FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When it comes to your big day, there can never be too many questions.
For such an important occasion, I completely understand you’ll have some questions and I get asked similar ones quite a bit. To make your life easier (especially during this busy time), here are some of my most frequently asked questions.
 
What makes Miguel Garcia Studios special? Why should I invest in your services?
We believe in capturing precious moments in a unique and personal style for each and every couple we serve. When you book us, you’re investing in a team that truly loves what they do. We create beautiful imagery that speaks for itself. No cheesy romantic-comedy style films here. We strive for an authentic and video that shares your story.
 
How much will I be investing in your services?
Our wedding films begin at $3500. Simply contact us and we’ll email you our pricing guide so that we can go over your custom pricing before you book. We typically book couples in our calendar 6 months to a year in advance so if you think we’d be a fantastic match, don’t hesitate to contact us!
 
Do you film destination events?
We are based in Pasadena, CA but have a love of travel. I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to Hawaii, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, Northern California, and Palm Springs. Filming in destinations that are special to our couples make the films we create even more unique! Contact us today and we’ll make sure to grab our passports.
 
Do you film elopements?
I love capturing the intimacy of an elopement! Since these smaller and personal ceremonies are very different from a traditional wedding day, we offer a special package just for elopements. Email us the details and we’ll be happy to speak with you further.
 

We’re ready to book you! What do we do next?
The team at Miguel Garcia Studios is honored that you believe we are the best fit for you and your wedding day. If you haven’t already, please fill out our contact form. Then if we’re available for your desired date, we’ll meet-up and discuss your relationship and wedding. We’ll send you paperwork with your custom built package and then you’ll sign your contract and pay your deposit. You’ll be officially booked and we will make sure to become friends on Facebook and follow along with your wedding planning on Instagram before your big day!

We’d love to meet you! How can we make this possible?
One of my favorite parts about being a business owner and owning my studio is the freedom to meet new people and hear where their love story begins. I’d love to jump on Skype to hear all about how your relationship began and who won over who. Let’s connect!
 
What do we need to provide you before our event?
Other than trusting in our ability to create an awesome film of your wedding, we will simply need a detailed timeline one week prior to the big day. We want to keep things as easy and stress free as possible for you!
 
Do I need to provide any equipment for your team before the wedding?
As a team, we will be bringing any cameras, lighting, and audio equipment we need to capture your special day. However, we do require at least one electrical outlet designated solely for our needs so we don’t miss a moment of your memories.
 
When do you arrive and depart from my event?
Since each package includes 8 hours of filming, we may need to start filming later in your day so we make sure to capture that dream sparkler exit. We aim to arrive as early as we can but we’ll take your timeline and prep time into account to make sure we capture everything we need for your perfect film before departing when open dancing becomes available and you want to let loose with your guests (and may not want video evidence of that attempt at the Thriller dance you coordinated with your bridal party…).
 
Will you be directing and instructing us throughout the day while filming?
We want you to look back at these memories and feel you’re present and authentic. Our style is to capture your day organically. We may occasionally ask you to move to a different area of a room with better light but we make sure to film your day in the most genuine possible.
 

Your films have a lot of dialogue while other videographers don’t use as much spoken word, will we need to prepare what we say?
We’re glad you noticed this difference in our films. We believe that your words share your story, as much as your visuals, so we add dialogue to your film. Including heartfelt speeches, letters that you write to each other and read out loud, your vows during the ceremony, and other sound heard throughout the day is key to telling not only the story of your relationship but bring you back to your special day years later.
 
How long does it take to receive our completed film?
There are multiple factors that contribute to the time it takes to edit your custom film, because we strive to provide each couple with a one-of-a-kind movie that reflects who they are. It will be outlined in your contract but the average time to receive your movie is 3 months.

Do you charge overtime if filming takes longer than 8 hours?
While we would love to stay and party, extra hours above and beyond your package are billed hourly. When requested at your event, each additional hour is $450 and payment is needed upon request. If you request overtime hours before your event, you will only be charged $300 for each additional hour.
 

Will you be working alongside my hired photographer?
Some of my best friends in the industry are wedding photographers! When we all can work together seamlessly to capture your day, everyone wins.
 

Can we choose the music used in our film?
Unfortunately due to lots of legal mumbo jumbo, just picking any song isn’t so easy. We use a few high-quality resources and can provide you with those if you absolutely want to choose some options for your film. However, we find that trusting in our studio to pick the best music for the tone and style of your movie works best, both for the timeline and for your peace-of-mind. You can be comfortable in knowing we will choose something you absolutely love.
 
Do you offer longer edits of my film?
Yes we do! We’ll outline the options available to you when building your perfect package, including 15 minute features, 45-60 minute documentary-style edits, and raw footage. If this is something you’re interested in, simply let me know and I’ll share all a la carte and add on pricing with you!
 
How will I receive my finished film?
To ensure you get the best product from us, we deliver your finished wedding day video on a flash drive. Not only does this method retain the quality of your finished product, you also can easily view your new memories on your computer and tv.