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Professional Wedding Videography- Do Your Research
Any decision concerning your wedding should obviously done with careful thought. It is always wise to do your research and get advice and referrals from others. Videography is no different.
A good start would be to ask other brides/grooms. Start with the ones you know and then consider joining web forums to get more opinions. You can also ask videographers for a list of their recent brides you can contact. It is important to cosider each opinion, whether they got professional services or not.
When you talk to recent brides they will most likely overflow with information about their wedding and the services they had. Here is a list of some questions to ask recent brides:
- If you had to pick between photography or videography, which would you choose?
- Why did you choose to have professional videography?
- How did you find your videographer?
- If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently about your videography arrangements (if anything)?
- Were there any particular things you had in mind when shopping around for videography?
- What differences did you see between different videographers as you interviewed them?
- What “lessons-learned” have you come up with concerning your wedding videography?
- Do you know of any recent brides that wouldn’t mind answering these same questions?
After talking to several people, you will already start to develope a good idea of what you need to be looking for. This will give you a great start on your own search for professional wedding videography.
Igor
Watching Your Bride Walk Down The Isle
This post is for all the grooms out there. Everybody knows that most classic wedding day milestone of all time is probably the bride walking down the isle. The bride especially knows this. And so should you. Believe it or not, there are grooms out there who get distracted just before this moment, and for whatever reason are not looking at the bride as she is entering the room. The bride, obviously, has trouble understanding why her husband-to-be is preoccupied with something else. (OK. Can I just make a confession right here..I am one of those guys! I know! What was I thinking? Well take it from someone with experience- you wife will not never let you forget it.)
Anyway, since the groom usually finds himself “killing time” in the moments leading up to her grand entrance, it is hard to keep completely quiet and focused. Many grooms are likely to carry a conversation with his best man or the officiant in a muffled manner, but DON’T DO IT! Don’t forget that you are wearing a wireless mic that picks up even whispers. Later, when your video is being put together, all of your distractions and conversations will be evident. (Yes, we can edit those parts out, but the wife says the grooms have to be warned. 
)
In the end you will both be happier if you just stick to the plan. And if you don’t, well, good luck..
Igor
Preserving The Toast From Your Wedding Reception
There are parts of your wedding that can ONLY be captured by video. For example, the toasts at your reception.
Usually the best man and the maid of honor write their toasts and practice them ahead of time. They are meaningful. They are memorable. These memories are seldom preserved in any form and are usually lost with fading memories. But imagine hearing these endearing messages many years after the wedding reception. And not just hearing them, but hearing them with quality unavailable with home videos.
Sometimes toasts are serious and emotional, but other times they are just plain funny. Here is what one best man said:
“Apparently, it’s my duty to offer a small piece of advice to the groom and Kevin will be pleased to know that a successful marriage can be compared to football: be fully committed every week and make sure you score every Saturday. However, Jenna assures me that playing away from home could result in a serious groin injury and is definitely the quickest way onto the transfer list!”
Another aspect of your wedding that can ONLY be captured by video are your wedding vows. Without video, those vows will only survive through the power of your memory (and a few pictures, frozen in time).
Those are just two more reasons to seriously consider videography a top priority for your wedding.
Again, thanks for reading,
Anna
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
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
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
Audio Distinctions in a Wedding Video// part 2
There are truly awesome audio systems out there, but even the best modern technology cannot compare to the human audio system.
When enjoying nature on a hike through a wildlife setting we can hear birds chirping, water gently trinkling in a creek and so many other sounds of nature. We feel comforted by those sounds as we enjoy our hike. However, try to capture the same experience to video and you are in for a rude awakening.
When you play back what you have captured in nature, it is almost certain that in some spots of the video you will hear disturbing overhead aircraft sounds. Then you wonder to yourself,”Those airplanes were not there when I captured the video; how did they get in?” The answer is that the airplanes were indeed there the whole time, but you did not notice them. Your brain is so amazing that it masked out those noises to allow you to enjoy the nature sounds. The technology does not exist to do the same for your video, however…
In the edit room we can stimulate the audio masking out or at least reduce some isolated sounds until they become insignificant. In some cases we can even remove them completely. Technology allows us to do radical things to the audio track of video, but none can still compare to the brain.
It makes me appreciate all the more what an amazing creation we are!
Igor
Audio Distinctions in a Wedding Video// part 1
Hey there! Before I start the post I just wanted to apologize for temporarily disappearing on you. We went on a little trip to the wilderness and were promised wi-fi. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. It was a real disappointment. Thanks for understanding! :]
OK… One of the best reasons why uncle Bob should not be your wedding videographer is audio. Your uncle’s home camera will catch any and all sounds from everywhere and while viewing it later, you will not be able to hear a distinction between your voices at the alter and the guests seated next to your uncle.
The audio that accompanies a professionally procuced video is a critical component in developing the overall quality of a wedding video. A viewer can easily ignore a slight color irregularity in the video but they will not be able to tune out the sound of an overhead ventilation or some other distractions that you cannot help.
One of the things a bride and groom should consider (but few acually ask) in audio as it applies to wedding videography is the question of microphones. Consider the typical wedding video showing the couple exchanging vows. Whenever possible, we tap into the sound mixer to capture any audio going into the public address system. This would certainly include the couple the couple as they exchange their vows. However, the microphones usually used by churches are designed for clarity in public address and will not deliver the richness of the human voice.
Red arrow points to the microphone
For this reason we place a wireless microphone on the groom and sometimes the officiant also. The wireless microphones we use are designed to capture the richness of the human voice which in turn adds new depth to the viewing experience. Even whispers can be heard as if the viewer were at the alter with the couple!
This is definately a component you cannot afford to overlook.
Stay tuned for more in part 2 of audio distinctions in a wedding video…
Igor
Those Who Claim to be the “Best”
Hello there. We are back and settled from a long road trip. All went well, and the wedding was beautiful…
I don’t know about you but I love being inspired. Even though we all love our jobs, once in a while we need to “renew that first love”, right? That is why I love watching awesome wedding videos, learning new techniques, moves, ideas, etc. So as I was doing this, the other day, I came across a website who claimed to be the “best” videographers ever. That made me think.
The claim could be well deserved. However, words are cheap and a well advised seeker of any type of service will need to pursue the reasoning behind such a claim. But how does one proceed to verify such?
Client testimonials are valuable tools to use in evaluating the worth of a videographer in many respects.
Consider the task of finding a dentist. Not many people would be willing to submit their dental care to one simply found in the Yellow Pages who claims to be the best. It would be more wise to seek those who have had a wide exposure to many dentists’ work and gain a referral from them.
Generally speaking, it is wise to simply ignore claims to greatness but rather look for verifiable evidence to support notoriety. Testimonials, quality of work, and the prices to match.
Here is what one satisfied customer had to say to us:
“Dear TouchDream, Thank you so much for our wedding video, it was just amazing. Our special day was captured in a way we never dreamed possible. Now we have a gift that we can look back at and remember like it was yesterday. After searching forever for the perfect videographer, we are so glad we found you. Your care in detail was seen in every shot and the music video that captures all the highlights was exquisite. We will highly recommend you to everyone we know. Thanks again, Gene and Zory”
And they did (recommend us)
Well, that’s it for today. Have a good day, everyone!
Anna