It is statistically known that more wedding couples hire photographers than videographers. The "Uncle Charlie" phenomenon is more prevalent in video than in wedding photography, especially in the low to mid-price point weddings. However, as you climb up the pricing scale for weddings, you will find that more couples want both top quality photography and a wedding video. Both services can be expensive, and they expect great results from both.
You may hear frequently from many of your clients that they plan to hire a videographer but that to them the photography is more important. It is important to recognize, however, that it does not mean that video is unimportant. It can be inspiring that your clients give so much importance your images, but you need a plan to also help them get the most out of their videography. In a way it is your problem.
Videographers come in a range of personalities. Some are very easy to work with because they know how to coordinate with the photographer to help give the client two great products. Many videographers are also photographers. At the other extreme, some are there to do their job, without any consideration for other vendors, especially the photographer. In between there are many variations of professionalism and cooperation. Because many videographers today are also photographers, this fact can mean any number of things to you. It could mean that they understand what it's like to be in your shoes vis-a-vis a videographer, or it could mean that they lost the photo job to you and may not be very friendly or helpful. You may not even know that you're working with a resentful videographer.
The first opportunity to size up the videographer is with the client. At some point, either when they book your photography or through your planning conferences, you can find out who the videographer is, what they liked about the style or coverage, what level of service they contracted (one camera, two camera) and other details that will help you at the wedding. Listen to how effusive or indifferent your client is to the video.
Your goal should be to help the client get the most out of both services. With some videographers you have worked with in the past this may be a challenge, but your intent should always be there. Avoiding a competition with the videographer is of great importance to the results. Otherwise it can be a lose-lose-lose situation with everyone's reputation suffering and the client getting less than optimal products.
Wherever you meet the videographer at the beginning of the job, look for an opportunity to discuss plans such as shooting locations during the ceremony, procession and recession coverage, re-enactments he may be planning on, and his post-ceremony plans, such as shooting formals over your shoulder or going to the cocktail hour ahead of you. Although you may feel that you do not owe the videographer any explanation, you will frequently find it extremely helpful to tell her where you plan to shoot from during the ceremony. There is a recent trend for some videographers to try to shoot the ceremony from the middle of the aisle, close to the altar, obscuring the view not only for many guests, but also for you. Those gorgeous, natural light images that you intended to capture from the balcony may not happen if the videographer does not know where you are. Communicate.
Many videographers today are hands on directors, setting up scenes, action and other sequences that may or may not interfere with your job. Again, the more you can discuss in advance the better. If you sell a photojournalistic style, his directing of the clients and set up of fake scenes can either make you cringe, or may instead provide you with new opportunities. However, if you need the couple to do certain things you previously discussed, like special portraits or a photo walk, the competition for their time and attention can become an issue. Again, communicate with the videographer as early as possible.
Another area of conflict can be the lighting of a reception. Some videographers like to maintain the client's darkly lit ambience with creative, minimal lighting, while others prefer to light up the room with hot lights like a Hollywood set. Again, your own style could benefit from either lighting plan, but you may know that more than one past bride or wedding planner has ordered the excess lighting shut down. For your work it will be best if you know both what you are up against and how to adjust your shooting. Being both informed and versatile can make a difference in how happy you are with the image results for your clients.
There are two key ways in which some photographers have, for the most part, resolved their ongoing issues with videographers.
One is offer videography and sell the clients on the benefits of hiring both services from your company. You can either get into the business directly, buying equipment and hiring cameramen and editors, or you can wholesale the services from videographers who will both shoot and edit, creating for you a final product with your logo. Either way, you have control over the way the weddings are covered for photo and video. As you work with videographers whom you like, find out if they are interested in giving you a wholesale price. You get them the bookings and they produce the product.
The other way is to proactively and passionately recommend to your clients one or two videographers with whom you work well. You can be very honest as to why they should hire your recommendations. One caveat, though. Never recommend a videographer, or any other wedding vendor for that matter, until the client has booked your photography. Doing so is playing with fire because your recommended vendors may innocently or inadvertently recommend another photographer. Just as you might recommend one or two vendors in each category, they too may have the same practice. Besides, "preferred vendor" implies a vendor you want to work with on that client's wedding date. You don't want to give the vendor away to someone who is not hiring you - you lose the opportunity to work with them that day.
Ultimately, however the situation plays out, you have to be a consummate professional and do your best to produce for your clients the images they expect, regardless of who the videographer is.