Category Archives: Bridal Events/Education

Brides: Tips on making your wedding film even better.

You may have read this somewhere during your wedding planning – “Things to to acheive the best wedding film.”  However, I am going a little deeper, giving you some tips on what you should strongly consider doing on your wedding day in order to have an amazing experience and having a happy wedding film crew.

1. First and foremost, don’t sweat the small stuff. Things inevitably will happen. Probably 99.8% are out of your control.  Smile, and be happy!

2. Trust the pros that you spent hours and hours researching.  Let them do their job.  I could never tell a plumber how to plumb, for a lack of a better phrase (you get the point!). For further clarification, see tip number 1.  This may mean asking you to move into more appealing light, removing items from a particular scene, or even turning off some lights in order to make you look the most radiant.  Another suggestion might be to ask your guests to put away their phones, or tablets during the ceremony.

3.  Don’t chew gum during bridal preps!  Mints seem to work better.  With a mint, at least your mouth will be either open or closed, but not in continuous motion.  Sometimes we film moments that you don’t know we capture.  It isn’t visually appealing to see you chomping on gum while there is a tear rolling down your cheek.  If you have to chew gum during the day, try to do it when the time is right, like when you aren’t doing anything super important.  🙂

4.  Turn the music off, please.  Especially when you are getting into your dress.  We use live audio from your day to filter into your wedding film.  Nothing screams “tear jerker” more than Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime” while you are stepping into your beautiful wedding gown! In order to hear your mom’s voice crack as she says “You’re Stunning”, cut the Kenny.

5.  A good wedding film crew loves a well-planned timeline, but we also understand that things happen and timelines get thrown off.  Do your best to understand, and maybe even build in a little cushion for things like tear down and setup of equipment, travel to and from different locations, traffic, and even bad GPS routes if in unfamiliar territory. Cinematographers tend to carry more equipment than photographers for the most part.

6.  Content.  Get creative.  Have a First Look with your soon to be husband… Or your father, if you want to stay more traditional.  Write your own vows.  Give the love of your life that personalized bottle of 18 year-old bourbon right before your ceremony with a hand written note.  Have personalized favors for your guests.  I could go on and on but the more content we have to build your story around, the better your wedding film will be.  Trust me.

7. Put us on the timeline, pretty please!  Every wedding is different, but the flow of a wedding day is usually the same – preps, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception.  The photographer asks to be added to your timeline so they are able to photograph all the formal shots you need, plus all of the creative shots they need.  The band or DJ requests events to be on your timeline so the wedding day will flow nicely and you know when to cut the cake.  Your timeline also lets you know when the caterers and the florists plan to arrive to carry out their responsibilities.  By adding us onto your timeline, it ensures that we have uninterrupted time with you and your significant other to film the content we need to create an amazing wedding film for you.  We don’t need a lot of time, but please be sure to give us the time we request.  If it isn’t on the timeline, it isn’t going to happen.  This, by far, is my favorite tip.

8.  Kiss, and release.  The two of you will kiss a lot during the day (hopefully many days ahead too).  Unless you want your wedding film to look like your lips are krazy-glued to your partners, Kiss… and release.  KISS = Keep It Sweetly Simple.

9.  Nothing to see here.  Have fun on your wedding day.  Be You.  Be Loved.  Be Married!

10.  This last one doesn’t pertain to a wedding film entirely, but at some point in the evening, hold your partner’s hand and walk away from your guests.  Then, from a distance, turn around to look at all of the people there for you on your big day.  Take a mental snapshot.  You will never have this exact moment again, with all of your favorite people celebrating you!

If you would like to learn more about us, or have questions on how we can create a wedding film for you, drop us a note!

Off the cuff – A wedding cinematographers guide: Does your second shooter Win, Place, or Show?

Finding a second shooter for a wedding cinematography team is similar to owning a horse.

Let me start by saying I am not a horse owner, nor do I ever plan on purchasing one.  They intimidate me slightly, and I don’t care to smell a horse when it’s wet, so there is really no point in calling one my own.  That being said, this post will have some direct similarities to finding yourself a skilled second shooter along with the responsibilities of owning one of these majestic creatures.

When looking for the person(s) that would be able to carry a pretty big responsibility as second shooting with a wedding cinematography team, here are some qualities and soft skills I look for:

Compatibility – First and foremost, you must to be on the same page with the expectations being discussed.  Hands down, my favorite characteristic.  Sometimes an aged horse fits the bill, sometimes a yearling.  It’s all relative, and you want a shooter that is bomb proof (someone who doesn’t spook easily).  We all know weddings can scare the mess out of you if you don’t know what to expect or how to anticipate the flow of a wedding day, look for a well trained person with a conditioned response so they can properly handle things.

Commitment – Once your shooter is found, now you can train and teach them the way you want them to handle their responsibilities.  Commitment is needed on both sides of the fence, from the colt and the purebred.  As a second shooter, if you commit yourself to assisting with a wedding, you should never, ever, (did I say ever) back out of said wedding, especially days before the event.  This can cause rogue behavior with the purebred also causing a slight panic, not to mention being unprofessional on the second shooters part.  I get it, things happen, but taking another job because it seems cooler or may pay more is just wrong.  There are no do overs with weddings and though the purebred may have a list of wedding cinematographers to step in if needed, they too may be booked that day already. The purebred was able to build lasting relationships, and have people to rely on, because at one point they too were a yearling and they proved themselves being compatible and committed.

Communication – This is a key factor in almost any situation.  Talk about expectations.  Review the footage of your second shooter as soon as you can after the event.  Make those corrections, critique their work, give constructive (not destructive) criticism and give kudos when they do a great job!  This leads back to either being compatible, or unsound.  If you find your second shooter not a fit for you, or your business model, maybe it’s time for that horse to be put out to pasture.

**side note – sometimes as a wedding vendor, it takes a lot of running, never taking a break and being on your feet all day.  When it does come time to eat dinner, Please leave the feed bags at home.  Be Professional.  Always.

Also, Don’t EVER Nae, Nae, or Whip for that matter!

Lastly, Cinematography – Toys are fun (drones, sliders, etc.) but if you don’t use them properly the footage isn’t worth anything.  Be a solid shooter with the tools you use frequently.  Don’t be a chief.  I feel the role of a second shooter is to get solid, usable footage.  Finding someone who can compose a shot, nail the exposure and have the ability to keep things in focus are a great start.  I’ll take 5 minutes of solid stuff over 2 and a half hours of footage that gets trashed any day. Also, be prepared to handle your duties like you would a lead shooter. Always have extra cards, batteries and lenses with you, it saves you from interrupting the day or running out to your car.

During this process you may have to put up with a lot of horse manure in order to find your shooter, but once you do, you’ll be galloping  like “Hoof Hearted” to the finish line with a great team, leading the way!

So, as I did my research to find some useful horse related terms for this blog, please do the same when looking for a solid second shooter for your wedding cinematography business, and hopefully your second cinematographer doesn’t smell nearly as bad as a wet horse!

To check out some of our other blog posts, click here

Off the cuff – Getting unveiled in Wilmington

A few weeks back, Wilmington Weddings and Events asked us to film a bridal mixer. It all took place at a posh, yet intimate venue called The Loft on Front.

We had a blast meeting some friendly couples and working alongside some very talented vendors.

Here’s the film we put together!

Enjoy!

Random Thoughts of Inspiration

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Handcrafted gets Handpicked!

So, how cool is this?

We were chosen to participate in the Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event.

It’s true!  We are so stoked to be a part of this non-traditional bridal event, along with teaming up with so many awesome vendors.  All headed up by the ever so sweet and talented Baci Designer.2013Handpicked_Badge

What is it, you ask?  If you have ever been to a bridal show before…  Think the exact opposite!

Let’s do a side by side comparison:

Typical Bridal Show:

– Expect masses of people.  I compare it to herding cattle!

– Little or no time to talk to the the vendor(s) you are thinking about hiring for one of the biggest days of your lives!

– Endless supplies of “stuff” from vendors you’ll NEVER remember!

– Maybe you’ll get cake.

Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event:
– A Bridal Show Meets Styled Shoot Creation by Baci Designer – Tuesday, December 3rd 2013 @ Happy Days Lodge

 –  An intimate evening of inspirational details.   Great food and tasteful music paired with extremely knowledgeable, friendly and professional vendors that want to get to know you!
–  A question & answer session with “yours truly” &  Cleveland Boudoir!

–  Did I mention cocktails?

–  Dress Fittings, Eye Demos, and Wedding Hair Consultations 

 – More cocktails..  Oh, and Chocolate!!!

 – Lots of happy couples!
–  A special gift for you at the end of the night!

Where & When:
– Tuesday, December 3rd 2013
– Open House Style from 6:30PM until 10:00PM
– Happy Days Lodge, 500 West Streetsboro Street, Peninsula, Ohio 44264

Ticket Information:
– $20 Advance Purchase Tickets Available Here http://handpickedevent2013.eventbrite.com/

– $25 Tickets at the Door the Day of the Event {Cash + Credit Card Accepted}
-A portion from each ticket sold will be used to support Brides Across America, a non-profit charity making military bride’s dreams come true by providing them with a free wedding gown.

As a preferred vendor I am giving 5 VIP Half-price Ticket Codes to current or potential clients that you feel are the perfect Handpicked guests.  Shoot me a message and I can hook you up!

Vendor Information:
– Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Happy Days Lodge
– Molly Taylor Designs
– MKleinmanArtistry
– Hayley + Jamie Representing Sola Salons
– Totally Cooked Catering
– Borrow Vintage + Eclectic Rentals LLC
– PartyPix Photo Experience
– Something New Entertainment
– Sitting Pretty Linens
– Something White, A Bridal Boutique
– Bittersweet’s Chocolate and Pastry
– Cleveland Boudoir

– NOTO

–Adam Pate, “The Caricature Guy”

–Baci Designer

We would love to see YOU there!