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Halez613
Just Said Yes May 2023

Only a Highlight Video?

Halez613, on August 31, 2023 at 4:37 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 15
So it’s 3 months after my wedding and I finally got all of my photos back and a link to a 4 minute highlight video.
They approached me in my initial search for a photographer/videographer and offered me a package at $1200. It included the following per the contract: “
Everything turned out nice so I’m not complaining there. However, my photographer mentioned that we would get better quality photos in a flash drive she’d be mailing us. When she mentioned that, I asked her if the rest of the videos were going to be on that drive as well. That’s when she asked me “what other videos?”I explained to her that I was expecting the full ceremony plus some from the reception. After all, that’s why I wanted a videographer in the first place. She continued to tell me per the contract we signed, the highlight video was it. That’s what I started to panic. What do you mean only the highlight video? I paid for full day coverage! Why would that mean I only get a 4 minute long highlight video?! My husband got involved and tried explaining that the contract states we got full day video coverage AND a highlight video. They told us full day video coverage only meant it was “covered” and we weren’t entitled to actually get it because we didn’t explicitly ask to have a ceremony or reception video. Who pays for all day coverage just for a 4 minute clip??After much back and forth they finally buckled down and have given us the “option” as a one time exception (because apparently they usually only give raw footage if it’s requested during contract signing and not after the wedding) and want us to pay $500. I have yet to give a response to the offer as we’re looking into legal advice to see if based on the verbiage of the contract if it can be deemed misleading and can sue.
My biggest question is is this normal? Do I have a chance to fight this? Am I actually the crazy one here?

15 Comments

Latest activity by Michelle, on September 1, 2023 at 8:59 PM
  • Halez613
    Just Said Yes May 2023
    Halez613 ·
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    The contents of the contract of what we’d receive didn’t paste for whatever reason but here it is: An engagement session, full day coverage, 2 photographers, 1 videographer, a highlight video, a teaser within 72 hours of your wedding, a print release and a digital download link containing all of your videos delivered within 120 days of your wedding.
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  • Alyssa
    Super October 2023
    Alyssa ·
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    It seems like photography was all day and video was just enough to make a highlight reel. You can ask for raw footage but you may have to pay extra. I have raw footage tacked onto my package for an extra charge. It was very common when I was looking for many to only have a 3-4 min clip.
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  • Halez613
    Just Said Yes May 2023
    Halez613 ·
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    I would agree with you but the contract states explicitly all day video coverage.
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  • Lisa
    Rockstar July 2022
    Lisa ·
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    This is fairly common. I had the same question when I was looking for a videographer. Many of the options I initially researched were $1,500+ for a 3-5 minute highlight video, and did not include other videos. Once I realized this, I started over in my research to find options that included the full length film as well as the highlight video. Unfortunately, if your contract specifies that they'll provide just the highlight video, then that's all they owed you. The all-day coverage just means they'll be recording all day (as opposed to a limited number of hours or just a specific part of the wedding), and the video will cover the highlights of every part of the day. There should be clips from getting ready, ceremony, cake cutting, first dance, etc, though it's typical that the highlight video doesn't include the full ceremony, full first dance, etc. In this scenario, I would get the raw footage and see if you can get someone else to edit it into the full videos that you wanted. Or, ask them what it would cost for them to create the full videos. But based on what you said your contract listed, I unfortunately don't think they owe you the additional videos at no extra charge.
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  • Alyssa
    Super October 2023
    Alyssa ·
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    Yes, the video has all day footage. What your contract needed was a full length video. I think mine will be about 40 minutes. I would reach out to them and see if this is something they can still do for you.
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  • Brenda
    Devoted October 2021
    Brenda ·
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    Lisa is correct. "Full day coverage" simply means they were there all day. It then specifies you'll recieve a "highlight video". No "full ceremony video", no "reception video". My photographer contract had 8 hours of coverage, that doesn't mean I have a picture for every moment in those 8 hours. If you're asking them to edit another video of your ceremony, then you are asking more than your contract states and, yes, should pay more for the extra work.
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  • Halez613
    Just Said Yes May 2023
    Halez613 ·
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    UPDATE: I had an attorney review the contract. It states explicitly that I will receive ALL photos and videos in the download link. So far there isn’t a single video (not even the highlight) just the photos.
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  • Brenda
    Devoted October 2021
    Brenda ·
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    But you started your post that you did?


    "So it’s 3 months after my wedding and I finally got all of my photos back and a link to a 4 minute highlight video"
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  • Halez613
    Just Said Yes May 2023
    Halez613 ·
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    On YouTube only. Not a downloadable version.
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  • Brenda
    Devoted October 2021
    Brenda ·
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    Oh, yeah, then ask for the download link for your highlight video
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  • J
    Super March 2022
    JA ·
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    If you found a lawyer to help that's great, but like others have said, as it is worded in the contract they were not promising full ceremony video as a deliverable. Honestly, the legal fees you're likely to encounter will probably be more than the $500 that they're offering to give you the footage for so I would just pay it and be done with it.

    Also, somewhere in your contract it probably states how long they keep the footage for after your wedding (most off the time its 6-12 months) before they delete it on their end. So make sure you aren't approaching that time frame if you do go into a legal battle because if it takes long enough then they might not even have the footage anymore.

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  • Michael
    Rockstar October 2023
    Michael ·
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    You can get free software to download youtube videos at the minitools website. It can be nice to have the video on your own computer or eventually to a DVD for multiple storage options. It does seem absurd for the photographer/videographer not to make sure you know what they are providing to you. Hope the best!

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  • Lisa
    Rockstar July 2022
    Lisa ·
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    I think in this case, it sounds like the videographer did their part in giving a detailed list of what was going to be provided. Contracts include this info so both parties know what the expectations are and what the agreed upon terms are. The videographer was likely not aware at the time of contract signing that OP wanted the full length videos too, otherwise they probably would have discussed a package that included those videos as well.
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  • LM
    Super December 2022
    LM ·
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    Then they still control the link they will give you and could only send the highlight video. I've seen multiple videography contracts and they are explicit with how many hours they will be taking footage and optional deliverables such as raw footage at an additional cost.

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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    Get the state attorney general involved because going after businesses who don’t fulfill their end of the agreement is what they do.
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