Can a $500 wedding video look as good as a $5000 wedding video? Does a bear poop in a toilet, a frog kiss the princess, and how often do you win the state lottery? Yeah, dreams can come true but usually you get what you pay for:  one lottery ticket, one worthless scrap of paper.  So what’s the problem with a $500 wedding video? Nothing if your expectations are rooted in reality. But if you’re expecting top-notch, think again. The el cheapo wedding video will almost certainly be lacking in several areas even if you’ve found a gifted videographer. Time is money, and it’s doubtful that the videographer will spend much time in preparation, like arriving early to scout the location, and he or she is unlikely to spend much time and effort seeking out special filming angles that might, for example, be photogenically better for the bride or the esthetics of the location, and he/she is unlikely to take the time and effort to bring along extra gear like soft lights that can make all the difference in dimly lit areas, or to bring along back up sound just in case the primary sound system fails. Then, after the wedding, he/she will have to squeeze time in the editing suite because it simply does not make dollar sense for her to do a time consuming creative edit.

Will your $500 wedding video be a waste of money? Once again, not if you’re expectations are in check.  The professional videographer will more than likely give you better looking images than your uncle Bob (if you opt for him on video in lieu of the pro), but not necessarily by a wide margin.  So what should you do if you really want a wedding video but it’s not in your budget?  The answer is actually surprisingly simple.  Think of your video in 2 stages: the first is the filming and the second is the post production. If you’re on a tight budget, why not defer the second stage, to a time when you can better afford it?  There are many gifted videographers whose daily rate is in the $500/$600 range. While you’re not getting an edited film from them, you do have the upside of receiving your wedding video footage right away.

You might ask what will the editing cost later? There are scores of students at film schools who would probably edit for free; of course finding said student might not be that easy. Next choice is the pro. Most professional editors these days own their own home workstations and some edit smaller jobs in their spare time for less than their usual rate which is probably around $300 to $800 a day.  If you post an ad on Craigslist you will almost certainly find an editor.  One caveat: these guys might keep your project on the back burner for months, and charge you upwards of $1500 anyway so get the deal in writing. Now you might think that if you’re going to spend an additional $1500 on the editing, isn’t it better to stretch your original budget to $1500 and request a finished film from the get go? The answer is maybe.  While it might be reasonable to expect a nice looking film for $1500 (it’s a sum close to the national average), to a professional videographer, not a student or hobbyist, who has to deliver a polished wedding film requiring 40 or more hours of post production, your $1500 sum is still meager. Needless to say, some couples receive decent looking $1500 wedding videos. Competition in the wedding vendor business is fierce, but once you say yes to the videographer, he or she might think that your $1500 is too slight to warrant a master’s eye for detail during the editing process, and you might be in for a big letdown.

Bottom line is do your homework. If you elect to go for the finished film, don’t hire your videographer based upon short demo reels. Ask to see complete films that represent what you’ll be receiving. Ask a lot of questions, especially about the editing. Editing means more than making shorter. It is the process of selecting shots, cutting them up and carefully placing them into a creative order. Without editing, your film is sort of like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle laid out in a nice line one after another, but you can hardly discern the finished picture by looking at the jigsaw puzzle this way.

If you really want a phenomenal looking wedding video, one that will not only swell your heart but the hearts of others too,  discuss in detail your wedding film with your videographer. If you want an animated photo montage, make sure that he/she is proficient in that area. If you want dolly shots and crane shots so that your wedding video has a look similar to a feature film discuss it. Discuss your music preferences. Discuss the film’s length. Its color tones, sound track.  Work on the design of your wedding video with your videographer before the wedding. What does a wedding film like this cost? I can’t speak for others but we produce exquisite wedding films doing all of the above from $3500, and our top of the line masterpiece where we use 3 or 4 digital cinema cameras, dolly track, film cranes, and spend 50+ hours in a post production suite will typically run you about $5000.

Contact David Marsh at www.beverlyhillsvideographer.com

Idag har jag tillbringat dagen på Scandinavian Photo. Deltog i en kurs som handlade om kameran som vi köpt in till kontoret. Kursen tog upp alla dess funktioner och dess arbetsflöde till redigeringen. Det sades väldigt mycket av intresse men det bästa med hela seminariet var nog att man fick smarrigt fikabröd och en rejäl lunch som bestod av asiatisk buffé.

Hann även med en Bio på kvällskvisten. Jag och Jenny såg Coraline som visades i 3d. En film i sann Tim Burton anda som verkligen gjorde sig bra med 3d glajjer.

Denna införskaffades i fredags för jobbets räkning. Ska bli ett sant nöje att skjuta reklam med den. Levererar knivskarpa bilder!

Sony PMW-EX1

Here is another great Video By Philip Bloom, this time it’s Shibuya with music by Nat King Cole.

I’ve seen a number of Phil’s videos and it’s almost like each one is better than the previous. Then you watch the backwards and you feel the same! So I guess they’re all really very well made.