wedding videography

High definition wedding videos

'High definition' is an option that's increasingly being offered by the wedding videography professionals - but what exactly is it? Here we shed some light on this new technology by asking a few basic questions

What is high definition?

High definition is the buzzword, or buzzwords, within the TV and film industries. In its most basic form, high definition is simply an improvement in picture quality compared to the one that we are used to. There are varying levels of quality that come under the HD bracket, but they all improve on the current picture.

What are the implications for my wedding DVD?

A growing number of videographers are now offering to film weddings in HD, either as part of a package or as an extra at an additional cost. However, at the moment they will have to give you your DVD in the 'Standard Definition' format. Known as SD, this is the usual picture that we currently have, the one we're all used to seeing. This will remain the case until a later date when it becomes easy for the videographer to give you a copy of your film in HD - and when HD players are readily available.

Does this mean I should forget about HD?

It is worth mentioning that if you have your wedding filmed in SD you will never be able to fully benefit from the higher quality picture offered by HD. You will be able to get an SD film converted to an HD disc, but it will still only have the same resolution/definition that it was filmed in. Whereas if you have your wedding filmed in HD now and converted to SD for the purposes of your current DVD player and TV, then at some point in the future you will be able to enjoy the higher resolution images. Bear in mind that your videographer will charge you to recreate your video on a HD disc.

There are now some DVD players which use a method called 'up-scaling' or 'up-converting' to improve the quality of your standard DVDs, but the picture won't be the same as a dedicated HD disc. If you're getting slightly confused about the difference between SD, HD and upscaled DVDs, it's hardly surprising. Perhaps the best thing to do in order to understand all this properly is visit your local audio-visual specialists, who will be able to actually show you the difference in quality by playing the various kinds of formats in front of your eyes.

So let me get this straight; if my wedding is filmed in HD I still can't have it in HD right now?

At the moment that's about right. The reason is that HD is a step up in technology and you and your videographer need a few things to be in place before you can relax after the wedding with a bucket of popcorn to watch your wedding in HD. These are:

• An HD TV
  These have been the must-buy of the summer and are gaining popularity as more people buy in to the new technology. If you want to watch any HD film or broadcast then you need to have one.
• An HD DVD player
  Current SD DVDs (the actual discs) do not have sufficient space to hold the high quality pictures offered by HD. Also, the SD DVD players in the shops are not capable of playing back HD discs, which means you will have to invest in a new high definition DVD player. However, at the moment there are two different disc formats being offered by manufacturers; HD-DVD and Blu-ray. Whilst most HD disc players will be designed to take either HD-DVD or Blu-ray, there will be some players that can accommodate both formats. HD disc players are just starting to arrive in the UK and are very expensive, just as standard DVD players originally were when they first came on the scene back in the '90s. The prices will undoubtedly fall over time, and many people are holding out until they do.

Anything else I should know about HD?

Yes, it's worth considering that higher definition pictures will reveal greater detail in what is being filmed. So the bride's dress, the wedding cake, flowers, favours, make-up... everything recorded will be more clearly seen and therefore easier to make sense of in years to come.

Should I expect to pay more for a HD wedding video?

The simple answer is yes, but the skills, expertise and level of service offered by your videographer will have a greater impact on what you should expect to pay. HD cameras and editing equipment are still more expensive than SD equipment, and until HD becomes the norm videographers will normally charge a premium for providing this service.

Take part in Survey Monkey's wedding video questionnaire: www.surveymonkey.com

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