Wedding videos are some of people’s most prized possessions (right along with their wedding photography 😘). While obviously, I’m a photographer and love working with stills, videography gives so much in the way of movement and sound. Not to be cheesy, but together, photo and video create a full picture of your wedding day. This q&a with Brie from Wandering Light Films, covers what goes into a wedding film, styles of wedding videography, and reasons to think about hiring a videographer too!

Why Brie?

As a wedding photographer, I often get asked for videographer recommendations. Through the day we work hand in hand, often capturing the same thing only through our own creative lens. With prompt-based posing, we can easily bounce ideas back and forth for great interactions and on camera. Brie is one that not only creates beautiful work, but is so fun to work with! She’s an excellent emotive and natural storyteller. I enjoyed reading her answers to these FAQ’s as much as I’m sure you will too!

Hey Brie, introduce yourself! 

“I’m a videographer based in Indianapolis, focused mainly on wedding films. I dabble in family and birth videos as well. But my wedding couples are who I am serving with 95% of my work life. I would consider my style very warm and natural. Focusing my films on candid moments and the story-telling that comes through vows and speeches made by the wedding party.”

What are the common styles of wedding videography?

“Creative wedding videos seem to be slowly gaining traction over the past couple of years, and I’m so glad! In the past, couples really only had the option to have their wedding filmed on a tripod, or even by someone in their family. (Think home movies). I love those nostalgic styles. And, it’s amazing to see how far creative wedding videography has come in such a short amount of time. 

I’d say the main styles are:

cinematic – typically filmed with cinema-grade cameras and drones

documentary – typically including a handful of interviews/dialogue from the couple, wedding party and guests

&

music video – where it’s just a highlight film set to music, no audio from the wedding day

My work integrates a little bit of all these styles. Using audio from the day, both posed and candid shots so it tells a well-rounded story of the wedding. Making sure to highlight emotion with the use of music that matches the mood.”

What usually goes into your wedding films?

“I spend the first week after a wedding creating a teaser video. Just so the couple has a little taste of what’s to come and they get really excited!! In the next few weeks, they’ll receive a sneak peek that is a few minutes long. Followed a few months later by their full film (typically around 20 minutes long). 

Editing wedding videos starts with importing and properly backing up all the footage so the couple’s video is safe and sound. Followed by going through and watching all of the footage (multiple times), picking out the most important footage first and adding in other shots that help tell more of the story. I’ll do this first round of what I call “picking”, followed by another round or two, going through and choosing only the best footage, while not leaving out anything necessary to tell the story well. 

The footage then gets rearranged and set to pair well with the music, trimming clips along the way so they fit properly with the beat of the song. Once the structure is finished, I go in and fine-tune the audio including the music, and any dialogue heard in the video. 

Finally it’s time to color correct each clip so it fits my style of coloring, yay! I then have the editing mostly finished and I will watch the video through two or three final times to make any minor edits needed at this stage. Once everything looks and sounds good, I hit export and get ready to upload so my couples can see the finished product!”

What do you love about videography vs. photography?

“I’m a huge fan of photography (it was my major in college), and I find it so cool to pair the photos with the video. You get to see both the still shot, a specific moment captured in time, and the moving moment in the video. 

Video makes me (and my couples) so emotional because it’s bringing the day back to life, with the sounds and feelings of the day. It touches you and can move you to tears or laughter, give you chills, and make you feel like you’re right there in that moment again.”

In your opinion, what are some of the most valuable moments to capture on a wedding film?

“Definitely the bride putting her dress on, the couple’s first look (or first time they see each other), the bride walking down the aisle, their vows, their first dance as a married couple, and any speeches made at the reception. Because these are the moments people have looked forward to and dreamt of for so long, sometimes for their entire life!”

Yes! I love how you create such a well-rounded story with these big moments while weaving in the couple and details of their day.

How do you coordinate with photographers?

“I love working with photographers! I work with a lot of the same ones often throughout the year who I love so much and can’t wait to spend the day with. And sometimes, I’m meeting a new one every weekend- it’s so much fun! I am always so impressed by their ability to lead and direct the wedding party throughout the day. And I’m just right alongside them, filming as they take photos. We always just show up on the morning of the wedding, introduce ourselves and give hugs, and get straight to the business of working and making it the best day for our couples. Throughout the day we’re constantly connecting to make sure we’re all getting the shots we need and staying on track with the timeline.”

It’s always fun to work with videographers like you who are ready to collaborate and make it a great day for everyone!

What are the biggest misconceptions about hiring a videographer? 

“One is that ‘you don’t need one.’ Again, I think this is because creative wedding videography has only really been around for a few years, and it often isn’t seen as a priority like photography. One thing I hear ALL the time is how people wish they would’ve hired a videographer for their wedding, but didn’t realize until it was too late. I find my past brides constantly recommending me to their engaged friends because they don’t want them to miss out on having their wedding filmed!”

Yep! I totally agree. We made the mistake of not investing in a videographer for my own wedding. It adds so much to your coverage and how you’re able to remember your wedding day.

What is the typical turnaround for wedding videos? & Why is it usually longer than photos?

“Editing time is the simple answer. Videos typically take 2 to 3 times as long to edit as photos. We do our best to work quickly while not sacrificing quality, so that our couples get their video as soon as possible. My turnaround time for full films is typically within 4 months after their wedding day.”

How early should couples book their videographer? 

“With the demand for creative wedding videography on the rise each year, my couples are typically booking me 8 months to a year and a half in advance. In past years, it was more common for a couple to book videography only 2 to 4 months before their wedding because the demand was lower. With our calendars booking up quicker than ever, I now highly recommend that couples book their videographer at least 8 months to a year in advance so they don’t have to stress about losing their date with them.”

To follow along with Brie’s work or see if she’s available for your own wedding, check out the links below!

Website | Vimeo | Instagram