What to Know Before You Hire a Wedding Videographer

If you’re considering hiring a wedding videographer to document the biggest day of your life, you no doubt have a big decision ahead of you. Just like choosing a photographer can be quite a process, deciding who to have filming your entire day is important too! As another big-ticket item on the wedding budget and one whose presence will matter long after the day is done, choosing a wedding videographer is not a decision to take lightly – but we’re here to help! Read on for a few must-know tips to keep in mind before you hire someone.

1. Hiring a professional matters.

With so much technology available at our fingertips these days, it’s easy to think, “I’ll just have ___ (a friend or family member) take some video.” But wedding videography is so much more than that. A professional videographer has the equipment and the know-how to capture your day in a way that evokes the best emotions, looks beautiful and lasts a lifetime. Like photographers, they’re the experts in angles, lighting and locations and can truly tell a story through film. A simple camcorder video or phone video simply won’t compare. That said, you can expect to spend just as much, if not more, on a quality videographer as you would a top-notch photographer, so be sure that’s factored into your budget before you begin your search. Some photographers also specialize in videography, and vice-versa, so it is possible to get a package deal!

2. Review the basic wedding videography styles.

While of course these styles can vary, modern wedding films typically fall into one of three stylistic categories:

Candid: the documentary version of a professional wedding film. With more emphasis on raw, candid moments happening as they truly unfolded, without cinematic-style panning shots. Candid films do typically include natural audio and sometimes voiceovers and/or instrumental tunes.

Music video: built on cinematic shots spliced together with professional effects and music overlaid, this style usually won’t include much personal audio, like vows or speeches, but will show several different aspects of the day set to beautiful songs.

Cinematic:a combination of both! With both raw, candid shots that capture dialogue and natural noises, alongside visuals captured in an epic way that will make you feel as if you’re watching a movie trailer of your very own day.

Standard wedding film lengths:

Trailer or Teaser: 1-2 minutes highlighting the most exciting, memorable portions of your day, with very little dialogue. The perfect length for sharing on social media!

Highlight film: 3-6 minutes covering the biggest parts of the day and often just snippets of audio like vows, letter readings and speeches. The video below falls into this category! The video below falls into this category!

Short film: 8-10 minutes long and allows for more complete coverage of the audio elements listed above.

Feature film: 12-15 minutes and longer – a feature film allows for the most storytelling – often including voiceovers to tell backstories, audio from parts of the day not covered in other formats and a more complete, inclusive option to re-live your day.

Long-form: this length will include less cinematic-style editing, but should cover the most important parts of the day, your ceremony and reception, just about in their entirety.

Of course, the lengthier the wedding video, the larger the budget required, generally speaking. With this in mind, you can look at various videographers’ work and have an idea of what your film will feel like, or if you’re not able to tell, ask them what type they specialize in. Many videographers will offer a pairing of a trailer-length film along with a longer format so you can have multiple options to share.

3. Cover your bases.

Once you’ve found a videographer you feel a connection with, it’s time to ask a few specific questions if you can’t readily find the answers. Look thoroughly through the contract and make sure expectations are clear about turnaround time (the industry standard for wedding videos is about six months, although some wedding films can take up to a year to finish). In what format(s) will they deliver your video, and is it a format that will allow as much longevity as possible? A DVD probably isn’t ideal for the long haul, but you may want another tangible option rather than only having your film available online.

Think about the important what-if questions like what will happen in the event of bad weather, of a reschedule, or if the videographer can’t make it for some reason?  If your wedding requires the videographer to travel, which costs are you responsible for? Does your videographer have insurance and a license to legally fly drones, if they’ll be using that type of equipment? Do they only use legally licensed music and songs in post-processing? Make sure all your bases are covered!

Just as you would give the same heads-up to your photographer, you’ll want to let your videographer know if there’s anyone or anything they should make sure to capture, while at the same time, trusting them to film your day beautifully without much direction from you (remember, it’s their job! They do this all the time.)

4. Get ready to be mic’d up.

If you’ve chosen a wedding videographer who will include voices and audio dialogue as part of your final film, they’ll likely need to use various audio equipment to clearly record things. You may have a small microphone and wire attached to you for part of the day, or be asked to hold a microphone at some points. The videographer may need a block of time on your wedding day to get certain shots that will add to the quality of your film – so just be prepared and trusting of their needs. It will all be worth it in the end!

How To Choose A Great Wedding Videographer

Not all videographers are created equal, and of course it’s essential that you choose the best one for your wedding day! Follow these 5 steps to hire an experienced professional to capture your wedding day on film.

Make It A Priority

For some reason, videography doesn’t seem to be at the top of everyone’s priority list when booking wedding vendors. But as couples start to realize the value in watching their big day back on film for years to come, top videographers are booking years in advance. So in order to land a talented videographer, make it a priority, right up there with booking a photographer and venue!

Browse Local Videos

Resources like The Knot and WeddingWire are great for finding local videographers. Also, don’t be afraid to check out local wedding blogs for great examples, or browse Vimeo for inspiration. You may even be able to find a film from your venue, which is a great opportunity for you to picture your day.

Read Reviews

The best way to gain insight into what it will be like to work with a videographer on your wedding day, is to read the reviews from others! Again, The Knot and WeddingWire are great places to look, but also reference Facebook, Google, or even Yelp! Look for detailed reviews that mention how it was coordinating together before the wedding, interacting on the wedding day, and accomodations post-wedding.

Know Your Budget And Non-Negotiables

One of the first things we say to every couple is follow your heart and go with your gut. Don’t pick someone because they are the cheapest. Find a videographer who creates films you love and resonate with. Choose a videographer who makes you feel comfortable and relaxed.

In saying that – you do need to know your budget, so you know what packages to enquire about or you have a conversation starter when you contact a videographer for a custom quote.

Understand what your non-negotiables are and what you’re willing to let go of to secure the best videographer for you. For example having two videographers may be a non-negotiable for you, but having drone footage might be something you can live without. If you know what you’re willing and not willing to let go of it can help you identify the best package, price and videographer for you.

Choose Someone Who Matches Your Style

Most importantly, the best videographer will create films that you absolutely love. When you’re watching different videos, try to pick up on things such as music, audio quality, video quality, and transitions. Jot down notes about what you like (and don’t like) as you watch!

Communication and Confidence Is Key

If you want to be your videographers favourite couple communicate with them clearly before the day and on the day be confident in front of the camera.

Leading up to your wedding day make sure you send your final payment off to your videographer in time and let them know any last-minute changes along with all the information they’ve requested before the day.

On the day acknowledge your videographer but ignore the camera – this isn’t an episode of The Office – don’t spend the entire day kissing and then staring down the barrel of the lenses! It’s easier said than done but the more you can ignore the camera and forget you’re being filmed and focus on each other the better your wedding film will be.

Your photography and videographer have one goal in mind – to capture you both being in love and enjoying your day.

They want to capture you both laughing, kissing, loving each other and having fun with your friends and family. The more you can do that the less direction they’ll need to give you and the more relaxed you’ll feel on the day.

WHY I’LL NEVER BE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

I have seen so many posts across various websites and facebook groups this week all centred around one theme – wedding photography. Wedding season is well and truly upon us and I guess that everyone who’s getting married this summer has already booked their photographer. But their guests who are getting married next year or the year after? They’re the ones probably starting to think about who’s going to photograph their big day. And it’s a huge decision to make.

So why the blog post? What has riled me up so much that I feel the need to write about it in a blog?! Well to start with I am not nor have I ever been a wedding photographer. So I’m not touting for business. But basically when people book a photographer (any kind of photographer) I want them to get what they’re paying for – I love value for money no matter what your budget. But certain threads and posts written recently by professional photographers make me think that not everyone has the same standards and that really winds me up.

I hate my own wedding photos. There it is, I’ve said it out loud. I’m not going to name and shame and I hope my photographer never reads this. I don’t have one single wedding photo up in my house. The only one you’ll ever see online is the one in this article. I asked for documentary style photos, snapshots of the day. “I don’t want poses” is what I said. “Let’s spend 2 hours of your day doing posed photos” is what the photographer heard. You’d think that in all that time that every base would be covered. Apparently not, because there’s not one photo of me and my dad on my wedding day. He’s in some group ones, but not one photo exists of just me and him on that day.

Which brings me to my second point. If you don’t know that you can nail it first time, every time, all day, don’t tell people that you can. I can take great photos of your family for you, I know I can. But if you asked me to be your wedding photographer? I’d say that I really appreciate you asking, but that there are people who are better suited to what you need. But not every photographer will be that honest with you. And I have a real issue with that.

We all know that weddings can be expensive. I say ‘can be’, because loads of people can and do get married on a small budget. But it doesn’t seem to matter how much people are willing to spend on other aspects of their day, when it comes to booking a photographer, I hear the words “that’s so expensive!” stupidly often. I couldn’t cope with hearing that about my own work again and again. Does it cost a lot to hire a good wedding photographer? Most of the time – yes

The Best Gift You Can Give your Photographer

Time and time again I am so overly blessed by my clients, and although it cane seem to be an “Awkward” topic… talking about tipping or blessing your photographer doesn’t have to be awkward!  Whether it be through words, action or a physical gift,  so often I have friends and clients asking me “I really want to thank my lake garda wedding photographer for what they did and how they captured us!

Thanking them at your wedding! Wow, just last weekend a bride and groom got up after speeches and gave the proper verbal “Thank You’s” to all their friends and family for all the work they put in… THEN they didn’t stop there… they literally said to their guests  “You have seen our photographers running around all day and we want to thank Tonie Christine Photography from the bottom of our hearts for being more than just a photographer, but a confidence booster, a dress fluffer and such a joy to work with from start to finish” … Que the jaw dropping right there! I was so so so honored to be mentioned by name on their wedding day that I fear I looked like a Miss USA Contestant fanning my dropped jaw… but really people… even a hand written note mailed to us after the wedding, or a shout out at the wedding goes SUCH a long way!

A TIP! Many people don’t realize how much a tip means to us as photographers! The money that you invest in us is a big deal and we are so thankful you chose US…. but here’s the thing… a tip speaks volumes to us. It says 1.) You are worth every penny I paid you and then this little extra and 2.) it says “We want you to treat yourself to something nice with this tip and not just put it back into your business!” Meaning we have the freedom to grab a massage, manicure or that new top we have been eying and not even feel guilty about it! Not to mention each time I am given a tip, it makes me melt inside. It’s for sure not necessity, but if you feel like your photographer went above and beyond, it’s never to late to mail them a little note and a small tip! I am not even talking about a certain percentage or a package price or what you would pay a server… I just mean whatever is on your heart to bless them with, DOES NOT go unnoticed!

Something personal. One of my favorite things to do is scour friends’ Instagram accounts and Facebook pages for things they love! Not just Starbucks gift cards, camera paraphernalia  or something generic (not that it’s a bad thing to do a Starbucks card as we as photographers frequent coffee shops ? ) but to really look and find something unique that you see they LOVE! Knowing that your photographers favorite candle came from Anthropologie, or that they eat all the time at a certain restaurant in town near you, or better yet, the colors they love to display in their home can really go a LONG way when buying them a small gift that makes you think of them! My favorite example of this is a bride of mine last summer knows I have an undying love for all things black and white and gold… after her wedding day, she literally went back to the boutique she bought her bridesmaids gifts at, and bought an additional black and gold necklace that she bought for all of them and mailed it to me with a card that simple read “I felt like you could have been a bridesmaid all day with us, and instead you were working all day. Thank you for being not only our photographer but our friend” WHOA… cue the tears! (Thanks Ari!!

Social Media Shout Outs and rave reviews online anywhere! These go a LOOONG way with us as photographers! We send you your gallery of images that we have worked hard on and we wait holding our breath wanting to either hear back from you via email or see a totally rad post online somewhere! When you tag our businesses (not us personally) on Instagram, Facebook and leave our website addresses when you post wedding photos, your friends and family respond to that! They look us up and they follow us too! This is how we gain our advertising and new clients which leads to my number one gift to give your photographer…

Legal things every wedding photographer needs

Weddings are full of something old, something new, and something blue…at least in the bride’s mind.  As a creative industry professional, photographer or videographer, it is your responsibility to fill the legal gaps that may not be necessarily apparent to the client to ensure their day goes off without a hitch.

Insurance Policies

No matter the business formation chosen (See: Quick Legal Checklist: How to start a photography business – the right way!), insurance should be secured to fill the gaps that contracts and formations may not provide.  At a minimum, a wedding photographer should carry liability and equipment insurance.

Back-Up Measures

Due to the “can’t-reshoot” nature of weddings, having back-up measures in place is not only a smart and common-sense move but is a professional requirement.  These backup measures include back-up equipment and back-up photographers.  Despite the attentive care that may be given to equipment, technology fails.  Having a back-up setup, cards, and batteries (at a minimum) are a requirement for a wedding photographer to fulfill their legally bound service to the client.  Further, sickness or accidents may arise that prevent the primary photographer from fulfilling their duties, therefore, a back-up photographer should be on stand-by in the event of an emergency.  Always have a backup plan!

Wedding Photography Contract

This document is an agreement or a promise that has legally binding rights and obligations that can be legally enforced.  It also outlines the responsibilities of both parties including time, place, money, products, and services.  Snag your own wedding contract template here. This agreement should also go a step further to outline all  specifics, cancellation policy, late policy, reproduction rights, expectations of both parties, guarantees, and waiver of responsibility in certain events.

Independent Contractor Photography Contract

Working with a second-shooter or assistant on an Independent Contractor (IC) basis demands the use of an agreement between primary photographer and the IC.  Note: IC’s are not merely given IC status by labeling them as such.  The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.  You are not an independent contractor if you perform services that can be controlled by an employer (what will be done and how it will be done). This applies even if you are given freedom of action. What matters is that the employer has the legal right to control the details of how the services are performed.

Wedding Photography Hacks for Total Amateurs

The way I’d describe the first time I photographed a wedding would be with words like “scary”, “stressful”, and “fun”. There is a whole lot that goes into creating excellent wedding photography through every part of the day – from prep photos in the morning to the grand sparkler exit at night

Get Organized Before the Wedding

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that wedding photography is just about being good at taking photos. Sure, that is a huge part of it, and at the end of the day – your clients will be paying you to produce great photos. But there is so much more that goes into the process of making great wedding day photos.

A few ways to get organized before the wedding include:

Create a shot list. Shot lists can be useful ways to remind yourself what photos you want and need to take. The most important shot list of the day for me has always been a list of family formal pairings – this has allowed me to call out names and get people grouped together, instead of just trying to wing it.

Put together a wedding timeline. The wedding timeline is the single most helpful thing I put together. With input from my clients, I’m able to write down the timing of every important event. By putting this schedule together, it helps set expectations of when things will need to happen (like portrait times), and where I need to be for things like the ceremony and start of the reception. I’ve also found that is HUGELY helps reduce stress for my clients too – because they can see their big day laid out in front of them.

Learn what your client wants. This is not always easy, but it’s hugely important. With some clients, you may be in constant contact through email and text messaging – and they have probably spelled out their wants to you a few times over. With others, they may be super quiet – which can be absolutely fine but lead to missing out on things when the big day comes. To help get clarification easily, send out a questionnaire asking questions like “What are the most important pictures for you to walk away with?” and similar.

Prepare in Advance

Being prepared to shoot a wedding early will help you eliminate stress and feeling frazzled. It will also make sure you have all the things you need with you when you arrive to shoot your client’s big day.

Use the Best Gear You Can

I totally understand that most wedding photographers who are just starting out won’t have that great of gear. If you’re shooting weddings for free or at a super low rate – this won’t be a big problem (most of the time).

Why You Shouldn’t Give Your Wedding Photographer a Shot List

It’s sort of reasonable to over-plan your wedding, but turns out, having an iron grip on every detail isn’t always a good thing.

Shot lists. For the most part, they suck. Didn’t expect that I’d say that? Of course there are exceptions, but its crucial to remember that picking the right photographer (i.e. a good photographer) is far more important than making sure they have a perfectly prescribed list of shots.

Wedding days are chaotic. Things go wrong. Emotions run high. When you give a photographer a shot list for the wedding, you are doing two things. First, you are forcing them to capture contrived shots / setups that aren’t naturally occurring. These photos never look good. They feel fake because they are fake. The second thing that shot lists do is force the photographer to be buried in a piece of paper, making sure they check all the boxes. What a photographer should be doing is staying present in every moment, ready to shoot and document things as they happen. These are the photographs you will cherish.

When I talk about “shot lists,” I’m specifically referring to sheets of paper that have bullet points like “shot of groom laughing,” and “shot of bride walking away from the camera showing back of dress.” Those tend to be unhelpful and counterproductive. There are other types of shot lists that are totally fine and necessary, like family group combinations. Photographers will always need these shots listed out since they have no idea who anyone is at a wedding. We recommend that the couple assigns a close friend or relative to help us get the right people into the shots. They can also remind us of other things that were important to the couple, such as getting a photo with grandparents.

To boil it all down to one sentence: After finding the right photographer, help them with lists of family photo combinations, then trust them with everything else. Every photographer works a little differently and may deviate from some of this advice, which is totally fine and to be expected. But please, avoid the hyper-detailed, redundant list of shots that the photographer already knows to get. It’s frustrating when we see the couple request “shot of bride and groom during the ceremony,” as if we wouldn’t get that shot unless they told us.

Avoid These 4 Common Wedding Videography Service Pricing Mistakes

Wedding videography, but on a budget! Before your beautiful love story can be filmed like a movie, let’s make sure that you don’t fall into these costly traps. The overall wedding videography cost in will fluctuate, of course, depending on factors such as timelines and extra features. However, there is no need to remain blindsided or feel that a video package will break your bank! At Enchanted Celebrations, we completely tailor our package options to fit your budget and perfectly align with your vision. We’ll show you simple ways to avoid common videography service pricing mistakes through the following four instances, so you can still have the wedding video you’re dreaming about!

BEWARE OF THE HIDDEN CHARGES

Travel fees? Footage hours? Timelines? Oh my! To beware of hidden costs, remember first off that the location of your wedding venue, far or near, can play a role in the final wedding videography cost. In addition to travel, the length of time that your videographer will actually shoot for will make all the difference in the footage that you will be receiving. (We’re talking full day versus just a few hours!).

GOING OVERBOARD WITH THE ADD-ONS

Is your heart set on having drone footage? How about an additional edit or mini teaser? As you are deciding on the perfect video package, go easy on the add-ons if you are looking for a more simple video!

NEGLECTING THOSE WINTER WEDDING DISCOUNTS

Although the weather may be a little frightful, a winter wedding can be so delightful! Choosing to celebrate your special day in the off-season months like January or February will save you extra cash on many aspects of your wedding, not just video!

NOT UTILIZING YOUR EDITING AND DOWNLOADING OPTIONS

Hoping to get bride and groom preparations from the early morning into that final edit? From raw footage to the real deal, make the most out of the videography package you decide on and all that it can offer for you.

Too Much Zooming

No matter if you’re filming with a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, a smartphone, or a dedicated video camera, constantly zooming in and out is a big no-no. Like any other feature, use of the zoom should be relegated to situations in when it’s absolutely necessary. Just because you can zoom doesn’t mean you should! Before zooming, consider if you really need a close-up sequence of your subject. And if you determine that you do, why not create that sequence separately without a zoom in between? Doing so will get you a much cleaner-looking sequence which is why many film directors seldom, if ever, utilize the zoom.

Too Many Miniature Pans and Tilts to Recompose the Frame

After each zoom the frame wouldn’t be just right, so the videographer would do a quick small pan to the left or right, or a slight tilt up or down, to get a nice composition. All of these little adjustments were visible, distracting, and frustrating.All the camera movement added up to too much visual chaos: panning, tilting, zooming in, zooming out, always behind the action.

Videos Have no Clear Objective

Having a clear objective is an essential part of creating a quality video. One of the most costly mistakes that we see with businesses is not outlining the overall message of the video before shooting it. Reshooting scenes because something was left out can be very expensive. Furthermore, finalized videos must have a clear message and tell viewers what you want them to do. So make sure that you write your script before you even think about trying to shoot it. 

Videos that are Too Long

Don’t take this the wrong way. Videos that are long and engaging are going to convert at a high rate in some cases. The key word there is “engaging.” The problem is that a lot of beginners create long, boring videos that use a monotonous voice to describe the product or service. If a video does not hook an audience within the first few seconds, then you’ll lose viewers. In most cases, you should keep your videos short and engaging so that viewers will stick around for the whole thing. 

Wedding Video – 4 Mistakes to avoid

Weddings are a joyous occasion but, without sounding like a broken record, are stressful to plan. It is also a day you should want to relive. Choosing who will film your wedding video is an important decision to make. While it is our job to provide the magic behind the camera, there are a few things couples can do to make it less stressful.

We have curated a list of mistakes that couples make and how to avoid them.

Not hiring a wedding video agency

There are lots of reasons you may decide to not hire a wedding videographer. One of the biggest regrets couples have however is not having a video of their wedding day. Some couples are afraid that their wedding video will look cheap, but with the equipment we have, they can look as cinematic as any film. Photographers are great but are unable to capture speeches or the first dance in the same fashion as video.

Not finalising your wedding day schedule.

Touching on a previous post we wrote about commitments, dialogue between you and your videographer is essential. If everyone is on the same page it makes the day run so much smoother. If you have special moments that can’t be missed, discuss these with your videographer.

Researching your videographer

Settling for the first wedding videographer you come across can be a costly mistake. You should take time to research at least a few different wedding video producers. This way you’ll build an idea of what you can afford. A good wedding videographer should always be willing to meet for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Having a friend or family film your wedding video.

I’ve seen it time and time again. Couples who have asked a friend or family member to provide a service for their wedding only to be left feeling underwhelmed by the results. Scenarios like these can take a toll on the relationship you have with these people. Avoid these situations and hire a wedding video agency

Tips for Choosing Luxury Tour Bus Rental Services

If you’re planning a relaxing trip, tour, or business travel for a large group, trying to find the right transportation can be a challenge. You can experience a wide variety of hurdles if you don’t look in the right place–namely, you can find your group clamoring to have all of their many needs met. Before you travel, find a luxury shuttle service that can transport your group in a relaxing, comfortable, and air conditioned environment full of amenities to satisfy your travelers.

Can I see your insurance certificates? If a luxury charter bus rental service is legitimate, they’ll have the marks of a professional company, which includes liability coverage for their buses and drivers. This prevents you from having to pay in the event of driver injury, an accident, etc.

Has your motorcoach been inspected recently? Any rental company should be willing to answer this question. Their buses should have all been serviced within the past year. This prevents a bus breakdown from interrupting your travels.

Do your drivers have valid commercial driver’s licenses? A commercial license, unlike a regular citizen’s license, requires further education and expertise.

Will additional drivers accompany us? This is in case of long-distance travel. Drivers shouldn’t operate a charter bus for more than 10 hours a day. Any more would exhaust them to the point that you and your fellow travelers will be in danger. Keep in mind that this driving time not only includes one-way travel to a destination, but also tours and other travel miles accrued within the destination.

How To Choose A Good Party Bus Rental

Planning to go to an event during the night is a common thing to most young adults. This is because night parties tend to be very exciting compared to the ones held during the day. When you are planning to go out at night, you should look for transportation that will take you to all the places you need to go. This may not be possible with public transportation

Every event should be planned for in advance for it to be successful. Thus, you should make sure that you have found the right coach early. Do not think that you will be the only one renting the buses. So many people like going to parties at night.

Do not hire the vehicle without knowing the number of people you will be traveling with. This is important because it will dictate the size of the coach that you will hire. If you fail to consider the size of your group, you may end up picking a small or large vehicle. This can be very inconveniencing because you will have to go back to the drawing board.

Make sure you are sure of the places you want to visit and the stops you wish to make on the way. So many people fail on this because they do not think it is important. Also, the driver has to know the stops you wish to make in advance so that he can drive directly to them. This will save a lot of time and resources for everyone.

Typically, night trips tend to be so exciting but are costlier than the day trips. Thus, if you wish to go attend a concert during the night, be ready to pay some extra fees. Therefore, if you plan to travel during the night, make sure that you have enough money to pay for the coach.

LIMO BUS OR PARTY BUS

The type of vehicle you rent depends on what you’re hiring it for.  Headed to prom and then to a house party?  Depending on the size of your group, a limo bus might be just the ticket.  Larger parties with more distant destinations may prefer the comfort and luxury of a party bus

Horse of a different color.

The limo bus and the party bus are two entirely different vehicles.  For one, a limo bus may be a place to have fun on the way to your event or party, but it’s not specifically designed for that purpose.  While it provides you with comfort and luxurious styling, it’s not set up to accommodate as many people as a party bus can.

The seating in limo buses faces forward, which isn’t all that conducive to group interactions.  The party bus, on the other hand, features perimeter seat which allows guests to face an open space in the middle of the interior.

Some people call that a dance floor! Indeed, when you’re deciding between a limo bus and a party bus, much depends on what you expect from the experience and what your itinerary looks like, as well as the size of your group.  Keep in mind that the party bus is a horse of a different color, featuring the kind of premium amenities party people love, to get the festivities started.

Enjoy the 50” flat screen television, or groove to your favorite jams on our state-of-the-art sound system.  Enjoy the mini-bar, stocked with ice and water, while you and your posse kick back in elegantly-detailed, Blue Streak splendor.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PARTY BUS FOR YOUR HEN NIGHT

Maybe you are a first-time bridesmaid. Maybe you are getting married and want to have an unforgettable last night as a single person. When it comes to a hen night, you have figured the games, the drinking, maybe even the strip club. But, did you think of transportation? You totally did because you are reading this, but still. When it comes to a hen party, most people think of a limo. However, a Party Bus is just as good of an option but there are a lot of things you need to consider before deciding.

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A LIMO AND A PARTY BUS

•See how big of a crowd you are – A limo obviously holds fewer people than a bus. If the bride aimed to have a full-on high school reunion, go for the bus.

•The music – They can both get your playlist sounding and blasting. But, on a bus, you can totally stand and dance to it.

•The mood of the party – if you are going more for a classy feeling, the limo might be a good option. It feels luxurious after all. The bus can help you with an all-out kind of night.

To pick a size, you need to consider the following:

•How many guests – Well, duh. Chances are the bus company will help you out on this one. They’ll either provide charts or how many seats every bus has, etc…

•Consider the clothes and things you carry – To a hen party, chances are you are not very formally dressed. However, maybe you are carrying a lot of stuff or wearing dresses, or the bride is in a costume. These are all things you want to consider because people should be comfortable. Usually, take it like this, if there are 15 people going, pick the 20-seat bus, and so.

•Party on-wheels – If you are renting a bus, you probably want some on-wheels dancing and drinking involved. Make sure the bus you are renting has enough space for the people to dance, mingle, and avoid accidents. Especially food/drinks related accidents. Let everyone enjoy themselves!

•Hello stranger – This happens, especially on a hen party. Everyone is a little drunk, celebrating, inevitably you get a gate crasher. So, consider there might be some extra people and you don’t want them all stacked.

•The plus 3 rule – After you took all the previous considerations, add 3 to your final number. It will act as a cushion and will let you all breathe a little.

You need to check 4 things when you are picking your bus

•The size – As mentioned above, follow all the steps and you should have no problem. A bus is usually able to carry between 14 and 35 people.

•The price – Every company has its own price policy. Some rent by the hour and some have flat rate prices. Check if there are fuel additional charges or anything similar. Before picking a bus, ask about this so you don’t ruin the end of your night with surprise payments.

•The electronics – Once you have seen the bus you like, go inside and check EVERYTHING. Every light, every electronic device, every seat, the stereo, even the floors if you wish. If the bus is not perfect, then report it. If you don’t report them, you might be charged for them, also, you might be able to negotiate a better price once they are considered.

•The license – Make sure the company has a license and an insurance company. In case of an accident, the company should be able to answer it. Insist on checking both and make sure they are legit.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

•Decide if you are moving around – many bus companies don’t let you hit a lot of spots in one night. Some ask for a map before the night begins. Some don’t care and will take you wherever you want. But you need to know if you are only going to one place or too many.

•If you are moving around, make an itinerary – Make hours, pick-ups, stops, everything on schedule. You’ll probably not follow it at face value but it’ll help the bus company have an idea.

Essential Prom Party Bus & Limo Rental Tips

Check for Insurance & Permits. All of our drivers goes through rigorous safety courses and require a Class B driver’s license to operate our party buses and limousines. However, don’t assume other companies do this! Ask to see proof of insurance as well as permits.

Request Booking Confirmation. Any professional party bus or limousine company should supply whoever ordered the limo with a confirmation notice that lists booking date/s, cost, type of party bus or limo, pick-up and drop-off locations and other crucial information.

Understand the Cancellation Policy. We understand that plans change at the last minute, so it’s best to be up front from the beginning and ask your limo rental company what their cancellation policy is. Ask about cancellation fees and how much notice you need to give the company in order to get a full refund

Ask About the Food Situation. We works hard to keep our party buses and limousines clean, so it’s always a good idea to ask whether or not the company allows you to bring your own food and beverages on board.

Who Can Be DJ? All of our luxury limousines and party buses are equipped with luxury amenities including surround sound throughout. Our drivers can certainly provide you and your group with music, but why not take advantage of the iPod connectors we have?

things to look out for when choosing an event planner

Choosing an event planner for your big event can be tricky because most of us don’t have enough insight into the event planning process to gauge if we are being taken for a ride by a bumbling service provider or hit the jackpot with a professional who knows what they are doing.

Looking for the easy route

Whether you want to throw a Sweet Sixteen or an Artificial Intelligence conference, your event planner needs to be aware of the goals that need to be achieved. If your event planner allows details to fall through the cracks it can have a catastrophic effect on your event. A lazy event planner will more than likely take shortcuts and you can’t be sure these shortcuts won’t be with your budget, using cheaper vendors or event tech.

Know your planner’s score

Everything we do these days is online and it should be the same with event planners. Does your planner have a website, social media pages or a digital presence? These are all important factors to consider as you don’t want to work with someone who is clueless about the digital world. EventerScore allows you to test an event supplier’s commitment to their client by checking the quality of their digital user experience.

Planners who promise the moon and the stars but don’t deliver

Before planning an event it is likely that you will do a fair amount of research before approaching an event planner. However, some event planners may pull a disappearing act once you have signed on the dotted line so it is essential to make sure your event planner knows what you want from the start.

When you have a personality clash

Unfortunately, it is childish to think that you’ll get on with everyone you meet or work with. You may have already met with your event planner and everything went well, but sometimes things are just not meant to be.

How to choose the right event planner

Only great event planners produce great events. Whether you are planning a corporate event or a social event, large and elaborate or even small and intimate event, the greatest favour you can do yourself is to have a great event planner organise the event for you.

Event planners are both planners and producers of events. Whether or not you know what type of event you are trying to produce, that is the theme, venue, guests, entertainment and the overall atmosphere, a great event planner has what it takes to create the perfect mood and atmosphere and to make a lasting positive impression in your guests’ minds.

Here are a few quick guides to choosing the right event planner for your next event.Service: If you know what type of event you want to hold, you should first list out your event needs, all the vital components to your event’s end result before starting the search for an event planner.

A good event planner will work closely with you, listening to your specific needs and helping to create a clear vision for your event. A great event planner builds confidence in you similar to that which you have in your doctor or lawyer.Friendship: A great event planner is one who is genuinely interested in you and in helping you solve your event problems.

He/she displays a great sense of commitment toward you and delivers nothing short of high quality services to you. So, when selecting an event planner, please find the one that shows you that care and that you can have fun with, not one who is only out to make as much money as possible from your event.

Event Planning Tips Every Budding Coordinator Needs to Know

Across every industry, meeting and event coordinators are some of the hardest-working people out there. They’re expert planners and communicators, and, ultimately, they’re responsible for creating experiences that bring the client’s vision to life.

Become best friends with data

Every decision you make can and should be supported by data. That means you need to identify ways to quantify and learn from your efforts as a planner.

Creativity is key

Communicator…check. Organizer…check. Artist…? We put the time and effort into event design because experience matters. Stay creative by looking for inspiration outside of the events world

Think like an anthropologist

If you manage events in cities across the country (or across the globe), you need to understand the culture and people in that location. Planning an event in LA? You better have a good grasp on the traffic situation. Consider the nature and demographic makeup of the city your event is in to avoid any serious oversights.

Pics or it didn’t happen

How do you know you’ve designed a memorable event? One way is to find out if attendees are sharing photos or using your event hashtag on social media.

How To Choose the Right Wedding Planner For You

Deciding exactly how to choose a wedding planner is no small feat. While every couple certainly wants a planner who’s experienced and professional, it’s also important to find someone you personally click with from the get-go. Finding the right pro who fits all of the above—not to mention, works within your budget—might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but take a sigh of relief because we’ve got you covered.

Utilize your resources.

Whether you’re looking for a new hair stylist or a dress tailor, there’s nothing like a personal reference within your own network to put your mind at ease. When it comes to how to choose a wedding planner, turn to your friends and family for recommendations and you might be pleasantly surprised by the number of quality leads that come your way. You can even expand that network to include your online connections and put a call out on social media.

Research their online presence.

Found a wedding planner who might be a good fit? Take the next step with some online sleuthing to check out their website, portfolio, blog, and social media. This is a great opportunity to get a solid grasp of their aesthetics and style, along with their “brand voice” and style of communication. Has their work been published in any blogs or online magazines? Look for those coveted “As Seen In” badges on their website as another indication of great work.

Meet up in person.

While virtual communication is a perfect starting point, you can only get so far via email. In thinking about how to choose a wedding planner, you should definitely try to meet face-to-face before hiring. If you’ve thoroughly vetted their work online and want to move forward, suggest an in-person meeting as the next step before booking. Just like any job interview scenario, a face-to-face meeting will give you a much better sense of their personality and whether or not they’d be a helpful addition to your vendor team.

Ask great questions.

Once your schedule that aforementioned in-person meeting, be sure to come with a list of questions that address any and all of your concerns. Going into a wedding planner interview with zero preparation is bound to leave you flustered, so take time to jot down what matters most to you and your fiancé. For example, does your planner have experience working at your particular venue? How often will your meet and communicate throughout the planning process? Also, does your planner work solo on the day-of or with a team of assistants?

Point Checklist to Choosing Your Event Venue

Who is your target audience and what is the guest list size?

Before creating a short-list of event venues to look at, know who will attend your event and how many people you’ll invite. You’ll want to make sure that your venue can accommodate your expected guest list and is suitable for the audience.

Know how to cater to your target audience

Knowing the demographics of your audience is vital to the selection of your event venue. For example, know the average income of your attendees, what their likes or dislikes are, what they are accustomed to, etc. If your audience is a group of CEOs then your venue should reflect their tastes and needs

What is convenient for your guests?

Selecting an event venue location in proximity to where your guests’ live or work often reflects on the number of people that will attend. Something to consider is alcohol consumption and transportation

Weather

Keep an eye on the weather and adjust your needs accordingly. For example, if you’re organizing an event and it’s supposed to rain then have umbrellas on-hand or tents available for outdoor events.

Venue knowledge and experience

Before you decide to hire a venue for your event, ask them for a list of events they’ve planned, ask to see pictures of those events so you can see the various layout options, and ask for references

Multiple Streams of Videographer Income

In order for videographers to be truly successful, they need multiple streams of video business income. In other words, videographers need multiple sources of revenue to thrive in the great times and to survive in the down times.

What are the main sources of video business income?

Source #1 – The End Client

Whether you are a wedding and event videographer or a corporate video producer, your main source of revenue is the end client. The end client is the person that hires you to produce a video directly for them. Money flows out of their bank account and directly into yours. In my opinion, End Clients should make up about 50% of the revenues you generate for your video production business.

Source #2 – Creative Agencies

Although it can sometimes be a challenge to work with other creative agencies, try to stay on good terms with a handful of them because they can send you a steady stream of work.

In this scenario, the End Client hires the agency who then in turn, hires you to provide video services for a larger project. The money flows from the End Client’s pocket to the Creative Agency’s pocket and eventually, to your pocket.

Agency projects usually work to stretch your creative abilities and they pay a decent rate for your video production services.

In the wedding video arena, an agency might be a chapel or large wedding coordination company that provides turn-key services to brides and their families. In the corporate video arena, there are marketing, PR, advertising, interactive and website design agencies that develop projects for End Clients that will need to outsource professional video services.

Creative agencies should make up about 25% of the revenues you generate for your video production business. This will be a hard fought 25% and you’ll earn every penny…but you’ll want to have relationships with several agencies so you’ll have money coming in when End Clients aren’t spending any.

Source #3 – Other Videographers and/or Producers

One of the most overlooked sources of revenue are other videographers and video producers. Seriously! You should spend as much time meeting and networking with these people as you do trying to attract End Clients and Creative Agency clients. Become known as the go-to guy or gal in your market and other videographers and producers will be calling every week wanting to know if you’ll work on their crew. And at full freelance rates too!

Seriously, the easiest and quickest money comes from other people in our industry…even our competitors. Plus, when an End Client calls a videographer who is booked, they’ll most likely pass the lead on to you instead of leaving the client in a lurch. This gives you an opportunity to win a new End Client and it didn’t cost you anything to get them.

Also, in the years of running my video production business, there have been many times when I’ve had to rely on strategic partnerships with other videographers just to make ends meet. We’d both promote our services to the same clients while agreeing to give the other exclusive rights to be on the crew if and when a contract was signed.

This doubled my chances of winning work whether I won the contract or not! Pulling $300 to $500 in a day back then was WAY better than nothing…and in many cases it came just in time to put food on the table and to pay the rent.

Even now when most of my time is spent operating as the video producer/director, I still try to make sure 25% of my business revenues come from projects with other production companies.

If you diversify where your income is derived from, you’ll greatly improve your chances for video business success.

Videos for business

With 85% of consumer saying that they want to see more video content from brands, businesses are clamoring to get their hands on more video content. The problem? Not every business has (or needs) a full-time, in-house videographer.

I many cases, it makes sense for the business to outsource their video production needs to freelancers to get it done quickly.

The benefit for freelance videographers is huge. The average pricing for business videography is $1,000 per finished minute of video. If you’re signed on for a 3-minute video, you’ve got your summer trip paid for in one gig.

How to do it:

• Sign up for freelancer platforms like Fiverr and Upwork
• Upload your portfolio and description
• Wait for the gigs to come rolling in

Alternatively, you could also proactively approach businesses that you see have potential, but don’t have much video content available. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you offer these services, as word of mouth recommendations are one of the strongest trust-building factors there are.

4 Ways to Make Money as a Videographer Right Now

Weddings

Weddings are the easiest video job you can fall into. As soon as you buy your first camera, family members are going to ask you to shoot their weddings. That said, they are a ton of work. Be sure you are getting something out of it. If you aren’t getting paid, ask the couple to buy you some memory cards or batteries in exchange for your services.

Music Videos

If you are in the video world, you probably have friends in the music scene. If not, make some. The added benefit of making music videos is the friendships you make with musicians. It adds the future benefit of more collaborations. If you shoot a music video for a band, they may make you a deal when you have a project and want to use their music. You can also help them record their concerts, which leads into our next point.

Live Events

Concerts, corporate events, product releases, speakers, conferences. That’s just the starting list. Aim for events that are reoccurring. If an agency wants you to film their new product release party, make a video great enough that they call you back for the next product release. Same goes for yearly events or conferences. Companies will promote their next event with a video from the previous year. Then you’re setting yourself up for a yearly gig.

High School Sports and Highlight Reels

It’s easy to start doing this when you are in high school, but even after you graduate, you can always return to your alma mater. Most of these jobs are incredibly easy, especially if you are shooting footage for a coach. A coach just wants a wide shot of the field, that way they can analyze every player during each play. All you have to do is follow the ball.

Tips on How to Become a Videographer

There’s no one way to becoming a videographer. Many successful videographers have unique stories on how they followed similar steps differently before they got their big breaks.

Depending on where you are in your journey to becoming a professional videographer, you can start off with any of these tips and simply turn to your burning passion for videography to guide you to success.

Attend workshops

The usual first step to becoming a videographer is knowing how to operate a video camera properly. As a very lucrative career, videography obviously requires a whole lot of skill and technical knowledge that goes way beyond merely pressing the record button.You can start your education way before college, as many middle schools already offer basic classes in film, art, broadcasting, journalism, and other subjects that are related to videography. Your school might even have a news program or audio-visual club that you can join to help you learn and practice your skills.

Get a good video camera

As a beginner, you may find the DSLR or mirrorless camera to be easier to use than camcorders for your videography training. After attending several workshops, you will have probably gotten a good idea of the type of cinema camera that you prefer to work with.

Earn a related college degree

When you start applying for a videographer job, agencies and filmmaking companies will usually want to be assured of your education with a college degree that’s related to film or broadcasting. Fortunately, there are a handful of bachelor degrees that will provide you with valuable experiences and technical skills required in the field, such as the following:

• Communications
• Cinematography
• Broadcasting
• Video editing
• Film theory
• Screenwriting

Find a mentor

During your internships, find a mentor (fellow videographer or professional cinematographer) and cultivate friendships. Aside from gaining valuable knowledge from someone who’s currently in the industry, this person can be a source of inspiration. Even if you’ve already found yourself a mentor early on, having more than one can be very beneficial for your career.

If possible, assist your mentor in some of their projects. Observe how they work, how they plan and execute their shots, and how they address problems that arise. Apprenticeship opens up the possibility of working as a second-shooter or getting referrals for job opportunities later on.

3 MINUTE VIDEO COST

So, exactly, “How Much Does a 3 Minute Video Cost?” It’s hard to say but a good rule of thumb is to estimate $1500 to $10,000 per finished minute for an average production. If you average this rate out, it is safe to assume a rate of about $3,000 to $5000 on average per finished minute of video. Therefore, a 3 minute video will cost about $9,000 to $15,000. But remember, the cost will differ greatly based on each element listed above. Keep in mind, that the return that you receive on your video when properly produced will be far greater than the investment itself!

Video cost includes a breakdown of the three main steps of production: pre-production, production, and post-production. You can’t skimp on any of these as doing so would result in a lesser quality film. Therefore, when considering a video for your business, website, or project, be sure to choose a professional production team to support your creative vision.

How To Choose the Right Wedding Planner For You

Utilize your resources.

Whether you’re looking for a new hair stylist or a dress tailor, there’s nothing like a personal reference within your own network to put your mind at ease. When it comes to how to choose a wedding planner, turn to your friends and family for recommendations and you might be pleasantly surprised by the number of quality leads that come your way. You can even expand that network to include your online connections and put a call out on social media.

Research their online presence.

Found a wedding planner who might be a good fit? Take the next step with some online sleuthing to check out their website, portfolio, blog, and social media. This is a great opportunity to get a solid grasp of their aesthetics and style, along with their “brand voice” and style of communication. Has their work been published in any blogs or online magazines? Look for those coveted “As Seen In” badges on their website as another indication of great work.

Meet up in person.

While virtual communication is a perfect starting point, you can only get so far via email. In thinking about how to choose a wedding planner, you should definitely try to meet face-to-face before hiring. If you’ve thoroughly vetted their work online and want to move forward, suggest an in-person meeting as the next step before booking. Just like any job interview scenario, a face-to-face meeting will give you a much better sense of their personality and whether or not they’d be a helpful addition to your vendor team.

How to Choose the Right Wedding Planner

Compatibility and experience matter

“You want her to be an awesome fit for your personality and style but also experienced and seasoned enough to fully execute the type of event you want at the level you want,”

Do your homework

To narrow down the list of potential planners, check out their online portfolios, read reviews from other couples (websites like The Knot and WeddingWire are great resources), and ask for references.

Ask the right questions

Whether you decide to interview wedding planners on the phone or in person, asking the right questions is imperative.

Talk money early on

To save yourself some major disappointment and financial issues in the future, you need to make sure A) your planner’s fees are within your budget and B) you are giving them enough cash to do their job properly and make your dream wedding a reality.

Understand what their services are

Having said that, you also need to be aware that there are other types of wedding-related roles such as wedding consultants, wedding coordinators, wedding stylists and designers, and wedding producers, and understanding what their job description and services entail is crucial. Otherwise, you may end up with someone who’s great at negotiating contracts but whose ability to design a beautiful wedding is not as good.

What makes a good party planner?

Why party organizers is important

Party type:

There are different types of parties celebrated by the folks, but which one is yours? Do you want a party with lots of dance and fun or a simple tea party? Different type of party needs different arrangements, so check whether your party planner can arrange a day of your dreams?

Cost:

Budget is a main reason of concern while planning a party. Everyone is inclined towards Event management companies because they assist you to plan your day in an affordable manner. But if you are not getting a proper benefit from your party planner then it doesn’t make any sense to hire them. Therefore whenever you hire a party planner ask them for the expected expenses in details and compare it with others. Then finally choose the one which is reasonable and also excellent.

Creativity:

Just going with the cost is not enough to make your day successful and amazing. It needs creativity to keep everyone’s eyes stunned with the arrangements. Therefore keep this creativity aspect at the top of your checklist and make sure your party planners. are creative enough to give you most surprising day. These days most of the folks use themes to give a sparkling effect to their day, so you can also ask them to pick a theme which suits your party objective and also make it an unseen experience for all those taking part in it.

Best tips from party planning pros: how to make your event unforgettable

Twinkle Twinkle Little Party

The best tip for an unforgettable event is choosing a unique and relevant theme that carries through the party decor and food/sweets. Creating an eye-catching set up/presentation with a story behind it will definitely give the guests something to talk about.

The Party Girl

Make a killer backdrop. I have a super simple PVC pipe frame I use for pretty much everything, and you can get very creative. Use it as a showstopper behind your food table, and later on, let it steal the show on Instagram since it does double duty as a photo booth backdrop once everybody is warmed up!

Elle A Events

I would say the best tip for an unforgettable event is to be ‘open minded’. Every client is different and their happiness comes first … always.

Paper Goat Post

Our best tip for creating an unforgettable event is to PLAN! If you think through all the details and set a solid plan, you will be able to execute the event based around the goals set during your planning. If you run into any bumps during the execution, you’ll be able to “WORK YOUR PLAN” and respond in a calm and appropriate manner.

Top tips to choosing the RIGHT wedding planner

Does the wedding planner have a company website?

This may seem like a very obvious, even silly, factor to consider – however, if you do a quick search of wedding planners in Spain, for example, you’ll find that there are lots that do not have a website, but, rather use a facebook business page and/or a business page on a wedding search engine. Some don’t even have a company domain or email address, but use a generic gmail address instead! Beware if you come across this, as this not only confirms that the planner has not been in business for long, it also implies that the planner is not investing in his/her company, and in turn may not be entirely serious about being a wedding planner…which may put you in a very difficult situation if after a few months the wedding planner decides this work is no longer right for them, and decides to stop planning weddings altogether (including yours!)

Is the wedding planner an established business?

Regardless of whether it’s a self-employed business (in Spain it’s called “autonomo”) or as a limited business (such as an S.L., S.C.P., etc.), the wedding planner should always provide an invoice for the fees payable, including the applicable IVA (VAT/TAX) which is currently 21%. The wedding planner should also have liability insurance (in Spain, it is called “Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil). The wedding planner should also have a VAT/TAX number (in Spain it is called a CIF, NIF or DNI) as all businesses are required to have, together with an official fiscal address.

Can the wedding planner prove their experience?

A real wedding planner with experience and a plethora of weddings under their belt is always able to prove their experience. They are able to provide references from other Couples who have used their services in the past. A reliable and professional wedding planner is willing and open to making you feel at ease about their work and experience, and is able to give you real references. Whether it’s videos, wedding images, references from providers and/or testimonials of Couples of weddings that they’ve done, all of this material should be used as a whole to determine whether this wedding planner is truly and honestly experienced or has just started out. The most invaluable experience, however, will come directly from their past Couples, so be sure to ask for more than 2 references of both past Clients and wedding providers to ensure that you are speaking with a real Client, and not one of their friends or family members who are posing as past Clients.