What sets me
apart from most of the other videographers?I am not your stereotypical wedding videographer! I have a diverse
professional background in: photography, television production, music (as a performer,
conductor, and composer) and audio recording and production.
Most wedding videographers come from some background other than
photography and arts. They literally become videographers! Unfortunately, a lot of
couples end up with videos like this because they just haven’t seen quality work.
Most wedding videos are shot by a part time camera person on the weekends.
Couples don’t talk to this person, they talk to the person who owns the company,
answers the phone, and sells them their video! When you talk to me, you’ll be
speaking to the person responsible for recording and creating your wedding video.
Not everyone is gifted with the same talent and abilities.
How many weddings per year do you
shoot?
To do high quality work like my clients expect
takes skill and talent. Something the average person shooting weddings
probably doesn't have. To maintain this level of quality I
must limit my work to
no more than 25-30 weddings per year. I'm not interested
in the stereotypical concept of "selling brides" and only offering
mediocrity at best. I'm sure you've seen a number of people including
photographers, D.J.'s, and entertainment agencies offering wedding videos. The
question you have to ask yourself here is: "Who is wearing what hat" (and what
will your video look like)?
Video and photography are not all created equal. Most
wedding video companies count on booking scores if not over a hundred
weddings per year. Some companies want to sell you Entertainment, Photography,
and Videography all under one roof..
This is the concept of "sell more brides". In reality, these
companies actually fulfill a market requirement and a legitimate need
for a certain percentage of the wedding industry.
When you talk to me it will be clear that I'm not out to sell you
anything.
We'll discuss the differences in what I call a "stereotypical wedding video" and
my style. My goal is listen to what you're looking for in a video. I'll be
honest in telling you exactly what I try to achieve when I make a video for
someone. You may be pleasantly surprised. I may not tell you exactly what you
want to hear, or I may open possibilities that you've never dreamed of, or
just didn't know really existed. Either way, you'll have a lot more information
than when you started, and that's what's important.
Do you use
bright lights?
NO! Typically, I use only ambient room lighting. I
never use lights at a ceremony. If it's light enough to see the
bride and groom, then that's all the newer line of professional cameras
need! I can show you many examples of some very popular locations
under candlelight situations.
How do you get your shots?
We've all seen the typical wedding where the videographer
goes up to each guest with a bright light and a microphone so they can
"say something to the bride and groom"... I call this "Molesting the
Guests". I rely on maintaining a low sense of visibility.
Guests are freely permitted to have a good time without feeling
uncomfortable with a camera around. I do not "stage" couples or
guests for shots. I spend most of my time looking for those
priceless shots that portray people in a natural light. This
sensitivity to couples and their guests allows me to get fantastic candid
shots that are characteristic of my work.
Most wedding videos that we've seen sounded
horrible.
I've seen videos where you could hear the bride and groom
but everything else,
including the music at the ceremony, was noisy and just not very clear. In most
cases the reception sounded terrible with the music stopping and starting. In some cases
the videographer just inserted shots of people dancing edited over pre-recorded music from a
CD.
Frightening but true... Most wedding video simply does not address the
issue of good audio quality. I'm not going to give away any trade secrets here, but
your ceremony should sound like a simulcast satellite broadcast. Many weddings are
extremely complicated when it comes to audio recording. The videographer has to deal
with audio (sound) coming from many different locations including: officiates, the
bride and groom, singers, readers, large organs, and often additional musicians like
string quartets and solo instruments, and in some instances entire congregations during
hymn singing.
When it comes to your reception, You can expect dynamite sound, whether
you're having a band or a DJ. Remember, I also have a music background and this
gives me a distinct advantage when it comes to making your video. I have recorded
live promo videos for groups like Mama Jama and the dance troupe, ESP.
How soon should we book our videographer (and
photographer)?
That's entirely up to you, but there are some points to consider. If
you think there's someone out there who is planning to have a wedding on the same day as
you, then start now!
There's a phrase that I like to use in making decisions like this. I
call it: "Getting the pick of the litter". I know, that refers to buying a
puppy... but think about it, by choosing now, you'll have a choice of who you want
to work with. If you wait, you'll have far less available options (if any).
You'll have to take what's left... not much of a choice! It's true, not every date
books up right away. Some procrastinators have been very fortunate to get me.
The truth is, there's really no way to know what dates will be the most popular.
What makes a good wedding video?
That's a very subjective question with no right answer. Each person
is different with different needs and expectations. Each videographer is different
in their inherent style and capabilities.
I personally believe a relaxed videojournalistic style works best for me.
Don't let the word relaxed fool you, I work extremely hard at what I do. I'm
referring to the imagery. I like to let the subjects (the people) be
"themselves". They are inherently more relaxed, spend less time thinking
about being "photographed" and look more natural. This philosophy,
combined with exceptional camera work and meticulous editing leads to having a video that
is artistic, natural and cinematographic (meaning movie-like). Your video should
speak volumes about your wedding day. It should also be a source of pride and a
delight to share with your friends.
800-357-4545
