Why you should consider filming your own wedding

The wedding film is one of the key elements of remembering your big day. Along with photographs, a good wedding movie can recall those special moments and invoke the emotions you experienced.

For many years, couples had no alternative to the traditional style of videography. With a growing number of 'MTV Style' documentaries showing the fun side of weddings, more and more couples are now looking for a unique approach to their wedding film.

We have heard from many couples who wish they had filmed their own wedding day. The reasons vary from them ending up with a stuffy, traditional film to the videographer not capturing touching moments, which may mean something to the couple, but not fit in with the videographers story telling stucture.

With the growing number of 'Shoot It Yourself' companies emerging within the wedding industry, we have put together the top five reasons why you should consider a shoot it yourself film.

Top 5 Reasons

1. More Personal

You are more likely to be yourself in front of friends and family, people you actually want at your wedding.

We are all happier and more self-confident in front of people we know well and therefore a wedding film captured by your loved ones will show you at your most comfortable.

A videographer has only been invited to your wedding for one reason. They are there to do a job.

How would you feel if a stranger with a camera approached you and requested that you leave a funny message for the happy couple? Uneasy? If a friend approached you, watch the fun begin!

Videographers often talk about being unobtrusive and keeping their distance. Is that what you want your wedding film to be? Unobtrusive? Your friends and family don't have to be unobtrusive or keep their distance. They are an integral part of your big day and can capture many moments a videographer will not have access to.

2. Film what you want - when you want

Most videographers will speak to you prior to the wedding and run through what they will capture. They will more than likely film you getting ready, your arrival at the venue, the service, the reception, the cutting of the cake, the first dance and messages from your guests. Although these are all important parts of your day, should what is captured be so rigid and regimental?

If your friends film your wedding you can capture all of this, but also the bits in between. Lots of things happen before and after the wedding - The Bride with her family the night before, the first day as a married couple. Will the videographer be there for these memorable moments? Probably not, but the camera will be if you choose to film it yourself.

3. Quality of footage

Technology has come a long way since the days of the first camcorders. Cameras today now boast Full HD, anti-shake technology and low-level light improvement, amongst many other advanced features.

Most 'Shoot It Yourself' companies will provide you with cameras which are worth around $2500 each, similar to those used by professional videographers.

The cameras are also easy-to-use and even without experience, anyone can follow a 'filming checklist' and capture the footage you want, making for a great wedding film.

Your friends and family care about you and want your day to be perfect. It is extremely unlikely that if given the responsibility of filming your wedding, your loved ones will let you down by putting the camera away or be more concerned with propping up the bar.

Choose four or five of your guests to take turns filming and trust them. The footage will be great.

4. Costs

Many couples prefer 'film it yourself' packages as they often cost less than a professional service.

A good videographer can charge between $1100-$3000 and may also charge extra for travel, additional hours filming or providing you with a copy of your film on blu-ray.

Compare this to a similar 'Self-shoot' package and you will pay around $600. That is quite a saving! You also pay no extra for travel and all the time you have the camera, you can keep filming.

With a professional videographer you are paying not just for their editing skills, as you would with a 'shoot it yourself' company, but you are paying for them to attend your wedding.

5. Unique

A 'Shoot it yourself' package means your wedding film will be as unique as you are.

A combination of traditional planned shots, off-the-cuff recording, your choice of musics, custom graphics and captions means you get a truly individual movie.

With a film you 'shoot yourself', you are the director.

There will always be a need for professional videographers but if you are looking for something 'different', we hope we have given you the information you need to consider your options.

Find out more about our wedding packages.

Film Your Day