Another wedding season is upon us here and McKenna Video & Photo and we are busy gearing up for a couple of really great weddings.
A few year back, we decided that we would showcase our work at some of the local wedding shows. Some of them were bigger than others, but regardless we were privileged to talk with a lot of brides about the possibilities of a video production of their wedding. And while a great deal of them were receptive to the idea, many were not.
In talking with brides, we found that their top three priorities were a wedding/reception site, a dress, and a florist, followed by photographer and caterers. Video usually ranked somewhere along the bottom. Why is this? Is it because of the cost and budgets can get real tight when planning a wedding? Is it because most people have their own video camera, thus giving Uncle Charlie the ability to shoot your wedding and present it to you as a gift? Is it because of the “cheese” factor of the old 1980′s wedding video? Is it because when weddings were invented video was not around, in other words, tradition? It’s probably a little bit of all these, and possibly a little bit more. But let me take the next few moments to talk about the four aforementioned reasons.
Tradition. Yes, it is true that when weddings were invented video wasn’t around. The same can be said for photography for that matter, yet you’d still want to have your wedding photographed, wouldn’t you? How about the carefully thought-out flower arrangements, or the DJ for your reception? The fact of the matter is technology has evolved over the years and so have weddings. Most people, even those that steadfastly refuse to have video, appreciate the fact that they have “moving pictures” years later. No medium can capture the fun, the excitement, and the emotion like video can. Think of it this way, someone says or does something funny at your wedding or reception and everybody laughs. SNAP-you have a picture. Priceless. But can you hear those that were photographed actually laugh as you turn the pages in your album to that particular page? Can you see and hear the exact moment that the laughter turned into hysterics? Can you hear the comment that made them all roll on the floor? Not so with photographs (and these comments are coming from a photographer), but with video, the likelihood of capturing those particular moments has increased exponentially.
I once heard it this way: you wouldn’t watch the Superbowl in a photo album, so why would you view your wedding this way? Now, I don’t want to take anything away from the importance of photography not would I ever suggest replacing photography with video. Remember that I am a photographer too. But I just want you to consider the need for video to complement your photographs before being so quick to dismiss it.
A recent study commissioned by WEVA International states that 98% of all surveyed newlyweds recommend video to future brides. Interestingly, brides don’t fully appreciate the value of video until after the wedding. Before the wedding, only a little more than half of surveyed brides considered video a “Top 10″ service in comparison to other wedding-related services. After the wedding, however, the number climbs to 75%.
Do you or someone you know own a video camera? Just about everyone does these days. Technology has made them very affordable. And guess what, your Uncle Charlie has just offered to tape your wedding and give it to you as a gift. What a nice guy!!! But wait, consider a couple of differences between a professional videographer and uncle Charlie before accepting your uncle’s offer and foregoing a professional. First is equipment. A professional videographer will have invested thousands of dollars into professional equipment vs. the three hundred dollar model your uncle shelled out for his. A professional will have numerous high-end cameras (giving you a better picture and possibly even different angles), appropriate microphones (‘wiring’ up the groom so you can actually hear your vows), and lights when needed or as appropriate just to name a few. Training is another big difference. A professional videographer will know how to use their camera and will know what all the buttons actually do (once again for a better picture). And since they will be removed from the action of the day, a professional will actually be in place to get the best shot (given certain limitations placed on them by a priest, pastor, minister, confines of the location, safety, etc.). The final big difference is in the edit and delivery of your production. While there are some very easy-to-use and inexpensive video editing programs available, they just do not live up to the form and function that professional video editing can deliver.
Which brings me to the “Cheese” factor. Yes, it is true that wedding video’s of the 1980′s and early 90′s were very cheesy; full of all kinds of annoying effects and such. My wedding video included a lot of those and I truly wish I could edit them out. Well, I am here to proclaim that the days of those are over-at least for the professional video producer is concerned. Our videos are very well thought out, and do not include a lot of those annoying factors. Today’s professional wedding videos are very cinematic in nature and will stand up to the test of time.
Cost. Yes, video can stretch your budget a little. But consider the cost of a video production over the life of your marriage. And many years down the road, how can one apply that cost to having your children witness your marriage? As the Visa commercials tell us: it’s PRICELESS!!! Most couples do not want to skimp on their photographer, their florist, their caterer or any of the other wedding “must haves”, so why skimp on a video? If you choose to have your wedding videotaped, don’t cut corners here either.
Your wedding day is the biggest day of your life. It is the desire of McKenna Video & Photo to make sure that the day doesn’t end when the lights go out and the guests go home. You should be able to enjoy this day and the memories that are created on this day for the rest of your life.
Blessings,
Chris
