So, you’re planning your special day and naturally want to capture every precious moment. As you explore your options, you’ve likely encountered the terms wedding videography and wedding cinematography. While both aim to preserve your memories, they represent distinct approaches with varying levels of artistry, equipment, and final results.
Understanding these differences is crucial in choosing the perfect team to document your unique love story.
What is Wedding Videography?
At its core, wedding videography is akin to creating a comprehensive visual record of your wedding day. Think of it as capturing the events as they unfold, in a straightforward, documentary style.
- A wedding videographer’s primary goal is to ensure that key moments – the vows, the speeches, the first dance – are all captured on film.
- The emphasis is on documentation, often with minimal editing or artistic interpretation.
- Typically, a wedding videographer might use a standard video camera with a wide lens to ensure they don’t miss any action.
- The resulting video often presents a chronological account of the day’s events, including most or all of the dialogue.
The Essence of Wedding Videography.
In essence, wedding videography provides a detailed, linear keepsake of your wedding day. It ensures that every important moment is documented and preserved for you to relive in the years to come.
What is Wedding Cinematography?
Wedding cinematography, on the other hand, elevates the capture of your wedding day into an art form, focusing on storytelling with a cinematic flair.
- A wedding cinematographer sees your wedding not just as a series of events but as a unique narrative brimming with emotion, drama, and love.
- Drawing techniques from filmmaking, they aim to craft a visually stunning and deeply emotional film that highlights the most memorable moments.
- This involves a more creative approach to shooting, often capturing moments from various angles to build a particular perspective and evoke emotion.
- Cinematographers utilize higher-end equipment, such as DSLR video cameras with interchangeable lenses, allowing for selective focus and a cinematic aesthetic with a shallow depth of field.
- They may also incorporate advanced tools like drones, gimbals, and sliders to achieve dynamic and smooth camera movements.
The Essence of Wedding Cinematography.
Wedding cinematography goes beyond simply recording the wedding day—it creates an experience. It transforms your wedding video into a film with a compelling narrative, evoking emotions that make you feel like you’re reliving the magic all over again.
Key Differences Between Wedding Videography and Wedding Cinematography.
1. Storytelling Approach.
- Cinematography prioritizes weaving a narrative, using the captured moments to tell the couple’s love story with an introduction, climax, and resolution.
- Videography focuses on documenting events as they unfold, without necessarily crafting a story-driven experience.
2. Equipment Used.
- Videographers often use basic camcorders or tape-based cameras with static lenses to ensure everything is captured efficiently.
- Cinematographers use DSLR or mirrorless cameras with larger sensors and interchangeable lenses, allowing for better depth of field, lighting control, and creative framing. They also incorporate stabilization tools, drones, and professional lighting to enhance the cinematic feel.
3. Artistic Approach & Creativity.
- Cinematography is considered an art form, blending creative shooting techniques with storytelling to deliver an emotional and immersive experience.
- Videography is more about straightforward documentation, ensuring that all major events are captured without significant artistic interpretation.
4. Team Size.
- Cinematography often requires a larger team, with multiple camera operators, lighting specialists, and editors working together.
- Videography can often be managed by a single person or a small team, making it a more budget-friendly option.
5. Editing & Post-Production.
- Cinematographers spend considerable time in post-production, crafting a cohesive and emotionally resonant film. This includes:
- Advanced color grading
- Thoughtful scene selection
- Sound design (music, sound effects, voiceovers)
- Special effects to enhance the final product
- Videographers typically focus on basic editing, organizing footage chronologically and adding simple background music with minimal adjustments.
6. Terminology & Industry Perception.
- Wedding videography falls under video production, where the goal is to capture the event as accurately and completely as possible.
- Wedding cinematography is more aligned with cinema and film production, incorporating advanced storytelling techniques and high-end production values.
7. Cost Differences.
- Wedding cinematography is typically more expensive due to:
- Higher-end equipment
- A larger production team
- Extensive post-production editing
- Wedding videography is more budget-friendly, as it requires simpler equipment, smaller teams, and less editing time.
Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the “better” choice depends on your personal taste, budget, and vision for your wedding memories.
- If you want a comprehensive record of your entire day, with every speech and moment captured in full, wedding videography is a great option.
- If you want a beautifully crafted wedding film that tells your unique love story with an emotional, cinematic touch, wedding cinematography is the right choice.
How to Decide?
As Ollie Mattison suggests:
✔ Review portfolios of both cinematographers and videographers.
✔ Look for examples that resonate with your vision.
✔ Have conversations with professionals to understand their approach and what they offer.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to be the lead actor/actress of a high-budget wedding film?
- Or do I simply want to capture the moments as they happen?
Final Thought.
As Glenn Pictures highlights, if you connect with a team’s wedding films, the specific terminology might not matter. If their style resonates with you, they are likely the right team to capture your story.
Conclusion.
While both wedding videography and wedding cinematography aim to preserve your wedding day memories, they offer different approaches:
- Wedding cinematography delivers a storytelling-driven, cinematic experience with advanced filmmaking techniques.
- Wedding videography provides a comprehensive, chronological documentary of the day’s events.
Understanding these differences will empower you to make an informed decision, ensuring that your precious moments are captured in a way you will cherish forever.
Remember, your wedding day is a unique story waiting to be told, or a collection of moments you’ll want to remember—the choice is yours!
I am a highly experienced film and media person who has a great deal to offer to like-minded individuals. Currently working on several exciting projects, I am a film and media practitioner for over a decade. I have achieved a great deal of success in my professional career.
