DO I NEED A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER?
An Interview with Wedding Videographer Graham Mattock, from Mattock.com
Once a bride has booked me as her wedding photographer, I am often asked: “Do I need a wedding videographer?”. In short, it is absolutely necessary to have a wedding video to look back upon in the years to come. Because you will be kicking yourself when you look at your wedding photos on your 1 year wedding anniversary and say to yourself “I wish we had a wedding video”.
CINEMATIC WEDDING VIDEO
Wedding videos are not what they used to be. There has been a huge shift in the wedding video industry in just the last 5 years alone. Wedding videos used to be long boring documentaries of the day, including the entire ceremony. These days they are unique and personal love stories filmed with incredible cinematic skill.
In a nutshell, there are some aspects of your wedding day that can not be conveyed in by a wedding photographer, but rather than me telling you about it. Let´s talk to an expert!
Graham Mattock, is a highly sought after wedding videographer located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, although he also facilitates wedding videography all over Mexico from Los Cabos to the Riviera Maya. Here is an example of one of Grahams Wedding videos: [/vc_column_text][vc_video link="https://vimeo.com/222938269 "][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1535562026453{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Without further a do…let´s find out a little about Graham, and his wedding video work.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU STARTED WORKING AS A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER IN MEXICO
Originally from England, I had planned two big adventures, sailing around Europe and Travelling to India back in 2008 and decided I needed a decent camera to capture my travels. I taught myself the basics using YouTube and quickly became hooked.
I arrived in Puerto Vallarta in 2010 and was going to stay only for one week, I never left and I am now a fully integrated and a permanent resident here in Mexico. At the time I was a computer programmer and around 2013 I decided to quit and try to take up photography full time.
Living in a tourist town I shot everything I could to pay the rent, weddings, family shoots, pets, newborns, real estate etc. Then, with the functionality of Video in DSLRs at the time, I decided to try video. Over the years since I have withdrawn photography as a service as my passion for video has increased and I now specialize in weddings.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FILMING WEDDINGS IN MEXICO? HOW MANY DO YOU DO PER YEAR?
I am now in my third season of shooting wedding videos, each year my numbers double, next season I already have about 15 booked and expect at least another 10.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER IN MEXICO?
I love to travel and meet new people and cultures, that’s number one. I also get to capture couples on the happiest days of their lives, and I love that my video will become an heirloom and be played over and over again to future generations.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO COUPLES WHO ARE UNDECIDED ABOUT NEEDING A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER IN MEXICO?
Are you moved more by pictures or by video? When you´re watching the latest movie blockbuster it is easier to feel the emotion and be transported into that moment in time. Wedding videography does this, and by watching your video it can instantly take you back to the sights, sounds and emotions much more than photography can.
For example, a picture can tell you people are laughing, but a video can tell you what they are laughing about and you get to relive that joke. I often ask my clients why they choose wedding video to help me have a more thorough understanding of my market, below is an example of why a recent bride and groom of mine wanted a video…[/vc_column_text][vc_video link="https://vimeo.com/224710802 "][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1535562103563{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]I often wish I could see wedding videos of people close to me, my parents, for example, to see their personality and to hear what they were like all those years ago on their wedding day.
I honestly think of video as an heirloom and there is no better way to capture the spirit of a couple and their wedding day.
WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED OR WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
I´m a perfectionist so I always find ways to improve over the last wedding. To be honest, I don´t watch many other wedding films, I get inspired by getting to know a couple before their wedding, knowing their story and then hearing that I captured it in a way they cherish.
WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS IN MEXICO?
I don´t know many others, to be honest, we´re a rare breed down here. My style is to stay unobtrusive and never ask the couple to act.
I may guide a couple occasionally, but really it's about being in the right place at the right time to get those real genuine emotions; I really don´t like cheesy moments which happen when couples try to act for the camera.
I honestly hate being on camera (I much prefer being behind the lens!) so I really know how it feels for people who feel uncomfortable being on film. It's one of the biggest skills of the job to make people feel relaxed as well as capturing them in their element; it especially helps when you are aware of your surroundings, to be unobtrusive and give plenty of distance. I also focus heavily on story.
I take whatever I can from the ceremony and especially the speeches to create a unique storyline. I really try to get to know the couple before their wedding so they feel comfortable with me on the day, I go the extra mile and often meet with them before their wedding - this is a little tough as I shoot only destination weddings.
DO YOU WORK ALONE?
Up until a couple of months ago, I have worked solo, shooting weddings and editing everything myself. Now I have an assistant and it´s been a big change. Much less running around, which means I can be more creative and focused on the wedding.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE DAY TO CAPTURE?
The first time the bride and groom see each other is a favourite, however, I honestly enjoy capturing the speeches, it´s a time when a lot of close family and friends make themselves vulnerable and open themselves up and is great for capturing many great candid emotions.
WHEN YOU'RE NOT PRODUCING WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY, WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO DO?
Anything to do with the ocean - I´m a certified chartered boat captain, I love to kitesurf and I SUP 3 or 4 times a week, usually at sunrise.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING LOCATIONS IN MEXICO?
Having lived and worked in Puerto Vallarta for 7 years, I´ve recently been marketing my services outside the area, specifically in Cabo San Lucas and the Riviera Maya. My prices also reflect this in that I don´t charge the wedding couple for travel anywhere within Mexico.
LOOKING BACK AT ALL THE WEDDING VIDEOS YOU HAVE MADE, WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST MOMENT THAT YOU’VE CAPTURED?
Because I use similar cameras to photographers, I constantly get asked if I can take a picture…
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB WORKING AS A WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER IN MEXICO?
For me, the most challenging part is actually the editing and sometimes choosing exactly the right music can take hours.
Originally from a small village in the United Kingdom, Graham is a full-time wedding videographer who has been based in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico since 2010. He provides wedding videography all over Mexico, from the Riviera Maya to Los Cabos. To contact Graham to inquire about video for your wedding or see more of his wedding videography work, visit his website mattock.com
[/vc_column_text][vc_video link="https://vimeo.com/213030233 "][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1535562116027{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]Further reading:
- Why you should hire a wedding videographer
