Common questions

What time do you stay until?

I don’t set a time limit. If you book me, you will have me all day, from morning preps up until the evening party. I normally stay until I get enough footage of the evening dancing, which is where some of the really funny things happen and is an important part of your film, and there is normally a natural point where people don't want to be on camera! So, when people start falling over and the ties start getting put on heads it's time for me to be off!

How far in advance do we need to book?

The sooner you book, more chance you have I am available for your wedding date.

Are you insured?

I have full public liability insurance.

Can we have the RAW footage from the day?

Yes. No problem, it’s your big day after all and once the edits have been done you can have all the raw footage. Warning though you might need a good amount of hard drive space. I will tell you how much you need if you ask for the footage. Simply send me a drive and I will send all the footage back over.

Can we choose our favourite song for the film?

Unfortunately, not. To use any music in your wedding film it needs to be licensed and for mainstream songs this could cost thousands. I use subscription websites to find the right music that fits the feeling of your film. If you have strong feelings on songs we can discuss before the edits, you can either give me examples and I can find similar licensed tracks or I can give you links to the sites I use and you can find some tracks and send me your top choices.

Do you record sound?

Yes. For ceremony and speeches, I record the audio, I either mic up those speaking, normally the groom for the ceremony and I carry enough mics for all the speeches. Or I take a feed from the venues audio if they have a compatible system.

Can we have a drone at the wedding?

Yes, if the venue allows this, we are fully licensed but some venues in built up areas won't allow them, I will check with the venue. Also, if the weather is bad, I won't be able to fly, but it's rare that there isn't a weather window somewhere in the day. I can get venue shots solo shooting, but if you want specific shots, for instance we have in the past, tracked horse and carriages, tractors leaving venues, someone wanted the ceremony from the air, then I will always cost in a second operator, this way they can fly the drone and I won't miss anything on the ground.

How long will the film be?

The natural editing process means I have to go through all the footage and put it in a long edit so it’s a logical process to create a long 45min - 60minute feature film edit. This is great for the couple to sit down every year and watch a long film with all the best bits, audio for ceremony and speeches and all the funny dancing. But I don't expect anyone outside close family to watch this, so I also create a 10 minute edit to share with family and friends, which is enough time to show all the best bits. I then also create a short social 60-90 sec edit.

When will I receive the edits.

I try and get a really quick montage over to you (the 60-90 sec edit) within 7 days of your wedding, often you are off somewhere relaxing and I think it's nice for you to get something quickly as you are still in the afterglow of the wedding, but memories might be a bit blurry. I then aim to get you the long and 10-minute edit within a month of your wedding day.

How do you deliver your films?

The finished films are delivered to you online, through a private collection on Vimeo. From the collection, you can download the original files. This link will stay up permanently, but I always advise you download everything and store somewhere safe yourself.

What happens if you become ill or have an accident before the wedding and cannot make it?

If this does happen, it would have to be something really bad to stop me, but in this unlikely event you will be notified as soon as possible, and you will have 2 options:

A: I will send another camera operator, if available, to film the day and I will take care of the editing.

B: I will refund all the money paid. I though appreciate that it isn't about the money at this stage, so I will do everything I can from my large network of camera operators to find someone to help..

What is the deposit and is it refundable?

I charge a 25% deposit. With the balance payable 2 weeks before the wedding (or near enough) This deposit is non-refundable, if you sadly have to cancel. If for some reason I have to cancel, I will of course refund all of the money.

Do we need to meet up before the wedding?

I think it's always a good idea to meet up and go over your plans face to face, less of a stranger then walking in on the morning of your big day. But I appreciate that lives are busy, especially planning a wedding so at the very least I will organise a video call so we can all meet virtually and go through everything and I can answer any of your questions.