HOW MUCH Does a Wedding Vidographer cost?

So you are looking for a videographer. The first question that will come up is "how much should I spend on a wedding videographer?" And surprisingly there is no easy answer as it's pretty stressful to figure out.

You may have Google Searched: 'How much does a wedding videographer cost', and found on WeddingWire that it's "1000-2500" but they don't give you the other important information.

What type of videographers are in that price range? Are they beginners? Are they professionals? How much experience do they have? What is their style? These are important questions you have and need the answers to ensure you have a wedding day that you enjoy.
 
Also, just because that's the “average”, is that how much you should really invest in wedding videographers?
 
Well, I'm here to be your wedding hero. In this article I'm going to answer these questions:
 

• The different types of wedding videographers 
• How much they each charge on average.
• How much you should invest in wedding videos based on your wedding, desires, budget, and ideal experience.

4 Types of Videographers

When learning how much you should invest on a wedding videographer, you need to ask not what "the average cost of a wedding videographer" but instead "what do I really want from a wedding videographer?"
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When you ask that question instead, you begin to understand what value each videographer brings to you instead of just thinking about price.

Or in simple terms you pay for what you get. For the purpose of this article we have categorized videographers into 4 categories. We will also go talk about the pros and cons of each category.
 
Using the research let’s break them down into four categories:
 
Beginner: $0-$2000

• Videographers who are just starting out. Have shot little to no weddings and are looking to build their portfolio. They will likely not be able to make you feel confident in their ability to perform at a wedding or deliver a high quality wedding film.

CON:  Every videographer learns valuable lessons of “what not to do” simply through shooting more and more weddings.  If you choose to go with this level of videographer you do run the risk that they will learn such a lesson on your wedding. They are also more likely to use entry level equipment and there may be a long waiting period before you receive your completed wedding video.
PRO: The most obvious pro is the lower price point. The other pro is that if you are lucky enough to find a new videographer (making their way up from entry level to professional) then they are going to be passionate about your wedding.  They have something to prove and need to get their name out there so they may be willing to do more for you at a lower price point then the recognized professional.  (note: this up and coming videographer will likely be younger and have only been in the market for a few years).

BRIDAL TIP: If your potential videographer falls in this category make sure you have a clear and concise contract which outlines exactly what you are getting and when you will be getting it.  You are risking quality of product and service, but you might just find the perfect match for your needs and budget.  Remember, if the videographer could be charging more, they would.  There is a reason they are a “good deal.”
 
 
Average: $2000-$3000

• This is where the majority of wedding videographers are. At this level they may still be part time, but begin investing in good gear, backups, education, and are refining their style with a good portfolio so you know they will get fairly consistent results and give you a good experience.
• This is a good level for couples with a tighter budget who still want quality work.

CON: Your risks are far lower with this level of videographer and as a result, you will pay more.  The only con may be that your videographer will not put the same passion into your wedding as the up-and-coming beginner.  This risk can quickly be assessed simply by meeting with the videographer face to face.
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PRO: Your videographer will have more experience, better equipment and will put your wedding before everything else. They will create a video that should meet your expectations.  You should feel well taken care of with this level of videographer.

BRIDAL TIP: If you can afford it, hiring a videographer at the average level is a wise investment.  Take some time and watch their samples online, they will likely be a good representation of what you are going to get.
 

Professional: $3000-$6000

• Full time videographers who are established with a solid in-demand style. At this level they focus on client experience to ensure that you not only get high quality wedding films, but also eliminate stress and anxiety for your wedding.
• We recommend this level to all couples who care deeply for a high quality film and a top tier wedding experience. This is the level in which we operate for local weddings.
• View Our Website  for an example of the Professional Videographers

CON: The obvious con is the cost. While you are paying more for more for this type of videographer, it is for several reasons. Plus, they are usually taking a certain amount of weddings so if there is a videographer that you are interested in at this price range then it is recommended to book them as soon as possible.
PRO: You will have an amazing piece of art in which you and fiancé are the stars, and your friends and family will be in ‘aw’ of your amazing video. You will have also great memories from the experience you had on your wedding day as the professional videographer is not only there to capture your wedding but to make the day a lot smoother for you.

BRIDAL TIP: Do your research, if you have this sort of a budget for video then make sure to have a videographer that you like and can connect with since you will most likely spend all day with them on your most important day. Follow wedding blogs and find the style of a videographer that you like best and track them down.


Luxury/Destination: $6000 Plus

• Some also start at $8k, $10k, or higher. These videographers have no issue handling high profile events with ease and have a refined style specifically for luxury events or destination weddings.
• We recommend this level to clients who are having a very large, luxurious wedding event, or an international destination wedding.

CON: Very pricey, especially for the average couple. You wouldn't need these type of videographers if you aren't having a luxurious wedding. They also take a very low amount of weddings compared to the ones above.
PRO: If you are having a luxury or destination wedding, then these type of videographers can definitely exceed you expectations to create an awe-struck wedding film due to their experience in working these type of weddings.
 
BRIDAL TIP: Again, do your research, these type of videographers charge this much since they take a limited amount of weddings so its best to reach out to them at least a year before your wedding. 

WHY DO They cost so Much?

Now obviously there are outliers. Sometimes a full-time high quality professional videographer may charge close to what a average does, but this list is meant to show you what each type of videographer charges.
 
That leads to the question you may be asking yourself now. What else goes into their pricing? Why is wedding videography so expensive (or so cheap?) There are several factors that go into how photographers price for weddings.
 
Lifestyle.

• A young student videographer who doesn't have a family to support won't charge the same amount as a videographer who is older and married with kids. You will find yourself drawn to certain types of videographers because you can connect with them based on where they are in their lives and their lifestyles.

 
Location.

• This is one of the most important factors. For example, I live in the Los Angeles and Orange County region of California, but also shoot weddings out of state. I charge more for out of state weddings over the local cities due to the costs of traveling to a farther location.
• Cost of living is also a huge factor for videographers who don't travel. A videographer in Los Angeles (like myself) will usually charge more than a videographer from the middle of Kansas due to Los Angeles having higher prices in general.

 
Expertise.

• Different than experience, a videographer with top notch skills not only in filming the wedding but also in client experience, wedding planning, problem solving, and business ownership is invaluable compared to a videographer who does not have those skills. We see many videographers who may have shot a few dozen weddings, but still don't know much about how to deliver an amazing experience or fix fundamental problems in their wedding films.

 
Experience.

• It goes without saying that experience is crucial to being confident in your videographer. Someone who has shot dozens of weddings and knows how to confidently work them is going to charge more than someone who has only shot a couple.

Expenses

• Creating a professional wedding film has a lot of expenses. First is the gear that they invest in to capture a high quality wedding film such as cameras, audio, and lights. Plus they have to pay other videographers that are there to capture your wedding day. Then they have their monthly expenses on their business in order to continue serving their couples. You would be surprised to see the cost that goes into filmmaking.

How Much Should You Invest in a Wedding Videographer?

Now we answer the question of how much you should actually invest. In essence, it boils down to a few questions you need to ask yourself. 

• How much do you care about your wedding film and experience?
• Are you having a standard wedding, luxury wedding, elopement, or destination wedding?
• Where does your videographer live? Are they traveling?
• What kind of videos do you want, long format or highlight?

Let me break down a few general scenarios I see couples in:

• If you're having a standard wedding in a normal city (not a destination location) and care deeply about your images and experience, you should spend anywhere from $3000-$6000.


• If you're having an elopement in the U.S. and care deeply about your images and experience, you should spend anywhere from $2000-$5000, and a little more for photo/video. Some photographers may charge travel too.

 

• If you're having an international destination wedding and care deeply about your images and experience, you should spend anywhere from $5000-$9000, and a little more for photo/video. Most photographers charge travel for these, but some don't.

 

• If you're having a budgeted wedding and just want video coverage of your wedding and not too concerned about the quality and experience then you can spend up to the maximum of $2000. But be aware of who you are hiring. If your budget only calls for several hundred or a thousand, be sure to do your research and not just take any videographer off  of social media. I've heard plenty of wedding horror stories due to couples not knowing what kind of videographer they were hiring.

 

• Ask them smart questions like do they have backups? What is their style? What do they do if the wedding runs late? Can you see full wedding films? How many weddings have they shot? Etc. 

​Some videographers have great deals out there that you can find, just be aware of the risks of the film quality and your wedding experience before hiring any videographer.

 
 
BRIDAL TIP: If you want a videographer that is a little out of your budget, ask them about payment plans! Many videographers offer them to make it easier for you, including me! I know it's a big investment, and I am here for you!​

Do You Want A ONE IN A MILLION Wedding Experience?

My name is Jaime and I'm a Los Angeles based filmmaker who loves adventures. And weddings are quite an adventure for couples which is why I love to be a part of it. My goal is to create the most unique wedding films for my couples. You have met your one in a million so if you believe you deserve a wedding film that is one in a million then lets go on adventure together.

LEARN MORE

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@ONEINAMILLION_FILMS
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​SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FILMMAKER