When I book a wedding, I make sure to find out about the rehearsal, which is usually held the evening before the wedding. I have learned over the years that it is crucial to attend the rehearsal. There is nothing worse than being unprepared and flying by the seat of your pants.
One of the most important things to address at rehearsal is the rules or restrictions of the particular venue, especially if it’s a church. The first thing you should do is speak with the officiant to find out if he or she has specific places where you can set up or where you are not permitted to be. I have done weddings in churches that have been extremely unreasonable and would have the videographer stand outside if he could get away with it. I have been banished to the choir loft on more than one occasion. You better know this ahead of time so you can prepare the bride and groom for what to expect in their finished video.
Once you have an idea of where you can be positioned to shoot, you need to make sure that you can get a good view around the wedding party, large flower arrangements and guests with big hair or big hats. You may need to speak with bride and groom during rehearsal so they understand positioning in order to get the best shot of the vows and ring exchange. They are paying you to capture their day so speak up and ask questions or make suggestions. I’ve had family members complain about my position on the altar, well behind the priest and bride and groom. I was certainly happy to cooperate and work with them to make them happy, but ultimately, my job was to provide the best view of the ceremony for the couple getting married.
Another important issue to address at rehearsal is sound. Will the officiant have a mic? Do they allow wireless mics? Will there be background noise like traffic or electric fans? In a small venue there may not be any problem with sound, but in a big, cavernous church, you need to be prepared.
The bottom line is, attending the wedding rehearsal is absolutely necessary in order to do your job to the best of your ability and to provide the bride and groom with the best, most complete video memory of their day.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Trends in Shooting Wedding Videos
Professional wedding videography today has gotten very expensive. In certain areas of the country, a bride can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a full day of coverage.
It seems that today, wedding videography has gotten away from the basics. Videographers that call themselves professional are less concerned with focus, lighting, audio and composition. Composition used to be and should still be the main component of a professional video. Instead, many videographers try to produce a flashy, special effect heavy, abstract montage of images that don’t capture the special moments, emotions, and all the fun of sharing a wedding day with family and friends. These are the things the bride and groom want to see and experience when they view their wedding day video.
A wedding video should tell the story of the bride and groom. Too many special effects and “tricks” can be distracting. Some special effects added during the editing process are fine and can really enhance the final product, but there should be a flow to the video that follows the flow of the days events. Also, you don’t see many close up shots of the bride and groom or the family and guests and that is a real missed opportunity to capture the moment. These shots can add a really special element to the video. My opinion is that the bride and groom would rather see these moments captured on their video than tilts, black and white, blurs, slow motion or other fancy effects.
It seems that today, wedding videography has gotten away from the basics. Videographers that call themselves professional are less concerned with focus, lighting, audio and composition. Composition used to be and should still be the main component of a professional video. Instead, many videographers try to produce a flashy, special effect heavy, abstract montage of images that don’t capture the special moments, emotions, and all the fun of sharing a wedding day with family and friends. These are the things the bride and groom want to see and experience when they view their wedding day video.
A wedding video should tell the story of the bride and groom. Too many special effects and “tricks” can be distracting. Some special effects added during the editing process are fine and can really enhance the final product, but there should be a flow to the video that follows the flow of the days events. Also, you don’t see many close up shots of the bride and groom or the family and guests and that is a real missed opportunity to capture the moment. These shots can add a really special element to the video. My opinion is that the bride and groom would rather see these moments captured on their video than tilts, black and white, blurs, slow motion or other fancy effects.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Video Titles and Font Selection, A Factor Often Overlooked
When producing a video, the titles and graphics are an extremely important component in a professional looking finished product. All video editing software can generate titles and graphics, and more advanced, professional editors can produce 3-D graphics and other high-tech, complex effects. Although it may be fun and look really awesome, the fancy tricks can be very distracting and actually take away from the statement the video is trying to make.
The typeface or font is the first thing to choose when designing your titles. It’s the first thing that will be seen on your production and it needs to make the right impression. There are many things to consider when choosing the best look for your titles and graphics. The title and graphics set the tone for the video and make the first impression of your production. It makes sense that if you’re doing a 30 second spot for a high end business, you want the title and graphics to convey that. Elegant script and a classy background will set the tone.
Another thing to consider when choosing a font is how it will show on the screen. For example, a typeface that has too many fine details such a serif, will not always look clean and sharp. The words may appear to flicker.
There are so many options available for finding fonts and backgrounds that you should have no trouble designing the perfect combination for your project. There is no need to go over the top to get a clean, professional, custom looking introduction for your video.
The typeface or font is the first thing to choose when designing your titles. It’s the first thing that will be seen on your production and it needs to make the right impression. There are many things to consider when choosing the best look for your titles and graphics. The title and graphics set the tone for the video and make the first impression of your production. It makes sense that if you’re doing a 30 second spot for a high end business, you want the title and graphics to convey that. Elegant script and a classy background will set the tone.
Another thing to consider when choosing a font is how it will show on the screen. For example, a typeface that has too many fine details such a serif, will not always look clean and sharp. The words may appear to flicker.
There are so many options available for finding fonts and backgrounds that you should have no trouble designing the perfect combination for your project. There is no need to go over the top to get a clean, professional, custom looking introduction for your video.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
J&J Video Productions-Cleveland Ohio wins Fox Televisions Hot List Contest as Best Video Production Company in Cleveland Ohio for 2011
After settling in Northeast Ohio in 2010, J&J Video Productions dug right in and continued in their winning ways. In January 2011 the company was nominated to the Fox Televisions Hot List Contest for the Best Video Production Company in Cleveland Ohio. In December of 2011 J&J Video Productions won the contest..
The staff of J&J Video Productions credits this win to its satisfied customers, the website and the services they offer along with the community service projects it is involved in. Their rates are considered the lowest in the industry nationwide.
J&J Video Productions also credits this win due to the fact that their style of shooting is different. Most of the other production companies in the area shoot in a very artistic way, a photo journalistic style. We let that choice up to the client, surprisingly our clients prefer our style. Our clients get more relevant video this way. Whatever the objective of the shoot is we have found a way to give the client more and staying within their budjet. In todays economy this is extremely improtant.
"We are elated and excited beyond belief" said Joe Sabol, the executive producer for J&J Video Productions. "I did not expect this. I know we work hard to get the results we do and that is a credit to our entire production crew. We were overwhelmed by the support from other businesses who were also nominated to the Hot List. Hopefully we can repeat this in 2012".
J&J Video (jandjvideoproductions.com) continues to offer Wedding Videos, Corporate Videos and Commercial Videos.
Press Release 2/14/2012
The staff of J&J Video Productions credits this win to its satisfied customers, the website and the services they offer along with the community service projects it is involved in. Their rates are considered the lowest in the industry nationwide.
J&J Video Productions also credits this win due to the fact that their style of shooting is different. Most of the other production companies in the area shoot in a very artistic way, a photo journalistic style. We let that choice up to the client, surprisingly our clients prefer our style. Our clients get more relevant video this way. Whatever the objective of the shoot is we have found a way to give the client more and staying within their budjet. In todays economy this is extremely improtant.
"We are elated and excited beyond belief" said Joe Sabol, the executive producer for J&J Video Productions. "I did not expect this. I know we work hard to get the results we do and that is a credit to our entire production crew. We were overwhelmed by the support from other businesses who were also nominated to the Hot List. Hopefully we can repeat this in 2012".
J&J Video (jandjvideoproductions.com) continues to offer Wedding Videos, Corporate Videos and Commercial Videos.
Press Release 2/14/2012
Thursday, June 9, 2011
What It Takes to Be a Successful Wedding Videographer
Shooting wedding videos is a big and lucrative business. If you have experience and technical knowledge of videography, but have never done a wedding, you will need some basic information. You should be up front with your potential clients about your lack of experience shooting weddings. Show them samples of whatever work you have done so they can see you're not a novice with a video camera. Offer the bride and groom a great deal on your wedding packages and keep your prices lower than the competition until you have some successful weddings under your belt.
You will have to have contracts made up especially for weddings and include all the usual information as well as a place to note any special requests. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the bride or her parents if a meal will be provided for you. It's a long day and you don't want to be working on an empty stomach.
Arrange to attend the wedding rehearsal at the location or locations. It is important to see the layout of the church, taking note of lighting, sound and placement of your camera or cameras. If you're shooting in a church, speak to the minister or officiant regarding his or her "rules" about placement of your equipment. Determine if you need more than one camera. Some ministers and priests want you as far away as possible, like in the choir loft. You need to be prepared to shoot from anywhere.
To prepare for the job on the big day, go over all your equipment, including backups. Make sure you have what you need for any situation. If you have any new equipment, test it before the wedding. Get to the church early so you can park as close as possible and you have lots of time to set up.
If you do not have an assistant, you will need to be quick on your feet. Shoot everything, even the guests being seated. You can always edit down the footage later.
After the wedding, head to the reception location as soon as possible to set up. Pay attention to where the bridal party table will be, as well as the band or disc jockey. Also, make sure you're in a location where you have power outlets. Again, shoot everything. One exception would be shooting the guests while they are eating. Keep your eyes open for drunk party goers and remember, your camera is picking up sound as well so you may have to edit certain comments.
Most importantly, remember the bride and groom are the stars of the show. They will keep the wedding video you produce for a lifetime and will be sharing it with their children and maybe even their grandchildren. You want them to have a complete documentation of their special day.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an Internationally known videographer with almost 28yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
You will have to have contracts made up especially for weddings and include all the usual information as well as a place to note any special requests. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the bride or her parents if a meal will be provided for you. It's a long day and you don't want to be working on an empty stomach.
Arrange to attend the wedding rehearsal at the location or locations. It is important to see the layout of the church, taking note of lighting, sound and placement of your camera or cameras. If you're shooting in a church, speak to the minister or officiant regarding his or her "rules" about placement of your equipment. Determine if you need more than one camera. Some ministers and priests want you as far away as possible, like in the choir loft. You need to be prepared to shoot from anywhere.
To prepare for the job on the big day, go over all your equipment, including backups. Make sure you have what you need for any situation. If you have any new equipment, test it before the wedding. Get to the church early so you can park as close as possible and you have lots of time to set up.
If you do not have an assistant, you will need to be quick on your feet. Shoot everything, even the guests being seated. You can always edit down the footage later.
After the wedding, head to the reception location as soon as possible to set up. Pay attention to where the bridal party table will be, as well as the band or disc jockey. Also, make sure you're in a location where you have power outlets. Again, shoot everything. One exception would be shooting the guests while they are eating. Keep your eyes open for drunk party goers and remember, your camera is picking up sound as well so you may have to edit certain comments.
Most importantly, remember the bride and groom are the stars of the show. They will keep the wedding video you produce for a lifetime and will be sharing it with their children and maybe even their grandchildren. You want them to have a complete documentation of their special day.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an Internationally known videographer with almost 28yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tips for Hiring a Wedding Videographer
If you're planning a wedding, you may be considering a wedding videographer. A video of your special day allows you to go back after all the excitement and the honeymoon to enjoy the day that flew by so fast. The question is, how do you go about hiring a wedding videographer?
Most videographers have websites that showcase some of their work, but even searching through local wedding videographers online can turn up a lot of results. It can be overwhelming to look through several websites and get all the information you need. Here are some tips to choosing the right wedding videographer.
The first thing you want to see is samples of the videographer's work. When you click on their online videos, keep in mind that if it looks more like a Hollywood production than a true, wedding with real people, it may be completely staged with professional models and special effects. These special effects may look amazing, but the cost is much higher than a typical wedding.
After you have found two or three websites that look promising, you'll have to call and schedule an appointment for more detailed information, including cost, as many wedding videographers do not post their price list online. It may seem time consuming, but it is definitely worth it.
Because just about anyone can buy a video camera and put up a website claiming to be a professional videographer, there are some specific things you'll want to ask during your appointment.
For example, does the videographer work and charge for a set number of hours or is he there for the entire day? Some wedding videographers charge by the day and some may charge by the hour so this is important. They may also charge extra for recording at additional locations.
You'll want to ask your wedding videographer if he is equipped for recording in all kinds of lighting. At a wedding and reception, there are many different levels of light, from sunlight to candlelight. A true professional will be prepared to correctly shoot in any situation, in any kind of lighting.
Another thing to consider is sound. It is important to inquire about the videographer's ability to record sound at appropriate levels. Will there be addtional microphones available or will the microphone on the camera be adequate? You want to be able to hear not only the music, but the all important wedding vows too.
Another thing to consider is, who will actually show up on your wedding day. Is the wedding videographer you meet with going to be the one doing the work, or will it be an employee you haven't met with? If you like the work you saw on the website, you will want the person who shot that video to be the one shooting your video.
Finally, a professional wedding videographer should have a prepared contract to go over with you to specify date, time, locations and any other specifics. What you expect should be the same as what the videographer is contracted to provide.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an Internationally known videographer with almost 29yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6296641
Most videographers have websites that showcase some of their work, but even searching through local wedding videographers online can turn up a lot of results. It can be overwhelming to look through several websites and get all the information you need. Here are some tips to choosing the right wedding videographer.
The first thing you want to see is samples of the videographer's work. When you click on their online videos, keep in mind that if it looks more like a Hollywood production than a true, wedding with real people, it may be completely staged with professional models and special effects. These special effects may look amazing, but the cost is much higher than a typical wedding.
After you have found two or three websites that look promising, you'll have to call and schedule an appointment for more detailed information, including cost, as many wedding videographers do not post their price list online. It may seem time consuming, but it is definitely worth it.
Because just about anyone can buy a video camera and put up a website claiming to be a professional videographer, there are some specific things you'll want to ask during your appointment.
For example, does the videographer work and charge for a set number of hours or is he there for the entire day? Some wedding videographers charge by the day and some may charge by the hour so this is important. They may also charge extra for recording at additional locations.
You'll want to ask your wedding videographer if he is equipped for recording in all kinds of lighting. At a wedding and reception, there are many different levels of light, from sunlight to candlelight. A true professional will be prepared to correctly shoot in any situation, in any kind of lighting.
Another thing to consider is sound. It is important to inquire about the videographer's ability to record sound at appropriate levels. Will there be addtional microphones available or will the microphone on the camera be adequate? You want to be able to hear not only the music, but the all important wedding vows too.
Another thing to consider is, who will actually show up on your wedding day. Is the wedding videographer you meet with going to be the one doing the work, or will it be an employee you haven't met with? If you like the work you saw on the website, you will want the person who shot that video to be the one shooting your video.
Finally, a professional wedding videographer should have a prepared contract to go over with you to specify date, time, locations and any other specifics. What you expect should be the same as what the videographer is contracted to provide.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an Internationally known videographer with almost 29yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6296641
Wedding Videography Today
Wedding videography has changed a great deal over the years. The first cameras available for the home market were big and cumbersome and there was no such thing as a professional wedding videographer.
Uncle Bob would bring his new home video camera and capture the day on grainy, poorly lit, video tape. Sound and lighting were hit or miss.
Today's high tech video equipment makes it possible for an experienced wedding videographer to produce a bright, clear, hi-def video without the need of special lighting. Sound and special effects have become a snap to produce. There are endless possibilities for a creative, personalized keepsake of your wedding day.
Most professional wedding videographers offer a range of packages to accommodate any budget. Even your most basic package will include a video of the entire wedding, including, shots of the guests, the processional, the ceremony, the recessional and the exit from the church, all done with today's high tech cameras. Today's brides are savvy enough to know there are endless options available to make their wedding video special.
If your budget allows, you can start with a "Save the Date" video. This is a wedding announcement set to music and filmed like a movie trailer, with the bride and groom as the stars.
The wedding video itself can start with the bride and her bridesmaids at home getting ready or even at the salon getting hair and makeup done.
You can shoot scenery at different locations or have interviews with family members and friends. You can include a reflections montage that shows pictures of the bride and groom from childhood to the time they met and became a couple and finally to their wedding day. This is usually set to music and is a fun look back for family and friends.
It is important to sit down with the bride and groom prior to the wedding and find out if they have any special requests, such as shots with certain family members. Are they looking for something more serious and formal, or do they want relaxed and fun? Ask questions that will give you a clue as what they are like as a couple.
Much of the production of a professional wedding video is done by the editing of the raw footage. This is where mistakes and bloopers can be cut out and special effects and creativity can be added. Typically, people walk in front of the camera and you get a close up of some random face or the back of someone's head. Kids or intoxicated party goers often do or say things you don't want to remember forever. Today's editing software allows for endless graphics and special effects to make your wedding video a true keepsake of your special day.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an internationally known videographer with almost 29yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6299887
Uncle Bob would bring his new home video camera and capture the day on grainy, poorly lit, video tape. Sound and lighting were hit or miss.
Today's high tech video equipment makes it possible for an experienced wedding videographer to produce a bright, clear, hi-def video without the need of special lighting. Sound and special effects have become a snap to produce. There are endless possibilities for a creative, personalized keepsake of your wedding day.
Most professional wedding videographers offer a range of packages to accommodate any budget. Even your most basic package will include a video of the entire wedding, including, shots of the guests, the processional, the ceremony, the recessional and the exit from the church, all done with today's high tech cameras. Today's brides are savvy enough to know there are endless options available to make their wedding video special.
If your budget allows, you can start with a "Save the Date" video. This is a wedding announcement set to music and filmed like a movie trailer, with the bride and groom as the stars.
The wedding video itself can start with the bride and her bridesmaids at home getting ready or even at the salon getting hair and makeup done.
You can shoot scenery at different locations or have interviews with family members and friends. You can include a reflections montage that shows pictures of the bride and groom from childhood to the time they met and became a couple and finally to their wedding day. This is usually set to music and is a fun look back for family and friends.
It is important to sit down with the bride and groom prior to the wedding and find out if they have any special requests, such as shots with certain family members. Are they looking for something more serious and formal, or do they want relaxed and fun? Ask questions that will give you a clue as what they are like as a couple.
Much of the production of a professional wedding video is done by the editing of the raw footage. This is where mistakes and bloopers can be cut out and special effects and creativity can be added. Typically, people walk in front of the camera and you get a close up of some random face or the back of someone's head. Kids or intoxicated party goers often do or say things you don't want to remember forever. Today's editing software allows for endless graphics and special effects to make your wedding video a true keepsake of your special day.
This article has been was written by myself for my newsletter and since the author is the same person, permission for use is granted.
Joe Sabol is an internationally known videographer with almost 29yrs experience in the video industry. Please visit us at http://jandjvideoproductions.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Sabol
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6299887
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
