One of the best things about being a wedding videographer is that we get to travel the world telling people's love stories. Each couple has a unique story to tell and we get to find the gold in it. After being a luxury wedding videographer for over ten years, a current wedding showreel is one of the most important things to have. For those who do not know, a showreel is a short collection (max 2 min) of some of your "best" videos, angles, and clips. We have three reasons why it is important to have a showreel and some tips if you are just starting out.
1. Look back at how far you've come
One of the coolest things about having a showreel is that you get to see how far you have come. As creatives and artists, styles, trends, and techniques change over the years, you have a record of all the good, bad, and the ugly. At times, it may be hard to see all of the old techniques and styles that you thought were once cool but it will show you how much progress you have made. It is also a great reminder of how quickly trends and aesthetics can change. That is one of the reasons why we strive to create timeless wedding films; when trends change, our work will always hold up no matter what age it is.
2. Show potential clients depth and variety
The second reason why showreels are so important is that it shows potential clients your depth and variety. From cultures to traditions, wedding sizes, and styles, it shows potential clients that you can do it all! While you do not need to have literally every scenario in the books covered, you can show them that you have worked with different couples, love stories, and cultural priorities. It also shows you where you might need to diversify so you can appeal to more couples.
3. Show a variety of locations: warm, cold weather
Underneath diversity, showreels show a couple the variety of locations you have shot in. Not only will it give them confidence in you for having filmed in all these different places, but it also might give them some insight into the pros and cons of their potential venue. Whether they are thinking about an indoor or outdoor wedding, summer or winter, you will have the experience and expertise for making their special day all that it deserves to be when they look back at it years from now. We have had couples do an indoor ceremony and outdoor reception, vice versa, and any combination of the two. You will know the needs of the location for what they're wanting and can give them advice on how to make it perfect. Not only that, but if you have done any destination weddings, it will show them that you are capable of traveling internationally for your job. There are always extra logistics when traveling far for weddings but showing them that you've done it, will give them confidence in you that you can handle it.
Tips For Beginners:
1. If you as a creative don't have variety, it's important to do free work to get the footage you need
One of the biggest tips we can give a wedding videographer who just starting out is to do what you need to increase your variety. If you need to do free work or discounted work, do it! It won't be forever but the sooner you can get the experience and put in your dues, the sooner you'll be able to move out of that phase. If you know of a wedding photographer, ask if their wedding couple would like a free video. No one will ever turn down free, especially when it comes to a wedding, and it gives you the experience needed to build up your portfolio. Ask your family if they know of anyone getting married, while you're there, network with some of the guests and offer them free to discounted services. Obviously don't let your networking interfere with you capturing those special moments but it is a great time to get your name out there.
2. Important to keep it up to date
The second tip we can give is to keep your reel up to date. We get that you are busy and editing can be time-consuming but it won't do your business any good if your reel looks and feels old. We update ours every year and while it doesn't just feature weddings from that year, we do include more of the newer ones. You want your reel to show your potential clients the heart and voice behind your company and work. Sometimes those things change over time, so it's important to make sure that those stay current.
More than anything, your showreel will give you something to be proud of as it is a culmination of all your hard work. Be proud in what you have no matter what it is. We are all growing and improving but we can always sit back and think about where we have come from. We hope these points have helped you understand the importance of a showreel and that these tips help you if you are starting off. If you liked this post, share it, like it, and tell your friends about us! Also click here for more of our blogs.