10 Questions with Aaron Phillips

Capture Hour Productions

Videographers - Aaron Phillips

10 Questions with Aaron Phillips

1. Introduction: What's your story?

Hi, I'm Aaron Phillips! I started Capture Hour Productions in 2007 after filming my sister's wedding. Her friends like her wedding video and asked me to film their weddings, and then their friends asked me to film their weddings, and so forth. 800 weddings later, here I am.

2. How long have you been filming weddings? How many weddings have you filmed?

I filmed my first wedding in Muncie in 2006 while I was still in college. Since then, I have shot over 800 weddings and am quickly approaching 1000. I film 60-70 weddings a year all over the country.

3. How would you describe your videography style?

I've learned that most brides prefer "fly on the wall" style, where they forget that I'm there. I figure that they want to experience the beauty of their wedding day while I stand back and zoom in, and then they can enjoy it later and experience the beauty of it all over again.

4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding videographer?

As soon as possible, at least a year. December is usually engagement season, so my calendar fills up in January and February. A wedding is my weekly income, so I try to make sure that I have a wedding every weekend throughout the year.

5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?

I offer a basic package for $1000, which is seven hours of coverage and pretty much candid coverage for the whole day. No montages. My most popular package is the next package, my Forever Package, which is $1800. For that package, you get eight hours of coverage, full wedding videos, and a 3-5 minute trailer, which my couples love. The next package up is my Dream Day Package, which is $2600. For that, you get nine hours of coverage, full videos, a 3-5 minute trailer, a 10-15 minute highlights montage, and the groom's face filmed when the bride is entering. My most expensive package is the Forever Package at $3200. It's very similar to the Dream Day Package, but you ten hours of coverage and a second videographer all day, which makes a big difference in the footage.

6. Are you the wedding videographer who will be filming on the wedding day? How many camera people and cameras will be operating on the day?

Yes, 99% of the time, it will be just me there. That's actually how I prefer it. I trust myself and I want to be there to make sure that your video is captured perfectly. Sometimes I get double booked and send another videographer, but only someone that I trust. So normally, you'll see me all day, then have three cameras at the ceremony, and one camera at the reception.

7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?

I do if it's over a 150 mile radius outside of Indianapolis. After that, it's negotiable, usually an extra $100-$200. If it's far enough away that I have to fly and get a hotel, then we'll talk further.

8. How do you back-up your footage to ensure no footage is lost and for how long do you keep the footage after the wedding?

I have a motto - if your footage doesn't exist in three places, it doesn't exist. I back-up all footage on my laptop before I leave the wedding that night. Then I back it up two more times when I get back to my office. After product delivery, I have it backed up on Vimeo forever, and I also have the raw footage backed up on hard drives in fireproof safes.

9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the video? And how will the video be delivered?

All videos are delivered via Vimeo. According to our contract, I will have 90 days to get you a first draft, or you start getting money back. I've never missed a deadline in my entire career, and never intend to. My average turnaround time is 60 days, but in case I'm very, very busy, I might need the whole 90 days. But I'll keep the couple updated either way.

10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?

I require a 50% retainer fee up front, non-refundable. I'm sorry to say that, but my schedule fills up so quickly that I often turn down several brides for the same day. I have to make sure that I'm covered financially for every potential wedding day. I take the final payment two weeks before the wedding, the couple will get a receipt for both the retainer fee and final payment.

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WeddingRule Editor’s Choice 2020