Finding the Right Boston Wedding Photographer and Videographer

A bride-to-be recently sent me an email wondering what to look for in a videographer and photographer. Well, what DO you look for when booking the two most important parts of your wedding?

When looking into any vendor for a wedding, the first thing to do is a lot of research! This is especially true when booking a photographer and videographer. Who is this company that I am looking into buying for the most important day of my life?

How do I know how this company is to work with after I’ve already paid?
Reviews are a great way of looking at a company from a standpoint outside of their control. This is important because some companies can seem very great during meetings, when on the wedding day after you’ve paid can be disastrous. Wedding Wire, The Knot, etc. have message boards that you can post up on and ask about certain vendors. Some companies have sites on such sites such as The Knot. These sites usually make it so that the photography or videography company cannot touch. It shows both the good and bad of each company without any bias of the company.

What kind of photography or videography are you getting?

Watch a couple samples of video, look at some picture samples of your photographer before booking. When shopping around for a photographer or videographer it’s vital to look for something different than normal.

If your photographer shoots general photos and formals, there’s nothing special about their work and probably not worth the price.

The same goes with videography; do they get good details of the wedding you take hours on hours to plan? How do they edit your footage together?

What am I paying for when booking a photographer and videographer?

I always answer this question first with, “You get what you pay for!” I cannot stress enough about this point! For photography, make sure the shots are unique and edited well. Photos that are over edited can look very grainy, and sometimes unpleasant to the eye. The price of this vendor will be more if you are booking for 8 hours (recommended) than if you are booking for 6.

Videography is a whole different world when it comes to pricing. The more expensive companies should be offering you HD footage, Blu-ray, Raw Footage, and an edited version of your whole wedding. Each company does this differently, so find the best fit for you. If you would rather watch your video in portions, find a company that breaks the day into chapters that you can skip through. A one-camera 8-hour wedding can equal up to 3 and a half to 4 hours. With a multi-cam you will be paying more, but you will receive an even better final product. For example: think of your favorite TV. show, imagine watching that show from only one angle for the whole time. A multi-cam wedding gives variation, so that in the edit you can see different things that are going on at the same time that will keep your attention.

16 Details Overlooked When Planning Your Wedding

16 Details Overlooked When Planning a Wedding

Hey this is Brittney Marvin, and I’m a staff videographer and editor for McElroy Weddings. I’ve been editing weddings for 6 years and have shot over 30 weddings this season, and thought it’d be appropriate to answer bride’s and groom’s questions before arriving at a wedding.  If you have any questions about planning your wedding, email me at Brittney@McElroyfilms.com and I will respond with a blog post within one business day.

Overall
1. Scheduling
Having a thorough schedule is one of the most important things when planning a wedding. Preparing a detailed schedule at least a week in advance will help your vendors and bridal party plan where and when they need to be. This schedule will help the wedding run a lot smoother.

2. Pictures and Video
You get what you pay for when booking a photographer and videographer. At one wedding that we shot, the photographer didn’t show up till 10 minutes before the ceremony ended. He was very hung over and explained how “he had been in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital”, while it was very evident that he had not. The couples that only book cheap photographers and videographers usually later regret it, because of the quality that is delivered.

PreCeremony
3. Importance of pictures and video
Many people overlook the importance of capturing the dainty details of getting ready for a wedding. Although it doesn’t seem like it’s that important, this chapter of the wedding can make or break your final product form your vendors. Remember, this is one of the most important days of your life, getting the necessary shots will be all you have left when it’s all said and done.

4. Distance between bride and groom’s location
When planning a wedding it’s easy to forget about the actual location that the bride and groom will actually be getting ready. It’s important, if at all possible, to have both parties getting ready nearby. Having the groom and bride close makes it easier for the florist to deliver the flowers, photographers and videographers to get the necessary shots of both parties.

5. Scheduling
This schedule should include the details of when the bride’s hair is being done (if it is being done at a separate location provide an estimated arrival time for when she will be back), makeup appointment, and when the limo/car is going to be picking up the bride, bridesmaids, groom, and groomsman.

Ceremony

6. Research the Priest and the Staff of the Church
Before booking a church, find the restrictions and regulations (if there are any). Some priests won’t let photographers move around, use a tripod, use flashes, etc. If there are many restrictions, it may be better to find another church that doesn’t have as many.

7. Lighting in the church
Lighting is one of the most important elements in a ceremony. The lighting can affect the quality of the pictures, video, and service that your guests will be witnessing. If there is not a lot of lighting, including natural lighting) your pictures and video will come out a little darker than you would probably like it to turn out.

8. Scheduling
The scheduling in this chapter should include when the groom, groomsmen, bride, and bridesmaids are supposed to arrive. There are many different ways to conduct a ceremony, therefore a brief summary or title will suffice (i.e. Catholic Mass, candle lighting, and any other special event that is added into the ceremony)

Formals
9. TIME!
In order to make formals move along faster, giving someone the task of rounding up people is important. This person is preferably someone who is not in the bridal party, who will know the family that is on the shot list. If you are thinking of doing a full family shot, assign more than one person. The photographer that will be booked should either have you write out a standard shot list of just principle shots that you definitely want to have taken. Be sure to assign a trusted bridesmaid to help the bride with her train, flowers, veil, and bustling. The venue’s staff is supposed to help with this, but they don’t always do this.

10. Order of Formals
Formals are one of the most important chapters in a wedding. Getting the family pictures done first have always made for a happier wedding party. It’s hard for grandparents and parents to have to stand waiting, and stand more for formals. Before hiring a photographer, make sure to ask what order formals are done. If the bride and groom arrive earlier then the whole wedding party, then taking a couple shots of just the couple is acceptable.

11. Scheduling
Scheduling formals isn’t always the easiest task. It was stated earlier that it is important to make a shot list, or see your photographer’s shot list. After a shot list is made, make sure that the people you designated to find family and friends have a copy printed and ready. Giving your bridal party each a copy will help formals move smoothly as well.

Cocktail

12. Again Time!
Every couple is different, but some prefer to be able to go to their own cocktail hour. Instead of curtailing formals, move cocktail hour back so that the couple can have enough time to do both. If you would like more time for your formals then cut out cocktail hour for the bride and groom. They will both be able to see their guests throughout the night at the reception. Remember to plan accordingly!

13. Space
Planning a cocktail hour is important, because this is when your guests will have a chance to eat a little and relax. If there is not enough space for people to mingle and eat, your guests will become uncomfortable. Don’t forget when planning this hour that the space you’re looking at not empty, will soon be filled with all your guests and possibly tables of food.

Reception

14. Order of Formalities
Try to get speeches/toasts, prayer, parent dances, first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss/ grader toss done and over with earlier in the night. Don’t necessarily have them all back to back, but sprinkle them in throughout your courses. The sooner the formalities are done the more guests will get to see, and the more footage you will receive after the fact. If you wait too long guests will leave and you will run out of time with your vendors.

15. Vendor Treatment
To get the best work out of your DJ, band, photographers, and videographers feed them towards the front of when your guests are served. The sooner that vendors eat, they can take a little break and get back to work to open the dance floor, and to get the rest of the important footage. The photographers and videographers aren’t supposed to shoot while guests are eating, so this provides a good time that they can eat.

16. Schedule
The reception is one of the most important parts of the wedding that needs to have a detailed schedule! Without the schedule your vendors won’t know what is happening when and where. Letting your vendors know what things are happening, when, and what order helps them prepare before the events happen. The best way to kick off the night is with the first dance (after introductions of course). After the first dance the first course can start to be served as the toasts and speeches are given. After the first course is being cleared the parent dances can happen next. When the bride and groom are done with the final course they can finally cut their cake! Getting all of this done in the beginning means the dance floor can be opened up and everyone can start dancing already!

Wedding at the Chatham Bars Inn – Cape Cod

We love shooting weddings down in Cape Cod. It’s about 2 Hours from our office in Burlington but it’s worth the drive. This fall we had a great opportunity to shoot for this lovely couple on their beautiful wedding at the Chatham Bars Inn. The ceremony was held in the Beach House over looking the sand and ocean.

The reception was held right next door with beach themed center pieces and cake. This couple opted to get our multi-cam package. Patrik was second videographer on this wedding and did an outstanding job. This was one of the funnest wedding’s we’ve been too. Below is a sample of their Photos Chapter.

Wedding at the White Cliffs Function Facility Northborough, MA

This past September we were fortunate enough to video a beautiful fall wedding at the White Cliffs Function Facility located in Northborough, MA. This luxurious mansion featured rolling hills and forests where the bride and groom took formals after the ceremony. The house itself had ample space for their 200 guests. Each room featured mahogany wooden beams and banisters. Lots of detail abounded from this venue.
For more information click here.
Take a look at the trailer below

Wedding Videography in New Hampshire at the Harris Pelham Inn

McElroy Weddings Traveled up to New Hampshire this fall to shoot video at the lovely Harris Pelham Inn. This is a fabulous place to get married at. The Staff is very friendly, the grounds and building are maintained very well and the couple was outstanding.
The whole wedding from start to finish was very intimate with the ceremony taking place on the main lawn in front of the gazebo and plants then later we moved into the grand ballroom on the top floor of the Inn over looking the pond.
We highly recommend the this New Hampshire venue, especial for high definition wedding videography.
Enjoy their wedding trailer below.

For more information click here

http://www.harrispelhaminn.com/

Wedding at the Hyatt Regency Boston

McElroy Weddings had another fantastic wedding at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Boston. The wedding started in Cambridge at St Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church and then later we moved to the Boston Commons for formals. The whole day from start to finish was nothing shy of perfect. This affluent bride and her husband couldn’t have asked for a better fall day. Just as the weather was cooling off they snuck in one more semi-warm day and made the most of it.

Their selections for wedding music were very good. They choose the old 90’s song This Is Your Night by Amber.

Enjoy.

McElroy Weddings at the Fairmont Copley Plaza and Boston Public Library

McElroy Weddings was at it again with another beautiful wedding film. This time at the Fairmont Copley Plaza and the Boston Public Library.

This couple had a very intimate and romantic Iranian wedding in Boston back in October.  Their pre ceremony took place in the fabulous Copley Plaza where the couple enjoyed two penthouse suites where they & their wedding party got ready. Formals we’re taking in and around the Fairmont and park nearby. Later scooting over to the Library where their guest had been arriving for the full ceremony and reception.

This wedding was another impressive showcase on how we can capture many clients needs. From traditional weddings to non-traditional yet still maintaining a nice diversity and mix to our clients.

Click below to see their full wedding trailer.

Wedding Films at the Daversport Yacht Club

The Danversport Yacht Club is tastefully position right next to a small ocean community of Danvers, MA. It has beautiful landscaping with oceanic themes everywhere you turn. From it’s impressive miniature lighthouse to the white gazebo overlooking the entire bay. This is one of our favorite venues to film at.
Take a look at this couple’s wedding trailer here.

Wedding at the Hyatt Harborside Boston, MA

Another great wedding captured by McElroy Weddings in Boston. This beautiful wedding took place at the Hyatt Harborside in Boston at Logan Airport. It’s minutes from downtown and has breathtaking views of Boston Harbor.

This was a tradition Greek Orthodox wedding with a modern twist to it. The wedding ceremony was held in Arlington in a beautiful rustic church with cathedral ceilings and marble flooring. Then the entire wedding party and guest took the event back to the Hyatt and partied the night away with traditional Greek music and festivities as well as modern music with a top Boston DJ and lighting outfit. Check out their hip hop music video… I mean wedding trailer below.

For more information click here:

http://www.harborside.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp?null

Wedding Videography at The Lake View Pavilion

It was a warm August night when Krista and Scott were married. We shot a multi-cam on their whole wedding ceremony and reception at the Lake View Pavilion in Foxboro, MA. The whole night couldn’t have gone better. The Pavilion was tucked away down a private drive with ample parking and nice landscaping for photos. The inside was very nice as well with elegant drapes and see-through curtain dividers for the reception. This is a fabulous place to get married and this wedding was no exception. Another affluent bride chooses McElroy Weddings for videography.

Take a look at Krista and Scott’s trailer. We used some new techniques while capturing this footage including the use of a slider and glide cam. Just a few of the above and beyond tools for wedding videography that you’ll find at McElroy Weddings.

Enjoy.

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