Business: Revamping the Wedding Video Form
Instead of the traditional, 90-minute to 2-hour (boring) wedding video that we've all seen and yawned through, I'm developing a 20-min. short-form presentation, that opens with the pastor's speech on the meaning of love over the opening preparation shots. It then condenses the entire bridal party procession and here comes the bride in just a few seconds, then segues right to the vows and rings, giving me the camera operator the freedom to move around during the rest of the ceremony and really get up close and personal shots of every important member of the family in the congregation, extreme closeups of the rings being placed on fingers, the unity candle being lit and any other spiritual, symbolic moments.
Then, after some brief and artistic formals and room shots, we go right to the grand introduction of the bride and groom at the reception over a piece of music, and condense all formal dances and toasts over this piece of music, segueing to a fast piece of music for the final wild dancing and cake, garter and bouquet moments. A poignant shot of bride and groom kissing, and the video closes, like a storybook happy ending in a movie. Beautiful!
They want to see the long version? No problem; it's offered as a second menu link on the DVD. Minimal editing on my part, maybe some transitions to smooth out jerky moves, but, overall, raw footage, but footage that covers everything, the entire ceremony in its entireity and the main body of the reception, including complete toasts, table interviews, all the wild dancing and the entire cake cutting, garter and bouquet.
This year is gonna be interesting...I can easily handle the output of 3 of those a week. At the same price as the current traditional video price, financial problem solved; I'll be making enough dough to ride out slow times in this business, pay off past debt and build up the retirement portfolio. Clients will see the value in receiving both versions on the same DVD, and will go for this short-form version, which is the perfect coffee table presentation to wow and dazzle their future guests who happen to drop by the house and want to see the wedding. Now, it's simply a matter of getting 3 of these a week in through the door.
Then, after some brief and artistic formals and room shots, we go right to the grand introduction of the bride and groom at the reception over a piece of music, and condense all formal dances and toasts over this piece of music, segueing to a fast piece of music for the final wild dancing and cake, garter and bouquet moments. A poignant shot of bride and groom kissing, and the video closes, like a storybook happy ending in a movie. Beautiful!
They want to see the long version? No problem; it's offered as a second menu link on the DVD. Minimal editing on my part, maybe some transitions to smooth out jerky moves, but, overall, raw footage, but footage that covers everything, the entire ceremony in its entireity and the main body of the reception, including complete toasts, table interviews, all the wild dancing and the entire cake cutting, garter and bouquet.
This year is gonna be interesting...I can easily handle the output of 3 of those a week. At the same price as the current traditional video price, financial problem solved; I'll be making enough dough to ride out slow times in this business, pay off past debt and build up the retirement portfolio. Clients will see the value in receiving both versions on the same DVD, and will go for this short-form version, which is the perfect coffee table presentation to wow and dazzle their future guests who happen to drop by the house and want to see the wedding. Now, it's simply a matter of getting 3 of these a week in through the door.
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