Guide to Picking a Videographer Part 3

Here's the third installment for you newly-engaged couples looking for a videographer to capture your big day.

In Part Two of Our Guide, we talked about a videographer's Style and Approach, and what that means for you. In Part Three, we'll discuss a very important part of your selection process; Package Upgrades.

Often times, when you meet with a videographer, they'll try to up-sell you on certain package upgrades. Let's dissect the more popular options:

Chapter Indexing:
I've seen a videographer charge an extra $50 if you select this option. Let me dispell a popular myth with Chapter Indexing. This expensive upgrade option that "takes the editor extra time" (as was explained to me) is actually the difference of pressing the letter "M" on your keyboard while the wedding video is being edited. Seems a little excessive and smells a lot like someone trying to make a quick buck off of an unsuspecting customer, agreed?

How it Effects Your Video: Allows you to maneuver back and forth between pre-selected scenes during DVD playback (ex: want to skip to the vows? If the editor put a chapter marker right before the vows start, you'll be able to advance straight to the kissing scene)
How it Effects Your Wallet: Most decent humans would include this in the video, not charge you extra.


Additional Videographer:
If you want your wedding video to look more like a movie or tv show, a second camera will create that effect. Its difficult for one videographer to capture everything. Having two camera folks documenting your wedding allows for chances of human error (Aunt Nelly jumping in front of the videographer when you're walking down the aisle to get her "perfect shot") or technical error (tape change at the worst possible moment, ex: during the vows) to be greatly diminished.

How it Effects Your Video: Makes your final video look more like a movie. Your potential to capture "everything" that went on at the reception greatly increases as well.
How it Effects Your Wallet: A second videographer will tack on a couple more bucks in most cases. Don't forget, if you're having the second videographer at your reception, you'll have to pay for an additional vendor's meal.

Cases:
Once you get your video, you're going to want it to be stored in a pretty looking case, right? Some videographers offer a wide range of storage options for your video. Here are a couple:

Paper Sleeve: These are the most basic and inexpensive. If you have 5 cents lying around, you can upgrade to Paper sleeve with a cellophane window to showcase the DVD Face Art.

Jewel Case: There's two types of Jewel cases on the market these days: Slim-line and Standard. Slim-line are shoddy and break easily. Jewel cases are what CDs (remember those) where packaged in. They're nice, but have the ability to crack easily.

Amaray Cases: These cases are what you would get if you purchased a movie from Best Buy or Blockbuster. Your videographer can get creative with the ones that allow for an insert, which gives you the ability to create cover art and tie the package nicely together.