After a year of doing some video getting back out of it pretty much. I love video but make my living doing photography (300 sessions a year) and adding video is not working out.

Because I love it, will still do a couple weddings a year (very basic edit) and graduations and fun things I like to do, but will no longer offer the combination packages video and photography and going up from $1000.00 to $1600 and using very basic edit for samples. This should cut me down to 1 or 2 a year.

I thought it could be done, but not in my case, I am the camera guy, my wife is a second shooter, but I have to make the adjustments to camera and set up the lighting, same with video, she can step in and run a camera but not set it up.

I can not be as creative doing both, and my photography suffers, I am very creative when doing just photography but weddings are too demanding for me to do both.

This video pushed me over the edge, I worked really hard and always under promise and try and over deliver. The couple wants lots of editing done on this, they want fades and transitions in not simple cuts, and the editing time is killing me when only charging $1000.00 for video.

Andrew & Darbee on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/5501777)

My hats off to you video guys, its so much work, and you make it look simple but I need to stick to what pays the bills. When I do both, my lighting is very basic, when I do just photography, I carry all the lighting gear that makes for fantastic photos.

Will still do fun stuff, but going to leave the weddings to you pros.

Denny, are you saying the two of you cover both photo and video on the wedding day? I don't know anybody here that does that, without a larger crew and in that crew each individual focuses on a single medium. I would imagine if that you were both covering photo and video at the same time it would be very very difficult and you wouldn't be able to give full focus to each, like you said.

Anyhow, I'm sure you made a wise decision and good luck to you.

I've had a look at one video from someone who did both photo and video by himself.

It was horrible.

I think it is impossible to do with a normal wedding schedule.

If you have 2 hours to cover the prep, then you'll be fine. but still, ceremony will be a disaster. The video will be only one wide shot on stick from the balcony I presume.

I think you can still take video booking on closer dates which you haven't been booked for photography.

Santo

It is hard-work doing both. Especially if you attend lot's of weddings in the year, it can be quite exhausting and you do need the energy to keep up. Even when you start your editing, which is time consuming.
For those dedicated in doing both, their hearts need to be in it 100% so that neither suffers.
I started out on my own, doing videography at first, but then as brides were constantly asking for both packages, I then hired a second shooter and an assistant videographer and with my wife who assists, there is 5 in the team and it works, and is successful.
To do it on my own would be impossible. Within the hour I will be attending a church wedding that requires both photography and videographer and wedding tomorrow Sat. is video only. These summer months I have been doing 2 weddings a week, but not on the same day. It's exhausting, but fun.
So if your heart isn't in it to do both 100%, then you are making the right decision.

You guys are right, your heart has to be in it 100% and you need a larger crew.
When doing only one, you are really busting your tail during the ceremony, doing both you are letting one or both fall a little short. Reception is not so bad. I did have a 3rd person helping but again only running a camera and helping to load and unload equipment.

Also when I built a new system using Windows Vista Business 64 bit lost Red Giant Color..

What a pain that was when it comes to color correction. I just can not justify hiring more people to help with the work load, at what people are wanting to pay.

I realize its a catch 22, when you get good enough can justify your price being higher, but getting there is not an easy task.

I want to keep it fun, I love video and the challenge, I just do not want to loose my great reputation as a photographer because I am trying to do too much. Maybe when my kids get older will slowly add video back in.

Denny I agree with you 100%. I went from photography over to video a few years back, video has always really been more my thing. I did one wedding where I was both the photographer and videographer - I vowed never to put myself through that again. I had an assistant to man the second camera, my SLR over my shoulder, video cam in my other hand, didn't work. The mindset of a photographer and videographer is slightly different, you have to be in two places to cover both and even then it's not your best. When I shoot with the 5DMII I take no photos, I only shoot video, as you said focus is key to success.

I'm in the same boat.......except I figured out that video wasn't for me in 4 months.As soon as I saw it taking away from my photography I made the decision to stop booking video.I have a freind helping me shoot the last of my video weddings and then.......I'M DONE.Just pictures is soooo much easier.I can't have an a1 in one hand and my 5d in the other switching between stills and video.

Man, how do you all afford all this gear! Anyone selling some video gear? Lol. I am really doubting that it's worth it any more. I still don't get how photography can make 2 to 3x as much as video. Video is a lot more work especially in post. I am wondering if a MKII for photography isnt the way to go. Most weddings I've been to, the photography just snaps crap loads of photos. Sometimes they tell the bride or groom to strike a certain pose, but most of the time it's just really point and click with good gear. Maybe I am undermining it a bit, I am sure some of you guys do more than that... but I've been to a dozen weddings and the $2K to $4K photographer really seems to mostly just snap lots of photos, some sideways, some angled, most straight on, some zoomed in with DoF shots, etc.

I am curious, how do you get your photos bounded into a nice photo album? Is that expensive for the photographer to purchase? Maybe the post is a lot more work and I am not aware of it.

Last question, if ya'll don't mind a slightly off topic.. but I am really curious how you guys dress for these occasions. I am moving to Sacramento soon where its 100+ in the summers and I can't fathom wearing a suit or tux in that weather. Can you wear dockers, or maybe black slacks and a short sleeve collared shirt for hot days and such?

Man, how do you all afford all this gear! Anyone selling some video gear? Lol. I am really doubting that it's worth it any more. I still don't get how photography can make 2 to 3x as much as video. Video is a lot more work especially in post. I am wondering if a MKII for photography isnt the way to go. Most weddings I've been to, the photography just snaps crap loads of photos. Sometimes they tell the bride or groom to strike a certain pose, but most of the time it's just really point and click with good gear. Maybe I am undermining it a bit, I am sure some of you guys do more than that... but I've been to a dozen weddings and the $2K to $4K photographer really seems to mostly just snap lots of photos, some sideways, some angled, most straight on, some zoomed in with DoF shots, etc.

I am curious, how do you get your photos bounded into a nice photo album? Is that expensive for the photographer to purchase? Maybe the post is a lot more work and I am not aware of it.

Last question, if ya'll don't mind a slightly off topic.. but I am really curious how you guys dress for these occasions. I am moving to Sacramento soon where its 100+ in the summers and I can't fathom wearing a suit or tux in that weather. Can you wear dockers, or maybe black slacks and a short sleeve collared shirt for hot days and such?

For us its shirt and tie and black slacks.

Hard to explain the photography, kind of like you video guys, its hard to cross over and do it good enough to make a living, I see many people with gear similar to mine, but they fall way short as a photographer. There is at least as much expense but a different type of work flow.

I have 4 video weddings left, 3 this year and one for 2010, luckily I have shown basic video footage, so they are not expecting much, and I have been lucky and had all happy customers so far.

I don't blame you for trying. I think you're smart to let it go. I have access to free pro camera gear, and the skills to use it, but it's not even a temptation really. Photographers have burdens than I have no interest in taking on. I'd rather fly out of state to film than drive down the street to juggle the two.

Because I love it, will still do a couple weddings a year (very basic edit) and graduations and fun things I like to do, but will no longer offer the combination packages video and photography and going up from $1000.00 to $1600 and using very basic edit for samples. This should cut me down to 1 or 2 a year.



Pushing up the price is the way to go. I would push the video cost even higher, and leave it as an option. At some price point, you can hire another firm to shoot and edit the video and still make money. But, I understand the relief of not being over commited.

Man, how do you all afford all this gear! Anyone selling some video gear? Lol. I am really doubting that it's worth it any more. I still don't get how photography can make 2 to 3x as much as video. Video is a lot more work especially in post. I am wondering if a MKII for photography isnt the way to go. Most weddings I've been to, the photography just snaps crap loads of photos. Sometimes they tell the bride or groom to strike a certain pose, but most of the time it's just really point and click with good gear. Maybe I am undermining it a bit, I am sure some of you guys do more than that... but I've been to a dozen weddings and the $2K to $4K photographer really seems to mostly just snap lots of photos, some sideways, some angled, most straight on, some zoomed in with DoF shots, etc.

I am curious, how do you get your photos bounded into a nice photo album? Is that expensive for the photographer to purchase? Maybe the post is a lot more work and I am not aware of it.



Kevin,

Every photographer has his or her own style.There are also some really lazy guys out there that just pull the trigger and hope for the best.It's not my fault that most brides out there put a greater value on stills instead of video.I put a lot of time and effort into my weddings and that includes lots of POSING and direction.It's tough to make things look relaxed and natural.It goes a lot further then zooming in on a couple and tilting the camera.I think you should give it a whirl sometime and see how tough it really is to tell a story with a single frame ,no motion,no audio<--(thank god...lol).

I love video video,more than photo, but its 3 times as hard to make a living at it, but I also got to speak the truth.

Here is why photos have more value and videos don't and never will:

Most wedding videos end up under the TV stand. We all know that.

Photos hang on the wall at your parents home, your work and in your wallet. They can be there 50 years.

I would bet that not one video guy (OLD VIDEO GUY) has his wedding video where he can reach it, with out moving the old Star Wars tapes on VHS, you know the ones you are saving just in case they are worth something some day.

My mother in law still has my wedding photo up from ten years ago, and I have my parents wedding photo from 60 years ago.

WEVA has infected many a videographer, with grand illusions.

I shoot photo and video. It's demanding but I love it and can make a living off it. If I only shot video I would have had to hold on to my full time job and be tired on Mondays.

The first thing a bride asks me after a wedding is when are the PHOTOS GOING TO BE READY.

Amen Walt!

I'm not surprised Danny that you feel down by doing both. It would be too much for anybody. I'd rather hire an extra video guy just to shoot the wedding video for you but you could do the editing and charge the customer another $400 more for such combo. As a main photog you whould have major influence on a video by directing whole event. The only and the biggest problem with such a solution is finding the right person :-(

And I've talked to plenty of (younger) couples who love their photos, but watch their video more often...

BOTH media have a place, and some clients realize the added value of video. I think we will see more "fusion" clients who demand and expect both from a "studio", and those who deliver the combo gracefully and artistically will do well.

You've got to remember that video has changed so much in just the last few years, with affordable HD, high quality affordable delivery media, broadband, and the commoditization of video through things like You Tube... I believe that starts to help people see and understand the value in video. Are they going to forget having a nice formal portrait for the wall? I doubt it, but in a few more years that portrait may be displayed on a large flat panel screen that can serve up both stills and video...

I shoot both, I'm trying to improve my skills and the ability to cover each medium, I can say I love shooting stills, yet, I also love shooting video. I feel like stills are easier to "nail", yet the additional challenge of video/audio has it's charms.

Video will become more mainstream, but wisdom suggests that still photos won't just disappear - they complement and enhance each other when done right!

Well I am relieved the couple that I thought were going to be unhappy are thrilled. I went back and worked on the highlight show myself instead of having my editing guy do it, and they are thrilled with the entired DVD.. I am so releaved.


Still going to do one or the other and continue to make it clear what they get.

I am also going to improve my workflow every way I can so the basic edit can be done easier and faster.

Walt, I respectfully disagree. If you love video, I mean really love it, it will show in your work and you'll be turning couples away over time. If (even subconsciously) you don't understand why couples would want video, that's going to show in your work as well. There is nothing wrong with having a stronger conviction for one over the other, but I can only sell video because I believe it is: 1. Taking its place as essential, and 2. ...going to mean more by capturing their vows, toasts, music and laughter.

We will never, ever refer to a photographer who also does video. That's not being mean, it's just business. We will also never delve into photography. For that reason we have a substantial amount of leads from photographers. They know we respect their craft while honing ours. I really think there is something to be said for staying pure to one discipline.

We do, however, cater to high-end clientele. There is obviously a market for the low-end where-in a company could do both, but that's a lot of gear and there's only one Saturday in a week. Sure, it's easier to get bookings, but that Saturday pay has to get me through the week.

Respect to you also, but the facts of the area where I live tell a different story. We are in a small market and its difficult to market and sell. Large markets have a distinct advantage, numbers game volume of customers.

I have done some incredible videos and but get the same response, " very cool, now where are my photos?"

Syracuse Population only 150 k.

Just out of curiosity where is your wedding video? TV stand or a box in the attic ?

LOL, it's under our TV w/ all our DVDs. We watch it about every six months. Not the best video, but our photographer really sucked...

I understand the smaller city thing. Not only is your population smaller, but I'm sure the average income is as well. Travis Cossel stuns me. He lives in Idaho and does top-end work. I don't know how he does it.

There is an ideal business model for where you're at, and it does vary based on location.

I just watched your footage.. it definitely has some room to grow in the filming/editing department.. however if this is you covering photo and video simultaneously then its outstanding!

Our studio is a successful photography & videography production team with the vast majority of booked events being photo+video.

At first it was very challenging and yes.. our work suffered because we never clearly defined our roles; so first and foremost, know your roles! And no matter what do not dip into each others role.. the mindset of the opposing medium will throw you off completely.

So if you choose to book any more photo+video gigs (which I recommend), decide right now exactly what you are going to handle and then do it well without consideration to the other medium. The other person should do the same. And if you book just a photo gig or a video only gig, no problem.

In our situation my wife is most often the lead photographer and I being lead videographer, and when we shoot only video she is my assistant.. and visa versa when its only photo. Then we have our teams (usually a shooting assistant per medium and perhaps a shared grip for gear ect.) and pay your help for what they're worth; I recommend (without breaking your own budget per gig) to pay a fair wage for talented help, it will pay off.

Hope that helps.

-M

We do, however, cater to high-end clientele. There is obviously a market for the low-end where-in a company could do both, but that's a lot of gear and there's only one Saturday in a week. Sure, it's easier to get bookings, but that Saturday pay has to get me through the week.

I'm always curious about this.. it seems that in a large pool.. like were in, it's actually harder to get into a "high-end" market because of the mass amount of poor competition that flat out bottoms out the majority of traffic. When we more than doubled our rates we went from several bookings a month to a close zero! Now we are reconsidering.

What is even more disturbing.. or perhaps encouraging.. is that less than stellar work can demand, or cater to high-end clientele. Dana after watching your "new demos".. (and I apologize but I really want to know) if you are getting top dollar, I have to ask how is that possible and what are you doing to get high-end brides to book?

This question should really go into a new thread (sorry)

Nice work, I would just love one time to shoot outside in good weather. Three weeks ago we shot outside, wind was blowing 30 MPH rained during the ceremony lightly, freaked me out about my cameras and still cameras temperature fell to 56 degrees during the ceremony. Brides maids were shivering uncontrollably.

Many of the venues we shoot at are rough. We try to make it look good but sometimes black & white is all we have to save it. We can edit till the cows come home but it still looks like cows coming home.

I need to make one thing clear, there are no, and I repeat no pro videographers in this area, I believe Erie has some but that is over an hour away and even then there are very few.

So my plan was to offer more than what they were getting with Uncle Bob hand holding a handy cam half in the isle. I never promised more than 2 cam, good audio. I always shot with 3 cams, just so I have a safe shot (hv30), and a good shotgun and lav mic, backed up with the other two cams and a sony audio recorder.

My mistake came when I started to try and do what I see on here, the beautiful flying moving camera stuff. I see many edits that are nice clean but to most on here boring, well that is still much better than uncle Bob.

I am planning on trying to do one or the other, but if our weddings start to slow much will just streamline our workflow and as I get better possibly offer more.

I know different markets are different, but I have had many customers think I was crazy for trying to charge $1000.00 for video coverage.

Hi Denny

I found that there is always a market for budget wedding videos, especially with the economy as it is!! We have a bunch of pros here who still insist on $3000+++ for a basic wedding but they are crying for work since they have the attitude that they are worth no less than they charge. I do a full wedding for $1399 at the moment and people love the prices. Yes, I shoot on my own with two cams but only use two during the ceremony and the speeches. Brides are happy with the end result and I really think that we tend to get either too technical ("I need a Sony EX at least") or way to creative (spending 40 hours (as some people claim) to edit a wedding is crazy) My little business netts me around $40,000 a year and I don't over-capitalize on gear or time and work from a home office. No full time job would pay me $40,000 a year to work maybe 15 hours a week!!
All brides (unless they have had a $100,000 hollywood style wedding) just want memories and will often not even see your carefully edited footage and creativity when they notice that "Aunt Jane" is in the shot. It's really a memories thing and if you shoot for editing you can produce a DVD in a very short time!!

I'd love to be able to shoot on $15,000 cameras with a crew of 6 and charge upwards of $5000 per shoot!! Our current market might get me one job a year at that price!!

We tend to be over-critical of our work and all the bride wants to see is her special day then the DVD goes in the rack probably until the grandkids arrive!!!!

Nothing wrong with your prices in my opinion!!!

Chris

We offer far more than our demo videos, although that's usually a hook. I think our commitment to sound throughout the DVD, color correction, etc. has given us the referral base that makes it work. We work very hard on each project, and my wife (also a talented shooter) watches every second of footage that I edit. By doing this, our clients (mostly) appreciate those details even though they don't really know what we do to a video.

We cater to the high-end, but you are correct that they are hard to come by. The reality is that most of todays millionaires don't live like it -- and that's why they're rich!! Most of our clients see what we do and write their deposits with a shaking hand. I think even that helps us to want to knock the ball out of the park for each client.

Melana and I challenge each other after every wedding. It sucks. But we know the sacrifice our clients make to go with us, and owe it to them. We also, with God's help, guard ourselves from becoming jaded at the occasional tough customer. That's a tough discipline in its own rite.

Hi Denny

I found that there is always a market for budget wedding videos, especially with the economy as it is!! We have a bunch of pros here who still insist on $3000+++ for a basic wedding but they are crying for work since they have the attitude that they are worth no less than they charge. I do a full wedding for $1399 at the moment and people love the prices. Yes, I shoot on my own with two cams but only use two during the ceremony and the speeches. Brides are happy with the end result and I really think that we tend to get either too technical ("I need a Sony EX at least") or way to creative (spending 40 hours (as some people claim) to edit a wedding is crazy) My little business netts me around $40,000 a year and I don't over-capitalize on gear or time and work from a home office. No full time job would pay me $40,000 a year to work maybe 15 hours a week!!
All brides (unless they have had a $100,000 hollywood style wedding) just want memories and will often not even see your carefully edited footage and creativity when they notice that "Aunt Jane" is in the shot. It's really a memories thing and if you shoot for editing you can produce a DVD in a very short time!!

I'd love to be able to shoot on $15,000 cameras with a crew of 6 and charge upwards of $5000 per shoot!! Our current market might get me one job a year at that price!!

We tend to be over-critical of our work and all the bride wants to see is her special day then the DVD goes in the rack probably until the grandkids arrive!!!!

Nothing wrong with your prices in my opinion!!!

Chris

I believe there are different approaches to everything. Your approach seems to work for you. Others may not find it work for them very well. If you can get 40grand working 15 hours a week. That's great!

so you're only spending 5 hours or so on capturing/editing/authoring/labelling/finalising assuming you shoot for 10 hours? that's one hell of an achievement. I'm very much looking forward for the result. Don't get me wrong, its just because I'm spending around 40 hours for all of that so I kind of wonder how you can do the same thing with 1/8th of the time regardless of the outcome.

If I were you, I'd think about how to make 40.000 into 80.000 by working 30 hours a week. then 120grand by working 45 hours a week.

oh one last thing, I don't think anyone here shoots with a crew of 6.

Hi Chris, just noticed your post. If I were single I would pry do exactly what you are doing, although I think people watch their wedding videos more often than you think.

Hi Susanto

I'm at the venue for 10 hours but I probably shoot onto 3 tapes (Cam A, Cam B and then a new tape in case the speeches go on and on!!) I am the cameraman and the editor so I shoot to edit. 90% of edits are purely trimming start and end points of each sequence. Take the ceremony ...I will add the bridal party arrival to the timeline from my "B" cam then drop in the "A" cam ceremony footage, overlay the cutaways from the "B" cam during the ceremony then finally add the register signing and congrats footage from the "B" cam. Short and sweet and fast to edit!!! I also have templates in Vegas filled with presets I have already done as well as pre-made DVD Menu templates so only the photo and couple's name need to be changed.

You are probably doing cinematic style video which I suspect would take ages to edit and cut to music!! All my weddings are documentary style so they are quick and easy and very fast to edit. If you are indeed doing Cinematic then 40 hours is more than justified I'm sure!!! but then again I make $1400 and you probably make at least $5K!!!!

I found the market here was documentary biased. All most brides wanted was a realtime recording of their wedding. I'm sure the Cinematic style has a market here but I notice that most Sydneysiders offer Cinematic ... my market is documentary here and the majority of brides have small budgets!!!

Chris

Were doing at least 40hrs in editing.. and yes its the Cinematic style.. but I wouldn't have it any other way. This is an art form of expression; we sell art while documenting a moment in time. I by the way don't get 5k from a wedding.. just 3k.. the biggest package we've booked for one medium was 4.5K and that's honestly just not enough, we should be getting 5-7K everytime for the work we do.. but I just can't figure out how exactly to do that?! And yes I do want a crew of 4 equally talented artists (6 is a little much) but mostly my crew consists of 2 (maybe 3 tops ever).

Do better work, get more money.. get better toys.. recycle :D

Hi Dana

Thanks!! You are probably right!! I watched my VHS wedding once and it's been in the draw ever since but yes, others will watch it more often!!!

I simply tailor my shoots to the market and at present the market is low budget documentary style. Sometimes we often forget that we are running a business and it makes sense to get work to create a good cash flow I try to minimise my capital expenditure to less than 20% of my income. No sense to buy two Sony EX3's to make $40,000 a year!!! Also no sense in offering Hollywood Style Productions unless there is a market for them!!
As they say "You have to cut your suit according to the cloth"

Yes, I would love to shoot higher end with awesome HD cameras and charge huge amounts of money but jobs would be very scarce at the prices

I'm married but my wife is in nursing and works weekends so that also works out well..as we both work on weekends!

Chris

So Michael and I both work 40+hr posts. Don't feel bad Chris, even though you're kicking back. Don't feel bad knowing we're sleep deprived and strain our eyes to the max. ;o)

You know, we have a conviction for quality video that helps us sell, but you have a conviction for video as well, but also for budget. It's just different business plans.

Hey Chris do you have any footage posted?

Hi Michael

I have some samples on the link below..it's very basic documentary style shoots, nothing to rave about but my clients are happy and it puts bread on the table!!

Sample Wedding Video Clips (http://www.weddingvideoswa.com/sample.html)

Chris

Hi Susanto

I'm at the venue for 10 hours but I probably shoot onto 3 tapes (Cam A, Cam B and then a new tape in case the speeches go on and on!!) I am the cameraman and the editor so I shoot to edit. 90% of edits are purely trimming start and end points of each sequence. Take the ceremony ...I will add the bridal party arrival to the timeline from my "B" cam then drop in the "A" cam ceremony footage, overlay the cutaways from the "B" cam during the ceremony then finally add the register signing and congrats footage from the "B" cam. Short and sweet and fast to edit!!! I also have templates in Vegas filled with presets I have already done as well as pre-made DVD Menu templates so only the photo and couple's name need to be changed.

You are probably doing cinematic style video which I suspect would take ages to edit and cut to music!! All my weddings are documentary style so they are quick and easy and very fast to edit. If you are indeed doing Cinematic then 40 hours is more than justified I'm sure!!! but then again I make $1400 and you probably make at least $5K!!!!

I found the market here was documentary biased. All most brides wanted was a realtime recording of their wedding. I'm sure the Cinematic style has a market here but I notice that most Sydneysiders offer Cinematic ... my market is documentary here and the majority of brides have small budgets!!!

Chris

Hi Chris,

Like I said before, I don't think there's anything wrong with what you're doing. nobody can force anyone to do something. So do what works for you. but your method certainly doesn't work for me. I'd love to have a workflow like you though. with all the templates and everything. but I haven't found one for me just yet. You're probably right, I haven't got an enquiry from perth so far. I've got some from melbourne, adelaide, brisbane but not perth. I guess the market are so different there.

I still can' t believe you're spending only 5 hours on post though!.. thats crazy man..

oh yeah, I don't get 5k for most weddings. hahaha.. i wish it'll be straight on 5k all the way but reality sucks.

Cheers mate

Santo

yeah its basic.. but man did you see that mansion?! Goodness there are so many great elements to shoot off of there.. next time you get a gig at Caversham give me a call and I'll shoot it with you :D

Sorry but that looks like there's a market for cinematic work.. I dream of shooting in locations that beautiful. And even a woman minister.. that's liberal$$.

I noticed your cameras.. they look really big. That could be a different from doing anything cinematic.
Wess & Jess :)

Well at least now know there is a market in Austrailia incase I ever decide to move outback mate.

I think your getting a very fair rate for the work your providing; I would probably be happy with that as well. You may want to consider having a higher package rate that includes a more cinematic shooting/editing style.

Also consider that the videos you are showing are also attracting the kind of customers you are getting. First thing I would consider is eliminating the 80's text and the 4x3 framing (even if you do it in post with a widescreen matte). I know David Perry for years shot exclusively on a GL2 and produced breathtaking work and always finished it with a widescreen matte.

Hi Michael
Caversham is actually a wedding reception centre...but we do have the odd Mansion too!!
I totally agree with you, there is a market for upmarket Cinematic videos. I actually was advertising two upmarket cinematic versions last year and never got a peep from them. Guess the recession is forcing people to cut back on weddings. There just seemed to be a better market (although not so creative and glamorous) in doing more straight forward stuff. Of all my clients last season (I did 29 weddings from Sept to May ..that's our "season") all asked for documentary style ...they simply wanted me to cover the wedding at a price they could afford. These sort of folk will either book me or get Uncle Joe to shoot their wedding as they just couldn't afford thousands for a video from a creative genius!!! I don't put my work anywhere near your creations...it's a different market completely. Yeah, the titles need some work and the 4:3 issue is being handled on another post here!

Hey Santo

I cost my weddings out at $70 per hour and a basic wedding from prep to reception end allows me 20 hours. (hence the 1399 price) To work a 10 hour shoot plus a 40 hour edit you would need to charge at least $3500 +++ and you probably have way more expensive cams than me to factor into your costing so your price should reflect that too!! $4000 would be realistic and affordable in Sydney but probably not in Perth (we are a tad poorer than you guys!!)

Thanks you both for your comments

Chris