I care who I'm working with on a wedding day. These are people I'm going to spend hours beside, often with several of us trying to use the same room and the same few minutes. I'd like us to be able to talk to each other.
That starts with my own team. I want filmmakers who understand what matters to me and can take responsibility for what they're covering. If we're in different places, I need to trust that somebody is paying attention to the people I can't see.
When you're hiring us, you should know how that arrangement works. You might be speaking with the person who will film your wedding, or you might be speaking with the person who puts the team together and oversees the work. Ask who will be there and what each person will do.
The same question applies to a photographer or a planning company. There may be several people involved, with different responsibilities before, during and after the wedding. Find out which of them you'll be working with and who to call when something changes.
I'd also ask how the people doing the work are prepared. If you're choosing a company because you like what you've seen, how does that company carry its standards through to your wedding? Let them explain that in their own words and show you work that helps you understand the answer.
In my case, I want the film to have the people in it. The voices, the relationships, the small things happening around the couple. Bringing another filmmaker into the job means sharing that responsibility, while giving them room to notice something I might not have noticed myself.
Then there's the rest of the wedding team. My shooters need to know who is coordinating, the coordinator needs our coverage times, and the photographer and I need to know we're working together. Those introductions are a fairly simple place to start.
You can help by putting the people you've hired in touch with each other. Once we know who is involved, we can talk through the things that affect our work. You don't need to carry every conversation between us.
The number of people on the team matters when you connect it to the plans. If preparation is happening in two places, somebody needs to account for that. One person will have to move between them; with more shooters, we may be able to cover both at once.
I wouldn't choose a number without looking at the day. Where will people be, what will overlap, and what do you particularly want covered? Those questions give us something to work with.
At Mark Thomas Films, you're hiring the company and our production team. I provide the creative direction and am personally involved in many weddings. If having a particular person there is important to your decision, discuss that before booking and make sure it's reflected in your coverage agreement.
Ask how an illness or unexpected absence would be handled, too. Let the company explain its arrangements and how it would keep you informed. You should be comfortable with the answer while you're deciding whom to hire.
And pay attention to how those people talk about working with others. I want to know what the photographer needs, what the coordinator has planned and what the venue staff can help us with. All of that affects how well I can do my job.
You're inviting these people into a day with your family and friends. You should like their work, know what you're hiring and feel comfortable having them around. I think how they treat the other people involved belongs in that decision as well.
