Videographer Josue Films says sorry after leaving newlyweds in lurch

An international wedding videographer with national clients has apologised to upset brides for videos of their special day arriving months, and in one case a year, late.

Kelsey James with her husband Scott James on their wedding day. They were customers of Josue Films. Picture: Instagram

An international wedding videographer with national clients has apologised to upset brides for videos of their special day arriving months, and in one case a year, late.

One bride who paid almost $4000 for her wedding video claimed she had not received it more than 12 months after her nuptials.

Apologetic Josue Films director David Josue has vowed to finalise outstanding work for affected customers and said delivery times were impacted by the “ripple effect of Covid”, wedding postponements, a lack of administration support and changes requested to videos.

“It has just been bad handling of admin,” Mr Josue said. “As a creative, it is not my best skill.

“I’m a creative first and a businessperson like sixth, not even second.”

Josue Films director David Josue.

The videographer’s website describes Josue Films as a “Melbourne and Byron Bay wedding videography studio”, but the Bulletin understands he has clients across the country.

Gold Coast woman Kelsey James said she hired Josue Films to video her wedding on April 1, 2021.

Mrs James said she paid $3500 and was told it would be eight to 10 week wait for her video.

After 12 weeks, the Gold Coast woman contacted Josue Films to follow up.

Mr Josue kept telling her it would arrive soon, she said, adding she finally received it after eight months, but the finished product did not meet expectations.

“We kept calling and messaging without any response. Then on the 15th of November, it just appeared in our email,” she said.

When she watched the video, Ms James said it was not what she had expected.

“All of his previous work had been dark and moody and really nicely edited and cropped.

“Our video is really choppy - it was a bit messy.”

Mrs James said the experience left her regretting hiring a videographer.

“It made the glowy experience into a really negative one that just drew out for a really long time.”

Kelsey James with her husband Scott James on their wedding day. Picture: Instagram

Another bride said she paid just under $4000 for Mr Josue to film her Melbourne wedding in early 2022.

The woman said she was disappointed with the quality of her footage.

“It was really rushed. There were elements where there was no footage - it was a blank screen.”

The bride said she contacted Mr Josue for changes but was still waiting for her final video a year later.

A Sydney bride who hired Mr Josue to film her wedding late last year said she had to wait five months for the raw footage.

The bride said she contacted the videographer a dozen times to ask for it.

“He has delivered essentially what he said, but it took five months to communicate to us how to access the footage,” she said.

“It just really puts a dampener on what is a really wonderful day.”

Josue Films director David Josue (holding camera).

Mr Josue, noting he shot 80 weddings a year, apologised for lack of communication and said he was making business improvements.

“There are some clients who have fallen through the gap because of a lack of admin help.

“Now we have brought in an email assistant to be able to handle all the emails for all of the couples.”

The videographer said he stood by the work quality, calling it “quite consistent”.

“Clients look at a wedding I film for three days in France and expect the same results from filming eight hours in (a) local wedding, which I don’t do many of, and expect the same type of rapport with the client on the day.

“It’s been a crazy year and all I can do is apologise.”