In this modern time when photography has greatly evolved, most wedding videographers often include raw footage in the wedding photography package alongside other services. Some often enlist it as an optional item and will only provide the raw footage upon the couple’s requests, while a few others will deliver it with or without the couple’s request, provided they pay for the complete package in which it was featured.
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So, do you need the raw video footage of your wedding? And should you get it from the videographer? The short answer is No. You don’t necessarily need the raw video footage of your wedding, except if you have a special use for it. If you do not have a specific purpose for the footage, then there is no need of getting it.
Why don’t videographers give raw wedding footage?
Videographers don’t give raw wedding footage because it lacks the polished look achieved through editing, and sharing it could compromise their artistic vision. Another reason is that Raw files are large and may require significant storage space, which you do not have.
The wedding raw footage is not a continuous video but a collection of several clips. New clips are created every time the videographer starts and stops recording. So at the end of the wedding, there will be hundreds or thousands of short clips, depending on the duration of the ceremony.
Thus, raw footage typically includes unedited, poorly directed, colored, and shaky shots. The footage will retain all details, colors, and other elements. But it will feature lots of background noises, and the audio might not be great. Therefore, after the event, the videographer takes time to edit the footage by balancing the exposure, reducing the background noises, enhancing the audio quality, deleting unnecessary clips, and bringing related clips together to make a straightforward storyline before delivery.
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After editing, the raw footage becomes invaluable. In fact, in our studio, we delete raw video footage permanently from our system after editing. So you do not need the raw video clips of your wedding because your videographer/photographer will ensure that the edited and final video you will receive contains all the vital information you might need. Whatever you do not see in the final video is not important to your wedding story.
Furthermore, alongside the main video, all wedding videographers often provide Wedding Movie Trailers and Reels, which will contain the special aspects of the event – the toasts, first kisses, first dances, and exchange of vows. So, you might have no other need for the footage.
Opting for only raw video footage instead of an edited video or both is a good idea. However, you are likely to spend more for an external editor than the original videographer will charge you for the editing. Perhaps, you want to do it yourself; then you will have to spend several hours sorting out the clips.
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Regardless of the reasons stated above, you can get the raw video footage of your wedding if:
- You want to have a backup in case you get to lose the edited video because most, if not all, videographers do not provide storage for the raw clips.
- You have the ability and required training to edit the clips for your personal use and to your taste.
- You want everything filmed to be included in the final video.
Still, you do not need the raw footage of your wedding. But it’s your choice to make.
In conclusion, the raw footage of the wedding is not important. It is usually a pile of hundreds or thousands of short clips from the event. Thus, I suggest you opt for only the edited video. You should also request your wedding movie trailer or summary footage.
Nonetheless, if you want to have it all and do not want anything omitted from the video, then you should go ahead and get the footage.