How long does it take to edit a wedding film?
On average, it takes us 40+ hours to edit a wedding film. The final total depends on how long the film is and how long we spent filming at the wedding.
It is a complex process that we take very seriously. We promise our clients a window delivery time so they know when to expect it but we never rush the process.
To some, 3 months to deliver a video might seem crazy. There are videographers that deliver same day edits and there are some that deliver 6 months post-wedding.
Editing a wedding film is us creating a love story in one video. We edit and perfect it until we know that the job is done.
So let’s take a look at the process.
Backup: Right after we leave a wedding and arrive home, we start the long process of backing up the footage we captured. This takes care of our initial backup. Then we start another backup. This is the first step to editing and one of the most important. We have to make sure the footage is protected in more than one spot.
Cull: We begin reviewing all of the footage from the wedding day. Depending on how long we were there (8 hours or 12+ hours), this could take an entire day to review. We organize our footage and the audio we captured. We also exclude any clips that are throw away (moments we were adjusting or something got in the way of our shot, etc.).
Imagine reviewing an entire day in clips… this take some time! But it gives us the chance to get a clear picture of the content captured so we can move on to the next step.
The Story: A wedding film has to tell a story. The couple’s story is the focal point of our work. We want to authentically capture their story and wedding day in their film.
B-Roll: We select our b-roll clips from all the moments throughout the day. These are clips that help add to the visual story we are telling on screen.
Audio: One of the biggest differences between photography and videography would be the audio we record. That is why we always suggest having both at your wedding. We capture all the formal speeches, ceremonial audio, vows, and all the little chit chat in between. We take the oral stories told and tie them into our visual story in film.
Music: Ask any videographer what is one of the hardest aspects of editing a film and they will most likely tell you selecting music. We use a music licensing service with more options than imaginable BUT we cannot pick any song. We have to pick 2-5 songs (depending on the film length) an they have to be PERFECT for the couple and their story. The songs all have to flow together, thanks to editing, and fit the vibe of the wedding as well as the audio we selected.
Color Correct: Once we have our story created, b-roll added in, audio selected, and the perfect songs, we can finally color correct our film. Once this is done, we add in different affects and noises (think water or bird noises) to our film.
After all this is done, we have our first draft. We watch this a few times, review and make edits. And continue this process till we feel like we have truly told the love story in the wedding film.
It truly is a long, creative process. When investing in your wedding film, be sure to talk with potential videographers about their editing process and how long you should expect to wait on your wedding film.
