Hi David

I switched to live streaming so I could create a niche market that the cheap weekend warriors couldn't get into (or were too lazy to) It is a way to work smarter not harder as you can reduce your prices (only if you have to) but shooting with a couple of static cameras feeding a switcher on a computer means that you can edit live so all the previous edit time becomes pure profit ..even if brides don't want a live feed it's still a cost effect way to record a ready to view wedding video ..no more waiting either for brides as you can deliver just days later!!

I'm not sure laziness is the reason weekend warriors have failed to jump onto live streaming. Most weekend warriors are exploiting a hobby for extra cash. Putting their work online for their friends to see. Live streaming may not give them that same satisfaction as a well made Highlights Video.

In 2017/2018 (after nearly 20 years) I really began moving away from doing wedding videos to doing wedding photos.

Photos is just easier and way more forgiving and a quite frankly a lot less equipment and hassle. Of course the trade off is the responsibility is quite a bit greater because the photographer is usually running the day.

I can show up, shoot the day, upload to my edit shop and relax... vs having to try and edit a video. I know there are video outsource shops, but again photo outsourcing is cheaper.

I have clients fork out $2000-$4000 and not even bat an eye for photos... but man trying to get $2000 for a film is a challenge.

I have clients fork out $2000-$4000 and not even bat an eye for photos... but man trying to get $2000 for a film is a challenge.

This is part of what bugs me about the wedding industry. Plus, twice I've worked with photographers who were shocked at the amount of time it took to edit them. (The first was a photog who was trying to dabble in video more and knew limited editing skills, so that was quite an undertaking, which he admitted. The other was more a guy with a video background who ventured into wedding photography and offered a video for a friend. Just let a few weeks go by & mentioned how hard to pick it back up is after time as passed. He said photo editing is more something you can start/stop with ease, whereas video you need to get in a rhythm or in the mindset of the wedding.

I’ve done both. With photography more of the skill and work is in the front end. Get those great shots, properly, pose, frame and expose then the rest isn’t hard. With video more time and thinking is on the backend.

Seriously video SHOULD cost more than photos too but wedding photos are traditional so they have a higher pecking order! If you think about it you can produce a very nice set of wedding photos on a good sub $1000 bridge camera and a (decent flash if you do the reception too) and a 20 -24mp sensor will produce a very pleasing image to 99% of brides. With video to stay competitive nowdays you need multiple cameras, gimbals or a stedicam and then a drone is almost mandatory too as brides expect it! There is a much higher capital investment and a lot harder work with video compared with photos I guess brides still like the fact you can physically pick up a photo album and show it around so it has a higher perceived value If I was given an option to do a wedding for say $2000 and had the choice of video or photos I would choose photos every time ..less gear to carry, no audio to worry about and really a lot easily day!!

But I'm still a videographer and that's what I enjoy even if it's lower paid and harder work it's simply the fact that we are lower down the list on bride's priorities!

Our joint video and photography package is still our most popular, but when we take a photography only package, it feels almost like a day off compared to video. With video you are trying to follow the action, setting up multiple cameras, trying to remain unobtrusive and working around the photographer, then all the editing. With photography I am in control, setting up poses, controlling the timing, no tripods and loads of gear to haul around and a much closer relationship with the family and friends. Editing and processing is far quicker.

Photography is more competitive, but our joint package has a very limited number of competitors.

Roger

Seriously video SHOULD cost more than photos too but wedding photos are traditional so they have a higher pecking order!

(I'm starting to sound like a cranky old man now, lol) And that's another thing!! Nearly all the weddings I do there's a 2nd shooter for photos. Almost all. Occasionally I worked with a single shooter, who usually isn't even complaining just goes with the flow. I shoot video solo, and although 2 shooters seems like its becoming more popular, it's not nearly as common as photography imho. Plus I would need to raise my prices significantly to bring a 2nd shooter.

(I'm starting to sound like a cranky old man now, lol) And that's another thing!! Nearly all the weddings I do there's a 2nd shooter for photos. Almost all. Occasionally I worked with a single shooter, who usually isn't even complaining just goes with the flow. I shoot video solo, and although 2 shooters seems like its becoming more popular, it's not nearly as common as photography imho. Plus I would need to raise my prices significantly to bring a 2nd shooter.

I've rarely seen a second photography shooter who contributes anything worthwhile to the shoot and constantly gets in the way of the video. Most photographers seem to employ a second shooter simply so they can charge more. We worked with one a couple of weeks ago who said that she frequently uses her 16 year old daughter or her husband, both of whom know nothing about photography, just to look like they are taking photos. Apparently a lot of her clients expect two photographers and pay more for it!!!

Roger

Well I feel like a bit of an odd ball as a 61yo and about to embark on a videography career.
I've been dabbling with wedding videos for years on and off and when my day job finishes this December my plan is to go full time with wedding and event videography.
I'm already in the planning stages and learning more about social media marketing etc.
I've been reading this forum for a few years now, but I haven't had much to contribute, I'm sure that will change.
Its fascinating reading some of the stories and seeing the trends in gear. I only have a Sony A6000 and a couple of Sony domestic high end video cameras and a Sony FDR-AX3000 action cam at the moment but they have all served me well.
Before I kick off properly I'll probably buy a A6400 and one or two AX700's so I can get away from interlaced, oh and a gimbal and a Fresnel light and more stands and more audio gear.....and perhaps some streaming gear.....oh dear the shopping list is growing:-).
Anyway, I wonder who else is lurking on the forum and not saying anything. Please have a say.

Don't forget you need a drone too Merv if you want to keep up with your competitors ..that's probably the main reason why I simplified everything and went back to single camera shoots but in a niche market!

I found that the capital expenditure just wasn't worth what brides were willing to pay and a lot of your competitors have a couple of DSLR cameras from the discount house online and if they do have a drone they are perceived as better than you regardless of the fact that it is a semi-toy rather than a professional unit. Then again it's all about marketing too ..if I can offer a 6 camera shoot at a wedding as opposed to your two camera shoot then I am better than you ..the fact you have top of the range Sony's and I have 6 GoPros doesn't even enter the bride's head!!

Don't even worry about age mate ..I'm turning 73 this year and still do weddings and commercials shoots ..it's called experience!!!

I've also discovered that I really am starting to hate the 6-8 hours it takes just to pick out music (aka find it) for these short wedding films. It really sucks. lol

What's even more critical Kyle is that if you do take 6 to 8 hours to find suitable music do you cost for that in your pricing?? Even at a mere $75.00 an hour that would add $600 to the video price which on top of your normal costing can easily make you a lot pricier than your competition!!

I wonder how many wedding videographers have actually costed out a wedding correctlyand see what you really should be charging ? I found that to do a full wedding from prep thru to midnight comes out to a costing that simply makes your price out of the question. Next time you are free, try adding up the actual wedding hours you spend including consulation, travelling, on-site on the day and post production then add your standard business expenses like insurance, fuel and media and see what you are REALLY making as an hourly wage??

Our cost price, excluding wages is around £900.

So just to turn up at someone's wedding. Cost of fuel, electricity for charging, camera and equipment depreciation, maintenance, music licencing, credit card chart s etc.

So when we get those emails, that say how we should do their wedding for under £1000 and be lucky to attend their wedding I wonder how many other guests are giving the a gift worth as much as us turning up.

It's expensive what we do. It's expensive to keep reinvesting, fixing and to correclty store and keep their data.

I just done get those who we know use the search kit bag as us charge below cost price.

Julie has a little spreadsheet of our costs.

It's been a while since I posted here, I'm on my 12th year doing wedding videography and to that I have added photography and photo booth services which really gives more headache and responsibility.

My marketing method is only through my website which is well optimised for SEO and word of mouth from my clients. I don't offer anymore highlights for I found it time consuming just looking for suitable music for the couple, instead I offer a full feature 60-70 minutes online streaming and also a USB, Blu-ray delivery.

For now, doing what I love to do is still okay but not as great 12 years ago.

Rickey
https://iclickfilms.com

Hi Rickey,,

Yup, still doing it after 37 years although my wife is slowly persuading me to do other things while she takes over the weddings.

We added photography as a combined package a few years ago and that has worked well for us, with the addition of a simple booth if asked for at extra cost. We do documentary style full feature with highlights as a paid for optional extra.

Most work for us is from our regular wedding shows, recommendation and Facebook/website.

Roger