What Questions Should You Ask a Wedding Videographer Before Booking?

Booking a wedding videographer is one of those things you only do once, so it's hard to know what you're even supposed to ask. You don't want to end up handing over a deposit and realising three months later you forgot to check something obvious.

So we've done it for you. Here's the actual checklist of questions to ask any videographer before you book, and exactly why each one matters. Steal it, copy it, fire it at every supplier on your shortlist. The good ones will love that you asked.

1. Are you available on our date?

Obvious, but ask it first. Everything else is irrelevant if they're already booked. A videographer can only film one wedding a day, so the sooner you confirm this, the better. You can check your date with us here and we'll come back within 24 hours.

2. Are you fully insured?

This is non-negotiable and a surprising number of couples forget to ask. Your videographer should carry full public liability insurance, and their equipment should be insured too. Most venues actually require proof of public liability before a supplier can even work there.

If they can't produce documents, that's a red flag. We carry ours at all times and you can read about our insurance here.

3. Are you CAA approved to fly a drone?

If you want drone footage, this one's huge. Plenty of videographers own a drone. Far fewer are legally licensed and insured to fly one at a wedding venue. If they're not CAA approved and they fly anyway, that's an illegal flight near your big day, and any decent venue will shut it down on the spot. Always check. We're fully CAA approved, so it's covered.

4. How many videographers will actually be there on the day?

"We" can mean a team of two or one person juggling everything. It matters. One videographer can only be in one place, so while they're filming you walk down the aisle, nobody's capturing your partner's reaction.

Two shooters means every moment gets covered from two angles all day long. Ask exactly who's turning up. Our packages include two videographers as standard.

5. What cameras and kit do you use, and is it backed up?

You're looking for two answers here. First, are they shooting on professional gear? Second, and just as important, is the footage backed up on the day?

Cameras can fail. Cards can corrupt. A professional has backups recording simultaneously so your wedding can never be lost to a technical glitch. We shoot on Canon Cinema Cameras with everything backed up, precisely so that's never a worry.

6. Can I see a full film, not just a highlight reel?

Anyone can cut a slick 60-second teaser from their best three weddings ever. The real test is seeing a complete film, or several, from real weddings.

Watch a few start to finish. Does the style stay consistent? Does the audio sound clean? Does it feel like them, or like a showreel? Have a proper watch through our full films gallery and you'll see exactly what we mean.

7. What's actually included, and what costs extra?

This is where cheap quotes catch people out. Ask plainly: is the highlight film included? The full ceremony and speeches? Drone? Digital delivery and downloads? Or are some of those bolted on at extra cost later?

A clear all-in price beats a low headline number with a long list of hidden extras. We lay everything out on our packages page and our FAQs so there are no surprises.

8. How long until we get our film back?

Editing a wedding properly takes time, so don't expect it next week. But you do want a clear answer, not a vague "when it's ready."

Ask for their timeline for both the sneak peek and the full film. For reference, we deliver a highlight film and sneak peek within 72 hours, with the full collection around 12 to 15 weeks. Setting that expectation upfront saves a lot of anxious refreshing of your inbox later.

9. How and where do we receive everything?

Find out how you'll actually get your films. A private viewing platform where you can watch, download and share is the gold standard. Ask whether you can keep and download the files, or whether you're just streaming them. Ours come via a private delivery platform you can watch on any device, including your smart TV.

10. How experienced are you, and do you know our venue?

Experience is the quiet thing that makes the biggest difference. Someone who's filmed hundreds of weddings knows where to stand before the moment happens. Someone just starting out is hoping.

Ask how many weddings they've filmed, and whether they've worked at your venue before. We've captured over 900 weddings since 2015 and we're the recommended videographer at venues across Essex, so there's a good chance we already know yours. You can see our partner venues here.

11. What happens if it rains, or if something goes wrong?

A relaxed, experienced answer here tells you everything. Weather, delays, a sick videographer, gear failure, the lot. A professional has dealt with all of it and won't flinch. We've shot hundreds of weddings in every kind of weather, and some of our most beautiful films have come from grey, rainy days.

12. Can we spread the cost?

If budget's a factor, just ask. Plenty of suppliers offer payment plans so you're not paying everything in one lump. We offer flexible monthly payment plans for exactly this reason, so the film you want stays affordable.

The short version

Print this, screenshot it, whatever. Run every videographer through these twelve and you'll book with total confidence instead of crossed fingers.

And if you'd rather just ask us all of them directly, brilliant. That's what our free consultation call is for. Send us your date and venue and we'll happily answer every single one. You can also see what couples thought of working with us over on our reviews page.