Houston Videographers

Pick the right videographer so I can do my best work as your photographer.

If you're adding wedding day video coverage, I strongly recommend that you select a videographer or cinematographer from this list.

If you can't find someone you like on this list, please contact me before hiring someone else. If you've found someone you like who isn't on this list, send me your shortlist and I'll review their video portfolios carefully and interview those companies personally. I'll make sure they're experienced, capable, and a good fit helping you make the best choice possible.

I recommend these companies but offer no performance guarantee. Interview carefully and ask hard questions.

Videographer Advice

Choose a wedding videographer with a style compatible to my style and help ensure positive creative energy.

I mention this recommendation because some videographers have a coverage style that conflicts my coverage style—and that can impact my ability to deliver the photographs you expect. In addition to potentially compromising my style, conflicts between photographers and videographers sometimes cause frustration which in turn can cloud creativity for both visual teams.

Here I've outlined my typical concerns and how to overcome them in order to have the best possible coverage from both visual teams. As you might imagine, I'd strongly encourage you to select someone from my list. However, I'm happy to work with other teams.

If you select a videographer with a complementary coverage style, you can help ensure that we'll both deliver the best possible images and video on your wedding day.

In specific terms, I work best with videographers who work in the background, who don't offer direction during the time set aside for couples or wedding party portraits, and who record events using a fly-on-the-wall approach.

One Director

Throughout your wedding day I'll ask you to do certain things that will help ensure that I can create the best possible photographs.

Those requests might involve asking you to stand near a window with pretty light or face a certain direction during portraits. Or I might say something funny to encourage your wedding party to start laughing at the same time.

If your videographer also provides direction or commentary, then you'll be working with two directors. This situation can introduce confusion or irritation for subjects being covered which can then lead to situations where neither team can gain the cooperation or trust needed to create great work.

On Movie Making

If you hire a videographer who has a directed, cinematic, or movie-making style and their work is as important to you as your photography, then you should adjust your schedule, adding enough padding to meet their requests for directed time.

For example, some videographers may ask that you re-stage and repeat certain actions like getting dressed, putting on shoes, tying ties, or repeating the first look. With those redos, the video team can capture those happenings from different angles or get coverage they missed the first time around. Those re-do requests increase the time set aside for your wedding day visuals.

For videographers who shoot with a directing style similar to mine, in addition to the time you set aside for your photography, you'll want to add additional scheduled time for your video team.

That might mean that you'll need to add thirty minutes to your getting ready schedule, thirty minutes to your wedding party portraits, and thirty minutes to your bride + groom portraits. But check with your videographer as may want more or less time. Then you can adjust your schedule accordingly.

Ceremony & Reception Concerns

Here are a few common issues when I've faced working with videographers. These concerns aren't an issue for videographers selected from my list.

Lead & Follow

Observation: Some videographers closely precede or follow closely behind the bride and groom during the first look, ceremony processional, ceremony recessional, or the reception grand entrance.

Issue: This means that the videographers will in the background of those very important photographs.

Solution: Instruct the video team to avoid close-follow coverage during candid moments that occur during your event particularly during the first look, ceremony processional, ceremony recessional, or the reception grand entrance.

Circling

Observation: Depending on the coverage style of the video team, some videographers circle continuously or partially circle the bride and groom during the first look, grand entrance, first dance, or parent dances.

Issue: This means that the videographers may be in the background or block photographs of important moments as they pass in front of our cameras.

Solution: Ask the videographers to perform no more than a single circle during the first dance or parent dances and avoid all circling during the first look and grand entrance.

Blocking

Observation: Some videographers position their cameras in the exact middle-back of the aisle or in the exact middle of balconies during the ceremony at a height that doesn't allow the photographers to comfortably create photographs over the top of the video camera.

Issue: We're unable to create wide photographs from the back of your ceremony without the presence of a tripod and videographer in the foreground.

Solution: Ask the video team to reduce the tripod height of any cameras positioned mid-aisle or mid-balcony so that the photography team can comfortably photograph over the top of the video cameras.

Excessive Movement

Observation: There are occasions when videographers move down the middle aisle toward the bride and groom during the ceremony.

Issue: By necessity, we'll be forced to move down the aisle with the videographer to avoid being blocked. And that that will potentially cause distractions for both guests and ceremony participants.

Solution: Instruct the videographer about the importance of being unobtrusive during the ceremony and ask them to work from the sides and back only.

Highly Visible

Observation: Videographers may sometimes position themselves in areas that are in conflict with angles preferred by photographers. In other words, the videographers may position themselves and their tripods or sliders in prominent areas.

Issue: Videographer cameras and tripods will be highly visible in many ceremony photos.

Solution: The photographer coordinates this immediately before the ceremony and before reception traditions to ensure that the videographer camera positions are known and that visibility will be minimized in photographs (assuming acceptance by video team).

Big Teams

Observation: Some videographers employ large teams. These teams might be comprised of 3, 4, or even 5 camera operators and assistants.

Issue: If they employ a large videographer team, that can lead to over large groups of visual professionals. We'll be distracting guests and will almost certainly be in each other's way.

Solution: For weddings with fewer than 200 guests, ask the video team to limit their creative crew to no more than two individuals.

Wardrobe Issues

Observation: Some videographers wear bright colors, light colors, denim, and tennis shoes.

Issue: Videographers are highly conspicuous in photographs when they aren't otherwise omitted from the frame.

Solution: Before the event, send the video team specific instructions describing the preferred vendor dress code. Dark colored clothes are typically less obtrusive with black slacks, black shoes, and black shirt (or dress) being the accepted norm for visual professionals.

Drones

Observation: Some videographers provide aerial coverage with drones.

Issue: FAA guidelines state that drones may not be operated for commercial purposes without a pilot at the controls and without an issued exemption. Additionally, standard liability insurance carried by videographers does not extend to drone use. Some videographers don't carry drone insurance due to the prohibitive expense. Also, drones cannot be flown over people other than the drone operators themselves and this rule is sometimes broken and puts wedding guests and vendors at risk.

Solution: Avoid drone use unless a) the videographer provides confirmation that any drone will be flown by a commercial pilot, b) the videographer provides proof of drone insurance, and c) that the videographer is instructed that drone operations should be limited to areas of the property where people are not present. Under no circumstances should drones be allowed to fly indoors or near buildings as both situations pose safety issues for even experienced drone pilots.

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