Photos + Film: The Choice Between

Wedding Planning

Jan 17

I’ve hit that funny stage in life where all of my friends are getting married. So even though I’ve been enveloped in the wedding industry for the past few years, all of the sudden I’m having real-life planning discussions + talking through these big days with some of my favourite people.

And it’s so crazy to see the process of planning a wedding from an entirely outside perspective: the bride’s.

Being a wedding videographer, one of the questions I always get asked is, “What would you choose? A wedding film or wedding photos?”

It breaks my heart a little to hear that. In the simplest manner, I don’t think it should be a this or that question.

Photos + video are often grouped together - in the same category, in the same budget, as the same thing. Which they are absolutely not.

Based off of personal conversations + off of stats, couples will always, wholeheartedly book a photographer before booking a videographer. (Especially when they have to choose between the two). And I don’t blame them one bit for it.

I would likely make the same decision, because here’s the thing. To everyone else, not having a wedding video is no big deal. If you don’t have photos, the conversation goes something along the lines of, “You didn’t get wedding photos?!? How will people even know you’re like... married?!”

I hear this from clients + from some of my closest friends.

Because it’s not going to be everyone else that notices a lack of a wedding film. It will be you.

Photographs are to be framed. They’re to be displayed all throughout your home, and to be pieces of art that your children + grandchildren will forever treasure of you.

Photo courtesy of Sharai Siemens Photography

A wedding film is everything that photos are not. You hear the words of encouragement your mother whispered to you as you were getting ready. You see the tears in the eyes of your husband as you appear at the beginning of the aisle. I hear it over + over again.

I cry watching our video. every. single. time.

Film initiates tears - in the absolute best way possible. It perfectly captures the delicate emotions of your wedding day, and offers a sure way to remember all of the people involved (whether you were in the room to witness their efforts or not). You can experience those emotions + interactions all over again, as they play out on the screen in front of you.

The above photos from Sharai Seimens Photography document the wedding day of Corey + Davis perfectly. Their wedding film shows an entirely different side to their day.

But if you could only choose one, we all know which you would keep.

So yes, of course it makes sense, + even as a wedding videographer, I get it.

And no, I would never try convince anyone to choose video if they could only pick one. I will however, explain why I think both are inherently valuable + should be considered when planning for your big day.

Documenting vs. Directing

As a wedding photographer, you must be a director. Whether it’s during your family photos, bridal party shots, or just you two together. “Turn to me just a little bit! I can’t see you in the back! Just come a few steps forward!” To sense those little things that are off + correct them ever so subtly is the art of being a photographer. And yes, many photog’s shoot as hands off as possible - but at one point or another, they will have to direct.

When I am filming weddings, I am most likely to be found somewhere in the background. Because film is about movement, most of the shots in my videos are candid moments + interactions. The art in filmmaking is being able to anticipate the when: when people are going to laugh, when they’ll head another direction, when I need to move to get there before they do.

Weston Waugh, a fellow filmmaker, summed it up perfectly.

“I have to find the action in the stationary.”

So while your photographer is busy posing people, I am recording all of those in between moments. The laughs when somebody breaks their pose a little too early, those smiles shared across the room from each other. I document everything that is happening as it happens, rather than directing to create those moments.

Movement. Movement. Movement.

I know, it’s not groundbreaking. But vital to understand nonetheless.

Photographers shoot still images. It’s a process of waiting until the exact second to capture the exact shot that you desire. (Or in my case, you shoot 5000 images because you know that perfect one is in there). You wait for the smiles, the laughs, the utterly genuine moments. You are conscious of everything around you + ready to take a photograph in the blink of an eye.

Videographers shoot motion images. If I was to wait until that exact moment before pressing record, I would have already missed my shot. Instead, I’m constantly recording, anticipating every intimate moment, and at the end of a wedding day, I’ll have hours upon hours of raw footage to cull through + create that story with.

The Editing Process

The development of photos + video are two entirely different processes.

From the moment you begin editing a photo, you can see what it has the potential to become. You adjust the exposure, the contrast, + work within your specific style to create a final product. Of course, some images are more difficult than that + require additional editing to make them “pop” but throughout it all, the photographer can usually visualize what it will eventually become.

Video could not be more different. You can adjust all of the above on a clip, but there’s still an entire progression of adding music, cutting it at the right time, + ensuring you have it exactly where it fits best on the timeline. You learn to be diligent in watching + rewatching the same thing over and over again, even if you’re making minute changes. Shifting one individual clip can cause you to have to re-edit the entire timeline, making sure all of your audio + cuts are exactly where they need to be. In essence, it takes a whole lot of patience in figuring out just what the final product of that film may be.

And one more example. The most stunning photos from Kin Photography contrasted against the wedding film of Karlon + Sarah. Same same, but different, right? 😉

So here’s where my thought process is.

Yes, I consider both photos + film entirely invaluable on the day of a wedding. But I also consider them entirely different.

And no, I won’t convince you that you absolutely NEED a wedding film - or that your day won’t be complete without it.

But if it’s something you’ve been thinking about - I hope this offers you a better understanding of what you would be getting out of each. If it’s important to you, go for it.

If a film (or photos) are a little out of the budget, but you really (really) want them to be included, I stand behind those same words. “Go for it.”

Don’t stretch yourself too thin, but shift things around + see if you can find a workable option.

When everything is said-and-done, photos + film (and of course, memories) will be the first things you’ll turn to in order to relive your day.

So listen to your gut, + choose the option that is perfect for you.

Wedding Planning