SDEs have changed my business..going to SDE ONLY $$$$ and NO BACKLOG at DVinfo.net

Michael Gebben · November 15th, 2009, 01:21 AM

I LOVE SDEs so much that for the most part that is all we are pushing. Next year we already have 12 weddings booked for $3500 (also about 8 others ones booked with other stuff ;( and all they will get as a final product is a SDE like the one we just did

and one camera angle of the ceremony and reception. We will film it with multiple angles but those will only be used for the SDE. NO MORE BACKLOG YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost 99% of my bookings come from referrels from SDEs. I just love so much the gratification a SDE gives me. It also really pushes me to do my BEST!

Some little tid bits about that recent SDE.

Shot with the canon 7D and 5D.
Lenses used 50 1.4, 24-105 f4, 70-200 f4, 16-35 2.8
Edited in Sony Vegas
Cineform Neo Scene used to convert the files.
Glidecam 2000 used for flying :)
Cinevate Pegasus
Bogen monopod to keep things stable....

Ken Diewert · November 15th, 2009, 02:16 AM

Thanks for answering the question I just posted to you on the 5d forum.

Next question... What system are you editing with Vegas on???

Thanks.

Noa Put · November 15th, 2009, 04:29 AM

That looked very good Michael, especially considering that it was shot and edited in a day. I really liked the ending shot .
Unfortunately sde's don't sell at all around these parts, that's why I started focussing more at small events since last year as they require just a few hours at location to film and editing is also finished in a day and, very important, it pays better.

Danny O'Neill · November 15th, 2009, 05:18 AM

I really enjoyed that and would love to be able to produce an SDE. But Im not sure how it works with the UK market and how our days go.

I notice that you also had the first dance in there. So when do you edit and when do you show it?

Here in the UK the first dance is normally around 8pm and then the party starts. Is that the same in the US?

Tim Polster · November 15th, 2009, 08:22 AM

Very nice job. I like the low steadicam shots, really gives a great sense of being there.

So the couple does not get anything but the SDE?

They don't get the ceremony or the reception?

Do they really grasp this up front?

They are basically getting a music video of their wedding day.

I like it but it would seem they would want more.

(I won't go negative on the music copyright issue, but this music did sound like a released song) If it is royalty free it was a great find.

Thanks for sharing

Lukas Siewior · November 15th, 2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Polster

So the couple does not get anything but the SDE?

They don't get the ceremony or the reception?

Mike posted that they give "simple edit" with footage from one camera in this package.

Great "business" kill, Mike. Perfect example how to make more doing less :-) I'm at the same process of simplifying my offer and making it more profitable without changing prices. Can't wait for next season already.

Bill Busby · November 15th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Michael, I'd be interested, as well as others I'm sure... how well this works out in the future. Keep us updated. Nice work, btw.

Michael Gebben · November 15th, 2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Diewert

Thanks for answering the question I just posted to you on the 5d forum.

Next question... What system are you editing with Vegas on???

Thanks.

A quad core hp laptop with 6gb of Ram. Has run like a champ all year and converting with the stand alone cineform converter is the only way to go with the 5D footage. It converts in real time and is extremely stable in vegas 8!

Michael Gebben · November 15th, 2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Busby

Michael, I'd be interested, as well as others I'm sure... how well this works out in the future. Keep us updated. Nice work, btw.

Well I'll let you know over the coming years. I already have a few booked for 2011....so we'll see what happens...

Michael Gebben · November 15th, 2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny O'Neill

I really enjoyed that and would love to be able to produce an SDE. But Im not sure how it works with the UK market and how our days go.

I notice that you also had the first dance in there. So when do you edit and when do you show it?

Here in the UK the first dance is normally around 8pm and then the party starts. Is that the same in the US?

Actually this package all the couple got was the full ceremony and this SDE. So I started editing around 4:45 and was almost done when they did the first dance so I ran out there around 8:00 and got a few shots from that then finished it up and showed it around 9. We convert the footage all day long.

Michael Gebben · November 15th, 2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lukas Siewior

Mike posted that they give "simple edit" with footage from one camera in this package.

Great "business" kill, Mike. Perfect example how to make more doing less :-) I'm at the same process of simplifying my offer and making it more profitable without changing prices. Can't wait for next season already.

You took the words right out of my mouth!! :) That's exactly my mindset. I kept trying to think of ways to make more money and jam my packages with more stuff and ultimately more WORK!! My clients LOVE the Same Day Edits and that's what I LOVE to do more then anything. So I thought instead of raising my prices like crazy just give a little less and do what I love most. It's DEF more profitable this way and a whole lot more fun ;)

November 15th, 2009, 01:21 AM	#1
Michael Gebben Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 64	SDEs have changed my business..going to SDE ONLY $$$$ and NO BACKLOG I LOVE SDEs so much that for the most part that is all we are pushing. Next year we already have 12 weddings booked for $3500 (also about 8 others ones booked with other stuff ;( and all they will get as a final product is a SDE like the one we just did Erin & Adam- Same Day Edit on Vimeo and one camera angle of the ceremony and reception. We will film it with multiple angles but those will only be used for the SDE. NO MORE BACKLOG YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost 99% of my bookings come from referrels from SDEs. I just love so much the gratification a SDE gives me. It also really pushes me to do my BEST! Some little tid bits about that recent SDE. Shot with the canon 7D and 5D. Lenses used 50 1.4, 24-105 f4, 70-200 f4, 16-35 2.8 Edited in Sony Vegas Cineform Neo Scene used to convert the files. Glidecam 2000 used for flying :) Cinevate Pegasus Bogen monopod to keep things stable....

November 15th, 2009, 02:16 AM	#2
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Thanks for answering the question I just posted to you on the 5d forum. Next question... What system are you editing with Vegas on??? Thanks. __________________ C100, 5DMk2, FCPX

November 15th, 2009, 05:18 AM	#4
Danny O'Neill Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 915	I really enjoyed that and would love to be able to produce an SDE. But Im not sure how it works with the UK market and how our days go. I notice that you also had the first dance in there. So when do you edit and when do you show it? Here in the UK the first dance is normally around 8pm and then the party starts. Is that the same in the US? __________________ mintyslippers.com

November 15th, 2009, 04:29 AM	#3
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	That looked very good Michael, especially considering that it was shot and edited in a day. I really liked the ending shot . Unfortunately sde's don't sell at all around these parts, that's why I started focussing more at small events since last year as they require just a few hours at location to film and editing is also finished in a day and, very important, it pays better.

November 15th, 2009, 08:22 AM	#5
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Very nice job. I like the low steadicam shots, really gives a great sense of being there. So the couple does not get anything but the SDE? They don't get the ceremony or the reception? Do they really grasp this up front? They are basically getting a music video of their wedding day. I like it but it would seem they would want more. (I won't go negative on the music copyright issue, but this music did sound like a released song) If it is royalty free it was a great find. Thanks for sharing

November 15th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#7
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	Michael, I'd be interested, as well as others I'm sure... how well this works out in the future. Keep us updated. Nice work, btw.