There are a few Chicago Wedding Videographer (s) out there, yet you might wonder if you even want one or how to pick the best one.

Here are a few things that might help you pick:

We'll start with basics. Here is the list of key moments you will get to keep forever once you decide to have your Chicago wedding videographer or videographers team at your wedding.

You want your videographers to capture key moments such as:

Pre-ceremony preparations [Details of your dress, accessories, the important people around you, the getting ready process]

The Ceremony [The people you’ve invited to celebrate your love, the decorations, and most importantly groom's reaction]

Reception [Your first dance, speeches, cake cutting, and candid moments]

At some point, your photographer and videographer will steal you away for those breathtaking, romantic golden-hour shots. (Trust us, they never get old.).

Dance Floor [Outfit changes and, of course, all the fun, unexpected bloopers]



Tip: On average, you are looking at 9-10h of coverage for these to be completely honest with you.

These are the same moments that your photographer will capture - with one major difference in mind: SOUND & MOTION

Photo: Video:

While a picture is worth a thousand words, it can’t immerse you into those sounds of the day.

Next, you want to have a clear understanding of your wedding videographer’s style. 

Color:

Do they color grade the footage with tints of blue, orange, red? Or do they stick to a more ‘true-to-tone’ approach with slight adjustments to greens?

Tip: Pay close attention to fingertips, ears, and toes—these areas tend to appear overly red when footage isn’t color-corrected. To better understand what we mean, take a look at these two images.

Before color correction: After color correction:

EDITING:

Does the video feel like a simple slideshow of events, or is there a natural flow with sound transitions that build anticipation and fully immerse you in the emotions and sensations of your wedding day?

Tip: Many videographers cut wedding clips to the beat of the music, which can end up feeling more like a homemade video rather than a cinematic experience.

Click on the following videos to see the difference that we are talking about.

Want an honest second opinion? Just reach out. We’re real humans here to help.

Music Choice:

Where does your videographer source their music? Is it from a basic platform like Epidemic Sound or do they use a more premium platform?



Tip: You could provide a song you love for editing, we actually recommend trusting your videographer with this decision. We carefully select tracks based on their build-ups and seamlessly blend them with raw audio from your wedding day—creating a truly immersive experience that brings you right back to the moment.

ask the right questions!

Lastly, you want to be confident that your videographer knows what he or she is doing. Here’s a list of essential questions to ask before hiring someone to film your wedding:

Packages and Pricing: What’s included in each package? (if you didn't get it before the call) How is overtime handled?

Equipment: What type of equipment do you use? Do you have backup gear? Additional backup?

Editing: What’s your editing process? What filmmaker courses have you completed before? How long will it take to receive the final video? How many revisions are included? Do you edit out 'exit signs'?

Music: How is music selected for the video? Can we provide input on the soundtrack?

Rights: Will we own the rights to the footage? Can we share it on social media?

Backup Plan: Do you have a backup plan in case of illness or equipment failure?

Experience and Style: How long have you been filming weddings? How would you describe your videography style?

Portfolio: Can you show examples of full wedding videos you’ve done, especially those that match our style or venue type?

Audio: How do you capture audio during the ceremony and speeches? Is it included in your package? How many audio sources do you usually have?

Logistics: Who covers travel expenses if the wedding is out of town? What are the additional costs? Permits?

Responsibilities: What are our responsibilities as clients before, during, and after the wedding?

Additional Videographers: How do you feel about additional videographers on the wedding day?

To get to know them more closely:

• What was your favorite wedding to film, and why?
• How do you handle unexpected challenges during a wedding?
• What’s your routine the day before a wedding?
• If you were your own client, which package would you choose?
• What has your experience taught you about wedding videography?
• How do you stay inspired to create unique wedding films?
• What do you enjoy doing outside of weddings?

FINAL WORDS, PRO TIPS, & WE PROMISE WE ARE DONE WITH ALL THE INFO.

At the end of the day, go with your gut feeling. Trust your intuition. You can always feel when someone is after the sale vs. when they genuinely care about creating something unforgettable - something that exceeds your expectations. While this may not always be obvious upfront, pay attention to how prepared they are for each call, how they follow up on your questions, and how they build a relationship with you. These small details say a lot about their dedication and professionalism.

Ultimately, you want a videographer who makes you feel relaxed and stress-free on your wedding day - someone who captures the raw emotions, from the happy tears to the bursts of laughter and the heartfelt cheers, preserving the magic of your love story in a way that feels effortless and true to you.

tHANK YOU FOR READING THIS AND WE HOPE IT HELPS YOU MAKE AN INFORMED & STRESS-FREE DECISION.