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I already have a photographer. Why do I need a videographer?
Still photos can't reproduce the nuances and excitement of the events
of your wedding day as they unfold. As a videographer I will be recreating
the entire day for you, like a movie. You'll see everything that was planned
- processional, vows, cocktail hour, introductions, dinner, toasts,
speeches, 1st dance, father-daughter dance, cake cut, interviews, last
dance; and many things that you did not see because so much of your attention
was taken up by well-wishers and other distractions.
For this
most special day in your lives you will be spending thousands of dollars.
And then it's over—unless it has been recorded. Besides being a romantic
event a wedding is two family reunions, and a celebration of those families.
You have cousins, uncles, and aunts flying in from distant states; friends
you haven't seen in years. You may have elderly relatives too sick or
infirm to attend but who would love to see the wedding day on videotape or DVD.
The video is a living record of your families and friends in one place
at one time. It will be fun and enjoyable to watch immediately after your
honeymoon, but 20 years from now it will be even more valuable.
How long have you been a professional videographer?
Since 1989.
How many weddings have you shot since then?
Over 500.
Where did you learn how to shoot and edit?
I studied video in college, film at the London School of Film
Technique in England and at City College
in San Francisco.
Where have you videotaped weddings?
Click Here to see the complete list.
Where have you videotaped bar/bat mitzvahs?
Most Ceremonies have been at Temple Sinai in Oakland, Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, and Congregation B’nai Tikvah in
Walnut Creek. Click Here to see the complete list.
What other work have you done?
Visit my Business page to see a list of various jobs performed and sample video clips.
What other event work do you do besides weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs?
Renewal of vows ceremonies, anniversaries, plays, concerts, operas, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties, class reunions, quinceañeras, baptisms, 1st Eucharist ceremonies, and funereal/memorial services.
What kind of equipment do you use? Is it digital?
I have the new Canon 5D Mark II. It shoots true HD (1920x1080). The video quality is incredible. I also have the Canon XHA1, a HDV camcorder with a 20:1 zoom lens. Weddings shot with this camera and the 5D Mark II will fit onto a Bluray disk (23 GB). As most people do not yet have the special Bluray DVD player to play these disks I can fashion a 'down-converted' 16 x 9 wide screen version that will play on normal DVD players. For those who want standard definition (SD) I use the Canon GL2 3-chip digital camcorder with a 20:1 zoom lens. The
Canon video image has a beautiful warm texture. With natural light you're
drawn to it. Brides look beautiful and very natural when videotaped by
a Canon camcorder.
I have three Samson wireless micro-phones for capturing
the best sound from the minister or rabbi, readers, singers and, of course,
the vows of the bride & groom. I have a hand-held Shure microphone to
use for impromptu toasts and interviews. For lowlight situations I use
a video light mounted on my camera.
Do
you have back-up equipment?
I always bring back-up equipment to weddings and bar mitzvahs. Cameras, batteries,
microphones, lights, are dual/triple backed-up.
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How far will you travel?
I have traveled as far as Cape Cod and New York City to shoot weddings
and a bar mitzvah but most occur in the greater Bay Area.
How do we get started?
Call to set up a meeting to discuss your wedding. I want to hear what
you’re planning. I will show you samples of my work and discuss
with you how I would go about realizing your dreams.
What other kinds of pre-wedding discussions do you have with the
bride and groom?
Several weeks before wedding day I discuss with the bride and groom
everything they have planned. I ask for a list of everyone in the bridal
party - maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, flower
girls, ring bearer, etc., and a list of all immediate family members attending
the wedding - parents, grandparents, brothers & sisters. It's important
for me to know who the key people are. I am a stranger to the families
present, but I don't want to videotape like a stranger. I am also available
to help with your planning. Having seen the various dynamics that exist
at weddings I will be glad to be an 'ear' and offer suggestions and help
should you want them.
What are your payment terms?
A deposit and signed contracts are required to secure the date. A second
payment is due four weeks prior to wedding day. The final payment will be
made upon my turning over to bride & groom the completed DVDs.
What is the opening of the video like?
The Opening is a formal montage consisting of photos of bride & groom,
music, professional titles, wedding invitation, shots from the ceremony
and/or reception itself, and special effects like slow-motion and chroma key.
The opening is very important because it sets the mood for the rest of
the video that follows. When the bride & groom first hire me I give them
a list of things I will need at least a month before wedding day. This includes
25 photos of themselves growing up and/or together, favorite music selections
on CDs, and a wedding invitation. The photos will be scanned onto my
computer and returned to bride & groom as soon as possible. If they're
not sure of what music to use I have a large collection of songs on my
computer's hard drive to choose from.
Do
I have a choice of music?
Yes, we encourage you to select music from CDs for the initial photo montage
and the montage that comes after the ceremony. I will copy the songs to
my hard drive and return the CD to you.
Do you attend the rehearsal?
Yes. The rehearsal allows me to plan with the bride & groom where to place my camera during
the ceremony. It also allows me to meet the minister and the immediate
family and bridal party members. Because I will be videotaping and possibly interviewing
them the next day they will be more comfortable if they've already
met me.
Do you move around a lot during the ceremony?
Very little. The most important shots are the Bride's Entrance, and Vows and Ring Exchange.
My first priority is to place myself in a position
to see straight up the aisle for the bride's entrance. This has all been worked out at the rehearsal. As soon as the
groom takes her from her father and leads her to the altar I will move
to a pre-arranged position where I will stay the remainder of the ceremony.
However, if the bride & groom or officiant desire I stay in one particular spot for the entire ceremony I
am happy to oblige.
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Do you work well with photographers?
Yes. I'm always looking out for them to make sure I'm not blocking their
shots. Since I always attend the rehearsal and they do not I let them
know before the ceremony the rules of the church regarding photography
and videography and where I've planned to set up my video camera; and
since I have a schedule of the day's events and they usually do not I
alert them to events that are about to unfold.
At a wedding I attended last year the photographer and videographer
kept getting in everyone's way and were badgering the guests for shots
and interviews. Will you be unobtrusive?
Yes. I will be asking a few guests and family members to talk on camera
for interviews or toasts but I only ask once. Whereas some people love
to speak on camera, others don't. When videotaping my goal is to be the
fly-on-the-wall in order to get the most natural shots. Before the wedding
I discuss with bride and groom all the details of their wedding day including
interviews and who to interview. If the bride and groom want no interviews
or toasts at all that's fine, too.
How do you do interviews?
My tried-and-true method is to ask the bride & groom to recommend two
or three friends, family members, or bridal party members to help. They
will ask the questions while I man the camera. The logic is that people
are better on camera speaking to someone they know or at least have met.
If the interviewer is outgoing and humorous a nice repartee is created
and the interview comes out great. At the rehearsal or early on wedding
day I ask the designated interviewers if they would like to help and explain
what's needed. They usually say "yes" and "find me when
you need me". I begin the Interviews about two-thirds of the way
into the reception when everyone is relaxed and happy and the mood of
formality has evaporated. If someone doesn't want to be interviewed that's
fine. I like doing 'group' interviews with all the bridesmaids or groomsmen. They often come out very funny.
Can your camera handle low light during dancing sequences?
Yes. Canon camcorders are great for videotaping in low
light. In addition, I have a video light mounted on my camera to use in
conjunction with the available light on the dance floor. Its maximum strength
is 40 watts, so it won't be a bother to dancers.
What about the end of the video?
Over the Last Dance of the evening I superimpose a scroll listing
all the key participants: The Bride, The Groom, Maid of Honor, Parents, Flower
Girl, Ring Bearer, etc. It's a nice way to wrap up the wedding day on video.
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How fast can you get us our video?
The day after the wedding the raw digital footage is transferred to the
hard drive of my Mac G5 computer for editing. I spend the next week or
two working on creating the opening, putting in special effects and music
tracks, and editing the material into a well-paced story. When completed
the edited master is outputted directly to DVD or (S)VHS tape. It will
be ready for you when you return from your honeymoon. I keep copies of my files should you want more copies down the road.
How long are your wedding videos?
The time depends mainly on the length of ceremony but they are usually
a little over 2 hours. Unlike many wedding videographers who give their
clients a 40-50 minute summary of their day I give them their whole day
- well shot and paced - over the 2-hour length of the video. There are
no boring moments. There are usually too many exciting things to fit in
a pre-designed length. If wild dancing breaks out during the reception
(and it usually does) you're going to see all of it, not just a 3-minute
summary. I want the bride & groom to feel they're reliving all the glory of their wedding day every time they watch the video. In a Catholic ceremony sometimes the bride and groom will ask
me to skip the priest's homily or Communion. But I always videotape everything and let them
decide afterward what they want to keep.
What about music and special effects?
In the opening and montages after the ceremony I use music and special
effects. The music comes from CDs provided by the bride & groom. In the
rest of the video I concentrate on story telling, composition, pacing,
interviews, detail - whatever is necessary to bring the day alive
on video. But I'm open to all suggestions and desires.
What about the DVD?
It will come in a large movie-type DVD box with an attractive jacket which I've designed using photos or video frames from the wedding. The back of the DVD will have a list of chapters of the important events. I can now print the label directly onto the disk itself.
Can
you send me a sample DVD?
Yes.
Do you provide references?
Yes.
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