I’ve also had my fair share of videographers that try to talk to the couples DURING their first look! In those instances, I can see where the tension comes from. I’ve seen videographers do some things that I would never DREAM of doing on a wedding day! So please know that I don’t write this post coming from a place of perfection, I have had plenty of my own videographer horror stories. However, over the past 5 years I have learned that making friends with videographers that you love can be a HUGE asset to your business!!

I met Josh Gooden through Jodi and Kurt several years ago and I quickly hired him to shoot my first promo film!!  He was so young and yet SO talented and driven. Michael and I loved him instantly! I loved what he was doing with his business and how FAST he was growing! He was making it HAPPEN and let me tell you, this guy NEVER settles for anything less than AMAZING. (You should see his equipment collection!) We were lucky enough to shoot some weddings with Josh the last several years but we’ve recently had several that we have shot together that we have LOVED! It’s almost like we’ve found a rhythm of shooting together and it just works! Now, Josh would probably agree that I run my mouth WAY too much!! I just get so excited at PORTRAIT time! I can’t help it!! :) I tell my couples “Ok perfect…lets do this one more time for a few more shots…..” and 50 shots later, I’m finally done. I’m quite an over shooter and I’m working on that!

The cool thing about working with Josh is that we have a similar style and eye for things. Several times throughout the wedding day I’ll steal one of his ideas and he’ll steal one of mine and what that results in for our couple is a REALLY cohesive final product from both the photographer AND the videographer!! Josh just posted Huey and Natalie’s amazing highlight film and I once I saw it, I just knew I had to share it!! And then I realize that maybe it would be helpful if I did a post on how to work WELL with videographers instead of becoming enemies on the wedding day! So before I share his awesome work, here are some tips for working with a videographer:

1. Introduce yourself and take an interest in THEIR business. Asking them where they are from and try to get to know them a little bit before the craziness of the wedding day begins. If you start the day on good terms, more than likely you’ll end the day with a new friend and not an enemy!

2. Verbalize what you need from them. I try to talk to all videographers to tell them where I’ll be shooting from during the ceremony AND during the first look so that we’re on the same page.

3. Think about the priority of the situation. For example, if there is a toast happening, that is a HUGE priority for Josh because he needs that audio to overlay on the film!  All I need is one shot of the person talking!  Now, it’s not always perfect. Sometimes I still step into Josh’s shot and I get a “look” from him across the dance floor! Sorry Josh!!!!!  It’s hard to pay attention to this when you’re trying to get your best possible shot for the couple but I’m realizing more and more that there are certain times when I have the priority and when the videographer has the priority!

4. Give them time! Luckily I know Josh well enough to be able to say “Do you need more of them? Am I talking too much?!” and he’ll let me know what he needs. Sometimes I stand back and direct the couple and shoot over his shoulder so that he can get what he needs of the two of them. This sounds easy but I know that when you’re rushed for time on a wedding day, it’s HARD to make time for both the videographer AND the photographer but it’s necessary. I’m thankful that I have Michael there to stop me and say “Ok, let Josh get in there!” because when I’m on a roll, I’m on a ROLL! It’s hard to stop shooting!!

5. Don’t do major “moments” without the videographer! For example, during the bridal prep time, I’m normally the one that tells the videographers when they can come back into the room once the bride is 80% in her dress and covered up!

So if you’re a photographer that has struggled with videographer relationships in the past, I totally understand where you’re coming from. However, I also know that it can be so rewarding to form awesome friendships with videographers that you work with! Michael and I are so thankful for our friendship with Josh and we absolutely LOVE shooting with him! We’ve even gone so far as to (not so humbly) call ourselves the Dream Team!! :) I mean, from our perspective, it really is a dream team because our clients end up with an AWESOME finished product because we choose to work WITH each other instead of against one another!

Ok so enough of my ramblings! After the video there are a few of Natalie and Huey’s images from their blog post… see if you can spot when they were taken in the film!! :) It’s fun to see everything from my perspective AND Josh’s perspective!