How much does a wedding videographer cost in the Hudson Valley?

Short answer: most couples getting married in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills spend somewhere between $2,500 and $5,000 for a full day of wedding video. Studios that work in a documentary style, with two filmmakers and full-length films, usually start around $4,500 and can run past $7,000. That's a bit higher than national averages, which tend to land in the low-to-mid $2,000s up to around $4,000 depending on who's counting, because weddings up here are often full weekends at destination-style venues.

Here's how the market breaks down, what actually changes the price, and what to ask before you book anyone, including me.

The four price ranges you'll see

• Under $2,500. Usually one filmmaker, a few hours of coverage, and a short highlight film. Good if video is a nice-to-have and you mainly want a keepsake.
• $2,500 to $4,500. Where most local studios sit. Full-day coverage, a highlight film, often an edited ceremony, sometimes drone.
• $4,500 to $7,000. Documentary and cinematic studios. Usually two filmmakers, proper audio on vows and toasts, a longer feature film, and more care in the edit.
• $7,000 and up. Luxury and multi-day coverage: welcome parties, full weekends, same-day edits, and the most experienced filmmakers in the region.

What actually changes the price

• Hours of coverage. Getting ready through the last dance is usually 8 to 10 hours. Most packages price around that.
• How many filmmakers. A second filmmaker means you get both reactions during the ceremony, both sides getting ready, and fewer missed moments.
• Audio. This is the part people forget to ask about. A film is only as good as what you can hear. Look for a microphone on whoever's saying vows and a direct feed for the toasts.
• What you get back. A 3-minute highlight film, a 15 to 30 minute feature, the full ceremony and speeches, social-length vertical edits. Each one is more editing time.
• Extras. Same-day edits, drone, raw footage, and coverage of a welcome party or rehearsal dinner all add cost.
• Travel. Most local studios include the Hudson Valley and Catskills. New York City and beyond are often quoted separately.

Typical add-on costs

From what local and Northeast studios publish, these are the ranges to expect:

• Second filmmaker: about $800 to $2,000
• Extra hour of coverage: about $150 to $500
• Raw footage: about $200 to $1,800
• Drone: about $300 to $1,000, often included in higher packages
• Same-day edit, a short film shown at the reception: about $500 to $2,000 or more

Questions to ask before you book

• How do you record the vows and the toasts?
• How many filmmakers will be there, and who are they?
• What exactly do we get back, and how long is each film?
• How long until we get our films?
• Is the music licensed so we can share it online?
• Is travel included for our venue?
• Can we see a full film, not just a highlight?

Where my collections land

For what it's worth, here's where Far & Found sits. The Highlight starts at $3,200, The Feature at $5,300, and The Cinema, which includes a same-day reel, at $7,500. Every one is built around real audio from the day, and each is shot for both a cinematic film and vertical edits for your phone. Everything that's included is listed on the pricing page.

If you're getting married up here and want to know if your date is open, tell me about it. I reply personally within 48 hours.

— Liam