Wedding Videographer Tipping Guide
Videographers capture your day in motion. Tipping follows similar rules to photographers, but there are a few differences worth knowing.
Standard Tip Range
$50-$200 per videographer, or 5-15%
Quick tip amounts by crew size
Use these as your starting point: Solo videographer (one person, all coverage): $75 to $150. Two-person crew (lead plus assistant or second camera): $100 to $200 total — split between them, with more going to the lead. Drone operator (separate hire): $50 to $100 if they're not your main videographer. Three-person crew or larger: $50 to $100 per person. Owner-operator videographer: tip is optional but $75 to $150 is appreciated for exceptional service. Day-of tip comes from the tip box calculation: video fee × 5 to 10% is a reasonable baseline.
Standard tip range
$50 to $200 per videographer. If you're going by percentage, 5% to 15% of the package cost. For a $2,500 video package, that's $125 to $375. Base it on the quality of service and how much extra work they did.
Do you tip a wedding videographer?
Yes, in most cases — and the logic is the same as with photographers. Your videographer puts in a full day at the wedding plus dozens of hours afterward in post-production. The tip is specifically for the day-of service, not the editing. If they were skilled, unobtrusive, captured moments you didn't even ask for, and managed the day with minimal disruption, a tip is a fair acknowledgment of that work.
Owner vs employee
Same as photographers. If they own the company, tipping is optional. If they work for a larger video production company, a tip is more expected. Either way, they'll appreciate it.
Multiple videographers
If you had a main videographer and an assistant, tip each separately. The lead might get $100 to $200, the assistant $50 to $100. Don't expect them to split one tip.
When to tip
End of the reception works best. Some couples wait until they see the final video, which is also acceptable. Just don't forget. Set a reminder if your final video won't be ready for months.
Calculate your exact tip
Use our free calculator to figure out exactly how much to tip based on your contract amount and tipping style.
Open CalculatorSupplies for handing out tips
Everything you need to organize and distribute vendor tips on the big day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I'm not happy with the final video?
If you tipped at the wedding and then dislike the video, that's unfortunate but the tip was for day-of service. Address video quality issues directly with the company.
Do drone operators get separate tips?
If the drone operator is a separate person from your main videographer, a separate tip of $50 to $100 makes sense. If your videographer also flew the drone, one tip covers both.
Do you tip a wedding videographer?
Yes, in most cases. The tip covers the day-of service — the 8 to 10 hours your videographer is actively present and working. $75 to $150 for a solo videographer is the standard range.
How much to tip a videographer who owns their company?
Tipping an owner-operator is optional but appreciated. $75 to $150 is a good range if they delivered excellent service. Unlike some vendors, videographers who own their business still commonly receive tips.
Do you tip the second videographer?
Yes, separately. The second camera operator or assistant works the full day and shouldn't be expected to share a tip intended for the lead. $50 to $100 for the second videographer is appropriate.
Is it rude not to tip a wedding videographer?
It's not as strong a norm as tipping photographers, but most videographers do expect a tip for day-of service. Skipping it entirely, especially for a full-day booking, would be noticeable. $75 minimum for a solo videographer is a reasonable floor.
Deeper guides on this vendor
Other Tipping Guides
Wedding Photographer Tipping Guide
$50-$200 per photographer, or 5-15%
Wedding DJ Tipping Guide
$50-$150, or 10-15%
Wedding Catering Tipping Guide
15-20% if not included in contract
Wedding Planner Tipping Guide
15-20% or $100-$500
See the complete vendor tipping chart for all 20+ vendor types.
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