"Hiring" a Volunteer Videographer?

How to get the best from a Volunteer 

(and still be friends afterward)

1: Have them tape the event using video tapes that you have purchased. This is because without a contract, whoever owns the tapes owns wast's on the tapes. If their camera records to a memory card, however, this subtle arm-twist won't work for you. Skip to step 2 in that case.
2: Give him/her a hand-written thank-you card, a $20 coffee house gift card and a $50 gift card to a movie theater or department store. This shows them you value them - a value you want reciprocated when they deliver your video to you.

If you do these things, you will dramatically increase the odds of getting your video before your kids are born.

Editing by a Volunteer?

Shooting the video is far more glamourous than editing it. Editing takes an enormous amount of time...and there's really no such thing as "spare time." The smart thing is to have a professional in mind as a back-up.