When I started booking wedding in January and saw that May was going to be a packed month I knew that I had April to get the March weddings finished and out the door. In my last blog I said I had one down and one to go. Yesterday I met my goal and mailed out the finished video for my second March wedding. This wedding was the biggest wedding I had done to date. The video is over an hour long and most wedding videographers will try to keep the video to just about 45 minutes. The bride loved the video and only wanted to make one change. Seems that someone she was not very fond of popped his head into a shot and said hi to the bride and groom. She just wanted that removed and very happy with it otherwise.
I have talked in past blogs how important the "must-have-shoots" in your wedding video and that is one of the main reasons you need to have a professional videographer to shoot your wedding. By my count there are 22 must have shots, things like the bride coming down the aisle, the parents during the reciting of the vows and so on. There is a list of these must have shots and anyone who is a professional will know those shots without thinking about it. Anyone can get a list from the internet, but do you want your videographer looking at a list before each shot? Think about it, something is happening and you look up to see your videographer looking at a sheet of paper to know weather or not he should be shooting.
This is my last couple of days without having a wedding in front of me. All of the month of May is booked solid so this may be my last blog for a couple of weeks, but I will do my best to keep you up to date with how it is going.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
One Down.....
One of the March videos is finished and out the door. The wedding at the cabin is, as they say, in the can. I finished burning the last DVD today and boxed them up and sent them out. It is a good feeling having the video done. I take such ownership of the project when I am working on a video, I think about it all the time, it is all I focus on at times. My wife has to come and get me off the computer sometimes at night just to go to bed. Thus the name, Midnight Magic Video. When I started this, I was working a full time job (not that this is not a full time job, but a full time job at a corporation) and most days the only time I could work was at night and most of my best work was around midnight. My wife said that is when all the magic would happen, so the name just seemed to fit.
I am waiting on the other March wedding to tell me what if any changes she wants to make on her video. That is the part I get the most nervous about. Here is someone who is looking at something I have put long hours into and they are going to nick pick it apart. No one ever has, most times it is just some minor adjustments or a change of music. But, I still get nervous just the same.
I am waiting on the other March wedding to tell me what if any changes she wants to make on her video. That is the part I get the most nervous about. Here is someone who is looking at something I have put long hours into and they are going to nick pick it apart. No one ever has, most times it is just some minor adjustments or a change of music. But, I still get nervous just the same.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Why have a wedding videographer?
Well, to say I have been busy is an understatement. I have finished up the rough cut for both of the March weddings. The mountain cabin wedding video has been mailed and delivered. Now I just wait to see if she wants any changes. The second wedding rough cut is also finished, but the bride and groom have been busy trying to get back into the normal swing of things that we have not been able to get together and watch their video. Speaking of their video, it is the longest video I have done to date. Most videographers, myself included, like to keep wedding videos under an hour for the most part. If it goes over an hour, you tend to loose the audience. Well, this last video was hard to do that with since the ceremony was 45 minutes alone. With everything else we added to the video, it ended up being about an hour and 15 minutes long. WOW.
My wife and I went out this past Saturday night to see Sugerland in concert with some friends of ours. Their daughter baby sat our daughter that night for us. When we came home we were chatting with her and she was telling us about a wedding shower she went to that day. She said that the bride was looking at having a photographer but did not know if she wanted a videographer for her wedding. So our baby sitter told her about my business and that my wife is now doing wedding photography. The girl said she didn't think she needed a videographer. Our babysitter then asked me, "why should you have a wedding video done?"
I hear that question a lot, mostly at bridal fairs and wedding shows. I have one simple answer for that question. You are going to have a photographer at your wedding right? Of course, everyone does. Everyone wants to have photos to go back and look at and share with their friends and family. But, lets say your best friend was getting married, and for some reason you could not be there. You had something you just could not get out of and you were going to miss the whole day. When your friend came back from her honeymoon and you two got together, would you rather sit and look at her photos or her video?
Think about it, the pictures are great and capture a moment in time. They are artistic and can last a life time, but they only capture a second of time and more time than not, they are staged. The photographer studies long and hard to learn how to pose everyone for that perfect shot, the bride, the groom, the families and such. But, it is staged. What about that little moment you and your groom stole and you just looked at each other or you put your head on his shoulder while the photographer was setting up the next shot? What about the little kids running around or dancing during a song? Those are just a few things that the photographer will not get or can't capture the true feeling of the moment.
Also, think about this. You are planning a wedding you want to remember for ever. Your special day with that person you have looked long and hard for. Your day arrives and you are lost in all the preparation for the day, make up, hair, pictures, not to mention the actual ceremony itself. Shouldn't you get it see it as well? With a professional videographer, you will get to see everything you planned and get to see it the way your friends and family saw it. You can relive the vows that mean so much to you, the first dance you had as husband and wife with that song that reminds you of him. You can see the tear in your dads eye as he holds his little girl close for their special dance. These are emotions that a true professional videographer can capture for you on your most special of days.
So ask your self again, would you rather look at her pictures or her video?
My wife and I went out this past Saturday night to see Sugerland in concert with some friends of ours. Their daughter baby sat our daughter that night for us. When we came home we were chatting with her and she was telling us about a wedding shower she went to that day. She said that the bride was looking at having a photographer but did not know if she wanted a videographer for her wedding. So our baby sitter told her about my business and that my wife is now doing wedding photography. The girl said she didn't think she needed a videographer. Our babysitter then asked me, "why should you have a wedding video done?"
I hear that question a lot, mostly at bridal fairs and wedding shows. I have one simple answer for that question. You are going to have a photographer at your wedding right? Of course, everyone does. Everyone wants to have photos to go back and look at and share with their friends and family. But, lets say your best friend was getting married, and for some reason you could not be there. You had something you just could not get out of and you were going to miss the whole day. When your friend came back from her honeymoon and you two got together, would you rather sit and look at her photos or her video?
Think about it, the pictures are great and capture a moment in time. They are artistic and can last a life time, but they only capture a second of time and more time than not, they are staged. The photographer studies long and hard to learn how to pose everyone for that perfect shot, the bride, the groom, the families and such. But, it is staged. What about that little moment you and your groom stole and you just looked at each other or you put your head on his shoulder while the photographer was setting up the next shot? What about the little kids running around or dancing during a song? Those are just a few things that the photographer will not get or can't capture the true feeling of the moment.
Also, think about this. You are planning a wedding you want to remember for ever. Your special day with that person you have looked long and hard for. Your day arrives and you are lost in all the preparation for the day, make up, hair, pictures, not to mention the actual ceremony itself. Shouldn't you get it see it as well? With a professional videographer, you will get to see everything you planned and get to see it the way your friends and family saw it. You can relive the vows that mean so much to you, the first dance you had as husband and wife with that song that reminds you of him. You can see the tear in your dads eye as he holds his little girl close for their special dance. These are emotions that a true professional videographer can capture for you on your most special of days.
So ask your self again, would you rather look at her pictures or her video?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Inside Out
My last blog said I was going to be busy the last couple of weeks. Was I ever. I have had two weddings the past two weeks, one inside, one outside - sorta. The first wedding was in Wears Valley in the Smokey Mountains. When I booked the wedding, it was to be an inside wedding at a cabin. I knew going into this wedding that it would be a challenge since they were not going to have a rehearsal the night before. The rehearsal is very important to me so that I know what I need for the day, where my cameras will be and about how long I will be there. Well, with no rehearsal, it is really fly by the seat of my pants situation.
The wedding was supposed to be inside but when I got there, plans changed because it was such a beautiful day. The big problem (for me) was that the wedding was going to be on the deck with the view of the mountains in the background along with a big bright sun. SHADOWS are had to video tape. I don't have a light bright enough to overcome the sun. I definitely understood the couples decision to move outdoors because it was a stunning view... I was just concerned about how the video would come out. In the end, it went really well and was a lot of fun and Eli, a videographer working with me did a great job. We got great footage. Brenda, the coordinator, is wonderful to work with and this was my first time working with Carlos, the photographer. We all worked great as a team and I'm really looking forward to the other weddings that I have booked with them in the coming months.
The wedding this past weekend was indoors and just as much fun, the bride and groom were wonderful to work with as was the family and bridal party. Again, Eli was wonderful... he's been a huge help.
So far I am ahead of where i thought I would be in editing the videos. Editing is the best part for me. I get lost in the creativity of it all. I love working with people and being a part of their excitement of the big day - but my real passion is editing and coming up with a product that they will hopefully cherish for a lifetime.
More later.
Don
The wedding was supposed to be inside but when I got there, plans changed because it was such a beautiful day. The big problem (for me) was that the wedding was going to be on the deck with the view of the mountains in the background along with a big bright sun. SHADOWS are had to video tape. I don't have a light bright enough to overcome the sun. I definitely understood the couples decision to move outdoors because it was a stunning view... I was just concerned about how the video would come out. In the end, it went really well and was a lot of fun and Eli, a videographer working with me did a great job. We got great footage. Brenda, the coordinator, is wonderful to work with and this was my first time working with Carlos, the photographer. We all worked great as a team and I'm really looking forward to the other weddings that I have booked with them in the coming months.
The wedding this past weekend was indoors and just as much fun, the bride and groom were wonderful to work with as was the family and bridal party. Again, Eli was wonderful... he's been a huge help.
So far I am ahead of where i thought I would be in editing the videos. Editing is the best part for me. I get lost in the creativity of it all. I love working with people and being a part of their excitement of the big day - but my real passion is editing and coming up with a product that they will hopefully cherish for a lifetime.
More later.
Don
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Real busy the next couple of weeks
The past couple of weeks have been very busy for me. I did a shoot for the concert my daughters school had. My daughter was not in the concert, she was at vision camp, but I had a great time shooting the concert. The kids did a great job and it was fun to watch them put on their best.
I have been spending the better part of the past two weeks putting the video together and making the DVD's. I had a deadline to get it done because I have two weddings in the next two weeks. The one this weekend is an informal wedding in a huge cabin. I am looking forward to this in the fact that I am doing it by the seat of my pants this time. No rehearsal the night before, so everything will be done as we go. That is fun.
The next wedding is more formal in a big historic church. The bride is really nice and just so laid back about her wedding.
I plan to have both of these weddings done by the end of April because of the crazy month of May I have in front of me.
Hope everyone has a great Easter.
I have been spending the better part of the past two weeks putting the video together and making the DVD's. I had a deadline to get it done because I have two weddings in the next two weeks. The one this weekend is an informal wedding in a huge cabin. I am looking forward to this in the fact that I am doing it by the seat of my pants this time. No rehearsal the night before, so everything will be done as we go. That is fun.
The next wedding is more formal in a big historic church. The bride is really nice and just so laid back about her wedding.
I plan to have both of these weddings done by the end of April because of the crazy month of May I have in front of me.
Hope everyone has a great Easter.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
What's it like?
This has been a busy week so far. I have finished up a photo montage for a wedding at the end of March, doing some pre-planing for my very busy May. I have a wedding EVERY weekend in May right up into the first part of June. I am thrilled and more than excited. I know it is going to be a LOT of work, but I am looking forward to it.
The other day I was talking with a friend while our kids were playing together. She asked me how things were going and how busy I was getting. I told her about what was going on in May/June. She asked me what was involved in getting ready to shot a wedding and I did when I was working at the wedding. So, I thought I would share with you what a wedding video shoot is like and how much work is really involved.
It all starts about a month before the wedding is scheduled, I send out a short questionnaire to the bride and groom. This gives me a chance to get to know them a bit better, who they are and how their video should reflect them. I start thinking about how I want the shoot to go, how I want the video to look and what kind of shots I need to make it look that way. I make a list of all the shots I want, what I will need equipment wise to get that shot. I also make a list of everything I will need that day, equipment, any food or drink I need for myself and the person working with me, if I need someone with me. I start checking the weather for the day to see if I need any special weather gear or not.
The week of the wedding, I try to contact the bride to go over any last minute changes I need to be aware of, what time is the rehearsal, and do they need anything from me. I start going over my equipment making sure everything is working correctly. I calculate how many video tapes I will need, charge all my batteries and that everything on my list is ready to go.
The day of the wedding is usually a long day. I try to get to the venue about 2 1/2 hours before the bride gets there, this gives me a chance to set up my equipment in an out of the way area, go over my shot list with my assistant if I have one with me. I get some establishing shots of the venue, prep of the location, meet with the location coordinator about any restrictions they might have in place. Once the bride arrives, things really kicks into high gear. I start going down my shot list to start getting the 22 must have shots, keeping an eye out for both the special moment shots and B-roll shots. I then get the groom, go over a few things with him, mic either him or the officiant up, then go and get the equipment set for the wedding ceremony itself.
After the ceremony is done, I continue to stay with the bride and groom while they are doing the family photos. This is when some of the most emotional and romantic shots come from. Then its time to head to the reception, still keeping an eye open for anything and everything that goes on. I get a short break during dinner as no one wants to see their friends and family eating on their video. I am there at the reception until the bride and groom leave for the night.
When the reception ends, my work is just starting. Now I have to download the video onto my computer, go through all the video to look for any problems that my be present and fix it. Start to put the clips together in a way that tells the story of the day, add the music, sync the audio to the video, do the titles, go over the video any where from 30 to 50 times looking for anything and everything. It all has to look and feel just right. Once the video is done, then I have to put it on a DVD, create the menus, put any motion to those menus, add any music and/or photos, go over the DVD 15 to 30 more times, make any additional changes to give it just the right feel so that the bride and groom can relive that emotional day. Then I do all the authoring of the DVD, etch the label and then deliver the finished DVD to the bride.
When all that is done, it starts all over again for the next wedding. So the next time you wonder what I do and why it may be a long time between blog posting, now you know.
The other day I was talking with a friend while our kids were playing together. She asked me how things were going and how busy I was getting. I told her about what was going on in May/June. She asked me what was involved in getting ready to shot a wedding and I did when I was working at the wedding. So, I thought I would share with you what a wedding video shoot is like and how much work is really involved.
It all starts about a month before the wedding is scheduled, I send out a short questionnaire to the bride and groom. This gives me a chance to get to know them a bit better, who they are and how their video should reflect them. I start thinking about how I want the shoot to go, how I want the video to look and what kind of shots I need to make it look that way. I make a list of all the shots I want, what I will need equipment wise to get that shot. I also make a list of everything I will need that day, equipment, any food or drink I need for myself and the person working with me, if I need someone with me. I start checking the weather for the day to see if I need any special weather gear or not.
The week of the wedding, I try to contact the bride to go over any last minute changes I need to be aware of, what time is the rehearsal, and do they need anything from me. I start going over my equipment making sure everything is working correctly. I calculate how many video tapes I will need, charge all my batteries and that everything on my list is ready to go.
The day of the wedding is usually a long day. I try to get to the venue about 2 1/2 hours before the bride gets there, this gives me a chance to set up my equipment in an out of the way area, go over my shot list with my assistant if I have one with me. I get some establishing shots of the venue, prep of the location, meet with the location coordinator about any restrictions they might have in place. Once the bride arrives, things really kicks into high gear. I start going down my shot list to start getting the 22 must have shots, keeping an eye out for both the special moment shots and B-roll shots. I then get the groom, go over a few things with him, mic either him or the officiant up, then go and get the equipment set for the wedding ceremony itself.
After the ceremony is done, I continue to stay with the bride and groom while they are doing the family photos. This is when some of the most emotional and romantic shots come from. Then its time to head to the reception, still keeping an eye open for anything and everything that goes on. I get a short break during dinner as no one wants to see their friends and family eating on their video. I am there at the reception until the bride and groom leave for the night.
When the reception ends, my work is just starting. Now I have to download the video onto my computer, go through all the video to look for any problems that my be present and fix it. Start to put the clips together in a way that tells the story of the day, add the music, sync the audio to the video, do the titles, go over the video any where from 30 to 50 times looking for anything and everything. It all has to look and feel just right. Once the video is done, then I have to put it on a DVD, create the menus, put any motion to those menus, add any music and/or photos, go over the DVD 15 to 30 more times, make any additional changes to give it just the right feel so that the bride and groom can relive that emotional day. Then I do all the authoring of the DVD, etch the label and then deliver the finished DVD to the bride.
When all that is done, it starts all over again for the next wedding. So the next time you wonder what I do and why it may be a long time between blog posting, now you know.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Price alone should not make the difference.......
Things have been really busy the past couple of weeks for me and I have to say, I am very happy. I have loved meeting brides and in some cases, their mothers. I have been very happy with the response to both the ad in the Premier Bride Magazine and to the bridal fair this past January. I was hoping that things would go well, but I have to admit I am surprised at just how well they are going.
I have been getting a lot of emails and phone calls asking about availability and price. I don't mind answering those or any other questions about Midnight Magic Video. I have been noticing that the first question that most people ask is "what is the cost of your packages?" I know that is an important question to ask, but I have had discussions with brides that tell me that price is their one deciding factor in choosing a videographer. I have to wonder why some brides are basing who they choose to video their wedding based on price alone.
Let's face facts, most videographers use the same type of equipment, digital video cameras, wireless microphones, and some type of editing suite. How the videographer uses this equipment is the real difference in who you choose to shoot your wedding. Let me explain it this way: lets say you are going out to buy a new car, you go to a near by dealership and tell them what your looking for. The salesperson finds the car your looking for with all the bells and whistles you want on the car, but right next to it, is the exact same car, with the same bells and whistles the other one has, the same color and everything. The big difference is one car is priced at $1800 and the other one is priced at $400. Are you going to choose the $400 car? Most will choose the $1800 car for a number of reasons. Now, I know that a $1800 car is not a great car, but I am just using it as an example. Most people would not choose the $400 car because they know how unreliable a $400 car can be. How that car will be more trouble than a more expensive car can be.
When you choose a videographer based on price alone you are taking a risk in the type of video your going to get. If you pay $400 for a wedding video, your going to get a $400 video. I am not saying you should pick a videographer on price alone, you should look at their demo video, and ask to see the last wedding they did. Look to see what their style is like, how do they shoot the wedding. Is it a style that fits how you want your video? Are you comfortable with the person that is going to shoot your wedding? Do they know how to use their equipment correctly? Do they have any special training on their equipment? These are some of the questions you should ask the videographer your looking at wanting to hire.
Let me share with you a story of a bride who chose the $400 videographer. This bride comes from a very well to do family in the area, Money was not a huge concern but, the bride wanted to save some money in her wedding planning. The videographer she choose showed up the day of the wedding having not gone to the rehearsal to plan out where to get the best shot or where everyone is going to be during the ceremony. He also showed up with just one hand held camcorder. When she got the final video a couple weeks later she knew she made a mistake, he didn't get a shot of the bride coming down the aisle, He used just the microphone on his camera to get sound from the wedding, needless to say she did not hear a single word of her wedding vows. When she asked for him to fix it, he tried, but it is hard to fix bad camera work. You only have one, and only ONE chance to capture your wedding on video. She will never get to see that day the way she wanted. She got a $400 video.
I hoping to hear from more new brides in the up coming weeks.
I have been getting a lot of emails and phone calls asking about availability and price. I don't mind answering those or any other questions about Midnight Magic Video. I have been noticing that the first question that most people ask is "what is the cost of your packages?" I know that is an important question to ask, but I have had discussions with brides that tell me that price is their one deciding factor in choosing a videographer. I have to wonder why some brides are basing who they choose to video their wedding based on price alone.
Let's face facts, most videographers use the same type of equipment, digital video cameras, wireless microphones, and some type of editing suite. How the videographer uses this equipment is the real difference in who you choose to shoot your wedding. Let me explain it this way: lets say you are going out to buy a new car, you go to a near by dealership and tell them what your looking for. The salesperson finds the car your looking for with all the bells and whistles you want on the car, but right next to it, is the exact same car, with the same bells and whistles the other one has, the same color and everything. The big difference is one car is priced at $1800 and the other one is priced at $400. Are you going to choose the $400 car? Most will choose the $1800 car for a number of reasons. Now, I know that a $1800 car is not a great car, but I am just using it as an example. Most people would not choose the $400 car because they know how unreliable a $400 car can be. How that car will be more trouble than a more expensive car can be.
When you choose a videographer based on price alone you are taking a risk in the type of video your going to get. If you pay $400 for a wedding video, your going to get a $400 video. I am not saying you should pick a videographer on price alone, you should look at their demo video, and ask to see the last wedding they did. Look to see what their style is like, how do they shoot the wedding. Is it a style that fits how you want your video? Are you comfortable with the person that is going to shoot your wedding? Do they know how to use their equipment correctly? Do they have any special training on their equipment? These are some of the questions you should ask the videographer your looking at wanting to hire.
Let me share with you a story of a bride who chose the $400 videographer. This bride comes from a very well to do family in the area, Money was not a huge concern but, the bride wanted to save some money in her wedding planning. The videographer she choose showed up the day of the wedding having not gone to the rehearsal to plan out where to get the best shot or where everyone is going to be during the ceremony. He also showed up with just one hand held camcorder. When she got the final video a couple weeks later she knew she made a mistake, he didn't get a shot of the bride coming down the aisle, He used just the microphone on his camera to get sound from the wedding, needless to say she did not hear a single word of her wedding vows. When she asked for him to fix it, he tried, but it is hard to fix bad camera work. You only have one, and only ONE chance to capture your wedding on video. She will never get to see that day the way she wanted. She got a $400 video.
I hoping to hear from more new brides in the up coming weeks.
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