~ _ The Scoop on High Definition Article _ ~

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Text by Kristen Castillo

Here are some of the pluses and a few of the minuses to consider when making your decision. Then, if you’ve decided to go HD, we have a few tips for finding a talented high-definition videographer for your wedding.

Avoid what is fast becoming obsolete
Probably the number-one reason to go with high definition is that it is the future technology, says Chris Chibucos, a 20-year industry veteran, member of the Wedding & Event Videographers Association (WEVA), and a nationally recognized speaker in the wedding video industry.
As all television signals are moving to digital, eventually all televisions will be high definition. You don’t want to pay for a standard wedding video and then have it be almost immediately obsolete, Chibucos says.

Capture the brightest blues, the deepest reds
While most people think only of increased picture clarity when they consider high definition, Chibucos notes that another benefit is color. “The colors in HD video are much more vibrant,” he adds.
If you consider capturing the beauty of your bouquet and floral arrangements, the colors in your bridesmaids’ gowns and the tears of joy on someone’s face, HD has a lot going for it.
Not all video cameras shoot in a widescreen format, but all HD video cameras do. Deciding to go with an HD videographer is one way to ensure that your wedding will be shot in widescreen and therefore have a much more cinematic look, adds Chibucos.
Again, you have to consider the future of the technology. Today all new television sets have widescreens with a ratio of 16:9, rather than the boxier 4:3 of older televisions. If your wedding video is shot in the older 4:3 format, you immediately have a problem showing it on the newer screens. Either you have to cut off the top and bottom of the shot or it can be stretched to fit the 16:9 format — which of course makes everyone look like they have gained some weight!

Consider the negatives
While Chibucos loves high-definition video, he admits that it is not for everyone. Most importantly, high definition will cost more. Depending on the firm, this can be anywhere from several hundred dollars to $1,000 added to the standard rate.
Actually only a small fraction of the cost is due to the cost differential between a high-quality DVD (cost $1) and a Blue Ray disk (cost $18). The higher cost has more to do with the much longer rendering time with an HD file, which is much larger, compared to standard video footage. Although this is technical, just consider that a standard resolution has about 720 x 480 pixels, while HD has 1440 x 1080.
Chibucos suggests that you ask a videographer to show you both standard and HD. “Look at the pictures critically,” he says, “look at the skin detail and decide whether this is something you will be satisfied with.”
Some people can’t really tell the difference and for them it may not make sense to spend the extra money.
Other than the cost, the only other disadvantage to HD is the clarity. This may sound strange, but “sometimes too much clarity is not a good thing,” says Chibucos.
But if you’re thinking that HD will show every little blemish, that isn’t necessarily the case. Most videographers have soft-filter focuses and skin detail features on their cameras that will help even out skin tones and avoid drawing attention to every pimple.
Additionally, with HD, most videographers tend not to do too many close-ups. But when you think about it, are close-ups what you necessarily want from your videographer? Remember your photographer will be catching those intimate views; the job of a good videographer, in contrast, is to tell the story of your wedding day.
So, now you have the pros and a few cons on high-definition video. If you decided that this is something you may want, here are some tips for finding a talented HD videographer.

Ask how they package HD
Currently most videographers who offer HD want you to decide up front whether you want HD or standard. But, according to Chibucos, it doesn’t have to be this way.
It is possible to shoot in HD and then, if the client decides they prefer standard definition, it’s a matter of choosing to edit in HD or not, he says. He actually shoots only in HD, but his clients make the choice afterwards.
 
Make sure they know their stuff
Since the details are that much clearer, you can’t be a little out of focus and get away with it in HD, says Chibucos.
Many videographers who have used the older cameras were able to use the auto focus and auto iris and basically depend on the camera to make the picture turn out right. While you can get away with that using the older cameras, an HD videographer has to work in the manual mode and be an expert. HD is not a format for amateurs.

Choose an artist
Whether you select standard or high definition, a technical wizard will not tell the story of your wedding. In either case, you still need an artist who knows how to get the shot and edit the footage creatively to tell a compelling story.
“I’ve seen people who do nice HD work, but it is bland,” says Chibucos. “I am a firm believer that couples need to look beyond that.”

Finding the right videographer for your wedding
Okay, but how do you find this talented and technical expert? Chibucos suggests using the WEVA website and starting with the organization’s membership. “Generally being a member of WEVA shows that they care about their work and it can screen out those who are just in it for the money,” he says.
Then once you begin interviewing, ask to see a couple of wedding videos that they have done — the full-length versions. While demos and choice clips from many different weddings provide a nice taste of what they can do, only a full-length video of a wedding will show you what this person is capable of, how they edit and the overall style of the videographer.

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