1. Introduction: What's your story?
Hi, my name is Todd Widdows, I am a married to my wife and we have 5 children who are the foundation of our wedding videography business, askem studios. We're parents, best friends, married, business visionaries, and globe-trotters. askem studios started in 2016 as a Graphic Design company working with Non Profits, quickly I realized the importance of adding video and we branched into videography services. In 2019 we decided to solely focus on weddings, and have since went from one team of just Kelley and I, to having 4 teams. Two based in Richmond, VA and Two in Greenville, SC while doing over 150 weddings in the past 3 years alone.
2. How long have you been filming weddings? How many weddings have you filmed?
askem studios has been filming weddings since 2019. We have done over 150 weddings spread all throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
3. How would you describe your videography style?
Our videography style would be a hybrid between cinematic and a story telling style. We have a very extensive interview process where we are able to connect with our couples to uniquely cater to telling their love stories in a way that best capsulates their personalities as well as capturing the wedding day.
4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding videographer?
Honestly no less than 7 months from their wedding day, Naturally some things happen where another vendor may need to cancel at the last minute, We have booked a wedding 4 days from the wedding day and that as crazy as it sounds actually wasn't that bad. But realistically 7-12 months before their big day is ideal. I think its ideal to have that timeframe because even though the couple has had an opportunity to connect on a consultation and even to view previous work, with editing Wedding Videos on a full time basis, my goal is to make the next video better than the previous ones.
5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
We have 3 different packages. Because there are couples who's budget may be tighter we offer a base package that starts around 2000.00 depending on the state the wedding is located in and our Highest packages currently range in the $3000.00 Price range. However our Most popular package is our middle package that ranges in the 2500.00 price range depending on location.
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?
So normally Kelley and I take priority, though having multiple teams, we are able to double book dates. In the event that it is not Kelley and I, we tell the couples well ahead of time, even offering to show examples of their filming style that emulates ours. Ultimately though I am the only editor of the videos, so it is my style regardless. We have a system in place for how to film, how to capture audio, all of it is done in the exact same way that Kelley and I approach a wedding day.
7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
No we do not charge travel fees. We travel quite frequently with a wide radius and have never charged a couple for travel.
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 use external hard drives as well as a cloud service to back that up in the event that something were to ever happen to the drives.
9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the video? And how will the video be delivered?
On average that question is best answered as the time of year of your wedding and the other couples we have booked ahead of your date. While turnaround times are quoted at 60 - 90 days for Full Highlights there is the potential that turnaround times could vary due to Wedding Season volume and life events.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
A deposit of [$250.00] is due at the time the contract is signed. The deposit is nonrefundable and shall serve as liquidated damages to the videographer if the client cancels
the event. If the client cancels within 30 days or less of the wedding date it will result in a nonrefundable amount of 75% of any balances paid serving as liquidated damages to askem studios
