Planning a wedding involves several critical decisions, and one of them is choosing the right videographer. Capturing your special day on film creates a lasting memory that you can revisit for years to come. But how much does it cost to hire a wedding videographer in Chicago, IL? Let’s break down the costs and what’s typically included in this service.
Pricing for Wedding Videography in Chicago
The average cost of a wedding videographer in Chicago varies depending on several factors, including the number of hours of coverage, the date and location of your wedding, and any additional services requested
On average, wedding videographer prices in Chicago range between $1,495 and $2,495 when booking through Complete Weddings + Events for eight hours of coverage. However, this is just an average, and the actual price can fluctuate based on the specifics of your wedding day.
Here’s what you typically get when you hire a wedding videographer:
- Coverage of your wedding day: This usually includes filming key moments like the ceremony and reception.
- Edited video: After filming, the raw footage is professionally edited to create a memorable wedding video.
- Color correction: This ensures the video has consistent, high-quality visuals.
- USB drive with your wedding video: You’ll receive a physical copy of your wedding video that you can keep.
Some videographers also offer additional services such as aerial shots or drone coverage, which can add to the overall cost.
Why Hiring the Right Chicago Wedding Videography Matters
Just like with wedding photographers in Chicago, IL, it’s important to have a videographer who’s great to work with, does well with a group, is personable, and has a good vibe. They should be able to blend seamlessly into your wedding, capturing beautiful videos without disrupting the flow of the day. A videographer familiar with Chicago’s diverse venues and scenery can capture the city’s essence in your wedding footage, whether it’s skyline views or iconic backdrops like the Art Institute of Chicago gardens.
Since your videographer will be working closely with you, your family, and your friends, it’s essential to choose someone who understands your vision and has a style that aligns with yours. This ensures the final product truly reflects the emotions and highlights of your wedding day.
Top Qualities to Look for in a Chicago Wedding Videographer
When choosing a videographer, consider qualities such as:
- Local Expertise: A Chicago-based videographer will know how to navigate the city’s busiest areas and take advantage of great urban and outdoor settings for unique shots.
- Creativity in City Spaces: Chicago offers a range of indoor and outdoor venues, so a videographer should be skilled in shooting with variable lighting, from elegant ballroom settings to outdoor waterfront locations.
- Reliability During Peak Seasons: Due to high demand, especially in spring and summer, choose a professional who has experience managing busy wedding seasons in Chicago.
How to Save on Wedding Videography
Here are some ideas on how you can save money on wedding videography services.
- Limit the hours of coverage: If you only need the videographer for certain parts of the day, you can often reduce the cost by limiting the hours of coverage.
- Bundling services: Many companies, like Complete Weddings + Events, offer bundled deals for photographers, DJs, and more. This can be a great way to get all the services you need in one package at an affordable price.
- Coupons – Keep an eye out for special deals or coupons offered by videography companies.
Questions to Ask Wedding Videographers
Wedding videography is a complex field, and if you’re not familiar with it, you might not know what to ask potential videographers. To help you out, here’s a list of essential questions you might consider:
- What does your wedding videography pricing include? Are there any additional costs we should be aware of?
- How long have you been a wedding videographer, and how many weddings have you filmed?
- Can we view some samples of your Chicago wedding videography work?
- Do you provide a love story video as part of the package or is it an additional cost?
- Are transportation fees included in the price or do they come at an extra cost?
- How will you capture the special moments of our day?
- What types of wedding videography packages do you offer?
- Can you explain your video editing process?
- How do you handle filming at multiple locations?
- What happens if we need an extra hour of coverage?
- Do you offer the option of two videographers to capture different perspectives of the ceremony and reception?
- How soon after the wedding will we receive our video?
- What format will the final video be delivered in?
- How would you describe your filming style?
- In case of unforeseen circumstances, do you have a backup plan?
- What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have backup cameras?
- Do you offer drone coverage or other creative filming techniques?
- How many hours are included in your standard package?
- How do you ensure that the fun and emotions of the big day are captured in the film?
- Can we choose the music for our wedding video?
- Do you have liability insurance?
- How does your team handle videography at our chosen Chicago wedding venue?
- How much time do you spend on post-production?
- Can we request specific shots or scenes to be included in the video?
It’s your big day, and you want to ensure that every moment is captured perfectly. Don’t hesitate to ask these questions and any others you might have to ensure you’re choosing the right videographer for your wedding.
Request Pricing for Wedding Videographers in Chicago
While the cost of a Chicago wedding videographer can vary, it’s an investment worth considering. The right videographer will capture all the special moments of your big day, providing you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. Complete Weddings + Events offers competitive pricing for their videography services, and you can request a personalized quote to see exactly how much hiring a Chicago videographer will cost for your specific wedding. Let’s create an unforgettable video together.