Free Wedding Rehearsal Video Coverage
Wedding videography in itself is an art unlike many others. It requires a skill set not often realized and takes an enormous amount of behind the scenes preparation in order to adequately prepare for shooting the big day. Whether the ceremony is on the beaches of the California coast, or as Far East as San Joaquin County, Simply Interactive makes the same preparations to get ready to be an effective wedding videographer for you.
A wedding is every directors worst nightmare. Why? Because we cannot control what is going on... only try to influence, prepare, and anticipate. If we miss a moment, the moment is gone forever and to redo it may look good on camera, but it will never feel the same as you are watching the video years later.
So this is why every package we offer comes with Rehearsal coverage. Every now and then someone will ask me if they can knock a little off the price of our wedding packages by not requiring that we go to the rehearsal. My answer is always the following:
Yes, you are paying a little more to have us there on the day of the rehearsal. On this day we video not only the dry runs, but also get crucial architecture, landscaping, scenic, and natural shots of the bride and groom. We arrive sometimes two hours before the rehearsal to set up and take our time with this part of our job and also make sure we have enough time to get the bride and groom while not in their gown and tux.
But we are there not just for you. We have a commitment to offering quality-wedding videography and my dedication to perfection forces me to be as prepared as possible by attending every rehearsal. The only way to be totally prepared for a live event with less than 5 cameras is to see what is happening first.
Today someone really made my day. You see, I know we are not the least expensive videography company out there. So when someone compares Simply interactive to another less expensive company and still comes back and signs a contract with Simply Interactive it is pretty flattering. I have to post this quote because it really made me feel great:
Rusty, we talked to another videographer yesterday who was 300 dollars less expensive than you. And we really liked some of the things that he did in his videos -- but we really liked the way you offer your services, and we really felt comfortable with you -- so can you do... [at this point he asks me if I can do the effects and scenes like he saw the other videographer do]
¶ 11:21 PM
2.19.2004
Come See Us at the Great Bridal Expo in San Jose
We are expanding our business to to other areas of the Bay Area and also hiring to meet the demand for the quality of wedding and event videos we provide. For your benefit we are going to exhibit in a large booth at the Great Bridal Expo on March 7th. Here is the info:
Event date: Sunday Mar 07, 2004
Show time: 12:00 NOON
Address: FAIRMONT SAN JOSE 170 S MARKET STREET SAN JOSE, CA 95113
We really hope to see you there to take advantage of our show specials and to enter our drawing for some fantastic prizes. The expo requires that we give out one prize -- we are going to give away TWO!
¶ 9:09 AM
2.15.2004
Simply Interactive is Hiring
There comes a time in every business that markets itself well that it needs to consider expanding to meet the demand. That time for Simply Interactive has come. It is vital to us, however, that we maintain that small, intimate, and personal company that we started out as. To change that would be to change the culture of Simply Interactive and the way we offer our wedding and event videography services.
While at this point we do not want to hire people to edit video, we are actively seeking experienced videographers to assist us.
Do you have and maintain your own high-end digital video camera?
Are you customer focused first?
Do you believe that the customer is always right and should be made to feel respected and appreciated?
Do you absolutely love working with people who, while possibly a little rushed and pressured, are invariably happy?
Do you completely love working in a video medium?
Then go to our jobs page, read it thoroughly, and apply.
¶ 3:14 PM
2.14.2004
Wedding Videography Companies Similarities and Differences
As a person looking for service providers continues their journey, after a short time all providers seems to be the same. Wedding videographers in particular. Very often I'll be talking with someone and they will get one of Simply Interactive's wedding video packages mixed up (understandably) with another company's packages. The differences are usually pretty subtle and after viewing a few sites I am sure they all blend together.
Here is a quick list of what we have really set forth with as our main differences.
We do not charge you by the hour
That's right. What you hire us to do will determine how long we need to be there. Most occasions we have enough footage within 30 minutes or so of the doors closing on the rest of your guests, and our start time is determined by YOUR start time. This means that if you start getting ready at 4 am (it's happened before) then we wake up at 2 am and get to you by 4 am.
We do not charge extra for different types of editing
That's straight from the mouth of a perfectionist who would be uncomfortable charging you for the effects and slo-mo and soft focus that make wedding videos beautiful. As a perfectionist, and the only person at Simply Interactive who edits ALL the videos we do, I would never let a wedding video out of my studio that I was not personally moved by.
ALL packages come with rehearsal coverage
We will not do a wedding if we cannot be there for the rehearsal. Why? Because this is a live event where we cannot exactly go and break up the flow of the wedding to get the shot we just missed because we did not know what was happening. Occasionally people ask us if they can get a discount if we do not go to the rehearsal and the answer is this: We go to the rehearsal mostly for our own purposes -- but because we are there anyway, we shoot video and add that to the finished product.
We do not put other companies down
This is an artistic and creative job and as such it is immediately obvious that our style and personality may not be what you are looking for in your wedding. That's ok. We do not have to try and slander our peers in this business in order to secure your patronage. We know our quality is on par with some of the best videographers out there. We also know that no matter what we say about our videos, once you see them you will make up your own mind so we do not try and put other companies work down either. There are hundreds of great wedding video companies out there. We let our demos speak for themselves and then meet with you to show you an entire wedding video shot in the Bay Area, Monterey and Coastal areas, as well as North and East Bays. Not only can you see a demo shot in a place the same as or similar to your chosen venue, but that's the time where you can see if our personality fits with your wedding.
¶ 1:22 PM
2.05.2004
A New Breed of Wedding Coordinators
Wedding and Event planners/coordinators are undoubtedly helpful. Nothing really beats having someone who has planned weddings countless times before plan yours. They have all sorts of insider knowledge and a confidence that many brides do not feel about their ability to make wise decisions. Nothing beats experience.
Frankly, quite often I find myself assisting the officiant/pastor/friend-with-a-license-for-a-day figure out just what is supposed to happen. An added benefit to me on these occasions is that I can guide the procession and recession that happens to favor the needs of the videographer and photographer, but the point is really that this is a complicated process and some assistance would be nice.
But you never really know just how nice. Sadly and tragically Maxine Goulding, a friend of mine who is a wedding coordinator, had hired Simply Interactive to perform the videography for a wedding in December, only to have the entire process stop because the groom was involved in a fatal accident.
Truly tragic -- Unimaginably painful for the unsatiated bride and family. And while nothing could take the pain away from the family, I wish they could know just how quickly and efficiently the (also grieving) Wedding Planner was on the telephone with all the service providers making arrangements to cancel the wedding and arrange for deposits to be returned under the assumption that the bride's financial needs had to be taken care of while she was unable.
¶ 8:19 PM
2.02.2004
Wedding Music Selections From iTunes
As a wedding videographer who also is the editor (a unique combination) it is important to emphaisize to clients the availability of wedding music. It is all well and good to get the audio from the event, live, but it is much more preferrable to have true and rich music to add to the edited video.
Even more daunting than my own experiences with it though, is just how hard it is for brides to locate good music for their wedding day.
iTunes is an incredible resource because with iTunes you can preview 30 seconds of every song and if you are savvy, actually purchase the digital music you like, download it to your iPod and THEN hand the iPod to your DJ and let them know what songs and in what order you want them. You wouldn't even have to burn a CD.
Here are some places to start in the iTunes store for wedding music:
The Wedding Album (Partial)Wedding MusicA Wedding Sampler
¶ 12:11 PM
Wedding and Corporate Video Blog for clients and potential clients of the award-winning Simply Interactive llc. Your stop for visual media, capture and design.
Wedding
and Event DJ Dot Com This is one of Simply
Interactive's favorite resources. This
site will help you find anything you
would need for your wedding video and
helps weed out the fly-by-night operations.
Wedding
Links Galore! This is a great resource
as well. Tons of links for different
wedding vendor types and broken down
by geographic theatre.
Party Pop
This is a
huge database
of tons
of wedding
service
providers
By Recommendation
Only
This is a
website that
lists vendors
ONLY if they
have been
referred
by
one of their
clients.
REFERR
US!
Approved
Photographer Links
Mark
Stagi -
Fine Art
Wedding
Photography
Mark and I have worked together several times and one
thing that stands out aside from his actual photography
skill (which speaks for itself on his website) is his
awesome, confident, calm and unobtrusive personality
and shooting style. Every time we work together I am
reminded of how cool and confident he is. Check out
his website - he's a great guy!
Anna
Myers Photography I
have worked
with Anna
Myers twice
and have
recommended
her for corporate
jobs as well.
Both times
I worked
with her
I was stunned
at her creativity,
her ability
to get stunning
shots and
work with
ct he bride
and groom
in a comfortable,
non-stress
inducing
way. When
I work with
Anna our
video work
and our synergy
together
to create
great shots
allows both
of us to
walk away
with some
extremely
glamorous
images.
Geoff White Photography While
I have yet
to work with
Geoff, I
have seen
his work
countless
times at
bridal shows
(our booths
are constantly
near each
other). Tremendous
quality every
time I see
his new array.
You can tell
how creative
this man
is by looking
at the effort
put into
his show
booth alone...
but once
you get sucked
into his
photo albums,
you'll likely
do everything
possible
to get him
as your photographer.
Jill
Johnson @ Insza Photography This girl was absolutely
wonderful to work with. She works very
well with everyone and even amidst the
mayhem of a wedding where an entire
TV crew was trying to muscle through
the hired service providers, she still
made sure she got everything the couple
wanted.
Darren
Wong Darren
and Simply
Interactive
have worked
together
on a couple
weddings
and has one
of the highest
skill levels
we have seen.
His compositions
and quality
are impeccable
-- matched
only by
his top-notch
equipment.
Approved
DJ Links
San Jose DJs DJ Earl is an excessively helpful
individual. His dedication to his clients means he
is willing to go above the call of duty to make things
flow smoothly.
Fog City Entertainment Russ Catanach is just plain
awesome! Every time I do a wedding with him he
is always prepared. He is smooth, suave, and professional
without being humdrum or frustratingly boring. He
reads crowds well, and guides the party along. I
could not recommend them more.
Carl
Mindling Music
This gentleman is a fantastic DJ - smooth, professional,
entertaining. Aside from his technical quality, this
was one of the most easy going and in-control DJs I've
ever met. I can only imagine how he would react under
pressure - with the same eloquence.
Approved
Venue Links
Nestledown
Estates
There are
no words
that can
describe
the beauty
and serenity
of this place.
We are proud
to have been
able to shoot
there.
Capital Athletics Club - San Jose Despite
the name,
this is
a beautifully
designed
building,
inside
and out.
Great Service
and wonderful
bar/pool
table/fireplace.
Great ambiance
with vaulted
ceilings
in a victorian
interior
decor.
Palmdale
Estates - Fremont Palmdale
Estates is
a beautifully
landscaped
spacious
venue location
that uses
beautifully
designed
two-story
halls for
the reception.
Ceremonies
are outdoors
on lawns.
Byington
Winery
- Los Gatos Definitely one of
my favorite spots. The ceremony area
is at the top of a set of brick steps
and surrounded by grape vines and gorgeous,
Los Gatos hills covered in hundred year
old forest trees. The reception area
is inside of a magnificent building
covered in ivy. Indoors are huge tanks
and an immense cellar houses hundreds
of oak barrels for aging wine. Great
stuff for video and photo.
Approved
Limo Links
White Hat Limo
I can tell
you this
about White
Hat Limo,
when it
came time
to hire
a limo
service
for my
6th anniversary,
White Hat
Limo was
the first
place I
called.
Reliability,
quality
and price.
White Hat
Limo is
exceptional
in all
areas.
