Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions

What are the differences between SD & HD video?
Since this is one of our most frequent questions, we’ve given the answer it’s own page. SD vs HD Video

What typically takes place on my wedding day?
Another frequent question, the process is described here.

What kind of equipment do you use?
We use the same high quality equipment regardless of the package. Some of our main equipment includes: Sony & Canon High Definition Cameras, Sennheiser Wireless Microphones, Olympus Digital Audio Recorders, and Bogen-Manfrotto Tripods & Heads

I’m on a tight budget…can you tape my wedding for $100? $500?
Believe it or not, we’ve been asked “will you tape my wedding for $100,” or “will you accept $500 for your $1175 package?” While we could show up for just an hour or two at your wedding, keep in mind there are several other couples vying for your same date and willing to pay for a full package. Please read our explanation below.

How do you determine your package prices?
If my package is $1175 for 8 hours, you’re making almost $150/hour. That’s incredible! So, you can do my wedding for ½ of that, right? You’d still be making $75/hour. Boy, wouldn’t that be nice. If we handed you the raw footage that night, with no additional editing or processing, that would be pretty sweet. But then why would you have hired us? We spend at least 40 hours editing your video. And that doesn’t include the time it takes to upload your video, create the DVD, encode the files, and drive it to the post office. Combined with the 8 hours from your wedding day, now we’re down to $25/hour. Well, that’s still a decent wage. We agree. However, each year we’ve spent thousands of dollars investing in our business and equipment. Equipment requires cleaning, repair, and eventual replacement. As we’ve moved to HD, our editing studio has needed upgrades.  We’ve spent nearly $2,000 on just one computer this year.  All of a sudden that $150/hour has fallen to $7 or $8. And we said at least 40 hours. We generally spend 60-80 hours on a typical production. And, considering that we both work other regular full-time jobs, our evenings and weekends are consumed with attending and editing weddings. If we didn’t enjoy what we do, we wouldn’t be able to do it for the price alone.

I found a videographer for half the price. Will you match their price?
We highly recommend you shop around to find the best videographer for you. During your quest we’re sure you’ll find similarities and differences (hopefully good ones) between videographers. Our packages are value-minded, yet competively priced. We believe we offer a high quality product at a price that's unmatched. If you find a videographer at a price point you’re comfortable with, by all means, go with them. However, if the videographer offers a similar package for half the price, make sure you know what you’re getting. What kind of equipment do they use? Are they just starting out? Do they have high quality samples? Do they have referrals? We’ve answered these questions and more in our Choosing a Videographer Guide.

When will I receive my video?
Editing is a lengthy process. Not only is the actual process of editing video time consuming, but we take the time to make sure each video meets our high production standards. Weddings are edited in the order in which they take place, and could take up to 14 weeks to complete. Keep in mind that once July rolls around, there are at least 5 or 6 weddings that need to be completed before we get to the July weddings. Then the same for August, then for September. We are proud of the quality of our videos and our brides would tell you it’s worth the wait.

Is there any way to share my video on the web?
Yes. If your package includes a highlight video, we will provide an online link for you to share with family and friends. Other packages include the option of uploading your entire wedding video online.

Who will show up at my wedding?
We sure hope all the guests you invited show up (and the groom). Jokes aside, Teal Videography is a small independent videography company. We do not outsource our videography projects as do many of our competitors.  Tom and/or Melisa will be the videographer at your wedding. Occasionally, we will bring along an assistant, however, it is totally dependant upon your package and wedding requirements. All weddings are edited by Tom.

What is your payment policy?
Our payment policy follows much of the industry standard. A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your date. The remaining balance is due the day of the wedding. At this time, we only accept cash and checks. We ask that you try to have your payment available towards the beginning of your wedding day. No bride likes the videographer nagging her for a check after the party starts.

Can I order additional/replacement DVDs?
Absolutely. We always keep a copy of your production master on file. In the unlikely event that a DVD should malfunction (we test every DVD before we send them out to avoid any problems) we would be happy to send you a replacement copy. All we ask is that you send us the faulty disc in the mail.

If you shoot everything in HD anyway, can’t I just go with a Standard Definition package and add on a Blu-ray disc?
Our HD wedding packages are priced to reflect the costs associated with working with HD video. This includes equipment, materials, additional processing time and labor. Those that choose a SD package benefit from the higher quality HD cameras without having to pay the HD price. If you decide after your wedding that you would like to upgrade to HD, we can send you an invoice for the difference in price.

Can I alter my package before the wedding?
Yes and no. We are a small two-person company. We make our booking decisions based on the signed contracts we have received.  We turn down couples after we have booked your time and day. Once the contract has been signed, we are unable to reduce your package. We can add to it, or perhaps provide substitutions, but we cannot lower the price. We price our packages to reflect the amount of time required to complete your video, and to justify the investment in equipment. We never would have written this policy, but we’ve just had too many instances of couples reducing their packages at the last minute or the day of the wedding. We will, however, continue to work with our couples on a case by case basis.

Have a question not answered here? Please call or send us an email.