Willow Park Wedding of Warren and Kim
I really love my job. No kidding. I really really do. And I love every wedding I have been to where we are the videography company hired to shoot the wedding. That is without a doubt.
But some weddings I not only enjoy, but revel in. Some weddings things just flow together and it reminds me again vividly and clearly why I love shooting wedding videos so much. Of course, Simply Interactive does not JUST shoot weddings videos. We have an entire assortment of other multimedia based services and products, but weddings is our cornerstone, and I would not want it any other way.
Warren and Kim got married on Saturday at a very nice golf course in the hills of Castro Valley. Willow Park has a coordinator there who is kind, gracious, helpful, and direct, but not bossy as some coordinators come across. The grounds are well cared for and contain several immense willow trees with long branches gently sweeping the ground beneath them. Those trees provide ample backdrops for photography and videography.
Usually during a photo-shoot Simply Interactive stands back a bit, captures some video if we happen to see something we like, and occasionally requests of the photographer a brief moment to stage a shot in-between them getting what they need. Usually it is not a problem, but if it is we always just back off and wait our turn respectfully, and with full understanding that they prefer to work without interruption.
The photographer that was there was unfortunately a little bit more rough around the edges. Not only did he not want us to shoot video while he was taking pictures, he insisted that we stand very far away from him. This was not a problem with me from a professional standpoint, but the way he said it was so abrupt and rude that the bridal party was looking at me waiting for my response.
I never gave him a response and did what I always do when someone acts that way. I did what he asked and waited my turn. Of course I was offended, but it is part of the training I give my videographers (and I did in fact have a trainee with me that day) to not respond when someone acts like that.
So the long and short of the story is that the photographer ended up with an entire party of people who were unhappy with his attitude and that same party was impressed with how we dealt with it.
By not arguing with the photographer, we still got what we needed to make a great wedding video, there was no tension, other than the tension between the bridal party and the photographer because he was being a bit gruff with them as well.
And when I succeed in presenting my company in a way I can be proud of even under less-than-perfect conditions, it makes me proud of my company and reminds me why I love my job. It is because I enjoy giving people excellent customer service on their wedding day. Cheesy... I know... but I mean it.
¶ 10:02 AM
7.01.2004
Shutters on the Beach
I just got back from Santa Monica, CA with an experience to share. The location, Shutters on the Beach is an impeccable 5 star resort/paradise right south of the Venice Beach pier. You can look right at the pier ad walk to it within a few minutes.
The real fun part of this story is that this was the first time Simply Interactive had the opportunity to edit and present a highlights video the same day the wedding itself happened. Here's how it worked.
After the Rehearsal on Saturday, I went back to my hotel and captured that video to my hard drive. The day of the ceremony, we shot video of the couple getting ready and of the ceremony itself, of course. Here is where things got fun.
I gathered up the tapes and immediately went into a private room and started editing the clips together. Within 2 hours or so I emerged with a 4 minute edited video that ran from the day of the rehearsal all the way through the recession at the ceremony. It was, of course, set to music.
I had seen other companies do things like this before, however, they all use a type of editing and equipment that is suited for quick turnarounds. Little or no image/color correction, little to no effects or titles. Basically they would just run one clip into the next. But my video (which I hope to post here in the next day or so) is filled with slow motion, soft focus, letterbox effects, etc.
Of course it was a trial run to see if it could be done without sacrificing the quality I like to put out and as such it will require some modifications to reduce the amount of time it takes to create and show the video, But I know the areas that needed help now and know what needs to be done next time to streamline that process.
So, guess what! We now offer wedding video highlights shown live at your reception (I am so proud :-)
¶ 10:52 AM
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.
