u/LanternMoss

Hopefully this post is allowed, as I'm not a videographer myself. I am not familiar with the world of videography and was wondering if you could help point me in the right direction?

I am essentially looking for someone who uses the same beautiful filming style and audio quality as what's in cinematic videography (or similar), but who does not take us aside to do tons of different poses. I essentially am looking for someone who can take beautiful shots of the setting, decor details, and general atmosphere of the day in addition to capturing our full ceremony and reception speeches.

I know it's essentially the default right now for 50%+ of the videos to be couples standing in different spots around their venue, looking into the camera, and doing different staged poses as filler. But that's just really not our personality or how we want to spend our time on the wedding day. Instead we'd love to work with someone who still has a great eye for artistry but is able to build a narrative around film taken of the actual events of the day.

I've tried searching for documentary style videographers, but have run into this same hangup in all of the search results. Can you help me figure out what I need to be searching for to find this style of videography?

I really want to hire a videographer to capture our vows and the reception speeches, as well as the general feel of the day. But I don't really love what most people offer where you do tons of different poses just for video filler.

I'm not a videographer myself, but it seems like there should be a way to take a video that is beautiful and cinematic while taking a documentarian's approach in filming. I'd love to find someone who still takes beautiful shots of the setting, wedding details, guests walking around/talking with each other, and even us getting ready. But I really don't want us to be pulled away to do extra poses, twirl my dress around, and look into the camera a million different ways.

Does anyone know what I should be searching for? Or does this style of videography just not exist? I've tried searching for documentary style, but they still are like 50% poses.

For context, we have a couple videographers in our area that have a ceremony and speeches package, but it's $2k just for someone to set up a (fairly low quality) camera. For the highest rated one, the sample videos they gave me literally have the noises of someone messing with the camera's settings mid-vows. So I figure if I'm going to spend thousands, I might as well pay more for someone who is going to make something that actually looks and sounds professional.

I would love to hear any and all information you have to share about them! Their work seems lovely, but I've seen some comments about issues with consistency?

I think their black and white photos really shine, but am trying to get a sense of how a full gallery feels quality-wise. Especially as someone who is not a fan of photos that are super colorized.

If you've worked with them or know anyone who has, I'd love to hear everything you're open to sharing about the experience!

Also, just in case there are multiple photography teams named The Curries, this is the couple based in London (we're in the US, so we'd have them travel to us).

I kind of hate writing this post, but it's been weighing on me and I'd love to hear other peoples' perspectives.

I've been with my partner for over a decade, but we decided to buy a house before getting married. So even though we've been together since our 20's, we're now in our mid-30's (34/36) and I feel almost embarrassed talking to some vendors. My voice sounds really young, so when I talk to people on the phone they assume that I'm 20 and then seem kind of surprised/disappointed when they see my face. Which kind of sucks because I'm not saying I've ever been stunning, but I definitely used to get comments about being pretty. So I think this is all just making me come to terms with the fact that I've hit the point in my life where people can't see past my age?

This has been weighing on me a lot specifically when it comes to finding a photographer. I've saved up money to hire a really talented one (like $10k - $15k). But when I look at their portfolios and weddings they've been tagged in recently, it's all of these gorgeous, tall, skinny, women in their 20's with flawless skin and features. Like truly everyone looks like they could be a model even though it's normal peoples' weddings. While I'm here in my mid 30's, super short, not toned at all, no filler/lasers, etc.

I'm really struggling because I just don't feel beautiful enough to even request to work with photographers and makeup artists. Like I'm afraid to have the video calls and for them to be uninspired to do their best work because I'm not a worthy model. Not to mention I live in a VHCOL area, so our wedding will be nice but isn't going to look particularly extravagant like a lot of the ones the photographers share when I ask for a full gallery.

Is anyone else feeling this way? If you're in your mid-30's have you been treated any differently by your photographers/vendors? Any tips?

If you have ever, ever worked with (or even seen the website of) a makeup artist who does not turn ultra pale brides orange or yellow, can you please drop their name or link below?

I really want to work with a makeup artist who embraces pale skin instead of trying to cover it up. This is especially true because I am a warm-leaning pale, meaning the typical instinct to go cool-toned on pale skin isn't going to work for me either.

There's a lot of talented makeup artists in my area, but their portfolios and videos all show brides that start pale and end up looking tanned or orange. It's been super frustrating because I live in an area swimming with pale brides, but the final makeup looks rarely reflect that (and the artists here that can do it are already booked up for the whole 2027 peak season).

I am willing to fly a good artist to me, so it doesn't matter where they are in the world. And I really mean that, any country, any state (I'm in the US). The literal only ask is that their pale skinned brides actually look like they're in their natural skin color. If you know or have seen anyone who does this I would love so much if you could share their details!