Another Great Craig's List:

Yeah it won't load for me either--I linked the post containing a link to the vimeo page and that worked. Worth checking out, makes me actually want to do one of those. Of course that was all out in the sunlight which helps a ton.
 
I think the high end wedding market is paying around an equal amount for videographers and photographers now. A guy I just worked with who charges around $10,000-$15,000 per wedding said that many brides now want the photographers there for the formals and gone the rest of the time.

Videographers are completely under-appreciated on the low end market though. I had a neighbor who wanted me to film her daughter's wedding in town. She's a friend so I told her I could shoot just the ceremony for $300, but the whole wedding with an assistant would be $1,500. If you're not familiar with the market, these are incredibly low prices. She looked shocked and said, "Oh nevermind," then drove away in her new BMW. She said that her grandfather was too old to travel to Austin and see the wedding, so that's why she wanted a video. It was as if I was a bad person for depriving her grandfather the right to a video.
 
Drew Ott said:
Videographers are completely under-appreciated on the low end market though. I had a neighbor who wanted me to film her daughter's wedding in town. She's a friend so I told her I could shoot just the ceremony for $300, but the whole wedding with an assistant would be $1,500. If you're not familiar with the market, these are incredibly low prices. She looked shocked and said, "Oh nevermind," then drove away in her new BMW. She said that her grandfather was too old to travel to Austin and see the wedding, so that's why she wanted a video. It was as if I was a bad person for depriving her grandfather the right to a video.
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That's funny. I helped my friend because her Nana couldn't be there. Normally, I don't get into the sob story thing but this was a different situation; she is a very good friend who just asked me to film whatever I felt like with someone elses's camera. I'd do that and much more for her. But, that sob story tactic is RAMPANT. Take this story for example...

...A couple years ago a high level person where I worked (I mean the boss of everybody. Totally making deep 6+figures) knew I had gear (and that I had done a couple of weddings up until that time) and asked if I could "film her nephew's wedding this upcoming Saturday."

I did a couple of weddings and already retired from that thankless gig and was WELL aware of the amount of work that was involved. But, as a favor, I thought I'd do it. And, I was prepared to do it right: supply multiple shooters, give a thoughtful and polished edit, getting-ready shots, bride and groom. A montage of baby photos. Interviews. Full Church and Reception and after-party coverage, crane shots, etc. Judging from our brief conversation, this is exactly the elaborate wedding video she was looking for.

Well, I would never do the work I was prepared to do for less than $2500-$3000 bucks. As you all know, it just ain't worth it. So, because she was my bosses bosses bosses bosses boss I said $700 bucks. She scoffed and said "Well, this is for my nephew who didn't budget for this and I thought you would give me a deal!" Frankly, I didn't care who she was...my time is my time...I said "Well, considering that you are not just renting me, you are renting others, and my gear, and my time for pre-visualizing this, going to the venues beforehand, talking to the photographer, the bride, the groom, the priest, compiling music that they (bride and groom) like, not to mention an edit that could take anywhere from 40-60 hours, I think $700 dollars is going to cost me quite a bit of money." And you know what that b*tch said? "But its my nephew". As if my time is less valuable because she thinks that since she is my bosses bosses boss, she could manipulate me into doing it for less than $700...like free even. Get friggin' real. I told her that "sorry. I don't think I can do this for you." Taught me a lesson. Don't let ANYBODY take advantage of you.


She got another guy to do it for $500 but he was only willing to film the wedding or the reception. And rumor has it, no discernible audio.

Ya get what you pay for.
 
Why on EARTH would you quote $700? I would have quoted $5k. They want a "deal" ok, I'll knock $2k off the top, not a penny less.

Charge what you're worth. Not what THEY think you're worth.
 
What's worse than a wedding? Try editing a talent show and you have to edit each and every contestant - GAH!

Never again!
 
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