Videographer & Photographer - Working in Harmony?
It’s no secret that often there is not a lot of love between a wedding videographer and a photographer. Unfortunately, the stigma seems to remain that they would be better off without each other on the wedding day. For example, Sally, the photographer, might have a beautiful shot of the couple’s first kiss lined up. He/she is in position – with perfect shot composition, and suddenly, Harry, the videographer, struts right into the middle of her shot, taking the glory away from the first kiss and placing it squarely on Harry’s back. No wonder it can be hard for these two groups to get along. There are no re-dos or take-twos on a wedding day. You have one shot to capture many of these important moments and there’s nothing you can do if someone walks in and messes up your shot. Why does this happen? A couple of reasons come to mind…
Ego
I’m not picking on videographers or photographers regarding this first reason, as both can be equally guilty of this. A funny thing happens when everyone you show your work to tells you how amazing they think you are at your job and how they think that you have a real eye for photo or video. A part of you may start to think of yourself as humanity’s gift to the photo or video world. The top Chihuahua. As a result, it’s not uncommon to feel tremendous pressure to constantly improve and make sure that when people see your work, they wonder, “Wow, how did Harry get that shot?” or “Sally is really talented at getting photos you wouldn’t even think possible.”
Now, it’s very healthy to want to keep improving constantly. As soon as you think of your work as flawless, you are in real trouble. However, if you start to see yourself and your portfolio as the priority on the wedding day, that’s when real problems start to arise. If you no longer care about working with the other videographer/photographer, this is where tension can arise. If you continue with this mindset, you will take it upon yourself to get the required shots with no concern for anyone else.
Photo by Emma Gladman via Emma Spring Photo
Faulty Communication
If only we could communicate better - it’s the source of so much pain in the world. The same applies to when you are working on a wedding together. If you don’t have communication and coordination with the other photographer/videographer – that’s when you will get in each other’s shots. Or if one person is taking up precious time with the couple to get everything they need, but the other videographer/photographer doesn’t jump in and say, “Do you mind if I grab a shot here,” then not only are you going to end up with a sub-par result, you’ll also be cheating the couple out of what they are paying for.
Complaining about that photographer/videographer who was ruining all your shots and didn’t care about getting in your way is very easy – and quite frankly, it feels good at times. However, I really believe that if you both put forth a little effort to get along with each other, this could be a huge positive that could result in everyone being happy on the day. How do you take the initiative to create this positive working environment?
Here are a couple of suggestions to consider trying at your next wedding:
Reach out to the other photographer/videographer beforehand, either over e-mail or phone.
This is an easy one that doesn’t take too much time and can make a huge difference. A few weeks before the wedding, just send them an e-mail and say how much you’re looking forward to working with them on the day of the wedding. Also, look at some of their work and give them a genuine compliment on what you like about it. They will be very impressed that you took the time to review their portfolio and reach out to them. That way, when the wedding day comes around, you won’t just be a “random wedding videographer,” but you will have a really solid first impression with them.
2. Mention how you want to work together on the day of the wedding.
You can do this one on the day of the wedding or at a rehearsal if you are planning on attending. Just go up, shake their hand, and mention how much you’re looking forward to working with them. Then I would say something along the lines of, “Be sure to let me know if I’m getting in your way at all.” You can also mention that you would like them to let you know if you need to jump in at all or if they have any ideas. Most likely, they will say, “Yeah, for sure, please feel free to let me know if YOU need anything”. Now you have coordination and work as a team to get the best possible shots for your couple instead of working with someone you almost feel you’re competing with.
Photo by Emma Gladman via Emma Spring Photo
That last sentence leads me to the many positive elements that I can think of when a videographer/photographer works together as a team:
Two are better than one
Collaborating is a great way to come up with ideas that you may not have thought of yourself. Bouncing different shot ideas off each other is a great way to prevent yourself from creating stale content that is too similar from wedding to wedding. You also can give the couple what they are paying you for – which, in great part, is your creative mind and your ability to come up with fresh ideas.
Coordination Pays Off
Being able to coordinate ahead of time prevents those shots where one of you is in the other’s way – especially for those big moments that can’t be done again. When you are both more mindful of each other, you can both get the footage you want.
Better customer service
I think everyone can sense when there is obvious tension in the room. Tension is not something you want to add to an already stressful day. If you and the other videographer/photographer are tense with each other, guess who’s going to pick up on that? That’s right—the couple. This is supposed to be one of the most important and joyous days of their lives, and they certainly don’t need some ego-driven, stubborn photographer or videographer adding to their stress. However, if you get along, they will sense this as well! Being in sync with each other gives the couple (and really everyone at the wedding) a much better impression of you. This could lead to more referrals and positive reviews, but most importantly, it could result in a happy customer who is thrilled that they chose you for their wedding day.
So yes, there can be ego-driven people in the wedding business who make the day about themselves and their portfolios. They might not care if they get in your shot or whether they give their clients the best possible experience. This is not surprising, as it can happen in any business, and unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done about this particular problem. However, you can do everything in your power to communicate and coordinate with the other photographer or videographer ahead of time so that the day goes as smoothly as possible. This will save you stress in the long run, as you will have a better working relationship and will be able to bounce ideas off each other, which can lead to a better end product. There’s no doubt in my mind that photographers and videographers can get along and even become allies. This will lead to a more enjoyable experience and a much happier client base. Happy shooting!