Photos and video record the same day in very different ways. Here’s what each one gives you, when one is enough, and how to make both work if you choose them.
It’s one of the first questions couples ask us, and we’ve heard it from both sides. For more than two decades we ran a company that offered wedding photography and video, so we know what each one does well and where each one falls short.
Here’s the honest answer: not every couple needs both. Plenty of beautiful weddings are remembered through photos alone. But photos and video aren’t two versions of the same thing. They keep different parts of the day, and it helps to know what you’d be giving up before you decide.
A great photograph stops a moment and lets you stay in it. Your mom’s face as she sees you for the first time. The two of you laughing during formal pictures. A grandparent’s hand on your shoulder. You can look at a still image for as long as you like, and it says something different every time.
Most couples hire a photographer. If you only choose one, photos are usually the place to start.
Video keeps the parts of your wedding that only exist in motion and sound. Couples who watch their film for the first time often tell us the same thing: they’d forgotten how much they missed while it was happening.
Many couples who skipped video say later that they wish they’d had at least the ceremony and toasts on film. You’ll see all kinds of numbers quoted online, and many can’t be traced to a real study, so we’ll just say it plainly: it’s a common regret, and worth thinking about now rather than afterward.
Our tip
Ask yourselves one question: if you could only keep five minutes of your wedding day, would you want to see it, or see it and hear it? Your answer tells you a lot.
Choosing only a photographer is a perfectly good decision. It often makes sense when:
If you go photos-only, tell your photographer what matters most to you so nothing important is missed, and consider asking a friend to record the vows and toasts as a backup.
Our tip
If a friend records the ceremony, ask them to stay in one spot near the side or back, and to check where your photographer plans to stand. A phone held up in the aisle can end up in your best pictures.
Video doesn’t have to mean a full day of coverage and a long feature film. Many videographers offer smaller choices, and they’re worth asking about:
Every business packages these differently, so ask each one what they offer rather than assuming.
If you decide on both, you can book one business that offers photography and video, or a separate photographer and videographer. There’s no single right answer. Here’s how they compare.
One company for both
Two separate companies
On our city pages, you can use the Offers Photo + Video filter to see the businesses in your city that offer both services. Those listings also carry a Photo + Video badge. Start from Find Vendors, pick your city, and compare.
Our tip
If you hire two companies, ask each one whether they’ve worked with the other before. If not, ask your photographer if they’d be willing to talk with your videographer before the day.
When it goes well, you won’t notice them working together at all. That takes some planning, and good vendors do much of it themselves.
Your venue and officiant may have their own rules too. Many churches limit where photographers and videographers may stand during the ceremony, and some don’t allow flash or moving around at all. Ask your venue, and share the answer with both vendors.
Our tip
Introduce your photographer and videographer by email a few weeks before the wedding, with your timeline attached. Five minutes of their time before the day saves a lot of shuffling during it.
One of the best ways to judge either vendor is to see what they’ve already done at the places you’ve chosen. On our site, each venue page shows real photos and films from that place, along with the photographers and videographers who have worked there. You can switch between photography, videography and businesses that offer both.
Work from your own church, hall or park shows how a photographer handles that light, and how a videographer handles that room’s sound.
Prices vary widely by region, experience, hours and what’s included, so we won’t quote numbers. A few honest guidelines instead:
Each listing on our site shows a starting price when the business has shared one, or says to contact them for pricing. Treat it as a starting point for a conversation, not a final quote.
Our tip
Trimming a few hours of coverage from each vendor often saves more than giving one up entirely. Ask both what their coverage looks like if it ends after the first dance and toasts.
If you’re talking with a company that offers both:
If you’re hiring two separate businesses:
For any videographer:
For a deeper list of questions, read our guides on how to choose a wedding photographer and how to choose a wedding videographer.
Pick your city to see local wedding photographers and videographers, including businesses that offer both, with real photos and films from the venues where they’ve worked.