Should I hire a videographer?

The final cut

A great wedding video is as much to do with what's taken out as what's left in. But only the professionals have the kind of editing skills that can transform your raw wedding footage into a polished film that you'll want to cherish forever. They will also have top-notch equipment – much more than you could expect from an amateur – and back-up cameras etc just in case something goes wrong on the day!

Right place, right time

An experienced videographer will be able to capture all the events and emotions of the day from a distance and discreetly; you'll hardly notice their presence. They will also often use more than one camera to make sure nothing vital is missed.

Experience and insurance

A professional videographer will be covered by public liability insurance, in case of any accidental damage caused. They should also have licences for any copyrighted material (music) included in the video. And as they have been in the trade for years then the operator should know where best to place microphones etc – remember there are no second chances on your wedding day, so it's better to be safe than sorry!

Getting it right

There's nothing worse than camera shake on a wedding video but this won't happen if you hire a videographer. Amateurs also tend to overdo the zoom function and neglect to pan out, which means that you don't get the overall view of the scene – instead you're more likely to get an image of your pageboy picking his nose! Professionals also ensure that sound and lighting levels are spot on and that all the important people are miked up.

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