J&J Video Productions-Cleveland Ohio-440-845-2122

What It Takes to Be a Successful Wedding Videographer

2011-06-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

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

Tips for Hiring a Wedding Videographer

2011-05-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

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

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Wedding Videography Today

2011-05-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

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

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What has Video Done to this World

2011-04-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

I remember the date, November 22, 1963 as if it were yesterday. For those of you who were around and are history buffs, you might recall that date as the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. I remember listening to the radio at school and hearing reports of what happened. A lot of the newscasts that night were done through phone interviews from various reporters, and I don't remember seeing anything live until Lee Harvey Oswald was shot as he was leaving a building in the custody of Dallas police.

Things have really changed. On March 11, 2011, we saw tragedy unfold right before our eyes on television, the internet and cell phones. The ground hadn't even stopped shaking in Japan when the first live television news reports were being seen all over the world. You Tube has changed everything!

In the past 50 years or so, television and broadcasting has changed so drastically that we can watch events almost anywhere in the world as they happen. I never saw a tsunami until the Indonesian earthquake occurred.

Since the Japanese people embrace video like we embrace sports in this country, almost everyone has some type of recording device, whether it be a video camera, a digital camera with video capabilities or a cell phone. Video transmissions came almost as quickly as the tsunami.

I have never in my life, ever seen the graphic and clear videos that showed the tremendous force and power of the tsunami that struck Northern Japan. These were not shaky, out of focus or grainy videos. They were crisp and clear, as if I was standing right there watching the water come at me right out of my television.

In today's world, most people would not know what to do without video cameras or the internet. We have become a society that relies on these sources for our information. In fact some of the videos were already on the internet before the major television networks broke the story on national television.

I have to admit that when I was a kid hearing news of the Alaskan earthquake and JFK's assassination, I wanted to see what was going on. Sometimes it took hours and sometimes it took days. I would wait patiently to see the story on the evening news. Thank goodness things have changed. I No longer have to wait to see what happen. Let's not forget that over 25,000 people have either died or are missing, not counting the countless thousands of people that will die as a result of the nuclear fallout from the damaged reactors.

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

The MPV Award As It Relates to Wedding Videos and Events

2010-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

The MPV designation known as Merited Professional Videographer, is a designation that you receive through an organization know as WEVA, also known as the Wedding and Event Videographers Association International. What captured our attention was this MPV award, so I had my staff investigate what this MPV is all about.

Does the MPV awarded videographer ensure that you, as a bride, will enjoy your wedding video? The answer is a resounding No! I am certain at this point you as a bride and groom are wondering why I would make an assertion like this. The reason is, at one point as a wedding video production company, we were actually considering having our entire staff attain this award. When we looked into the details of what is required to attain this coveted MPV status, we were astounded by what we found out. We also noted that there are only a handful of video production companies worldwide that have this designation. This made me wonder why, out of all the thousands of top rated video production companies so few have received this award.

This peaked our curiosity. Do not misunderstand what we are saying here. We, as a wedding video production company are all in favor of furthering our education, training and knowledge. WEVA is known as the Wedding Event Videographers Association International. This is an organization of professional and even some amateur videographers that have joined together to promote, educate and inform the videography production community.

In order to obtain the MPV award, since it is a WEVA creation, you must be a member of the organization to be eligible. The requirement to obtain the MPV designation, taken right from the WEVA website are as follows:

Any person making application for the WEVA International MPV program must be a current active member of WEVA International at the time of filing this application.
The applicant must be employed in the business of videography, or related fields, for the two years immediately preceding application.
To earn WEVA International MPV status, each applicant must successfully complete two phases of the testing process:
Pass the written examination on technical and practical knowledge.
Event Video submissions must pass the Image Review Panel. Videos may be submitted only after the written exam has been passed.
NOTE: WEVA International MPV status will be awarded once ALL PHASES of the application process have been successfully completed.

The Image Review Panel requirements are and again taken right from the WEVA website are as follows:

Two video submissions of a social event (i.e. wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, sweet 16) in its entirety, as was given to the client, will be required. No submission that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment with the assistance of another videographer will be eligible. The submission must be on DVD-R.

All video submissions sent to the Continuing Education office must have no author/ creator identification on the tape, except for the assigned applicant ID number, which is the last 4 digits of the applicants SS#. If these rules are not met in any one of the submitted pieces, ALL the applicants submissions will be rejected.

As you can see, this is a lot of work. We added up the costs involved in obtaining the MPV designation. The cost comes out to appoximately $800.00, which includes WEVA membership, self study guides, work book, lab costs and the application fee to take the written exam. Again, let me stress that we have no problem with people trying to better themselves through education. We actually encourage it. Once we figured everything involved, including the 20-30 hours for the study guide and the 35 credits of continuing education, we felt as an organization that this time and money could be used in a much more productive and efficient way. In my personal opinion, the reason there are only a handful of these MPV designations awarded, is because it is extremely time consuming and expensive to get an award that means nothing to anyone other than the person or company that receives it. I think the number of MPV awards out there speaks of itself. I would be willing to bet that 90% of the WEVA membership could attain this award if they chose to.

I have never yet seen a bride and groom's eyes welled up with tears while watching their wedding video, because you are an MPV award holder. As far as the video review panel, this opens up a whole new can of worms. It brings up one of the dirtiest words in the English language, and that is politics. Even though, the image review panel has the videos numbered based on the last digits of your Social Security number, there is no mistaking style. Over the years, I have viewed thousands of wedding video productions of many companies. It is funny how after a period of time you see certain things by the same production companies put in different fashions. Eventually, you can determine almost immediately who the producer is.

For example, if a producer uses the music of the band KORN, in one video and the next they use Marilyn Manson, and the following video they use another head banging band, I guarantee you will know by the style who the video production artist is.

Another thing I became aware of, is that two video producers that I know personally were judges on the image review panel. I am not questioning the integrity of these people, but it does open the door for politics to sneak in the door as it does in almost everything we encounter in life. I do bring into question their qualifications since I know them and have seen their work. My Company, nor are any of my employees members of WEVA or has any one filed an application for the MPV designation.

As a Professional Video Company, I would rather spend the money and time perfecting my work. Another thing that popped in to my mind is why would you spend this money on something like the MPV award when you could put that money towards a College Degree in Television & Communications. I guarantee you the College Degree carries a ton more weight that the MPV award does.

The proof is in the brides reaction to the video you produce, not some intangible designation. In our opinion the MPV is useless to us as a business.

This artticle has been was written by myeslf for my newsletter and since the autor 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

The Bride, The Groom and then there is the Dog!

2010-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

You and your soul mate have finally tied the knot. You have found the perfect place to start your life together. Whether it's an apartment, condo, or your first house, you are ready to make it your home.

Starting a home together comes with decisions about combining furniture or buying new, finding a place for all your wedding gifts, and most importantly, figuring out how the dog is going to fit in. Whether it's the best furry friend of your spouse or your four-legged baby, you all have to live peacefully together.

You may not have given this much thought, but anyone who has a dog, knows that Sparky is more than just a pet. People have different ideas about what to feed their pooch. For example, if you keep your dog on a strictly dog food and dog treats diet, but your spouse happily shares his beer, pizza and donuts, there will be an issue. Your dog will learn to beg for treats, will probably gain weight and he will quickly learn who to suck up to.

Another potential difference of opinion involves where the furry baby sleeps at night. Many people have an issue with any dog in the bed, however, the severity of this problem could be directly related to the size of the pup. Its one thing to have a 20 pound lap dog sharing your bed. It's a completely different story when Sparky is a Lab or a German Shepherd or some other 90 pound pup. Of course as newlyweds, there is always the issue of privacy and even worse, jealousy. If your dog, is extremely attached to you, or your spouses dog to him, they may not be willing to share affection. This could be a real problem...think "Its Me or The Dog".

So in the middle of all the changes and adjustments of a new marriage and starting a new home, take the time to include your dog in your plans. Come to an understanding about how your loyal best friend will fit into the household. A little time and attention will go a long way to making it a smooth and peaceful transition.

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

Using Lighting to Shoot a Wedding Video

2010-09-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

One dilemma that a wedding videographer often faces is dim lighting in a church or synagogue. In order to get the best quality wedding video, you need an adequate amount of light, and an experienced wedding videographer will know how to work with any lighting situation. Most churches and synagogues do not allow lighting and many do not even want camera flashes used during the ceremony.

Case in point, I was shooting the photography for a wedding in a big, beautiful old church outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The videographer came in and set up two 2000 watt quartz halogen flood lights. Needless to say, it looked like a movie set, wires everywhere, so it was no surprise to me when the priest came in and asked to speak to Cecil B.DeMille. He told the videographer that this was a church and not a movie set.

The videographer did not check with the church before the wedding, so he was not aware of the restrictions for wedding videos and photography. The priest made him take down the lights, so he was forced to shoot the video with just the available natural light. I have found that if the church or synagogue is large and dimly lit, you can ask the officiant to turn on all possible overhead lighting. This should be sufficient to shoot a wedding video. An experienced videographer will know that he can turn up the gain. Yes, this brings a bit of video noise into the wedding video but at the same time it can help bring up the lighting to an adequate level.

We all know that weddings can be held in any number of venues, from the beach, to a field, to a stadium. Weddings have even been held in restaurants and haunted houses. Lighting for wedding videography for this type of service is naturally going to be based on the place and time of day. There will likely to be less restrictions and you will be able to get creative with your lighting. You can indulge your inner film maker. Some newer churches are designed like a theater and will have the necessary lighting in place.

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

What Not To Shoot At A Wedding

2010-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

As a wedding videographer, you know the standard shots that are expected to cover a wedding video. Common sense and tradition dictate the formal and family shots, at the reception as well as any specific requests from the bride and groom.

What may not be so obvious are shots that should not be on the wedding video.

All bridal parties are unique and their requests will be based on individual preference, so you may get some unusual ideas. Your job as the wedding videographer is to give the bride and groom what they want and make sure they are happy, however, there are certain things that should never end up on a wedding video.

Anything can happen at a wedding, especially if there is alcohol being served, so avoid arguments and fights and other noticeably intoxicated behavior. Uncle Vic may have the best of intentions when he starts on a long, slurred, mumbling speech, but it's best to turn off the record button on your camera and let him think he's being recorded..

Another thing to avoid shooting for a wedding video is the "ham" or camera hog. This person will keep showing up in front of the camera to wave or say something clever. This is especially true for kids who want to perform and make faces for the camera. On the other hand, there may be people who want to avoid the camera, so respect their wishes as well.

There may be a guest or even member of the wedding party who request you to shoot something specific for them. Keep in mind that the bride and groom are your clients and you're only obligated to fulfill their requests.

I'm sure all professional wedding videographers know to turn off the camera for a medical problem or any police activity. I would also advise against recording the wedding cake crashing to the floor. Last but not least, as tempting as it may be, you should not shoot inappropriate behavior, such as, random couples making out, Aunt Peg's strip tease or the flower girl's temper tantrum.

Remember, the wedding video you shoot will be the bride and grooms permanent memory of their day and it should be all positive, happy and beautiful.

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

When It Comes To Wedding Videos Copying Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

2010-08-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today, virtually every business has an internet web site, and wedding videographers are no exception. If you do an internet search of wedding videographers in your local area, you will find a list of web sites that can range from a few to a few hundred depending on the size of your city or town.

On the internet, everything is there for everyone to see. That is the idea, to get potential customers to notice your wedding video company. You want your website to really stand out and be special because you only have seconds to capture a customers attention. Once the customer finds your website, they want to get as much information as possible about you and your company.

In the wedding video business, the most important aspect of your website has to be samples or demos of your work. Brides want to see how amazing you can make their special day to remember forever.

As a wedding videographer, it is in your best interest to keep up with what other local videographers are doing so you can remain competitive in your market. What you may notice as you search through web sites is some very similar looking, or even identical video and/or graphics on two different videographer's web pages. If one wedding videographer has posted a clip or a montage that is really awesome, it will obviously draw the interest of the potential customer and a phone call to set up an appointment is likely.

If you are the wedding videographer with the awesome, attention grabbing video clip or montage, and you find the same thing on a competitors website, what should you do? There are several options, the first being, to do nothing. The most practical way to handle the situation is to contact the owner of the wedding video company that has copied from your website. Simply requesting the competitor give you credit on his website for the content he copied from you is the best solution for everyone.

If the owner of the video company does not design or maintain his own website, you can find the owner of the domain name as well as the technical contact for the website by going to whois.net and typing in the URL.

Hopefully, your competitor will be willing to do the appropriate thing and credit you on his or her website, but if not your last resort would be legal action.

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

Bashing Other Video Production Companies

2010-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

We all know how important it is to get your wedding video companies name out in front of the public. In order to develop a thriving business, your name must be recognized and even familiar to people in your community.

There are many different ways to achieve this and you can spend a minimal amount or a fortune for advertising and marketing. In most communities, the wedding video market is very competitive so companies must be very creative in establishing their name. Wedding videographers can be competing for the same brides in the same town, and still maintain a professional, courteous relationship.

It is actually beneficial to have a positive professional relationship with your fellow wedding videographers. You may be able to help each other out in a jam, if say, you have an equipment problem or you need an additional camera to get the coverage you need and your second videographer gets sick. By maintaining a good working relationship with your competitors, you have other professionals you can turn to for help, and they can come to you for help as well.

On the other hand, there always seems to be at least one wedding video company that has not figured this out. They are of the mind set that if you are their competitor, you are the enemy, therefore, they are determined to make you and your company look inferior. This can most often be found on their websites. They may not name you specifically, but it is no secret what the are implying.

It amounts to a cheap shot and is a clear sign that they are desperate and will do anything to boost their business. In order to steer attention away from their lack of experience or knowledge, these wedding videographers criticize, and put down the work of their competitors. I have personally seen even highly respected video production companies do this, why is beyond me.

Unfortunately, choosing to go the route of "bashing" or "dissing" the competition in public or on the internet does nothing but draw attention to the fact that their work can not stand on its own. Most brides can recognize it for what it is. Those who do not can end up with an inferior wedding video due to the lack of experience, skill and knowledge on the part of the videographer. Your wedding video is not something you want to trust to an amateur. If a wedding video company has to criticize or bash the competition to make themselves look good, you should keep looking.

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 Want Me to Shoot This Wedding From Where? Is This a Joke, Ok Who Put You Up to This?

2010-07-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

As a wedding photographer, you encounter all kinds of situations. Sometimes everything is straightforward and smooth as silk, this is rare. There is so much involved in a wedding and reception and that means there is so much that can go wrong.

One of the most frustrating things a wedding photographer or wedding videographer can encounter is a church with strict "rules". I am sure all professional photographers and videographers understand the need for some guidelines and boundaries to respect the church and what if represents. Most of us know better than to be a distraction to the officiant, the wedding party and the family and friends. Apparently, the churches with the really inflexible rules have had some bad experiences that have reflected poorly on all wedding photographers and wedding videographers.

This is truly unfortunate because ultimately, the bride and groom and their families will miss out on recording the many memories and special moments of their wedding day.

How many times have you shown up at a wedding rehearsal to find out that you must stay put in one spot for the entire ceremony? The people who come up with these rules obviously have no idea of the problem this creates. You are hired by the bride or her family to photograph every moment of her day, and that is what she expects. How can you go to her after the wedding and say, "sorry, but I could not get your father handing you off to the groom" or, I could only get the back of you walking up the aisle?

This kind of situation makes you look very incompetent as a professional wedding photographer or wedding videographer. The bride and her family are not going to be happy and they are not going to want to pay you. It does not seem to matter that it was not your fault, and you could not do anything about it.

One thing you can do to avoid this disaster is to ask the bride when she calls to inquire about your services. If she schedules an appointment, ask her to check with her church officials regarding rules for wedding photography and wedding videography. If she is able to find out the specific rules, you can explain the potential problems and the possible consequences. You may decide to pass on the job to save yourself a lot of trouble or at the very least, the bride will know before her wedding what to expect.

Fortunately, for most brides, this is not the case. If you, as the photographer or videographer make a point to introduce yourself to the person in charge and ask them how you can do your job while respecting their wishes, they will most likely be willing to work with you for the benefit of the bride and groom. A little cooperation goes a long way in assuring the wedding is a happy occasion, and all the memories are good ones.

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

IT'S YOUR WEDDING VIDEO & UNCLE MIKE IS DRUNK

2010-03-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio, Parma, Ohio.

Your wedding ceremony has just been completed. Everything went perfectly. No one made a mistake, no one tripped and no one fell. It was an absolutely perfect uneventful wedding and you are ecstatic. Now, off to the wedding reception.

To the professional wedding videographers, this sounds like the beginning of a perfect day. When you arrive at the wedding reception, you see that there is an open bar. This is usually a sign that this will be a lively wedding reception. Your job is to shoot the wedding video. Invariably, as the night goes on, some of the guests might overindulge in alcoholic beverages. There is almost always one person who seems to want to outdo everyone else in the wedding. He is the one who gets out on the dance floor to show off his amazing dance skills.

You can see that he has obviously had way too much to drink. While there is nothing wrong with having a few drinks to celebrate at the wedding reception, this party animal doesn't know when to stop. Let's name this party animal "Uncle Mike". Uncle Mike is having a great time and he notices the video camera. All of a sudden, you, as the wedding videographer become his best friend. He comes over and compliments you on what a fine job you're doing. He doesn't reailze that you might be shooting a very important part of the wedding reception. You have to remember that there are two types of personalities that emerge when someone is noticeably intoxicated.

One of the personalities is jovial, happy and comical. The other intoxicated type is mean spirited, aggressive and some would consider this type of person a "nasty drunk". Of course this guy is going to want to be on the video. He may ask you if he can record a message for the bride and groom on the wedding video. What should you do?

It's my experience in shooting wedding videos, that the best way to handle this situation is to do one of two things. Before you make a decision on what you're going to do, you should have an idea of what you'll do before the wedding reception even begins if this problem arises.

The first way to handle this is to shoot the video as long as it isn't interfering with the production of the wedding video, then, edit Uncle Mike out later. You can always use the footage as part of a blooper reel. The second option is to act as if you are recording Uncle Mike's heartfelt message, but never actually hit the record button. He will not know the difference. Believe it or not, you will not be the only one who notices Uncle Mike. It has happened to me several times during a wedding reception, where family members, wedding party members or even security at the reception hall, will step in and put Uncle Mike in a taxi and send him home.

In the event that Uncle Mike turns out to be a "nasty drunk", the first place you should turn to is to the parents of the bride or groom. Let them know what Uncle Mike is trying to do in the wedding video. It is better for them to handle this than you, the videographer because, they know him better. This may be something that has happened in the past and they have had to deal with Uncle Mike before.

So, with Uncle Mike taken care of, you can now continue to shoot the wedding video knowing that you have given the bride and groom the best wedding video you can possibly give to them.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

STANDARD DVD, HIGH DEF DVD, BLU RAY DVD - WHAT NEXT?

2010-02-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio, Parma, Ohio.

With all this technology changing, it seems like we're taking a step back in time to the late 1980's and 1990's. Do you remember when there was a format called Beta? Do you remember a format called VHS? At one time, these were the only two formats available for the home wedding video markets.

Which one did you use? Did you use VHS or Beta? Through my travels, I found out that Beta was the format of choice on the west coast, and VHS was the format of choice on the east coast. What this all boiled down to was, the salespeople that were selling Beta out west were better salespeople than those selling VHS, and vice versa.

As we all know, Beta disappeared from the consumer market. Instead of catering to the consumer wedding video market, Sony set their sights on the professional video market.

Soon after this, we were inundated with all sorts of video tape formats. If memory serves me correctly, S-VHS was the first one to hit the streets. Then followed a whole slew of different formats. It just became so incredibly confusing and a producer's nightmare when it came down to editing the wedding video you just shot.

Are we taking a step back in time? With the advent of High Definition Video, it seems as if we're stuck in the same situation we were in back in the day.

There are plenty of wedding video production companies using high grade, professional quality video cameras that utilize mini-DV's. There are just as many out there that use memory sticks, and SDHC cards. What is a wedding video producer to do?

Since June 12, 2009, when the government made it mandatory for all broadcasters to use the digital video format, this threw a wrench into the gears of the machinery of professional video production. Everybody had to convert everything, even down to Mom and Pop with an old TV with rabbit ears. Has this flood of changes made a difference? It definetely has in terms of the picture quality we enjoy watching on today's TV.

Has it affected video production? You bet it has. Since most finished productions end up as DVDs, this has created a whole slew of new problems. On the consumer end, it doesn't seem like a big deal. They grab their DVD and throw it into their DVD player and watch their movie. But is it really that simple? Not anymore.

Most wedding videographers produce their weddings on a DVD. I've read on several blogs that the DVDs are not playing in their DVD players. Why is this? It seems as if the older DVDs, the ones 5-7 years old, are not capable of playing the digitally produced DVD wedding videos. Hollywood has given the consumer a false sense of security that their movie rental will play in their DVD players. Why do theirs play, and ours don't? What they aren't telling you is that the DVD you rent, other than a Blu-ray, is not digital, but is standard analog DVD, even though it's being formatted as a wide screen. Tricky eh....

This is a confusing nightmare for everyone either renting or producing DVDs. Are you aware that there are 6 different kinds of DVDs out there, not counting Blu-ray? Here's something even more confusing. You can play almost any DVD in a Blu-ray DVD player, but, you cannot play a Blu-ray DVD in anything other than a Blu-ray player. This was done intentionally so that you would eventually have to buy a Blu-ray player because the DVD in your hand may not play in your DVD player.

So we are right back to where we were in the late 80's and early 90's. Eventually I see evrything going to Blu-Ray. Guess whats next, MINI DVD'S I QUIT!!!

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

HOW TO SHOOT A WEDDING VIDEO

2010-01-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio

How do I shoot a wedding video? Two words come to mind immediately, and those two words are "very carefully". If you think you can just go and plop down a video camera on a tripod in a church or anywhere for that matter, and shoot a wedding video, you are sadly mistaken.

The first thing you have to do is know exactly what is going to happen during the wedding ceremony. By doing this, you eliminate the element of surprise, which can cause serious problems. In my 27 years of shooting wedding videos, the knowledge of what to expect during the wedding ceremony has saved my hide many times. You always need to be prepared when shooting a wedding video.

For example, during a wedding, the bride takes a rose and places it at an outdoor grotto. If you didn't know that was going to happen, please tell me how you would get that shot. I would love to know what kind of magic you would have to use to get that in the wedding video. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Another consideration is the fact that every church or synagogue has different rules regarding photograhers and videographers. What you do not want to do is upset the officiant, because I can assure you, it will be the last time you are permitted to shoot a wedding video in that church.

I have been told horror stories by different officiants. Probably the most incredible abuse of the privlege of shooting a wedding video occured at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church near Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. A videographer thought it would be clever to shoot the vows looking up toward the ceiling, sliding on his back to get between the priest and the bride and groom during this crucial time of the ceremony. Needless to say, that videographer should have asked permission from the priest before trying something that stupid.I am certain the priest would have given him a resounding NO at his ridiculous request.

In all seriousness, shooting a wedding video takes time, planning and experience, as well as a little bit of common sense. Just like in sports, you have to learn the game and practice the game. Know the rules, abide by them and you will come out a winner.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

SHOULD I BUY A REALLY EXPENSIVE VIDEO CAMERA?

2010-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio

Sure, why not? You know that bigger is better and more expensive must be the best, but is that really true? If you're shooting wedding or event videos, or even corporate videos, why would you waste thousands of dollars on an overpriced camera when a moderately priced camera will do the same job just as well, if not better?

Over the years, my experience in shooting wedding videos has taught me many things, but I think the most important lesson I learned is this; Let's say you and I went out to buy video cameras. You find a camera that costs $15,000.00 and I find a camera that sells for $2000.00. The $15,000.00 camera has a lot more gadgets than mine. It looks very high tech compared to mine. However if you read the specifications on the cameras, you will find that the most crucial elements needed for video production are pretty much the same.

Let's assume that the expensive camera will be operated by someone who has been in the field shooting wedding videos for 3 months. I will take my $2000.00 camera to another wedding. The difference is that I have more than 25 years of experience shooting wedding videos. In the end, which video do you think will turn out better?
Most uninformed people would think the $15,000.00 camera would far out perform the $2000.00 camera. The truth is, the end result is far different.

The wedding video produced by the $2000.00 camera is far superior to the video produced by the $15,000.00 camera. So, what does this tell you about purchasing cameras? It isn't how much you paid for the camera. I think we all knew that the wedding video produced by the less expensive camera was going to be be superior to the video produced by the expensive camera.

The reason this happened is because the operator, the videographer shooting the wedding on the less expensive camera, has 25+ years of experience shooting wedding videos, or for that matter any type of video. The person with the experience knows exactly what to shoot during a wedding, as well as where to place the camera for the best effect and he knows when to use the zoom lens and how to keep the picture in focus. A person with 3 months experience cannot possibly know what to do if someone opens the back door of the church during the ceremony. A flood of outdoor light can seriously mess up your video. The person shooting the video with the expensive camera doesn't know where the backlight switch is, or how to use it to make an immediate correction and save the video.

The experienced person will most likely expect someone to open the door during the ceremony and be prepared to make the correction on the spot. The experienced videographer will be prepared for this prior to the start of the wedding.

The extreme high end pro video cameras can cost a fortune and they are set up not to shoot wedding videos, events or even corporate video. They are set up for broadcasting live television or wireless transmission to a satellite etc.. Why would you think that buying a camera like that is going to do you any good when your niche is the consumer market?

In conclusion, when you buy a video camera, you must know first of all what you will be shooting. Secondly, you should read the specifications and compare them. If you find the more expensive camera can shoot under water and you plan to do underwater work, then if would make sense to pay more. I know to many professional videographers that think just because they have expensive cameras, this means their wedding videos will be better, when in fact the videos are less than perfect.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

Web 2.0 and UPLOADING VIDEOS

2010-01-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio

The internet has pushed the world forward at a frantic pace, with more and more people getting online either at work or at home. Because of this most people have email accounts and some form of social networking site, whether that is Myspace, Facebook, Bebo or Twitter and now people what to share every aspect of their lives with the world.

Because of this there has been a heavy demand for web video production technology to allow people to upload memorable moments of their life on to these various mediums and share them with the world. Usually these result in some form of flash plug-in that allows people to view the content but doesn't allow them to download it. This is a vital security feature of a web video production tool as users don't generally want their home videos downloaded and edited. Generally if you set up good privacy settings on your account the video will only be visible by people you allow.

Another aspect of the web video production software is the relative ease at which you can upload your homemade videos to these social networking sites, it may all seem simple from the front end, but there is a series of clever components working in the background to convert your movie into a flash file or.flv which makes it secure for the internet.

Of course if you want to get really involved with video editing then you can purchase software which will enable you to perform advanced web video production for sites such as YouTube. With this software you will be able to create entrance slides, add music, tweak the video input settings and a number of other hilarious changes that will hopefully increase the popularity of your video.

If you videos become really popular on YouTube you will be featured on the main page of the site. Obviously it is vital that you don't release any information or details in these videos that you wouldn't otherwise want released onto the internet. It is obviously great that we can share some much information and share our successes and dreams with people all around the world today, but at the same time there are a host of people that prey on unsuspecting and unprotected users.

Web video production has been a major enhancement of internet protocol over the last decade and it looks like staying around for the foreseeable future, so use it, but use it wisely.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

Making a Corporate Video Successful

2010-01-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio

Producing a video for your company can be an exciting and potentially stressful experience. There’s more to it than simply assigning a video production company to the task and crossing your fingers.
To get the most from your video production dollars, we’ll take a look at seven top tips for making your corporate video a success.
1. Start with Results. The first step is to work out exactly what you want your video to achieve. Is it to train staff on a new procedure or is to increase interest at trade shows? Design your video concept around the desired result. Often clients get caught up with showing off their company that the main message gets lost.
2. Write a brief. Once you know what you want to achieve, work out what you want to show and explain in your video. Formulate a brief that specifies your objectives, target audience, the countries your video will be viewed in and any required languages. A list of all the shots that you need is also helpful. Will the bulk of the shots be at your premises and do you need your CEO to talk to camera? Video production companies will try to calculate how many days filming are required to work out the cost, so it’s important to know how much needs to be filmed at the outset.
3. Know your image. What sort of image do you want to present to your customers? While watching your corporate video, your customers will be left with an impression of what type of business you are and what to expect when doing business with you. If your television program happens to be radically down-market than your up-market product suggests, then you create cognitive dissonance in your prospects. This will mean that your viewers will be left with an uneasy feeling that something isn't quite right with your company and will automatically distrust your message. To avoid this, make sure the quality of production reflects the quality of your product/service. This can involve using a professional camera operator with broadcast quality gear to having a graphic artist design maps and titles.
4. Messages. One of the key areas to work out is what communication messages you need to get across. Work out the 4-6 key messages and develop the video around these. If you have too many messages people will tune out. Essentially, make sure you give information that your audience wants to know (not what you think they ought to know).
5. Script. The script provides the backbone to any video project. It’s always worthwhile spending extra time refining the script. As a rule of thumb, it needs to be completed before any filming begins. The best kind of script is short and sharp and revolves around your main messages. The quicker you can get your message across, the better the result. Avoid putting everything into the script, as wall to wall voiceover is quite tiring (and boring) to watch.
6. Assign a contact person. A designated person from your firm will need to be available to work with the video production company. The production house will need script information and approval, help in organizing shoots, copies of your logo and other relevant materials and someone to view a draft of the video and then finalize. This person will also need to make sure that the look and feel of the video best represents your company.
7. Get expert advice. A good production company will be able to advise you on the best format for your needs such as the music, the filming, editing style and how the schedule will run. They will also be able to take your brief and come back with a range of suitable suggestions. Don’t stress about the technical issues. That’s the job of your video production company.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/

I Want To Shoot Wedding Videos

2010-01-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

By: J&J Video Productions-Wedding Video Specialists-Cleveland, Ohio

So you're one of the millions of people out of work and unable to find a job. You've sent out hundreds of resumes and received no response. What do you do now? It comes to mind that last week you were a guest at a wedding and you saw someone videotaping the event, and bingo! You now know what you can do. You're going to be a wedding videographer. It looks easy enough, just get a video camera and run around filming everything. You can probably make hundreds of dollars for one day's work.

Let's stop right there. It takes a lot more than just grabbing a video camera and shooting everyone to make a wedding video. There are a lot of things that need to be taken into consideration before you can expect to shoot a wedding video, or any video. One of the first things you need to decide on is what kind of a video camera you want to use. Even though video cameras look alike, they can be as different as night and day. Some cameras are well suited for work in low light situations, and others are not. Another big difference is, some cameras use videotape, and others use memory cards.

It is also important to know the horizontal and vertical resolutions. This can make the difference between a crystal clear, network type, broadcast quality video and a blurred out, fuzzy, low resolution video. We're just talking about the actual camera here. We haven't even considered the other aspects of producing a professionally done wedding video.

The cost of video cameras can range from $100.00 to well into 5 figures.
Once you have actually shot a wedding video, you will inevitably find many different kinds of problems, such as someone standing right in front of your camera, people bumping into your camera, kids showing their latest acrobatic stunts learned on the playground last week and drunk people embarrassing themselves. How are you going to fix all these problems? The bride and groom will not appreciate these images in their wedding video. It's up to you to fix them. This requires editing.

If you want to talk about opening a can of worms, editing systems are a good place to start. Are you aware that each camera may require a different editing system because of the way it recorded? There are many cameras that use the same editors, but there are just as many that don't. With the advent of high definition coming into play, this adds a whole new dimension to editing video. Are you purchasing an editing system that will be obsolete in 2 years? Or, are you purchasing one that requires multiple pieces of additional equipment to make it work? Will you have to purchase a computer with a hard drive and video card the size of Cleveland? Does your editor have a title generator and special effects.

The next thing you have to deal with is deciding what format the final product going to be. Is it going to be tape, a DVD, a standard DVD, a high definition DVD, or a Blu ray DVD? More importantly, is your editor equipped to burn the DVDs or run the tape? Do you have any idea how much an editor is going to cost? I have seen editing systems that can range from $5000.00 to almost a million dollars.

So now, do you still want to be a wedding videographer? And one more thing. We haven't even talked about the accessories, audio systems, lights, tripods, cords, microphones, and sound mixers. Had enough? Let the professionals do the wedding videos, since they have been trained, and schooled. Save yourself the headaches and the lawsuits from unhappy brides.
Today's brides and grooms are sophisticated consumers. Years ago, they really didn't understand what the difference was between a good video and a professional video. Today they are tech savvy and will definitely know whether or not they have an amateurs video or a professionally produced video.

J&J Video Productions is an independent Video Production Company located in Cleveland Ohio. J&J Video Productions specializes in Wedding Videos and covers Parma Ohio and Cuyahoga County Ohio as well as the Cleveland Metropolitan area. For further information please visit our website at http://jandjvideoproductions.com/