One thing that I notice when talking with other videographers or looking at their work it how different we all are, even if we are covering the same thing.  When viewing someone else’s video, I often think “why don’t I edit that way?” or “I would never thought of using that camera angle”. The fact is that as individuals, we each bring a different way of looking at things.

Like most of us, I am influenced by what I see my peers doing, as well as what I see on television or in the movies. All of this affects my own style. But that doesn’t mean that I am copying others. I have my own style because that is how my mind works. I can’t (and would not want to) get inside someone else’s head.  So, what I produce is my own way of seeing things. And that is true for everyone else in this industry.

 My style is what I would call “cinematic/documentary”. It uses a lot of music, soft imagery, slow motion. I believe that I appeal to the bride who wants a soft, romantic story of her wedding day. That said, I have been making some changes. I have been using less slow motion, and have been adding more fast cuts (particularly during the reception coverage). Why? Because of what I have seen others doing. I liked what I saw and want to incorporate this into my own style. But it is still my style.

What does this mean for the bride and groom looking for a videographer to cover their wedding? The important thing is that they find someone who’s work fits their personality. Some couples want soft/romantic, others fast/cutting edge, others do not want anything more than a basic no-frills record of the day, without any interpretation (we can give you that in our Basic Package). When shopping for a videographer, the first stop should be to visit their website. Many videographers have samples  right on the site (including us). If they don’t or you can’t view them online, call and ask for a sample DVD. Even if you can’t afford them, look at samples for the top videographers in the country (try Googling “EventDV 25″). Now most of us are not in that rarefied category, but we still produce very fine work. What it comes down to is simply what do you like. What moves you. It is a personal decision. There is no one right or wrong style. It comes down to how you would like YOUR wedding day to be recorded.

Beyond basic competence, it really is all about our style fitting your style. If you educate yourself on the range of styles that we are doing, it will be easier to find that videographer who is “just right” for you.

I haven’t been posting on this blog much recently. Work (both video and non-video) and family issues have been keeping me away from here. Well I am going to keep this blog updated on a more frequent basis. Currently I am working on a redesign of the bonnie-blink.com website using WordPress, not just for the blog, but for the entire site. This should go live in the next few days.

We have also made a few changes with Bonnie Blink Productions. For one thing we have started the move towards High Definition production. A Canon XH-A1 camera has been purchased and we hope to add another in the coming months. This will enable us to film an entire wedding in HD. While we will shoot and edit in HD, we will still deliver standard definition DVDs that can be viewed on any television. While it appears that BluRay will win the HiDef DVD format war, most people do not have BluRay (or HD-DVD) players yet. We hope to be able to provide HD video content to those who do however. One thing that the move to HD will do though, is to allow us to shoot in widescreen, perfect for those widescreen televisions.

We are also restructuring our Deluxe Package. In the past we have offered in addition to the Highlights video, a Documentary style video of the complete ceremony and main reception events. This was presented as a single long program, similar to what we deliver with the Basic Package. In the future we will be dividing this up into individual segments (ceremony, first dance, toasts etc.) for easier access.  Other than that, it will be the same content.

The 8 to 12 hours that we typically spend shooting on the wedding day is only a fraction of the time spent producting a wedding day movie. Most of it is in the editing phase. This often runs anywhere from 40 to 80 hours.

In the beginning, much of this is routine, even tedious. After the footage has been captured into the computer, I have to go through all of it and pick out what I want to use. Then it is assembled into a rough cut. The next step is to refine this into what we call our “Documentary Style” program. This means that we edit the day’s events in chronological order, keeping all the major events, but cutting it in a way that keeps the video interesting. At the end of this phase we usually have a program that is from 1 to 2 hours in length.

If our client has ordered the Basic Package, we have completed most of the editing. If they are getting the Deluxe or Premium Package, we have just begun. Here we start on the Highlights program. Even though this only runs anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, it takes longer to edit. Why? Because this is where the artistry comes in. The Highlights program doesn’t document the day, it tells a story, the wedding story.

For me editing the Highlights is the biggest challenge. Distilling the essence of the wedding can be frustrating at first, but soon it all comes together and I have something that I am truly proud of. Most of all however, is what the couple will have. Perhaps fifty or sixty years from now, long after I am gone, they or their children and granchildren will still treasure it.

That is the real reward.

I returned Friday from the WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographers Association) Expo in Las Vegas. As always, I spent most of my time attending seminars (gambling and Vegas shows don’t really appeal to me). This year attendance was up. The show moved back to Bally’s after being at Mandalay Bay last year, and the Hilton the previous year.This was a good move, as Mandalay Bay was not set up well for this type of convention. Too much walking. At Bally’s the conference rooms were right downstairs.

Here are some of the seminars that I attended that I feel will make an impact on our work:

Canon A1 seminar with Rob Neal. A good introduction to the camera that we will probably purchase when we make the move to HD.

Tim Sudall’s excellent seminar called Destination Success. Very inspirational.

Soundtrack Pro with Larry Jordan. One of the best that I was at. I have been wrestling with this audio application from Apple for awhile now. In one hour I learned enough to make it useful.

Blogging For Videographers with Ron and Tasra Dawson. An excellent seminar on improving my blog. Should be a big help here.

Moving Camera Techniques with Mark and Tricia Van Lanken. As always, the Van Lankens put together an informative program on making wedding video more cinematic.

There was also a “mock wedding” where 12 experts demonstrated techniques for getting better ceremony and reception coverage.

Every year local videographers associations compete to produce a 60 second commercial for wedding videography. I am pleased to note that our local orgranization, The Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association, won for the second year in a row.

Every year in August, videographers from around the world gather in Las Vegas for the Wedding and Event Videographers Association Expo. This year it is being held from Aug 13 to 16. Like any convention in Vegas, there are plenty of distractions, but the main purpose is educational. Last year I attended and learned more in three days than I could do anywhere else.   

So I will be going again this year. I be attending seminars in both the business and technical areas. This is an opportunity to learn new ways to extend the state of the art and to improve our product. I am someone who is never satisfied. I always want to make what I do even better. Here in the Philadelphia area we have some of the finest videographers in the country. Some of them will be presenters at the Expo. The bar keeps getting raised and it is my goal to rise with it.

One difference between the today’s videographers (well most of them) and those of 10 or 20 years ago, is that we pride ourselves on maintaining a low profile. We work hard to make sure that we record the day while being inconspicuous. Good photographers do the same (especially with the “wedding photojournalism” style which is popular today). Everyone is different in how they maintain that low profile. Here are a few things that we do:

At the ceremony:

Except for the processional and recessional, we usually keep our cameras on tripods at all times. Two cameras are on the side aisles, and one in back. The tripods are not moved unless the view of the bride or groom is blocked.We dress in dark clothes. This makes us less conspicuous both on tape and to the guests.Minimize movement. While two videographers and three cameras means that some movement is necessary, we keep it to a minimum.Make sure that everything is set up prior to the start of the ceremony. This way we aren’t running around trying to “fix something”.

NO LIGHTS! This goes without saying. No videographer with modern equipment ever needs additional lighting for a wedding with the possible exception of a candlelight service. The reception is another matter (see below).

We always introduce ourselves to the officiant before the ceremony, let him or her know where we will be, and ask if there are any restrictions.Of course at a non-church wedding we may modify the rules. But always with the idea of maintaining a low profile.

At the Reception:

As mentioned above we do not use lights at the ceremony. This is usually not advisable at most reception venues. These are almost always dimly lit. While our cameras have excellent low light ability, they can’t see in the dark. As the lights go down, so does the quality of the picture. I have made the mistake in the past of thinking that I would get an acceptable image in dim light, and have been disappointed (as has my client). So now unless the reception hall is well lit, I use a light. That light however is small (only 10 watts) and doesn’t have much range, but it is enough to produce quality video.

No table interviews. We have never done these, and never will. Many people dislike having someone shove a microphone in their face and ask them to “say a few words” to the bride and groom. We do conduct inverviews upon request, but in another room off the main reception area. We have the DJ announce us, and those who want to say something are invited to come over and record their greetings.

Minimize posed shots. We leave formal photography to the photographer. Our job is to record the days as it unfolds, not to set up shots or direct the wedding party.

Professional conduct. We are always courteous and respectful. If someone doesn’t want the camera pointed at them, we make sure that it isn’t. We are there to work. We don’t party with the guests. The only food we eat is what has been arranged for us by the reception venue, and we never drink alcoholic beverages while working.

A couple of days ago I was on my way home from my weekday job. On my iPod I was listening to an interview with Robert Allen, a well known New Jersey videographer. As he described the importance of wedding video and why no one who has had one, has regretted it, my cell phone rang. On the other end was a bride who’s wedding we had done the previous month. I had just put her ceremony up on our website. This is something that we do with most of our clients so they can see their wedding ceremony weeks before the DVDs are delivered.

She told me how excited she was and how much she loved the ceremony video. I have had this reaction many times when a couple first sees their wedding. For me it is what this business is all about. Hearing a bride or groom’s compliment is worth more than the money that they paid me. Knowing that something that we did for them means so much to them. I have have clients tell me how they watch their video over and over. Not just the bride and groom, but their parents too. Some have said that their wedding video was something that they always watch when they are feeling down, or when their spouse is away. It really means a lot to them, and that means a lot to me.

Welcome to the Wedding Video Blog. The purpose of this site is to be a source of information on the subject of wedding videography with the emphasis on the bride and groom. While we may at times discuss technical issues,the focus will be on the questions and concerns that a couple may have about about wedding video. 

First a few words about myself. I have been in the videography business for four years now, specializing in weddings. My company is Bonnie Blink Productions, located in West Chester, PA, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia. While I certainly want to promote my business through this blog, there is the greater purpose of educating the consumer. I really want to help you, the bride or groom decide on video, and help you choose the right videographer. There are no one size fits all videographers out there, at least not the good ones. Today, most of us go far beyond just taping your wedding and reception (although you can find no-frills service if you want to). Each of us has a specific artistic vision. You may prefer my style, or someone else’s. There is also the issue of cost. Wedding videography today can range anywhere from a few hundred dollers to over $10,000. I will get more into this in future posts. For now, let me say that I hope that you will bookmark this site and come back often. 

Alan Robinson