Archive for August, 2009
Valentin & Angela Wedding Photo Shoot// Atlanta, GA
Hello everybody! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. I know I did…we had family come down from Washington state.
This was a wedding we filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. This video is only a small excerpt from the whole wedding- it’s the photo shoot. While the photographers were doing their work we were behind the scenes, capturing all the beautiful smiles. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer couple to work with.
You can see their official music video and more at the TouchDream blog.
Hope you liked it. Comments are welcome, as always.
Anna
Understanding Our Equipment: DOF Lens
The next piece of equipment I want to briefly explain is the 35mm adapter DOF with a 50mm lens. If you are not familiar with this it may sound complicated at first, but it’s really not. You see it in most videos, movies and photography; but you may not have known the term for it.
Very simply: DOF stands for depth of field. This special lens allows the camera to focus on a particular subject while keeping everything else blurry. Depending on the aperture, we can have a large DOF (a lot is in focus) or a small DOF (objects in one distance are in focus). This is a very nice effect that helps accent what’s important in each video.
This is a very brief clip of a DOF test. David was just messing around with the lens, but you can definately see a difference. His subjects: his wife and their brand new (at the time) baby boy, Joseph.
If you haven’t before, you will also notice this effect on our videos. It is our goal to completely master the lens to perfect our wedding videos.
Igor
Exchanging Rings On Your Wedding Day
Ah..First day of school. My six year old just went to the first day of first grade (sigh). It’s much quieter at home now. All you mom’s and dad’s know what I’m talking about.
OK, tip for today..
Most likely zero percent of couples practice exchanging rings prior to their ceremony, but it’s actually not a bad idea. Sometimes we see the bride and groom struggle at the altar trying to wiggle the ring on the others’ finger. Once (and I’m totally serious) we had a bride who after much effort still could not fit the ring on her grooms finger and so he took the ring and squeezed it on his own hand! The congregation sure had a good laugh. 
Rarely does this happen completely effortlessly, but if you practice before your ceremony (there is no unspoken rule against this, right?) you have more chance of it going smoothly….hence, a better flowing wedding video.
Hope this helps,
Anna
Wedding Videography Not In Your Budget?…Think Again!
Many people claim that wedding videography is not in their budget. For whatever reason they have ruled it off of their priority list. But it dosen’t always have to be this way. Here is something you can try…
There is a sort of people who are afraid (or embarrassed) to ask for price breaks or discounts. If you are one of those people and you have ruled videography out of your budget, to you I say this- Get over it and just ask!
Here are some reasons why videographers may just give you a price break:
- “Last Minute Deals” If your wedding is two weeks away and the videographer of your choice is not booked, there is a good chance he/she might give you a deal. Especially if they are in your local area.
- “Promotions” Sometimes companies have promotions which are not advertised on their websites. For example, when we at TouchDream go to a wedding show, often times we have a promotion of 10% off for that particular month. It’s not on our website, but it’s still there. That 10% could make a huge difference for your budget.
- “Local Deals” If you live in the same city that the videographer is stationed in, there might be a benefit to that. Some videographers honor the fact that you chose to go local instead of hiring from out of city or state.
Again, all you have to do is ask. It’s that easy. What the worst that will happen? They can say “no”. If that happens then just move on. But there is always the chance they will say “yes”.
You never know…
Anna
First Birthday Party//Same Day Edit
Sometimes we get to do something completely out of the ordinary. In this case, we filmed a birthday party for returning clients. Their son, Timmy, was turning one and they wanted it professionally captured. I really had fun with this same day edit.
In any case, we love seeing old faces again 
Igor
10 Tips for Looking Great on Camera on your Wedding Day
Happy Saturday to you. 
OK, Let’s say your your wedding day is around the corner. You want to make sure you do everything you can to look stunning on camera, right? Here are some easy to follow tips from the pros. Since it’s not really our place to advise you during your wedding, we still want you to be well prepared for the camera.
- DO Look At Each Other. Many brides and grooms can go the whole ceremony with eyes glued on the officiant. While it is courteous to look at the person who is speaking to you, don’t forget- you are marrying each other. If possible, turn your bodies to face each other. That way you can respectfully listen to your officiant, but spend most of the ceremony gazing at your soon-to-be-spouse. Trust me, you’ll be much happier with a video that shows you exchanging meaningful looks with your partner rather than your officiant.
- DON’T Chew Gum. Nothing ruins an otherwise beautiful video faster than a bridal party full of gum chewers. Picture this: A row of impeccably dressed bridesmaids or groomsmen, softy and earnestly chomping through your wedding ceremony. Or worse yet, a beautiful bride and dashing groom gnashing through their vows. While a skilled videographer will edit unflattering moments out of your video, a pack of gum just means less footage to choose from. If you have to- use mints or breath strips. Just make sure your wedding is a gum free zone!
- DO Stay Sober. Yes, you’re nervous. Yes, you’re celebrating. And yes, you are likely to say or do something less than elegant on camera. If you insist on taking a few sips- keep the indulgence to a minimum. You’ve hired a videographer to capture every spontaneous moment, make sure they see you at your best.
- DON’T Chat With Bridemaids/Groomsmen On Stage. This may seem common sense, but you may be surprised at how much of this we see. It looks childish- take our word for it.
- DON”T Slouch. Don’t even think about slouching. If you think this may be a problem for you, work out some sort of silent code with your maid of honor so she can help you stay slouch-free.
- DON’T Be Left In The Dark. Here is how it looks in your imagination: You and your groom holding hands as you say your vows in the twilight, the sun a small speck on the horizon. Here is how it looks on video: A white dress floats alone in a sea of darkness. I know it’s harsh, but a camera needs light- so if you want to capture an outdoor ceremony on video, make sure it takes place while the sun is still shining or else illuminated by plenty of extra lighting. As you finalize details with your videographer, be candid about what the wedding environment will be like and listen to their lighting recommendations.
- DO Remember That You’re On Camera At All Times. Another one that seems common sense, but sometimes a bride forgets about the camera and the videographer captures a very unhappy, angry or inappropriate scene. Keep it in the back of your mind at all times. This is not to say that you need be some sort of a doll- always smiling, but so you don’t get embarrassed watching yourself later on camera. Again, trust us- it’s for the best.
- DON’T Get Too Lazy And Tired For Pics/Video. Being beautiful is hard work. Hard work is tiring, we know this. But no matter how tired you are- you already paid your photographer and videographer, so don’t get lazy for the camera! If you get careless, you will seriously regret doing so.
- DO Make Sure Your Dress Dosen’t Offer Sneak Peaks. I might of mentioned this one before, but it’s pretty important. Why would you want to watch (not to mention show others) an embarrassing wedding video of yourself? Just avoid it altogether and make sure your dress is well fit. Practice sitting, walking, dancing, bending over and hugging in it.
- DO Mic Your Soloists And Readers. Your BFF is thrilled to be singing at your wedding and your brother has been practicing your favorite poem for weeks. They both have strong, clear voices, so there is no need for a microphone, right? Wrong. By using a mic, not only will your guests better enjoy the poems and songs, but your video will clearly record it. Without one, everything seems extremely distant or are lost completely- especially outdoors.
I hope these have helped you see things from our point of view and maybe even helped you see things a little differently about your video.
Maybe you have something to add to the list for other brides reading this. Go ahead and leave a comment with your tip for others.
Thanks for stopping by, Anna
Understanding Our Equipment: The Glidecam 4000 Pro
We have been using the Glidecam system for some time now, but not everyone understands exactly what it is and why it’s important. I will explain.
The glidecam is a stabalizing system which can be used as hand held or with a vest(like in the video). It allows us to film traveling shots smoothly and gracefully without all the jerking you would normally get. The system is very versitile and allows us to move it up and down or side to side enabling the camera to glide in the air and capture steady and professional footage for your wedding video. The vest is an extra support system used for longer periods of filming. The screen that you will see in the video is an extra peice and is not always used.
This video (not done by TouchDream) aims to show you exactly how it works and demonstrates the kind of super smooth shots we are able to get. Notice towards the end how the camera glides smoothly while the camera man is running. Can you imagine how this would look with just a hand held camera?
With this technology we are able to take our wedding videos to the next level of professionalism. This is definately NOT your uncle Bobs vidoegraphy.
I will be back with more on the Glidecam soon…
Anna
Vendor Hunting: Communication is Key
Hello there. Today, I want to share an essential tip about looking for vendors. If you are on the hunt for a videographer, photographer, wedding consultant or any other vendor that does a lot of their communication via email or phone- I urge you to test them. That’s right. Communication is the key so go ahead- email them, call them.
Then, ask yourself:
- “Were they easy to contact?”
- “How long did it take for them to respond to my email/phone call?”
- “Did they hesitate in letting me contact their previous clients?”
Liene Stevens in her Lessons Learned post said, “Take people at their actions, not at their word. Hopefully the two will align; often they do not.” She is absolutely right! Whether you have one question or many, you have every right to be choosy- so don’t be afraid. A lot of times the vendors’ communication reflect their priorities. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t want a team of videographers that I can’t get in touch with in a reasonable time frame.
I, personally, have my own goals about communicating with my clients. I give myself one business day to respond to any email or a phone call. Dosen’t matter- urgent or not. If you have any questions or inquiries for us you can contact TouchDream or email me directly at anna@touchdream.com (Test Me)
Anna
Vendor Spotlight- Elegant Union Photography
In case you ever wondered who takes alot of the awesome pictures you see on our blog, I want to introduce to you- Elegant Union Photography.
We have worked very closely with Elegant Union for years now and have developed not only a great business relationship, but also a great friendship! They are a great team of artists who don’t settle for “good” pictures and make your satisfaction a top priority. If you are looking for photographers with style, passion, and personality to match- look no further, we have found your answer!
Here are a few pictures of the awesome work that Elegant Union presents. My favorite is the third one. It looks like the perfect destination wedding. (And don’t you just love the feel of the atmosphere in the second one?)
For a full portfolio of work and more information go to www.elegantunion.com. You won’t regret it!
More later, Anna
New Wedding Music Video// Inman, SC
Today the realization hit me that summer is almost over. 
My oldest son, Nicholas, can’t wait until school starts back up. And while we take a vacation from school, we don’t take time off from weddings….
Here is one of our latest music videos, shot in South Carolina. Towards the end of the video you will see some shots taken using a crane.
I hope your summer has been as good as mine, so far.
Anna