If you’ve started pricing out wedding videographers in Ottawa, you’ve probably noticed the numbers jump around a lot — and that video often costs a bit more than photography for the same day. That’s not a markup for the sake of it; there are real reasons behind it. Here’s an honest look at what you’re paying for, so you can decide what’s right for your budget.
Why does video cost more than photo?
A wedding film is deceptively labour-intensive. For every hour your videographer is with you, there can be several hours of editing behind the scenes — syncing audio, colour-grading, choosing music, and cutting your day down to a story that flows. Add in extra gear (microphones to capture your vows and speeches, sometimes a gimbal or drone) and often a two-person team, and you can see why the investment sits a little higher than photography of the same length.
What actually drives the price
A few things move the number up or down:
- Coverage length — a full day costs more than a few hours.
- Number of videographers — a second shooter means more angles (and more editing).
- The films you choose — a short highlight film is the baseline; adding a full-ceremony edit, speeches, or a same-day edit adds to it.
- Add-ons — drone footage, raw footage, and extra deliverables.
For real numbers across both photo and video, our Ottawa pricing page lays it out plainly.
Is a wedding video worth it?
Here’s the thing photos can’t do: give you back sound and motion. Your partner’s voice during the vows, your dad’s speech, the whoop of the crowd when you’re announced in. Lots of couples tell us the film is the thing they didn’t know they’d treasure until they watched it a year later. If any part of you wants to hear your day again, video earns its place. If you’re more of a “print it on the wall” person, photos alone are a perfectly valid choice — no guilt here. (We break down the film types in our wedding videography guide.)
A money-saving tip
If video matters to you but the budget’s tight, consider booking photo and video as one package with the same studio. It’s often simpler and more cost-effective than hiring two separate companies, and the two teams already know how to work around each other. More on that in our post on hiring photo and video together.
FAQ
How much does a wedding videographer cost in Ottawa?
It varies with coverage length, team size, and the films you choose, and typically starts a little higher than photography of the same length because of the extra editing and gear. See our pricing page for current numbers.
Why is wedding videography more expensive than photography?
Video involves more post-production hours (editing, audio, colour, music) and often more gear and a second operator, which adds to the cost.
Is a wedding video worth the money?
If reliving the sound and motion of your day — vows, speeches, laughter — matters to you, yes. If you mainly want images to frame and print, photos alone may be all you need.
Can I save money booking photo and video together?
Often, yes — one studio covering both is usually simpler and more cost-effective than two separate companies.
Curious what photo + video looks like for your date? Get in touch and we’ll walk you through the options.
