How long will you attend for on the wedding day?
I usually attend the wedding day for a total of 10 hours, covering bridal preparations through to half hour after the first dance. This allows me to capture the little details such as the rings, flowers, the table details as well as the intimate emotions that make weddings so special.
What equipment do you film with?
I film the day with a two-camera setup. My main camera is usually attached to my gimbal to capture smooth, cinematic footage from the cufflinks being put on the groom, to the father-of-the-bride’s emotional reaction to seeing his daughter in her dress for the first time! My second camera usually comes out during the ceremony and speeches, fixed to a tripod to help capture a secondary angle. Both my cameras are manufactured by Canon, are professional grade and can capture up to 4KHD footage, meaning that the quality isn’t diminished even if you play back on your 60-inch TV! The drone I use is the Mavic Pro 2, also capable of filming in 4KHD to capture stunning aerial shots of your venue to help establish the scene.
How do you record sound?
I use professional grade sound recording equipment to ensure your vows and speeches are clear including every sob and sniffle! I really believe sound is as important as the visuals when filming your wedding day. In order to capture clear sound of your vows and speeches I use a combination of professional microphones attached to my cameras and lavaliere (or lapel) microphones connected to a small recording device. This can be placed discreetly in the groom’s pocket for the ceremony, as well as the registrar/vicar.
How many cameramen will film my day?
I work alone, which not only allows me to price competitively giving you value for money, but also means that you won’t have numerous cameramen and photographers bearing on your day.
How will the cameraman dress on my wedding day?
Our standard is smart attire, to blend in with the guests on your wedding day. If you’re lucky enough to have a warm summer’s day, I’ll wear tailored shorts and short sleeve shirt.
Will the cameraman get in the way of the wedding?
My aim is to be as discreet as possible and hopefully you’ll forget I’m even there. I try to blend in with the background as much as possible as I wholeheartedly believe that my wedding films benefit from those natural reactions and candid moments. In some cases I may provide a small amount of direction during the course of you day (in much the same way the photographer would). The nature of my films means that I want you to behave naturally, so I can capture those special moments when you least expect it. I love shooting those wonderfully natural moments to captivate your audience.
Can we have Drone footage at our wedding?
All of my packages have drone footage included in them at no extra charge. However, the UK (especially the South East) has some of the busiest airspace in the world and is heavily regulated. In some instances, the airspace above your wedding venue may be restricted and further permission from the CAA could be required to fly a drone, for which I can advise accordingly.
I will also require permission from your venue to fly the drone. In 9 out of 10 instances venues are absolutely fine, but there are some which have said no in the past as part of their policy.
The weather can also play a crucial role in whether I can fly the drone on your wedding day. In order to operate legally I am not allowed to fly in inclement weather conditions such as rain and high winds. However, I will always try to find a window of opportunity to capture some aerial footage.
Unfortunately a lot of these factors are beyond my control and I can’t guarantee the drone will be used.
Aren’t drones noisy?
I fly the DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone which is a professional drone capable of flying extremely high (although as Drone Pilots we are limited to a maximum legal altitude of 120m) and therefore can be noisy when close. However, don’t worry as I will not be flying my drone during your ceremony or drinks reception! I usually arrive early at your wedding venue when the guests are not there to capture some beautiful establishing aerial shots of the venue to help “set the scene” for my wedding films.
What areas of the country do you cover?
I am based in Fletching, East Sussex in the South East of England but certainly not limited to it! I am up for traveling anywhere really, and if your wedding is in the South East of England there will be no charges for travel. Weddings outside of the South East may be subject to a travel charge, agreed at the time of booking. Travelling is actually one of my passions (usually with my wife and children in tow!) and I have filmed weddings in Europe at beautiful destinations such as Lake Como in Italy and the Burgundy region in France.
Do you have insurance?
I am fully insured and I am covered up to £5 million for public liability.
Do you charge a deposit for making a wedding videography booking?
Yes, to secure your booking for my services I ask for a deposit of £300 which is non-refundable. The deposit is paid when the contract is signed, with the final balance not due until 2 months before the wedding day.
Do you use contracts?
Yes, it is standard practice amongst professional wedding videographers to have a signed contractual agreement. This is to protect both parties and also to outline in writing exactly what White Balance Weddings has agreed to provide for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask and I would be happy to send you a copy of my terms and conditions.
When will I receive my wedding film?
Depending on the package you book, the lead times vary. We endeavour to produce the highest possible standard for you, so that you have something to cherish for years to come. We aim to have your film(s) to you by 6-10 weeks after your wedding date.
Can I choose the music for my wedding film?
Due to copyright licensing laws we do not allow our newlyweds to choose the music for the video. You are hiring us to construct a creative narrative film that represents the true story of your day. Our choice in music plays an important role in your film and it allows us to set a certain pace or mood of your wedding film. The soundtrack should not dictate the film but rather is used to support it. From the legal side, we license all of our music properly via a royalty-free music service that we pay for enabling us to work within the law.
Can we meet beforehand to discuss the details of our wedding day?
I would absolutely love to be able to meet all of my couples beforehand in person but unfortunately logistically this just isn’t possible. However, I am more than happy to arrange phone or FaceTime calls as I think it is so important we get to know each other before the big day to put you at ease and so that you can hopefully see us as another one of your guests at the wedding!
We would like to book a wedding videographer but the price seems so expensive, why is this?
Ideally I should write a blog post to answer this! But bear in mind the time and costs involved including: enquiries, marketing, administration, equipment (cameras, lights, microphones, gimbals, batteries, drones, lenses, tripods, filters… phew!), transportation & preparation (charging batteries, cleaning gear, packing, formatting, venue research). Not to mention the editing! Even for my shortest film package, around 30-40 hours of editing will go into creating your dream wedding films. Although I will dedicate myself on the day to capturing those special moments, the vast majority of the hard work starts in my office in front of my computer!
Can we cancel our booking at any time?
Cancellations must be made in writing and the deposit money paid will be retained by White Balance Weddings as this is non-refundable. If you cancel after the final balance is due (less than 2 months before the wedding date) the final payment is still due and is non-refundable. We highly recommend you consider taking out wedding insurance in the event you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.
Are there any photographer’s that you like to work with?
I love working with a variety of photographer’s and I enjoy how wedding suppliers work together on the day to do what’s best for the couple. It’s such a pleasure to work with different photographer’s and get to know new faces in this amazing industry.
It’s also nice to work with photographer’s that I’ve worked well with before. Here are a few that deserve as shout out!
White Balance Weddings 