The Difference Between a Wedding Videographer and a Content Creator?

Whether you're going for a multi-day wedding to really make the most of your celebration or sticking with tradition and hosting your wedding on one amazing day, there's no denying that it will, unfortunately, pass you by in one big happy blur! Considering there’s so much time, effort, passion, (and money) gone into this special occasion, you'll naturally want to cherish the memories forever. So, as well as a professional photographer, do you choose to hire a wedding videographer, a content creator, or both? Wedding content creation is a huge trend that's sweeping the wedding industry right now and one we're pretty sure is going to stick around.

In this feature, we’ll be discussing what each of these wedding vendors does and what the main differences are, so if you are wondering what they’re all about and if you should hire one (or both), then hopefully, by the end of this, your decision will be a little clearer.

So, what is a wedding content creator?

Wedding content creators capture the behind-the-scenes of your wedding with photos and videos that are tailor-made using only their phones. The content is meant for social media and is equal parts candid, fun, and creative. Content creators aren't really supposed to replace your professional wedding photographer or videographer but are there to complement their work. They ensure that the memories of the event remain fresh and instantly shareable, providing a steady stream of content until the formal media arrives.

What can you expect from a content creator?

Diverse content: Wedding content creators specialise in creating various types of visual content. They document moments not only with traditional videos but also with images, GIFs, and other media. Many wedding content creators are able to share their work on your profiles live and in real-time, while others will deliver your content the morning after the big day.

Social media savvy: They are experienced in creating content that’s perfect for social media platforms. You can expect teaser videos, Instagrammable photos, and other shareable content that's likely to engage your followers.

Creative storytelling: Wedding content creators concentrate on creating a narrative that tells your love story as well as the emotions of your wedding day. Their artistic skills can create a visually engaging, story-driven narrative of your special day, typically with cinematic flare.

Speedy turnaround: Well known for their quick delivery you can expect to see highlights and clips of your wedding soon after the ceremony, allowing you to relive those special moments practically instantly.

So what are the benefits of hiring a videographer?

Cinematic quality: Your videographer will give your wedding videos a cinematic feel. Their goal is to create visually stunning wedding films that capture the raw emotion of your wedding day.

Long-Form videos: Videographers typically provide longer wedding films. These films provide a detailed overview of your wedding day, which includes the ceremony, reception, speeches, and candid moments, allowing you to revisit the entire event.

Professional editing: Videographers spend a large amount of time in post-production in order to deliver a professionally produced video that captures every detail of your wedding day. The end result of the wedding videography is a polished product with a heavy emphasis on storytelling.

What's the cost difference?

A social content creator's work will begin before and continue after your wedding day so keep this in mind when potentially working their fees into your budget. You'll meet before the big day to make sure that you are both on the same page when it comes to meeting your vision and that the content that they will produce will mirror your own style. They'll be on the ground a few hours beforehand, capturing all that precious behind-the-scenes footage and providing a super quick turnaround, usually within 24 hours. With knowledge and experience combined, you'll be looking to pay anything from $1,000 upwards.

Similarly, you'll meet with a videographer before to align your vision; they will be on the ground throughout the day too, but much of their time is spent in post-production creating that beautifully edited, professional finished product. On average, when hiring a videographer, you can expect to spend anywhere from $2,200 upwards.

How to hire a content creator?

If Google isn't giving you what you need, go straight to the source itself: TikTok and Instagram. Start with some hashtags and see what results you get. Use the hashtags # weddingcontentcreator or # eventcontentcreator to get a sense of the available social content creators that are out there. You can also try adding a place to the end of the hashtag (# weddingcontentcreatorperth, # eventcontentcreatorperth) to find the pros closest to your chosen wedding location.

Consider compiling a list of questions to ask your content creator before you hire one, as you would any of your wedding vendors. Ultimately, they'll be in pretty close proximity to you during the whole day, so you want to know you get along, have a good rapport, and can communicate at ease with each other. The more vision you give them before the big day, the better, so they can understand what you want out of their service.

Do I need both a wedding videographer and a content creator?

In short, this is your call, but yes! A wedding videographer and content creator will work alongside each other, and you'll get very different content from both of them. Fun, candid moments that can go out live on your social media accounts from your content creator and carefully shot, highly polished, long form-videos from your videographer.

In summary

Like everything to do with your wedding, these decisions are ultimately down to personal preference and what suits you both as a couple. Are both of you comfortable in front of the camera? Are you both happy with your wedding day being on social media for all to enjoy? Can you justify the cost of all your wedding vendors? Weigh up these questions and do what feels right and what's important to you. It's your day, so always do it your way.