice our videographer on the side wearing his lovely white shirt in all it’s glory. Bleh!
Other offenses from our videographer included:
Originally, Mr. Eggplant and I were not going have a videographer at our wedding at all. This guy happened to be our photographer for our Chinese banquet on Sunday (we didn’t need pro pics for the second day and he has documented many of Mr. Eggplant’s family functions, from weddings to 80th birthdays), and he offered to film our Saturday wedding also. I never met the guy before my wedding day, but I heard that he had been shooting weddings for 30 years, so I assumed that he had some experience. Both jobs were a mere $1500 total. Had I known that he would’ve been a hinderance, I would have gone completely without a videographer rather than hire one who was so obtrusive. My experience is a shining example of the motto, “you get what you pay for.”
Now let me just say, I have not received the video footage back yet. Perhaps when I do, I will change my mind about having this guy film our wedding. However, Mr. Eggplant and I have received the Chinese banquet pictures back and we’re both convinced we both could’ve done a better job with our eyes closed.
Well, I hope that my experience has revealed the benefits of hiring a professional videographer. As you can see, an amateur one can actually do more harm than good. So if you’re in the market for a videographer, by all means, please hire a good one, even if it costs some extra money.
what a bummer! i’m sure if the rest of your photos are as wonderful as what we’ve seen from your photographer’s blog, they’ll be beautiful!
we too hired a videographer at the last minute (2 weeks before the wedding) but i have high hopes! mrs. snow pea used him for her wedding too and she really liked him.
i hope that you’ll at least be glad to have the video footage from the day to show your kids — try to put aside the money wasted and hopefully you’ll be glad to hear your vows!
I am so, sooo sorry this happened to you! 
When Mr P and I first met our photographer he asked us if we were gonna have a videographer. When we said no, he breathed a sigh of relief and told us that more than half of videographers at the weddings he’s done were nothing short of obtrusive and distracting - he has missed some really good shots because of them.
Like you mentioned a the beginning of the post, there are some videographers that are amazing and 100% professional, but they usually cost an arm and a leg.
However, with all that said, your professional photos are spectacular and totally drool-worthy. I hope you’re feeling better, because I know there are many many girls out there (myself included) who would’ve killed for a wedding as beautiful as yours. 
oh! the same thing happened to me. my dad really wanted me to get a videographer and said his friend could do it. i thought that his friend would have some experience with it. but no… when i walked up the aisle, the videographer was like almost in the center of the stage!! to the right of our pastor! i was surprised… he was in the middle of the dance floor for the first dance/ father daughter dance. after the wedding i was scared that he’d be in the pictures!! but its true that any good photographer can work around them. and our photographer did! i didn’t see any pictures with the videographer. and it looks from the pro pictures you’ve posted so far there isn’t any sign of him! btw, our video ended up making us laugh. he was trying to use all these effects like blurriness and stuff but it just looked like a wedding in the eyes of someone who was high! it was fun to laugh about it after.
Aww, Mrs. E, that stinks. But, I have hope for you. As Mr. E said, your photogs are pros and I’m sure that even if the poopy videog is in some shots, they can help you crop the shots you choose for your album or do some Photoshop work to get rid of him.
For anyone else who does hire a videog, I’d recommend making it clear to both videog and photog who has priority. And while you’re at it, tell the DJ(s) to wear black too for the same reasons Mrs. E pointed out.
OH man…..Thanks for the heads up. No wonder our photographer was so adamant about working with only certain videographers….he gave us a list of those that he normally works with. I can see now what a pain it is to work with someone that doesn’t know the “norms”. However, you still look so beautiful in all of the pictures. Our church gave us instructions on where photogrpahers and videographers can not stand.
Oh no, sounds like you got a bad one. I’m sure your photographers, amazing as they were, will have worked around him, and if not, there’s always Photoshop! Seriously, at the very least you can Photoshop his shirt to be black instead of white. At best you can remove him entirely.
I understand some of your points..
But aren’t all those pix taken by non-proffesionals? I mean it’s not like it’s your actual proffesional pix that have him in it right?
Just trying to throw out another angle.
I feel kinda bad for him now!
those would have been the same reasons why i wouldn’t like him [in fact, those were some of the reasons why i didn't like a couple of photographers at recent weddings i've attended]. hopefully the video will still be decent. i’m not worried about the photos, the few that i saw look amazing!
Hi Karieck. =)
Yes, those pictures were taken by our friends and family. We have not yet received all the pictures back from our photographers and I’m certain that they won’t give us many with our videographer in the shots. I’m sure that they know the angles at which to take good pictures and crop out the videographer.
What I was most upset about was the missed opportunity for good shots. If you take a look at picture “C” for example… there’s one chance to get a good shot of the bride and groom’s first kiss and our videographer is in direct line of sight. These are only a sampling of the examples. In addition to the pro pics, I also counted on getting a whole bunch of non-pro shots from friends and family to keep, but unfortunately the guy is in 1/4 of them.
I feel bad for him as well, because he’s supposedly been doing this a while, yet he doesn’t know videography basics 101. I intend to gently give him some tactful feedback soon.
I am so the odd one out that my uncle is my photographer and I paid ALOT for my videographer. I really hope that after you see the video you will be happy he was in everyone’s face and you can relive your vows and everyone’s speeches again!!
I’m sorry; this bites. A white shirt? Um professionals wear black. Didn’t he get the memo?
I guess that’s one good thing about hiring a videographer/photographer team, but really a good vendor in general shouldn’t be getting in the way of another vendor. I’m sorry….hopefully the footage he got will make it better.
I’m sorry this happened to you, Mrs. Eggplant, but you have such a funny way of describing it that I couldn’t help but laugh while reading you describe his blunders.
It’s a good lesson to the rest of us, though!
I’m so sorry about your videographer. It is frustrating when photos (that you get to cherish forever) are ruined by one person.
I do understand Karieck’s point about the non-professional photos. Weddings are hard to shoot. There are a lot of things going on. Professionals are usually experienced on how to work around most of the obstructions (not only photographers, but guests as well).
In my opinion, picture C could have been shot at a better angle. A slight move to the left could have centered you and Mr Eggplant in the frame, not cut off the groomsman, miss the videographer, and still get a good shot of your kiss. If the photo was really about the kiss, the photographer would have zoomed in and focused on the two of you.
Oic!
Well I think it’s good that you are going to tell him, but in a gentle way!
No one else has probably told him!
Hopefully he will take the suggestions as constructive and be a better vendor next time!
Hope it works out!
If it makes you feel better, in the photos that the horrible video light isn’t on, all I noticed was your beautiful wedding.
I can see why you see the videographer, but most people will be looking at you. So maybe you can salvage some of the non-pro pics.
This was a great post. You bring up really crucial points regarding the importance of good vendors.
In your particular case, don’t worry too much. Your photographers are supremely talented and I’m sure the photos will turn out fabulous! Remember that narrow depth of field can blur him out in the background and clever cropping can cut him out completely.
As a wedding photographer, let me add one other tip — make sure you TELL your photographer that you are hiring a videographer. Even better, give them each other’s contact info. I specify in my contract that I need to know, because it does effect everything about the photography. Just imagine getting that perfect shot set up only to have them swing their headlight around and alter everything! (I know how to roll with it and it doesn’t slow me down, but it is still good to know in advance!)
My last wedding with TWO videographers, I had to race with them to get the shots of the bride & groom leaving, and they kept getting in every single one of them. Not a fun battle to fight!
Photographers can also edit him out when needed, although sometimes it does involve an extra fee. But like Mrs. Ant said, clever cropping and depth of field are a photographer’s friends in cases like these - and one of my all-time favorite wedding shots was taken while I was crouched under the videographer’s arm, using his headlight to light my shot!
WOW! What a nightmare, but it’s so true that what you pay for. However, I second Cs’s comment regarding I really only see a happy and stunning bride in a really gorgeous dress. (Oh, yeah, and sometimes I noticed the groom ; ). In examples B & C I think it would be a semi easy fix to retouch him out of the shots. I know you’re pro shots will be perfect, but for now while you wait for them it might make you feel better to retouch him out ; )
One word : Photoshop.
From what I see, he can be taken out in Photoshop pretty easily. The ones with a big glow from his lights needs a bit more work, but it is doable. So if you think it is a really big deal that he sneaks into your pictures, maybe pick a few of the good ones, and talk to your photographer and see if they can take him out digitally.
I agree - in B &C I wouldn’t have even noticed him. I just only notice the beautiful bride and her bouquet, and sometimes the groom~
Hope you don’t feel too bad. I also agree, your pro shots will be beyond amazing and they will know how to get rid of any obstructions.
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Mrs. Eggplant, San Francisco Age and Occupation: 28, Human Resources Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Associate Marketing Manager Engagement Date: January 19, 2007 Wedding Date: October 20, 2007 Blogging Since: May 31, 2007 Venue: Ceremony at a cement and stained glass cathedral and reception at a boutique hotel ballroom About Me: I'm a shopping junkie who lives to discover great deals and a craft addict that loves to scrapbook and knit. My profile picture was taken on the day I got engaged which is why my smile is so huge!
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