Hiring A Chicago Wedding Videographer

As you continue through your quest to find all your wedding vendors, you will eventually come to wedding videography. You will soon realize that there are a lot of Chicago videographers to choose from and might not know where to start. So when it comes time to hire a Chicago wedding videographer do not rush into it. Below are 3 important things that you should take into consideration before making your decision.

1. Ratings and Reviews:
In my opinion the most important thing when choosing a videographer for a wedding is their credibility. In order to get the best input on their work, you should check for customer reviews. Some companies have reviews on their website but the best place for legitimate feedback is on Wedding Wire. Wedding Wire is a credible forum for newlyweds to leave feedback on their vendors. Other brides experiences will give you an idea of what you can expect. So do not choose a company until you see some wedding videography reviews.
2. Video Examples:
Every videographer has their own style and equipment. Shooting points, music, transitions and overall flow can all vary throughout wedding videographers. Some are similar and some are unique. The only way to determine if their style is right for you is to see their work. These videos should be very easy to find on their website. View I Do Video's Chicago Wedding Videos
3. Packages and Rates:
Just like style can vary, so can rates and they can vary enormously. A wedding video is important but do not burden yourself financially to get yours. You should determine your budget and choose a wedding videography company that can fit within your budget. There are plenty of affordable wedding videographers in Chicago to choose from so don't rush into anything. Also make sure you get a final price before moving forward so assure yourself that there are no hidden costs.

Your wedding video is something that you will cherish for a long time. So make sure you spend the time to choose a Chicago videographer that will provide one you will like! 

Multi-Camera Video Coverage

A lot happens during a wedding, some of which you are unable to see which is why it is important to have a videographer there to capture it. However, your wedding videographer can only be at once place at a time. Unfortunately, this limits what can be caught on camera. In order to solve this problem, IDV by Leo uses multiple cameras (and multiple videographers) when covering a wedding. This is most beneficial during the ceremony.

During your wedding ceremony, your videographer faces some obstacles which can cause complications during the video coverage. Some of these obstacles include

• Limited Church Access: Some church’s restrict access of your videographer. For example, we are generally not allowed to be by the alter and sometimes not even allowed to move once the ceremony starts. Multiple cameras help resolve this issue to make sure that a camera is set up to capture the moment no matter where we are restricted to be.

• Obstructed View: Pillars, decorations and most commonly people can get in the way of any given shot. The stationary objects are easier to deal with but a person standing up or moving in front of an unmanned camera can cause a shot to be ruined. By using multiple videographers, you can be assured that someone will be close by to avoid this potential problem.

Multiple cameras and multiple videographers not only help avoid potential problems but also make for a better viewing experience. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event which is seen by hundreds of people. With multiple cameras you can get the additional point of views which let you see your special day as others did. Some key moments which benefit from this are:

• First Look: Having a camera on the groom as well as the bride are perfect to see both people’s expression as they see the other for the first time.

• Bride Walking Down Aisle: Multiple cameras give the opportunity of capturing the bride from the front and backas well as the groom as he waits for her.

• First Dances: A full-frame shot is perfect to capture the first dance while a 2nd videographer has the ability to get creative, cinematic shots from other angles.

• Speeches: With one camera on the speaker, other cameras can be places around the venue to capture the audience and newlywed reactions.

Very rarely do you go to a move and watch a scene from the same angle. Sp if you want your wedding video produce that cinematic feel, multiple cameras and a 2nd videographer is a must. We do understand that this is not always within a client’s budget, so we always stay on top of our game and learn the best approaches in order to get the most out of every shot.

Wedding Video Equipment

All cameras consist of high definition equipment. We use a combination of HD camcorders and DSLR cameras with an array of lenses. All cameras are mounted on a tripod for steady shots.

• Canon 6D: This is a top-of-the-line camera for wedding videography. The full-frame sensor is as good as it gets for capturing video in low light while still maintaining a crisp image. With the lenses available, the 6D produces that cinematic look.

• Canon Rebel T4i: The Canon T4i is a DSLR camera which produces great-quality video, with excellent detail and pleasing color. The use of DSLR cameras provide that depth-of-field focal abiolity that camcorders cannot.

• Sony HXR MC50u: The HXR-MC50U is an ultra-compact, professional, AVCHD camcorder with big camera performance. This camera's primary use is to cover the lengthy moments of your wedding day.

Accessories

e combine our cameras with the appropriate accessories to assure that we get the best quality out of any shoot. Learn more about just a few accessories we use to make sure your video looks professional.

• Audio: Audio is captured by the shotgun microphone on the camcorder as well as a wireless mic which the groom will wear during the ceremony. In some cases, audio can be captured directly from the DJ's soundboard.

• Lighitng: Since weddings are generally dimly lit a 126 led light will brighten up any scene. Combined with lenses specifically designed for low-light shooting, you can be assured ofa clear picture.

• Stabilizaiton: The combined use of a professional tri-pod and dolly make it easy to produce a steady shot on the go. Also available is a steadycam which produces a flying-like shot.

Take a look at some example footage from the Canon T4i DSLR with fisheye lens on Glidecam HD2000 sabilizer. As stated multiple times, we produce quality wedding videos at an affordable price. This is the equipment that helps our Chicago wedding videographers assure that!

Promontory Point Wedding Videography

Last weekend I Do Video was able to provide wedding videography services at at Promontory Point in Chicago. With the ceremony planned to be outside, there was a bit of a weather concern considering the cold and rainy weather which has been taking place in September. Those concerns went out the window as the day proved to be perfect for a wedding!

Promontory Point Wedding Video

The newlyweds-to-be were Matt and Ali who met through work on the east coast but moved back to the Chicagoland area before deciding to tie the knot. A wedding videographer services were a late addition to their Promontory Point wedding but we were very happy to be a part of the day! Coverage began at the Chicago Hilton where Ali and the bridesmaids began their bridal preparations. With a suite overlooking Buckingham Fountain, the view was great on this clear, sunny day! After capture some great video shots of Ali getting her dress ready, it was off to the Lincoln Park lily pond where Matt was to see her for the first time. The video coverage of the first look could not have gone more perfectly. In the serene Lincoln Park garden, Ali was revealed to Matt captured by 2 video cameras to get each of their expression. Following the first look, we traveled around Chicago to some popular settings to get some bridal party shots.

As it got close to 430 it was off to the ceremony, to get ready for the Promontory Point wedding. It was the first Promontory Point wedding video that I had covered and was very impressed with the setting. The ceremony took place just feet from Lake Michigan with the Chicago Skyline in the background. Before you knew it, they said their vows and was off to the reception, which was also just a few feet away. Some highlights that will definitely make the wedding video were a few great speeches and the bride’s grandmother serenading the newlyweds.

I was happy to have had the opportunity to provide videography at Promontory Point and look forward to using all the beautiful shots in the final wedding video!

Read a Customer's Extensive Review!

Review from Matt B. on Yelp...

"We got married in September of 2014 and hired Leo and I Do Video to provide the videography for our wedding ceremony and reception. Looking back, it's one of the best wedding choices we made.

It's difficult to imagine my wedding day being any more spectacular than it already was, but Leo's talented videography work gave my wife and me a beautiful new perspective on our own ceremony and reception. The day goes by so fast that the bride and groom often miss many of the little things that make the event so special, and we were no different.  Fortunately, Leo and his assistant managed to capture it all on video perfectly. In fact, his eye for composition and his video editing skills made our wedding even more vibrant and exciting than it already was. He's that good.

FIVE STAR REVIEWS ABOUND:
There's a reason Leo has earned nothing but 5 star reviews from all the fellow Yelpers before me.  He's professional, quick to respond to email, easy to talk to, and generally makes you feel comfortable knowing he's got everything under control.  Just take a look around at all the other review sites on which he's listed--Wedding Wire, Google+, The Knot, the I Do Video Facebook page--and you'll see that anyone who's worked with him has had nothing but glowing things to say about him and the service he provides.

VERY AFFORDABLE PRICING:
Furthermore, Leo's pricing is one of the lowest that I've seen in the Chicagoland area. But don't let the old "higher cost = better quality" heuristic throw you.  The teaser movie trailer he provided in order to hold us over until the full video is complete is better than any of the other videos you'll find online by competing services. This, in itself, was impressive, but what's even more astounding is that videography isn't even his full time career! During our first meeting he mentioned that this work all started out as a personal interest, but as more and more people began to realize his talent for telling wedding stories through video, the more organically his business began to grow. He even recently won a 2014 Wedding Wire Couples' Choice Award.

FRIENDLY & RESPONSIVE SERVICE:
My first interaction with Leo was a request for pricing about 1.5 months before the wedding (yes, we were cutting it close on timing with a few vendors).  He has some wedding video packages on his website, but he assured me over email that he would gladly work with me on a video package that met my budget. 

The second time we spoke was in person about a week before the wedding--a quick meeting at a coffee shop to hash out the details. Leo came prepared with his list of questions, asking us about our relationship, the order of the ceremony & reception, any special moments he should capture, and generally trying to get an understanding of how we wanted the day recorded. He explained his process for the wedding day and also his timeline for delivering the finished video product.

Finally, on our wedding day, I said hi to Leo once after the ceremony and I never saw him again. He was there throughout the whole thing, as his video trailer proves, but he blended in, disappeared.  He was never intrusive--just another wedding guest at the party. He probably spent 9-10 hours with us during our wedding--more than most of the guests--and yet I feel like I saw him least of all. Still, somehow he managed to capture all the most important events.

ALL YOUR VIDEO ARE BELONG TO US:
While the polished, finished wedding video is obviously the main deliverable, I'm the type of person that likes to have all the raw footage as well. I like to consider it the extended Director's Cut of our wedding day. Thankfully, Leo gives you every minute of video he records...if you want it.  No additional fees.  No catch.  It's all yours (at least with the package we chose). Specifically, he gives you a USB flash drive with all the raw footage in HD to do with as you please. He also offers the final edited version of your video on either Blu-Ray or DVD (and I believe he gives you a movie file of the finished version on the flash drive as well). I know some videographers don't give you everything, but Leo passes it all over to his customers.  They own all the video footage from their wedding.

I can't say enough great things about Leo and I wish him all the best with his growing wedding video business. There's a reason his customers all leave rave reviews for him: he's a genuinely good guy whose talented videography and editing work have helped many a bride and groom relive one of the most exciting days of their lives. And ours was no exception."

Take a look at their video below: