3 effective steps to find best wedding videographer in Melbourne

1. Google
2. YouTube and Vimeo
3. Wedding expo in Melbourne
4. Social media: Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest 
5. Wedding magazine and wedding Blog

1. Google

is no doubt the easiest way to find you wedding videographer as you simply put the word in the search box, just like when you are looking for a recipe online.

However less people knows that if you want to find a wedding videographer that fits more to your wedding style, try using a long phrase search, for instance “ candid wedding videographer Melbourne” or “ Yarra valley wedding videographer” ,“Under $1000 wedding videography Melbourne” Google will give you a more precise answer.

Avoid asking too broad questions to Google: if you just search the keyword 

“wedding videographer”, Google might end up referring you a wedding videographer  based in California or in Russia which is obviously not what you after. 

Another thing you might be aware of is that the top 3 search results on Google page is always Google Ads. Usually a wedding videographer whose website does not have a good ranking would put on Google Ads so his website can be shown on the front page straightway. If you are clicking in a videographer’s ad website, you should check the past experiences as well as his portfolio.

2. YouTube

is the biggest media search engine in the world, every minute there are more than 500 hours of video were uploaded to YouTube Channel in 2019. On YouTube, you can find more wedding videos than other platform.

The advantage of YouTube is that you can find more specific wedding videos by using Phrase Search.

For instance, if you want to watch wedding videos done at one certain wedding venue in Melbourne, you could search the wedding venue’s name plus wedding video and YouTube will list all wedding videos filmed at this location. In the video you will be able to have some  ideas about the reception which is helpful before you book an appointment. 

Except the basic phrase search, YouTube would also recommend some similar wedding videos on the right side of the or on the YouTube home page. For instance, if you’re searching the wedding video in Mornington Peninsula quite often recently, YouTube would know you are what you are interested and recommend lots of other wedding videography in Mornington Peninsular.

Vimeo is also a great video platform. Comparing to YouTube, Vimeo is less known as it is a platform designed for enterprises and professional videographers. But the quality of wedding video on Vimeo is usually above the average. Another good thing of Vimeo is that you don’t have to watch endless popup ads from YouTube.

3. Wedding expo in Melbourne

Going to a wedding expo is a traditional way to find your wedding cinematographer in Melbourne. The benefits include you can them in person as well as you can easily compare them as you could meet multiply wedding cinematographers on one day. You can have a close look of each wedding cinematographer’s shooting style and personality.

Vendors who attend the wedding expo usually give out wedding videography promotion to couples who enquire during the wedding expo. Try you best to bargain the price. 

4. Social media: Instagram and Facebook

Which social media can is best to a professional wedding videographer in Melbourne?

The answer can be Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Based on that younger engaged couples around 25-30 years old spend more time on Instagram. 

The Instagram only allowed videos up to 60 seconds on a single post 2 years ago. It is quite annoying if the couples want to watch whole video on one post.

Thanks to IGTV, now you could watch the entire wedding video in one post. 

You could watch wedding video on these three platforms. The Pinterest is rated the top 5 social media platform in 2018 and it’s quite popular in America, but unfortunately Pinterest focus more on images and not much wedding videographer in Melbourne upload the latest wedding video on Pinterest.

What about Facebook?

Facebook is still a good social media to touch base with your wedding videographer, but emerged photographers spend more time to manage their Instagram account.

If you’re having been using social media finding your wedding videographer recently, you could see heaps Ads popped on your phone screen. Click on the banner of the image or video and you can visit the wedding videographer Instagram home page to see more portfolio.

5.Wedding magazine and wedding Blog

The Wedding Magazines keep up with times, apart from the conventional paper media, you could see online version of wedding magazines. Also you could read some personal wedding blogs. If you don’t like the hard-sale styled Ads on social media, reading a personal blog about every details of wedding will give you some better idea on wedding videographers.

In the wedding blog, you don’t only see the wedding videography portfolio and tempting package promotion, you can read some wedding tips and even some wedding behind of scene of shooting on wedding day. It can allow you to see the wedding story that many don’t get to see. 

Top 5 Professional wedding videographer criteria

How to evaluate your wedding videographer?

After doing some research, next step you should select 3-4 wedding videographers that you like and book an appointment via email or meeting. During the meeting, you can see their works and wedding videography brochure, as well as see if he is the right person for your wedding.

Now the question is how to evaluate your wedding videographer candidate? I have summarize some key criteria that couples should be looking for:

1. Professionalism
2. Reliability
3. Personality 
4. Attention to details
5. Bonus points

I have to say no one possess all good character in real life, it would be great if your wedding videographer have two or three characters. You shall evaluate these criteria based on what you think is the most important for you. 

1. Professionalism

When you are finding your wedding videographer, his professionalism should always come first. Professionalism is a pretty broad term but mainly it consists of the videographer’s quality of artwork as well as his experience in this industry. 

The quality of the artwork is indeed important for every couple: if you are paying your videographer to capture your big day, you want him to produce something that is timeless and memorable. But I am not saying you should hire the best wedding videographer in the world, one does him would cost a lot, two it takes lots of effort for couples to find him as they have lots of other suppliers to look for. From an experienced videographer’s perspective, I think what matters the most is that you do appreciate his artworks, as well as he understands what you want. When you are both on the same page, he’s more likely to produce something that you like.

Another key character of a professional wedding videographer is his experience, a well experienced videographer should film at least 30- 50 wedding each year and he should have at least couple years of experience in this industry already. A  wedding involves so many key moments and specific formalities, someone who is not familiar with the routine will easily miss the key shot. Also, a less busy videographer’s skill may also be out of practice. You could check how often the videographer upload the new wedding video on social media to see if he has many bookings.

The AIPP stands for Australia’s most authority photography and videography membership.

To be grant an accredited professional video produce, it requires a videographer has at least two years’ experience. The master videographer will judge the videographer through his work to find whether the video production skills are of a “professional standard”

If your wedding videographer has this AIPP certificate, you’ll know he or she is a professional wedding videographer at least.

2. Reliability 

A wedding videographer shall possess a reliable character. This is quite essential as you want your wedding videographer to appear on your big day on time and backup all wedding video footage after wedding.

But before the wedding, it is difficult to judge whether your wedding videographer has this character. One simply trick you can do is to check the videographer’s Google and Facebook reviews.

Another fact that could reflect if he is reliable or not is how soon you’ll get a clear answer from your wedding videographer. All brides would have some questions at some point that they would like their videographer to clarify for them, But if you have to wait more than one week to get answer from the wedding videographer before the booking, you’re more likely to wait longer after you booked him. 

3. Personality 

If your wedding videographer have a similar personality with you it definitely helps you guys to produce a even better wedding video: if you have similar personalities, you are more likely  to be on the same page and he knows what you want better than others. 

Have a meeting with your wedding videographer in person, don’t just focus on the wedding videography package, but you can also see whether you have some interests or similar experiences with your wedding videographer on the wedding.

If you can’t meet you wedding videographer in person due to the long-distance driving, Skype or Zoom meeting are some of the free softwares to achieve the meeting in a convenient way. Under Covid-19 time, lots of couple book us via the Skype and Zoom meeting. Also, this two software have feature that it can share screen. It is easy for videographer to demonstrate his work to you.

4. Attention to details

The other not so obvious character is whether your wedding videographer is a attention to detail guy. Bride might not notice this character in the beginning or think it is not important.

In fact, little details make big differences.

Some wedding videographer would help you to work out an organized wedding timeline as well as giving you some helpful tips regard to the shooting on the day. This tips would help your wedding day run smoothly. 

The wedding videographer attention to details is also producing their artwork with care. As a lifetime memory, you don’t want your wedding videographer rush over your wedding video. 

5. Bonus character

You find the videographer has other great character, sense of humour or big name in the wedding field. Think again which character essential character is contribute to produce a great wedding videography.

What camera kits professional wedding videographer use?

1.  professional wedding videographer camera 
2.  Lens
3.  support gears
4.  professional audio recorders

Wedding Videographer never stops to pursuit newer cameras and gears, they are like the expensive toys in the hands, sometimes we call our cameras as soulmate.

There are some well know high end cameras, like Sony FS7, ARRI Alexa and Canon c300. It creates absolutely outstanding wedding video footage.

Also, some entrance level wedding videographer camera, like Canon 6D and Sony A6500 can film a wedding as well.

Between the high standard and quality of a wedding video and portability, videographer need to find a good balance. The part below will list some of the professional, reliable and portable cameras and wedding videographer kit below,

Professional wedding videographer camera 

How many cameras shall the wedding videographers carry on the wedding day?

It is advised that the wedding videographers carry at least two cameras on the wedding day. 

In an extreme hot summer wedding in Melbourne, the DSLR camera can overheat and suddenly shut down at outdoor wedding ceremony.

With two cameras, the videographers have a backup camera if one camera has some issue in a hot day and rainy day.

Furthermore, at wedding ceremony and first dance and speech at the reception, wedding couples want to watch the wedding video footage from multiply angles.

One camera can be kept rolling shooting the wide angle of the formality; the other cameras can capture the close up shoot of the people’s expression.

Which camera is a wedding videographer’s favor, Canon, Sony, Panasonic? 

There are three popular cameras that wedding videographers would recommend. All the brands have their diehard fan. 

There are endless arguments which camera is the best for shoot a wedding. During my career, I have used all of three brands. And based on the fact that I have used machine from each brand for at least two years, I think my answer won’t have too much bias.

Personally, I would stick with the Sony. One due to the fact that the mirrorless camera body weight of Sony is so light. Panasonic GH5 also has a light body, unfortunately its sensor is micro Four thirds which is smaller than Sony’s. The size of sensor greatly affects the low light performance of the camera. As the wedding day involves a lot of low light scenes such as the bridal waltz, bringing a Sony camera ensures me to capture crispy clean footages. 

I know some GH5 fans would argue that setting up a light during the first dance as well as other times that lighting is not optimal can overcome the fact that GH5’s inferior low light performance. This is true but something we have to bear in mind is first setting up a light is not always easy and it can take a lot of time. Second is that lot of couple and DJ are not a big fan of those big bright artificial light, as it does kill the vibe. So in this case, using a Sony would bring the advantage. 

The final reason that I recommend Sony is because Sony camera has plenty of useful features for wedding videography:

Slow motion

As the Sony A7S2 and A73 can shoot in 100p frame rate, it means it can slow motion to the quarter. Shooting footages in high rate allows the post editor to transform those key moments into romantic or dramatic slow motions. 

For instance, the first dance as well as the confetti when the bride and groom walking down the aisle. I’m sure you already got those moments playing in your mind!

Sony Camera 5 axis stabilization

This feature reduces the vibration during the shooting and allows the footage to be smoother. It is an amazing featured to be complemented with the slow motion.

Color space

Sony is first mirrorless camera to feature a Slog color space. Slog is basically a mode that cracks down all the contract as well as the saturation of the images allowing more details to be recorded into the footages.

More details mean that the post editor can have more space to enhance the color the post footages. Something we often do includes adjusting the background lighting as well as enhancing the skin tone of the couple.  

Wedding videography Lens

What are the top 3 lens I would put in my camera bag?

Just like some people loves collecting watches, I am a big lens collector. I never say no to my next lens. But on the wedding day, I can’t carry on all my lens. To make me nimble and effective, I bring the most functional lens, not the most expensive or the fanciest ones.

Top 3 lens I would put in my camera bag:

1. Sony 24mm-70 mm F2.8 G Master Zoom Lens

It is usually the first lens for a wedding videographer or a hobby filmmaker. Simply because of its versatile focal point. It covers from wide angle to middle close up. The wedding videographer can use this zoom lens to handle most situation, indoor or outdoor photo shoot. 

Another advantage offers by the 24mm-70 mm lens is that it allows us keeping a comfortable distance between our couple, we don’t need to stand too far or too close to get the shot we want.

Its fast F2.8 aperture allows the wedding videographer to shoot even at the sub-optimal lighting environment.  

2. 70mm-200mm F2.8

On a typical wedding day, I use the 70mm-200mm less than the 24mm-70mm. But this does not change the fact that it is a must have lens. 

When wedding videographers are shooting the ceremony, particular at a big church, or a big reception. Instead of running into people’s faces, we need this lens to capture the close-up reaction from the bridal party and guests. 

Setting up the tele lens allows the wedding videographer to capture reaction shots from a point at far distance, so in that way we can minimize our impact as well as the presence during the formalities. 

Apart from the ceremony and reception, wedding cinematographers don’t use this lens too much. Because it is bulky meaning it is hard carrying this with the couple.

Another fact is that giving its zoom range, when shooting something in focus, we have to be at least couple few meters away from the subject. When shooting the location video, it is definitely not doable of the videographer holding the tele lens standing 5 meters away: the couple can’t hear a word from the videographer. 

On the other hand, videographers want to be more engaged with the bridal party instead of hiding like a paparazzi shooting from a long distance. The last reason we don’t use tele lens for creative parts of the wedding is that the footage created under the tele lens looks very posed and out of date. Most couples nowadays are after a more candid and natural looking images. 

3. Prime lens or Marco lens

The third lens would be a wedding prime lens or a macro lens. It works as an extra bonus option.

Prime lens

It can give the image a softer background and as it usually comes with a bigger aperture, it allows the wedding videographer to work better in low light conditions. 

Generally, prime lens provides better image quality than zoom lens. I only use the prime lens during the location session, because during the bride and groom’s getting ready, I need to get different shots from different angles and distance which the prime lens is not good at. 

However, the prime lens does play a big role during the wedding location session. During the location shoot, we can give the couple some direction and have more time to make a creative shoot. 

The most versatile prime lens I would suggest is 35 mm and 50mm.

Marco lens

I use the Marco lens for extreme close up, for instance the bride jewelry, especially the engagement rings. The Marco lens allows a more detailed look of the subject hence during the post editing, the editor can use the footage to create something that looks very luxurious and modern.

Support gears

Less is more is an often cliché from a wedding videographer’s mouth. On the wedding day, we can’t carry too many gears. In this part, I list most practical and portable gears.

• Tripod: The Sachtler Flowtech offers the videographer the quickest setup procedure. A solid tripod to be used during ceremony and reception. 

• Monopod: Manfrotto Video monopod is more often used during bride and groom’s getting ready and ceremony, it is more portable than the Tripod. 

• Steadicam: DJI Ronin or Glidecam HD 2000,videographer use the Steadicam to create a smooth movement in a wedding cinematic style video footage

• Video light: There are lots of options in the market, videographer use it at the reception to provide the filled light during certain formalities, like first dance and speech.

Professional Audio capture 

To capture the good footage is half of the work, the clear and crispy audio would give the bride and groom an more immersed experience.

How can wedding videographers get a clear sound source at the ceremony and reception? 

Professional wedding videographers usually have a external recorder with them to capture the sounds. The build-in mic on the camera quality is usually not optimal for dedicated speech voice.

Also, during the ceremony, as the camera is usually set up from the side with some distance to the celebrant and the couple. The sound captured from the camera would be obviously heard it ‘s recorded fart away from the speakers. Just to keep in simple, if videographer want to get a better sound, they need to get closer to the people. We can’t put our camera next to the bride and groom, so the lapel mic would be a good wedding videography accessory.

At the wedding ceremony

A professional videographer always attached the lapel mic on a groom’s suit. Because the bride and groom stand close enough to each other, we can capture the clear wedding vows for them.

Sometimes, the Melbourne wedding celebrant brings his or her PA sounds system and use the wireless mic, then we can attach our recorder to their PA system, so we get a digital sound direct from the celebrant Microphone. The sound is even better than the lapel mic.

At the wedding reception 

The speech is one of the most important sound videographers wants to record. Before the reception start, it is a good opportunity to socialize with other wedding suppliers. The wedding DJ is always the first person I chat to. I will ask them to allow me to use my recorder to get the sound from their sound system. 

My favorite sound recorder is Zoom H6 and Zoom H4, there are lots of option in the market, a decent recorder costs between $300-$600. After I recorded the clear digital audio direct from DJ Centre mixer. I can sync the sound with the footage and replace the sound from the build-in mic on the camera during the post processing. 

Every bride wants to get a great deal when booking their favourite wedding videographer. The price can start from $1500 to $8000 which depends on different wedding videographer and package.

Here is our Comprehensive wedding videography package guide. 

Again, if you have any idea on what you are expected for your wedding video highlight. You need to find the right person. Don’t be shy to ask the wedding videographer some questions before you hire them.

</div>