A Note to Our Peers in the Wedding and Event Video Business
Over the last few years I have had several instances where it would have been great to have a resource pool of qualified talent to use for the seemingly endless supply of last minute gigs. To begin to work on this issue on a local level, I have come up with an idea to begin to share information and resources among video companies on the Bay Area. The idea is that we will post demo reels, rates, and general availability to a website provided by me, and all of us can post requests for assistance on jobs either to the group, or specific members whose work you like.
Additionally, we can share information specific to our industry and address local issues specific to our region. All this AND we can post questions and support each other because, after all, the better customer service and quality we offer our customers, the more our industry will be respected and therefore grow.
So now that you have heard my spiel (and I know you guys are here checking out the competition :-) I hope you will consider joining the group and help promote good ethics and a higher industry standard as well as enable your company to take on more work.
The New Multimedia Studio
This is some really big news for all of us here at Simply Interactive llc. Something that each of us who contributes to the efforts of this company has been aiming towards for two years now.
We are moving into a multimedia studio right on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View on March 1st. This move is not just a simple moving of equipment, we are going to really make this place stand out and show our creativity. The new studio is in a downtown area full of shops and restaraunts and will reflect the personality and commitment to customer service we have aimed for since day one.
To highlight this event, and to bring even more value to our customers, we have hired on a very skilled photographer who has agreed to work directly under the Simply Interactive banner and offer services and rates that reflect the openness to our customers needs that we require from all our partners.
Deborah Nagai has been a professional photographer for 7 years and has claim to being published in magazines like Audrey, and Asian Women's Publication (link goes to online version of the print pictorial). While she has been a photographer for 7 years, she has been focusing on wedding photography for the last 2 years.
In traditional fashion, it seems that the majority of my partners and collaborators are from many years at Cisco systems. Deborah and I have been working together for many years already creating multimedia and multimedia standards for Cisco's internal and external websites.
Deborah will be officially joining Simply Interactive on March 1st, and we hope to launch the new website to reflect these service changes. Our new studio will be at 461 Castro Street in Mountain View and the doors will open for business on March 14th 2005. We hope you will stop by and say hi.
¶ 1:47 PM
2.01.2005
Excuse me, do you do photography as well?
I can't tell you how often I get that question. The answer is always the same... that photography and videography are similar, but very very different mediums and technologies. It isn't that I could not ever be a photographer or that a photographer could never be a videographer. The simple fact is that I want to be perfect at one field of expertise, not "ok" at two areas of expertise.
But as Simply Interactive has grown it has become apparent that a lot of people REALLY want photography. So it with real pride that I announce that as of March 1st, Simply Interactive llc WILL be offering photgraphy.
But wait, you just said that you didn't want to do that... ?
Right! But I have sweet talked a wonderful photographer to join forces with Simply Interactive to offer photography and videography under the same roof.
Deborah Nagai has agreed to join Simply Interactive and perform her photography services exclusively under our name. This means that very soon we will be offering photography packages, video packages, and combined packages.
Speaking of roofs, we are also moving into studio space in DOWNTOWN MOUNTAIN VIEW!!!
Sorry if I seem excited, but on March 1st we take ownership of 461 Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. For those in the know, Mountain View's Castro street is a posh little street with lots of restaraunts, niche shops, book/coffee shops etc...
Bottom line is that on Monday March 16th the doors to our multimedia, video, and photography studio open complete with portrait studio and the charming presence of yours truly.
Our goal of becoming a power multimedia house are now realized with the expansion to this wonderful new location.
Along with the location comes the reality that we will now be offering other retail items relating to weddings and events. I'll post a call here later for people who want to come to our catered, DJ'd, grand opening. Stay tuned!.
¶ 5:16 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.
