1. How long? 20minutes edited? 1 hour? 2 hours?

2. In terms of content, do you have it focused on the wedding itself and that's it? Do you include a documentary style short on how they met or one of those growing up slideshows? Do you tell a story with it?

3. What do you find is the most successful? Telling a story with the DVD or just raw footage edited.

*remember, cost isn't an issue, it's what you've actually done. most of the threads here in this wedding event forum usually devolves into "if they pay for it, i give it to 'em, gotta charge 'em, i ain't doin it for charity..." bla bla bla. the purpose isn't that, the purpose is i'm curious as to see what you've actually giving them.*

An hour and a half to two hours. Documentary edit cutting out the bad stuff. Usually an opening scenic to music. Sometimes a "guest montage" to music. I'll do a cocktail hour montage to music also. Everything else is nat sound documentary style. I find lots of clients are quite happy with a well edited piece in which they get to see as much as possible. I'm also finding that even just a few years later when some guests have passed on, they're happy they've gotten something that includes everyone one can get at the tables and dancing and any of those great candid moments. There's no "right" way but it's my way and that's the kind of clients I target/attract.

I do short form. 45-55 minutes. I'll include bridal prep(set to music), prelude to ceremony, shortened ceremony, post ceremony(set to music), reception and recap (set to music). Times generally breakdown to 3-6 minutes for prep and prelude to ceremony,10-15 minutes for ceremony, 3-4 minutes for post ceremony, 18-22 minutes for reception and 3-4 minutes for recap. Please bear in mind these are not set in stone and I won't fall over if I go 60 minutes instead of 55. As for telling the story, I use a lot of voiceovers from the bride and groom as well as from other people during prep and the recap WHEN IT FITS, I emphasize that because sometimes it just doesn't so I don't use it.
I also include an uncut version of the ceremony and reception (up to 2 hours of reception) so they don't feel they are missing anything but frankly the B&Gs I've talked to usually don't watch that but maybe once so they can say they did, but I include it as a family archive.
So I guess I'm a storyteller with "cinematic" style portions. Pacing is everything.
Don

My current "basic" package DVD is about an hour to an hour and a half in lengh and includes:

Wedding (duh!)
First dance of Bride and Groom
Bridesmaid/Best man Toasts
Cake Cuting
All "Special Dances" (Bride/Father, Mother/Groom, etc).
Last Dance of Bride and Groom.
Montage of general dances or the best general dances of the night (1-2 songs).

Then I also add in (as a supprise to bride and groom) - a section that has guests give well wishs to the couple on tape - Basically give the guest a mic and have them say whatever they want to the new couple. Seems to be the biggest tear-jerker for them.


Ryan

My main program runs 20-30 minutes. I time compress everything to keep a compelling short program. Full ceremony, toasts etc. end up as seperate menu items.

I suppose when you add it all up there is about 1.5 hours of edited footage but I almost never go past 30 minutes on the main program. That is prep through recep.

Mike

2-1/2 TO 3-1/2 HRS ON 2 DISCS.

In addition to a highlight video, I provide lots of raw video. I let people see their wedding day without a lot of fluff. I don't feel it's my job to be the couple's biographer - I'm there to provide professional coverage of their wedding day.

1. How long? 20minutes edited? 1 hour? 2 hours?

2. In terms of content, do you have it focused on the wedding itself and that's it? Do you include a documentary style short on how they met or one of those growing up slideshows? Do you tell a story with it?

3. What do you find is the most successful? Telling a story with the DVD or just raw footage edited.

*remember, cost isn't an issue, it's what you've actually done. most of the threads here in this wedding event forum usually devolves into "if they pay for it, i give it to 'em, gotta charge 'em, i ain't doin it for charity..." bla bla bla. the purpose isn't that, the purpose is i'm curious as to see what you've actually giving them.*

Actually I've been working on one for the last 2 weeks, 8 hours of raw footage, 3 cams, the final DVD will be as follows:

Main Menu:
Ceremony with Chapter Index Page
Reception with Chapter Index Page

Bonus Menu:
Music Video Montage to their song
Bridge/Groom getting ready with back story interview audio
After the ceremony pictures
Full friends & family interviews (all may not make it to reception cut)
Bloopers or special moments (isolated groom audio if interesting)

In total I'll compress all this down to 2 hours.

Miguel

very interesting. everyone has a little different creative spin on things. very kewl =). keep it coming.

In my opinion, you must first decide how you would want your ideal wedding to look as a finished product. This is a soul searching process. It involves your shooting technique, how you would arrange a story board, the editing process, chaptering the dvd; everything you put into the project.

The end result is your ideal wedding. Mine includes my least expensive product as well as all of the accessory packages. What happens next depends upon what actually happens during the wedding celebration.

What your client chooses from your product offerings and what actually happens during the wedding celebration day will determne, in very general terms, how much videotape your will record. How you edit that video will determine the final length of the video.

I provide a 30-60 second introduction, which might be followed by a:
- 5 to 15 minute photo montage.
- 30 minute interview sequence.
- 30 minute preparation sequence.
- 5 minute pre-ceremony sequence.
- 15 - 45 minute unedited ceremony sequence.
- 3-5 minute post ceremony sequence.
- 1-2 minute photo session sequence
- 30 to 60 minute reception sequence.
- 3 to 5 minute closing sequence.

Again, so much depends upon what actually happens. My shortest wedding reception video has been 27 minutes. My longest close to four hours.

Waldemar's speaking wisdom... With the "style" that I use (very much influenced by Sir Wink!) there is simply no way to pre-determine the length...the event itself should somehow "lead" you to what it wants to be. If you're looking to have something to say in your website's FAQ you might want to layout an average as opposed to a hard number...say anywhere from 45min to 3hrs depending on package chosen and the natural creative flow of the event. At full quality you'll get about an hour and a half on a single DVD so that may be a factor for you.

I really don't know how to describe it without getting a bit mystical, but to me it should be sort of like riding a river from the moment you arrive till it's over...shoot all the good stuff, every time you start rolling keep in mind how the moment will transition in and out, then when you get your footage in your NLE each clip should just make sense as to whether or not it goes or stays. String the keepers into order and then start shaping, cutting and merging till it just pops out on its own....whatever lenght it is is whatever length it is.

Yup, just tell the story. When you're done, that's how long it is.

Mike

1. How long? 20minutes edited? 1 hour? 2 hours?

((Try 2.5 hours each disc for a maco wedding across 2 discs... maybe 3 depending on whats happening... Highliths anythign between 10 to 30 minutes...
normal weddings i cut between 60 to 90 mins... with 10 to 20 mins Hlites.. ))

2. In terms of content, do you have it focused on the wedding itself and that's it? Do you include a documentary style short on how they met or one of those growing up slideshows? Do you tell a story with it?
((Growing up slideshow is VERY popular... especially when upselling for projection at teh reception.. same with mini movies and Interviews.. To me its the characters whch i focus on... firstly obviously its about the bride and groom, then i expand outward from there.. but there HAS TO BE character.... if i notic there isnt much going on, i get into it and party with the guests (with cam in hand) they usually start to play for the camera after they realise im human too.. ))

3. What do you find is the most successful? Telling a story with the DVD or just raw footage edited.

((Depends on how to u tell the story.. I run it as a swuence of events through the day...
ive posted a while back about what is usually presented cinematically and what isnt.. usually preps are montage pieces with tunes.. then theres a ceremony opening as another montage, then the cereony, which is a cinematic piece, then the photoshoot montage.. then the reception opening as another montage, then the reception which is finely cut.. the only montage element at the reception is the Bridal Waltz, and maybe the dance music element in the highlights piece))

*remember, cost isn't an issue, it's what you've actually done. most of the threads here in this wedding event forum usually devolves into "if they pay for it, i give it to 'em, gotta charge 'em, i ain't doin it for charity..." bla bla bla. the purpose isn't that, the purpose is i'm curious as to see what you've actually giving them.

((As to what is actually given to them.. well, it depends my chepaer packages dont use film like colour grading or progressive scan or widescreen. Chepaer plans also dont come with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.. all these are options later on if they choose to add them.. larger packages include hilights, 5.1, widescreen, effects, filters, compositing, particle effects, elemental montages (such as cars.. i do ALOT of euro weddings with 15+ vehicles and theres always afew burnouts... i also stop on teh side of the road and get drive bys etc etc.. it depends on the client. I also give stills on CD (i do this for my own marketting anyway, )) but i upsell the packages with these extra elements..
If im competing for a job, i usually throw something in as an extra for free... usually sweetens the deal for them to come to me...
As for money, well i wouldnt expect anyone to charge peanuts and give the works unless theyre starting out in this line of work, but even to this day, i feel that im undercharging, however our market HERE is different so its a bit of a bitch..

as for Raw... i never give out raws unless im really REALLY late with a delivery.. if it pacifies a client so be it.. i usually charge extra for raws (dvd and DV are different prices.. )
Nothign is free anymore.. i used to give out so much when i started at this but then realised ppl dont give a shit about the extras.

The hardest thing for me to accept, was that the clients just want a nicely cut video of their weddings.. everything else is a bonus..
Trust me on that..

to me, this mentality defeated the purpose of doing what i learnt to do, as only 30% of what i know is actually utlised within a wedding piece.. i can always add things to my work, but the time it takes and the money im making just isnt worth my while anymore to jsut throw this in... (unless i really like the clients and they end up becoming close friends) At the end of the day, if the client is happy to pay for it, ill give them whatever they want...

re: money.

i understand and realize that. one shouldn't be working 4 free. if it's a job/career, you *should* be paid for it. but like getting gas, you have 87, 89, 91, etc. different grades or "packages" for different prices. i don't need to know about that. what i really want are statistics. how many vehicles came to get 1/2 tank from which "package" or grade of gas. how many vehicles total came in a single day, etc.

same with these threads i'm making. i'm interested in what is actually accomplished, not how people are paid for what they do. of course one should get compensated. but i'm already assuming that. what i wanna know is what people have actually done/produced! it is very very interesting! everyone has different takes on things. i luv it.

I'll ditto most of what is said. I have found that videoing people that will or have passed on is an invaluable gift.

I do however stop my video services at the door of the honeymoon. I lack zoning to continue further.

I keep my wedding video at max 40 min. It has to be interesting every minute. Longer video is boring for people (certeinly 2-3 hours) who are not close related to the couple. During editing I always keep in mind: 'Imagine sitting and watching a wedding video from somebody else who I don't know well and I have to watch it'. So make it interesting and professional. Don't overuse effects and wipes.

If the people say afterwards to me the video looked great and they though it was 15 min (while they wached for 40 min) then I'm happy.
The end of the movie is always a 3 min clip which is a compilation of the highlights of the day edited on music of their wedding openingsdance or another song they prefer.

I also offer this 3 min compilation as a webstreaming video. So they can show it to their frends. It gave me a lot of extra jobs giving that clip for free. It creates a free advertisement because it has been shared with all their frends and thus possible new clients.

I keep my wedding video at max 40 min. It has to be interesting every minute. Longer video is boring for people (certeinly 2-3 hours) who are not close related to the couple.

I TOTALLY DISSAGREE, HERE'S A 'LONG FORMAT' VIDEOGRAPHER'S OPINION:

I don't make wedding videos for "people not closely related to the couple" - I make them for the couple.

If I concern myself with appealing to the "mass" the result is a more incomplete video. I believe that most people are so enamored with themselves on video, that what may bore us as editors, is abhorrently less likely to bore our customer. Raw video like the photo sessions, saying goodbye to guests, receiving lines, are very nostalgic excerpts for the couple to look back on. I'm thanked constantly for including those things. Highlights are great and my videos always have highlights but IMHO they shouldn't come at the expense of denying the customer of seeing raw video.

For instance, how hard is it to put a button in the main menu that says "Photo Session" (or something to that effect) and include 10-15min of that raw video? Ummm... they don't have to select that button if they don't want to? Providing a central/main video doesn't preclude you from including other raw video seprate from the main production.

(Just my opinion and I realize this) The short format experience is a bit like if you were to buy a DVD, watch it, and the movie was AWESOME!!! Completely AWESOME!! And you loved the movie so much you put in the "special features" disc2 to check out the behind the scenes ...AND IT'S A BLANK DISC!

I give them disc 2 (in a metaphorical sense).

I have to disagree with you Craig. Opinions make a forum interesting.
I started this business 15 years ago by making wedding videos.
What the couples said to me, was that they were always very pleased the result especially because the video was nicely cut with the best moments without beeing a boring movie.
I also keep in mind that the video will be shown 20x times to show to their frends, family and relatives. It is then that a nicely edited video makes the difference... So for my customers this is what they expect from me to deliver. If a video lasts 2 hours, for sure they will skip parts during these presentations.
If people want, they can also buy the raw video. But from about 200 customers I had 3 people who asked for it. That's 1% in my case.

IMO it boils down to a couple of things. 1) YOUR marketplace and what YOU decided in a business sense to give your clients and 2) Do YOUR clients like what you give them and 3) Do they know up front what to expect.
Neither style is "good" or "bad" just different.

As I said before if MY prospective clients want a long form they go somewhere else and thats fine. I like so many others here started out long form, lineal editing- (a true test of patience and courage) but 6 years ago made a creative decision to change-it hasn't hurt my business at all. I know a lot of folks that do long form and they get their clients and I get mine. Some market places might not be able to support short form, OK, do long form, but to say that 1 is better than another is wrong. They are different and most importantly (I can't stress it enough) as long as the client knows up front what they are getting it doesn't really matter. Ultimately they are the ones we need to please (they're payin' so...) I say it again, as long as they know what to expect everyone is happy. No right, no wrong just DIFFERENT!
Don

Fantastic information everyone, its good to see people sharing their trade secrets and filming methods with the less knowledgeable.

for the same reason that most of the other short form people have said, to long can be boring...
my wedding videos are highly edited, and to make a 90 minute video that they are going to fast forward through is a waste of time....
and yes, couples have said they like the short version because I give them all the source footage on tape....(unedited)
but you go with what you feel like doing, my normal video is 5 minutes him getting ready, 5 minutes her, 10 minutes ceremony, 20 minutes reception, photos of them growing up, and a montage at the end
Q

Put me on the side of all those with adult ADD. I am new to the business, well not entirely I left the business in 91, so I'm new again to the business. I am a wedding photographer so that probably will explain a lot to you, but I prefer a MTV version of around 4 minutes, edited from a edited 30 minute version.

I would want a 4 minute "wow" version that tells the entire story of the wedding, while at the same time blowing them away with emotion. I want every creative angle, lighting, romance, that I can pack into a 4 minute version.

When I sell my photography now it is with a 4 minute Proshow Gold slide show presentation, I no longer have to sell, it is a matter of where do I sign. I will be asking the same thing of Video.

I figure if it makes a great sales presentation, if it makes complete strangers feel like crying, then chances are your customers are going to love it. If I went over to a friends house it is the type of Video I would like to see.

Thus I vote for a 4 minute, a 30 minute and raw footage. Three versions, and I would be willing to bet which would be played more.

Bill

I have to disagree with you Craig. Opinions make a forum interesting.
I started this business 15 years ago by making wedding videos.
What the couples said to me, was that they were always very pleased the result especially because the video was nicely cut with the best moments without beeing a boring movie.
I also keep in mind that the video will be shown 20x times to show to their frends, family and relatives. It is then that a nicely edited video makes the difference... So for my customers this is what they expect from me to deliver. If a video lasts 2 hours, for sure they will skip parts during these presentations.
If people want, they can also buy the raw video. But from about 200 customers I had 3 people who asked for it. That's 1% in my case.
Good discussion: But since I'm struggling with some of the logic, I'll ask you a hypothetical question (which should get my point across).

Say for instance were 2 wedding videos. They are identical in every way except one... Apart from the main production, one video also has a button to view 15minutes of raw video of the receiving line - the other does not. Are you saying that all your customers would select the wedding video without the additional raw video? They would not want the choice in the main menu? Having this choice would be a bad thing? After watching the main video 40 times, they wouldn't be inclined to check out some of this raw footage? 20 years from now won't it be nostalgic to watch themselves interact with their guests without any pretentious effects/music? Out of over 200 customers I doubt you would get any that ask you to remove that video from their disc. I'm pondering how such a customer would make such a request... "Please remove that video from our disc - we didn't want the choice to see that part of the video." - I doubt it.

You said people can buy the raw video but you've had few takers. This makes perfect sense to me because there is a cost factor involved (and you are not "pitching" it). Macroeconomics 101: cost affects demand. Here's a perfect example... I bought a new SUV last year and as we were going through the options with the dealer, he asked me, "Do you want the OnStar package?" and my response was "Naah" and I also made a little bit of a face as to discourage any more sales pitch on it and to move things along. Did I really want OnStar??? What were my true feelings about it? YES! I WANTED ONSTAR! ...but not for $14.95 a month! Now if OnStar was included in the price of the SUV with no other charges I would have jumped in the air and shouted "Ohhh!!! What A Feeling!!!"

If my customers want to skip around... go ahead - skip around. At some point everything will be watched. Their DVD is a library of events and they are free to view it backwards if they want (just trying to make a point). They can show 40 people their highlight video which is readily available to them in the main menu. Or they can cue right to 1 hour into the reception when the best man was singing with the band. Although, the first time they watch their video they probably will - my DVDs don't force them to watch chronologically.

I believe that there is an inherant responsibility of us as we document the wedding to cover it all. I have brides asking me for the cut scenes, the bloopers etc. I imagine this whole thread can be solved by asking the B&G what type of video they want. If they can't decide, it's not a whole lot of work to take your final MPEG, cut it up and resplice it, adding the edited verion on the DVD as a highlight reel.

When I was married, I had a total of 5 cameras. I didn't want to miss much. This is just my post spiked egg nog 3 cents.

yeah, i'd love for this to be a sticky, since this can be a big thing in wedding video industry =). thx for everyone sharing. i'll have a better idea of what i need to do for the wedding i'm doing for my friend@end of this month.

Craig, I'm not saying that adding raw material is bad to do. That was not my discussion. It was the length of the edited video I was talking about.
I also occasionally place extra raw material on the DVD. Like there was a very known comedian performing on one of the weddings. He knew all about the little stories of the family and put everybody in their pants. Hilarious. It lasted 35min. In my edited video I took the highlights of his show in 2-3 min, but on the DVD there was an extra button to watch the whole show.

People don't ask me normally for the raw video to have since I make sure:
- All the special moments are in the edit. I'm always making sure I'm around the couple to catch the special little moments. Like a relative which they haven't seen for a long time who comes to chat a bit, or children around the couple, the short kiss they give each other when they have a quit moment, etc...
- In the church I read the text before and know what's coming like somebody who's going to read a text or the stuff that will happen. So I'm not missing any important moment. Church is between 10-15 min.
- On the reception I make sure everyone who was there is on the video. With extra highlights of the family. The reception mostly is about 10 min max.
- At the dinner party I aways talk to the main guy of the facility to make sure they inform me when something is going to be anounced or something is going to happen. Like the dinner is going to be served or the dessert table is going to be opened etc... Also the DJ has to inform me before he starts the openings dance.

The most important thing in the edit is to make sure everything is cached in the edit. If they feel I missed something like an important moment/event. Then they think it was cut out of the edit. And they will do ask for the whole tape to see then. If they don't, I know the edit and shooting was good.

Another very important thing many people forget is 'sound'. There is noting more boring to watch a video were you can't understand what people are saying. I use a wireless mic on the bride the whole day long. And shotgun on the camera. In the church I setup 3 mics which are mixed first and then sent wireless to the camera, so I'm still free to walk around.
It makes a huge difference in response when people see a video from an Oncle amateur who just took out his camera and pressed the REC unprepared. Or somebody who prepared his stuff and carfully chooses his shots and makes sure the sound is perfect. The edit afterwards or the length of the video can't fix that.

Marc,

I realize that sometimes I come across in my posts as an arrogant know it all -sry. So don't ever infer that I'm thinking your coverage isn't professional. No way. I'm definitely not suggesting that. In my haste to explain my point I sometimes lack tact and I think I could do a better job being polite when I'm writing.

Since there are few members on this board that do long form edits it's a bit surprising to me. And because there are definitely thoughts in the back of my mind that I could be doing a better job for people, my goal in engaging in debate, is just as much to extract opinions of others as it is to explain my point of view.

(A little off topic but) I have a question since you brought it up... I've never considering mic-ing the bride because I think the photographer would want to shoot me. How/where do you conceal the transmitter & wire? I always mic the groom because he is usually wearing black and the transmitter is easily concealed in an inside pocket and the wire & mic blends in with black. I don't mic him the whole night because I find that the longer I leave the mic on, before or after the ceremony, things are said that shouldn't be heard on the video. And many times if it's still on during the photo session the photographer will ask me to take it off.

During the reception I use my wireless to jack into the DJ's mixer so I can get a mix of clean audio and the audio from my shotgun mic. Yes, audio is important.

i hadn't thought of that (microphone). thx for the tips, they can be useful in certain applications.

oh and if you don't need to hear clearly what the b&g are saying, just turn it off on your end if it's wireless! =).

I believe that there is an inherant responsibility of us as we document the wedding to cover it all.

for me, thats the crux of this whole debate, are we documenting (showing it all) or making an artistic interpretation of all the raw footage into a piece of art.

The photographer photographs the whole event, documenting it, but not every single picture makes it in the album, especially not when he can take up to 500+ photogrpahs.

My idea is that I do not want to make a documentary, I do not offer to, and in my contract, I state that I am not making a documentary, am not going to try and capture everything, I do have a listing of the 12 key situations that I will capture and capture well, and everything else is gravy........and so far, every B/G has been okay with that....since I give them all my source video as well in the deal

to document something, yes, you would want to capture and show everything, but to make an artistic representation of the wedding, you only need to show the best parts, the portions, that allow you to see what was going on during the wedding....

Q

Hi Craig,
I hide the microphone, wires and transmitter carefully, so the photographer most of the time doesn't even know she's waring a wireless unit.
I use medical tape to stick the microphone to the skin. I usally ask the bride's mother to do that for me :-) Or my wife does it for her.
Also watch carefully that no clothes are in direct contact with the mic, since it will give hurricane sounds when she walks or moves. And you have no chance in saying stop and have to move your mic lav while she's walking towards church in front of the crowd. So test and take time before she leaves.
Sometimes I take the broom instead when they don't like to have the wireless, so he can hide more easy the beltpack. But I found out the discussions and chats are always more interesting with the bride.
After the reception I take off the unit. And I teach them how to handle the unit during the day, so they feel comfortable. If they want they can turn it off. I don't need the restroom chats on tape for example, alltough they sometimes forget, which leads to hilarious moments when you are editing...

My most recent video was 30 min. long and it included the picture session of the Bride and Groom and the Wedding reception.

Hi all,

My last three weddings were all under 15 minutes in length. Actually, all the weddings I've done have come in under 20 minutes. All up I've done about 10 weddings.

They generally breakdown as follows:

Bridal Prep - edited to a song
Ceremony - edited to a song
Photos - edited to a song

Sometimes other sections are thrown in - i.e. at the last wedding the guys had a special photoshoot with the cars. We got enough footage of this part of the day to put it to a song - they loved it!

I find that the couples I deal with absolutely love this format. They aren't interested in the 'Lord of the Rings Trilogy' version of their wedding day.

These couples love that they can have friends/family over for dinner, put on their wedding DVD and entertain everyone for 15 minutes and still give them a really great feel for the day.

In terms of pricing in my local area, we are around average. Some places are less expensive, some are more expensive. It doesn't seem to matter that we are offering a shorter end product. People like the quality and style of our productions.

I agree that this discussion should be a sticky. This is about the third time I've seen/answered this question.

Thanks,

Matthew.
www.ebenezerfilms.com

ive already answered this as i do Both, however on a pure market sense ill continue.. (i know money wasnt an issue here buyt anyway.. )

Content.. people want content. here in Aus, there are many good and bad producers who would offer a similar package to mine and charge half of what i charge. However this is a selling point on my end, as usually i tell the client that they can go cheap and not get the kind of service i give, or they can "invest " keyword in something a little higher which will future proof that "investment"
Its all about what u say and how u say it.

Persoanlly id prefer to sell shortform. It saves me ALOT of time, but here, people would prefer longer weddings. in the 24 weddings shot since June this year, ONE client requested a highlights only package.. I dont mind that, but to only focus on the shortform would be suicide in this neck of the woods.. Ive had clients request raw material, and like i said, i charge extra for this. Nothign is free anymore and i make it a point of my business to ensure that the client is paying for not only the shooting, but for the fact that the service COMES WITH an edit. The edit is usually comprehensive enough to ensure raws are NOT NEEDED. They do not represent the finished product and they do nothing to assist my business in its growth.
On top of that, handing out raw material allows the client to consider re-editing elements which i have shot. As far as im concerned, i own my styles and my techniques. I created them and i perfected my own personal editing style. THIS IS WHAT THEYRE PAYING FOR..
If they want raw, the possibily of having someone cut my footage is definately there.. I dont like that. Thats jstu me, but im sure some people here wouldnt mnd someone else editing their work, but i DO mind coz my shots are mine.. very simple..
Working on the backend of things as a supplier and trainer ive come across many producers short on ideas, new and old it doesnt matter.. but the idea of one of these guys going out and tryin to emulate one of my shots, or copy a particular look i created for an edit rocks my boat.

Now some people think this is paranoia blah blah.. but when u consider that there are really only very afew elements within this industry which seperate each video producer, keeping those difference SEPERATE can eithe rmake or break your business.. If everyone offered teh exact same thing proce would only be the differential... so keeping a style as your own can be paramount to the success of yoru business..

This is one reason i dont post shit online. what i or my clients may like, ONE potential client may not. Now that ONE potential could be an $8000 SDE 4 camera job... im not willing to risk losing that potential client until i can show them an equivalent of WHAT THEYRE LOOKING FOR..

Research.. chat with your potentials, ask them WHAT THEY WANT.. THEN show them the closest thing you have to what they want.
Ive had numerous potential clients grab the tissues coz i give them the idea of teh theyre seeing is THEM... obviously its not them, but the association of the product to their particualr day (with the research in mind) brings on more of an emotive influence on the decision to go with me, or to go with someone else..

Does that make any sense?
its not just about the work... its about what you can do BEFORE the job to ensure that u understand what this particular client wants, whether it be short or long form or flashy or simple..

Alot of producers forget that this is a big "investment" for the clients, so ensuring u get the clients confidence with WHAT you know, and HOW YOU ARE AS A HUMAN is of the utmost importance. They need to trust u... even with a contract, if they cant trust u, forget it... with knowledge, comes confidence, with that confidence, comes trust. Once u can win that confidence, the rest is a given...

So do what u have to do for teh client, irrespective of long or shot or high and might or simple cuts.

Just dont put your business in a position whereby the client has too much power and control.
On teh outset, for produciton the client should have all teh power to advise u of what they want and how they want it. Once the day is shot, YOU must decide how youll work wiht the footage, based on the guideliens set by your client.
From here, if you are required to change your flow of working AFTER THE FACT ensure teh client understands that there will be charges.
Ive spent numerous hours reworking scenes due to clients not telling me beforehand of what theyre looking for.. even with reaseching their needs and tastes, these can change and many clients dont feel that they should pay for the re-edit of something which has already been shot and edited based on their initial requests..

It all comes down to time, and when u hit the 50 wedding a year mark, gettin the jobs out will be far more important than anything else u do in the business..

at the end of the day, you should do what works for your business and what works for your LIFE...

not taking you out of context, just quoting the relevant parts


Content.. people want content...Its all about what u say and how u say it.

This is one reason i dont post shit online. what i or my clients may like, ONE potential client may not.

Research.. chat with your potentials, ask them WHAT THEY WANT.. THEN show them the closest thing you have to what they want.

at the end of the day, you should do what works for your business and what works for your LIFE...

all that I agree with, and of course, also feel everyone has their own personal style....
so you have to work with what is best for you, learn from others, take in knowledge and try different things....not be afraid or so insular as to say "nope, this is what I am doing...."
not talking about you, amigo, or saying you do that, i am talking in the general sense...
thanks for posting all that, makes for a good discussion

wel thats the thing.. if u lock urself away to ONE STYLE, ONE MENTALITY, ONE set of "rules" you might end up shooting urself in the foot..

Do what is right for u and ur business, and things will end up being right for ur clients..

Peter, I feel as if your post is all about you, you, you.
Try to respect your customers a little bit more. Cheers.

Seun, you do know you are reacting to a post written 2,5 years ago?

Oops. Sorry!

It depends on how long the wedding was. I put 1:30hr per disc. I like to give the complete story no matter how long it is. How do you guys put 2hrs of footage in one disc? what about the quality?

I usually do a condensed version of 25-30 minutes put to music and using effects for cinematic look, that brides usually show to their friends or watch when they don't feel like watching the whole thing. However I also edit a complete ceremony and reception for a long run, say 15-20 years later, they might want to watch every second of it... usually on 2 DVDs 1:20 each.

That way, it's a balanced coverage with place for creativity and journalism.