Planning a wedding can be positively overwhelming, but the most important decision you’ll make is how you choose to remember it.

The question most couples find themselves asking during the planning stage is, “Do I need a wedding film or are photographs going to be enough?”

Let’s compare the differences between video and photos to help you decide what you need.

 

Wedding Films

Wedding films are a relatively new phenomenon as video cameras have only recently started being able to capture cinema-like images at an affordable price. For this reason, wedding films are still considered a part of the luxury market. 

 

Movement and Sound

It cannot be denied that wedding films offer something that photographs just can’t. Well, actually, it’s a couple of things. Films capture movement and sound. This is a huge advantage as it allows film makers to create stories that let people connect with what they are seeing. Basically, there is a huge difference between a photograph of someone delivering a speech and actually hearing the kind, heartfelt words. Photos don’t come with a transcript, so how will you remember what was said?

 

We Love Stories

When all is said and done, wedding photos and films are not exclusively for you. They are also for your loved ones. They’re for the uncles and aunts, grandparents and friends who can’t make it to your wedding but desperately wished they could. We create records of who we are and what we’ve done not just for ourselves, but so our children and future generations can see who we were and what we were like.

This is where film shines. Photographs can really only say so much about a person and who they were at that moment whereas film can tell that story in full.

We are hard-wired to respond to stories in an emotional way and a wedding film lays the foundation for the deepest possible recollection. This goes deeper than just telling the story of your day. It’s the story of your relationship. It’s the story of what makes your love unique. A wedding film is a time capsule of what your relationship was like at the moment you decided to make that monumental leap.

 

People hate being filmed

This is made worse by the fact that most videographers tend to make people feel uneasy. They’re notorious for bringing large crews, fluffy microphones, bright lights, and multiple cameras – making your wedding feel like a film set. While some people thrive on this sort of attention most couples do not.

It’s your day and you deserve to experience it in a way that feels completely natural and joyful. For this reason you want a videographer that makes discretion their primary goal. Someone who uses minimal equipment and lets you be yourself.

 

Most wedding films are made by photographers

This is not a slight against wedding photographers. To be a truly exceptional wedding photographer you need to be able to think on your feet and create beautiful compositions in an instant without any chance for re-shoots. You need to be good at what you do. Really good. Unfortunately, many photographers don’t realise that creating a film requires an additional, equally well-developed skillset.

The truth is photographers struggle to make compelling narratives, because they’re used to telling stories through single images while films tell stories through a combinations of shots relying on movement and sound. This mismatch leads photographers to create films that have little interest and it’s the main reason why so many wedding films out there are so boring.

Films are not photographs.

This is why it’s good practice to make sure your videographer has a background and interest in creating films and not just pretty pictures.

 

 

Wedding Photography

Wedding photographs have been around a long, long, long time.

The practice of hiring a wedding photographer started in the 1860’s!

 

 

Nostalgia

We love photographs. Whether they’re on our phones or in an album, we love to stare at them and let our memories take us back into the past. Photographs are great because you can frame them and hang them on your wall. They’re incredibly nostalgic. And, who doesn’t want to feel nostalgic when it comes to remembering your wedding day. However, as technology advances so do the ways we look back on important moments. It’s already commonplace to see cinematic wedding films being shared on your Instagram, and social media platforms are constantly improving the ways we share video.

 

Less Intrusive

Photography can be less intrusive than video. This isn’t always true, of course. There are certainly photographers who spend way too long getting the shot, making people stand around forever, or ninjas during the ceremony; ducking and weaving around the couple as they give their vows only stopping to fire off strobes of flash. We’ve all seen them, but these are not the photographers you want at your wedding. A good wedding photographer should be like a good wedding videographer. They should blend in and let you enjoy your day.

 

Photography can be more expensive

How much you spend on your photographer will depend on your budget and your priorities, but there are some fairly common practices that can make photography more expensive down the road. For instance many photographers will charge you for prints or extended galleries after you’ve already paid, essentially billing you twice!

There don’t tend to be hidden costs when hiring a wedding videographer. If after paying you decide you want to upgrade to a longer film, most videographers will be able to accomodate you.

 

There are more inexperienced photographers than videographers

This can be a blessing and a curse as more choice can mean more chances to find the perfect photographer for you and your unique tastes. Unfortunately, the reason there are more photographers than videographers is because photography has an easier learning curve to get up and going. That’s not to say that taking great photos is easy. Far from it! Becoming a great wedding photographer takes hard word and dedication — much more than most people will ever understand. If you’ve ever seen a wedding photographer and thought, “wow that looks easy,” believe me, it looks easy because they are making it look easy, when it is anything but. However, the truth is taking and editing photos is a lot easier to start doing than shooting and editing films.

 

So, what’s more important to you?

A wedding film will take you and your loved ones on a journey allowing you to relive the day in detail. It will serve as a time capsule for your wedding day and your relationship. You’ll be able to relive the speeches, vows, and atmosphere and pass that on to others.

Wedding photography offers a tried and true approach to remembering and sharing your wedding with family and friends. It taps into the nostalgic nerve we all have for photographs and times gone by.

Ultimately, it comes down to you and your partner and how you want to remember and be remembered. A photograph says a thousand words but only a film can tell the whole story.

 

So, now you know how important it is to capture all of the fleeting moments from your wedding day. I’ve written an article explaining What To Ask a Wedding Videographer that will help you avoid commissioning work from the wrong person. I’ve also created this list of Vancouvers Best Wedding Videographers in 2021 to help narrow down your search.