New Highlight Vignette

Devin Eskew · July 29th, 2005, 11:18 AM

Stunning!!! Thank you for the clip, it tells me that I need to be more agressive to get those type of shots. Too often I am just trying to hold back and stay out of the way, however I'll try to at least get closer to get the shot. Thank you, as always a great learning experience.

Jeremy Rochefort · July 29th, 2005, 12:04 PM

A simple question.

Maybe it is the romantic in all of us - many question a romantic theme for a wedding - why?

Its simple - a wedding IS about romance, its the culmination of many dreams by two people who by virtue of their wedding vows, joins them forever. The realisation of childhood dreams!

If none of you married members don't ever think back of YOUR wedding day when viewing clips like these, then you must question YOUR vows and your commitment to your partner.

Glen, the partner in your life is surely blessed! Your artistic talent and ability to capture the single most important moment in someones life is unique.

Many thanks for inspiring us and pushing us to achieve that ultimate combination for a wedding video.

Why all the praise - we all like seeing a job well done!

Cheers

Chris Thomas · July 30th, 2005, 10:44 AM

Why did the link disapear so fast? I didn't get a chance to have a look :(

Glen Elliott · August 18th, 2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Thomas

Why did the link disapear so fast? I didn't get a chance to have a look :(

Thank you everyone for the feedback and kind words. I'll re-post the link beings it's up for 4 weeks, for the bride and her family/friends to see as well.

http://home.comcast.net/~g.elliott3/...ighlights2.wmv

Leonardo Silva Jr. · August 25th, 2005, 07:47 AM

Another piece of art...i believe this is the bigger cake from what you have let us tasted a few weeks back.

really nice audio, i hope i will acquire as clear as yours when i shoot with the iriver..hey did you put a lav mic on the groom? where did you put it and how far is it from his head...i didn't notice that.

keep it up...gel;n, educate us more... :)

Glen Elliott · August 25th, 2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonardo Silva Jr.

Another piece of art...i believe this is the bigger cake from what you have let us tasted a few weeks back.

really nice audio, i hope i will acquire as clear as yours when i shoot with the iriver..hey did you put a lav mic on the groom? where did you put it and how far is it from his head...i didn't notice that.

keep it up...gel;n, educate us more... :)

I put an iRiver on the Officiant and on the Podium. I mic'd the groom with my wireless system- placing the lapel mic closer to the area where both collars meet above the top button. The reasoning for positioning the mic this low is to avoid a large variance of audio levels from the groom and bride. Cliping it low on the lapel allows for a more equal distance to be achieved between the bride and grooms mouths. Usually when it's mounted up high under the chin of the groom it is much closer to the groom than it is the bride which causes the audio for the groom to be much louder and boomy in comparison.

Yes, this was the highlight vignette from the wedding the last piece I've shown came from.

Craig Terott · August 25th, 2005, 12:28 PM

Fantastic work Glen but I BET THEY DON'T ALL COME OUT THAT GOOD! ok now that I've got everyone's attention (don't banish me) - I'll expound on that statement.

Not due to lack of talent or lack of imagination or effort but because every once in a while we get pinched! Like when the bride gets back from the hairdresser 45 minutes late! So now your competing with the photographer to get hurried shots... so Glen, there goes your shots of the bride in front of the mirror/doorway looking all relaxed right out the window. How about when the ceremony starts a half hour late or runs longer than planned, then after the ceremony the bride cancels the post ceremony time and heads straight to the reception? Happens all the time. Or how about... when the B&G show up at the reception hall over an hour late and scrub those location shots? Or how about when you get a Bride and/or Groom that don't even look happy? I've gotten a couple of those.

I guess one of our challenges as videographers is to create that illusion "everything went exactly as planned like God himself had scripted it" and do the best with the footage we're able to get.

No discredit Glen (the B&G will love it), but I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot) and nothing beyond the cake cutting... did you leave before the reception was over or is it because you consciously choose to omit scenes when the lights are turned down?

Glen Elliott · August 25th, 2005, 12:50 PM

Fantastic work Glen but I BET THEY DON'T ALL COME OUT THAT GOOD! ok now that I've got everyone's attention (don't banish me) - I'll expound on that statement.

Not due to lack of talent or lack of imagination or effort but because every once in a while we get pinched! Like when the bride gets back from the hairdresser 45 minutes late!
This bride was actually VERY late for the prep. I only had 10 minutes to get the shots I did of her. I had to drive from Margate City, NJ (shore) inland over 1 1/2 hours to the ceremony location. All the shots were also aquired with the photographer right beside me snaping away. Very stressful and very quick. However I knew what shots I needed and went straight for them.

So now your competing with the photographer to get hurried shots... so Glen, there goes your shots of the bride in front of the mirror/doorway looking all relaxed right out the window.
The one shot (close up of face) was actually when her mom was trying to fix a snag in the zipper in the back of her dress. I moved away and used some zoom and held it on the bride for about 20-25 seconds. With patience while holding a good compesition you'll be suprised and what kind of shots you can get. The other shot (reveal from around doorway) was actually WHILE the photographer was working. I was able to get another shot of her from outside the room- using the doorway as a foreground element.

How about when the ceremony starts a half hour late or runs longer than planned, then after the ceremony the bride cancels the post ceremony time and heads straight to the reception? Happens all the time. Or how about... when the B&G show up at the reception hall over an hour late and scrub those location shots?
That's fine- they don't get post ceremony coverage then. The point is to make the best of what you do get, and know what to look for in the time that you are alloted, whether it be 1 hour or a few minutes. I can't count how many times I've scheduled a bridal prep for at least 1 hour of time with the bride. The bride shows up late and I only have her in her dress for 5-7 minutes. If I run through all the shots very quickly I can get a very usable bridal prep. Granted, I like to have more time but if I can't I STILL have to make it work.

Or how about when you get a Bride and/or Groom that don't even look happy? I've gotten a couple of those.
This happens all the time too. What I usually do, with the camera still rolling and on the bride, simply say, "Hey...SMILE, this is YOUR Day". That usually evokes a really big smile and great expression. Whether it's genuine or not it still looks great. Don't be afraid to ask them to smile. Even though we are not photographers sometimes a little bit of direction/guidance can help the shot.

I guess one of our challenges as videographers is to create that illusion "everything went exactly as planned like God himself had scripted it" and do the best with the footage we're able to get.
Absolutely. Some may argue that what we are doing is "changing" the reality....and I suppose we are- but in a good way. No one wants to remember how "hectic" the day was. They all like to look like movie stars moving very gracefully across the screen. As Chris Watson said once- we are still achieving the Emotional Truth in the video.

No discredit Glen (the B&G will love it), but I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot) and nothing beyond the cake cutting...
??? The groom was in every shot after the cake cutting.

..did you leave before the reception was over or is it because you consciously choose to omit scenes when the lights are turned down?
All the dance floor shots (first dance, parents dances) were when the lights were turned low. I was shooting with two VX2100 at +12db and a frezzi mini dimmer with softbox.

The gist of what I am saying is you don't have to have perfect conditions to create your best work. In fact most videographers tend to create their best work in weddings when there were an inordinant amount of challenges and problems- this one not being excluded. That's the heart of the challenge behind wedding/event videography.

Craig Terott · August 25th, 2005, 02:01 PM

Sorry Glen - I'll clarify...

first sentence...
I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot)?

next sentence...
Was there no video shot by you late into the night, after the cake cutting? In other words, did you leave before the reception was over?

For the record, I get the "gist" of what you're saying. ...I'm pickin' up what you're trowin' down to me ...and I even smell what you're steppin in on this one Glen. WALLDO would be proud of my work... ummm, well, some of it. I believe I've got plenty of creative elixir. My biggest challenges are logistical. I got a lot to learn - like how to get those self-important photographers out of my shot, how to negotiate for time, or how to get the limo departure and arrival without driving through redlights.

Glen Elliott · August 25th, 2005, 09:22 PM

No I didn't leave the reception early- the cake cutting was, however, the last formal event of the night. Only fast dancing followed. I don't include fast dancing in my vignettes usually- especially ones that are edited with a more romantic, elegant flavor.

Matt Trubac · August 26th, 2005, 10:11 AM

Glen,

Whose reflection is it that I see in the bride's first prep shot.. on the right side of the mirror?

Would that be you?

Glen Elliott · August 26th, 2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Trubac

Glen,

Whose reflection is it that I see in the bride's first prep shot.. on the right side of the mirror?

Would that be you?

Yeah- that would be my cameo. Overscan takes care of most of it on a television though. I was wondering how many would catch on to that shot.

Joven OHara · August 27th, 2005, 01:25 PM

Hi Glen-
As always......very,very nice video.
Quick question. How did you do the time lapse effect with the cross and clouds. Let's see if I understand the setup. The shot was done timelapse.

1. Sat camera on tripod and shoot for a few minutes without touching camera.
2. On post....fast-motion effect so the clouds can be seen moving and a zoom-in effect at the same time.

Am I correct or totally wrong? I am very new in the wedding business. Shot for somebody (about 15 indian weddings) but never really found time to edit myself. Started to study adobe but since you mentioned vegas, converted to vegas 5. I shoot alright but would really need major help with editing.

Regards!!

Glen Elliott · August 27th, 2005, 07:30 PM

Exactly- just lock the tripod down for about 5 minutes. My assistant did this while I was in the church setting up. (Another good reason to work in pairs)

Good choice with Vegas. What kind of help do you need- general editing technique help or Vegas specific editing help?

July 29th, 2005, 11:18 AM	#16
Devin Eskew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 115	Stunning!!! Thank you for the clip, it tells me that I need to be more agressive to get those type of shots. Too often I am just trying to hold back and stay out of the way, however I'll try to at least get closer to get the shot. Thank you, as always a great learning experience. __________________ We learn by doing, we learn better by making mistakes!

July 29th, 2005, 12:04 PM	#17
Jeremy Rochefort Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 159	Why all the praise? A simple question. Maybe it is the romantic in all of us - many question a romantic theme for a wedding - why? Its simple - a wedding IS about romance, its the culmination of many dreams by two people who by virtue of their wedding vows, joins them forever. The realisation of childhood dreams! If none of you married members don't ever think back of YOUR wedding day when viewing clips like these, then you must question YOUR vows and your commitment to your partner. Glen, the partner in your life is surely blessed! Your artistic talent and ability to capture the single most important moment in someones life is unique. Many thanks for inspiring us and pushing us to achieve that ultimate combination for a wedding video. Why all the praise - we all like seeing a job well done! Cheers __________________ MJ Productions Never let the need for money outweigh the need for Quality, Friendly and Professional Service

August 25th, 2005, 12:50 PM	#23
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	Fantastic work Glen but I BET THEY DON'T ALL COME OUT THAT GOOD! ok now that I've got everyone's attention (don't banish me) - I'll expound on that statement. Not due to lack of talent or lack of imagination or effort but because every once in a while we get pinched! Like when the bride gets back from the hairdresser 45 minutes late! This bride was actually VERY late for the prep. I only had 10 minutes to get the shots I did of her. I had to drive from Margate City, NJ (shore) inland over 1 1/2 hours to the ceremony location. All the shots were also aquired with the photographer right beside me snaping away. Very stressful and very quick. However I knew what shots I needed and went straight for them. So now your competing with the photographer to get hurried shots... so Glen, there goes your shots of the bride in front of the mirror/doorway looking all relaxed right out the window. The one shot (close up of face) was actually when her mom was trying to fix a snag in the zipper in the back of her dress. I moved away and used some zoom and held it on the bride for about 20-25 seconds. With patience while holding a good compesition you'll be suprised and what kind of shots you can get. The other shot (reveal from around doorway) was actually WHILE the photographer was working. I was able to get another shot of her from outside the room- using the doorway as a foreground element. How about when the ceremony starts a half hour late or runs longer than planned, then after the ceremony the bride cancels the post ceremony time and heads straight to the reception? Happens all the time. Or how about... when the B&G show up at the reception hall over an hour late and scrub those location shots? That's fine- they don't get post ceremony coverage then. The point is to make the best of what you do get, and know what to look for in the time that you are alloted, whether it be 1 hour or a few minutes. I can't count how many times I've scheduled a bridal prep for at least 1 hour of time with the bride. The bride shows up late and I only have her in her dress for 5-7 minutes. If I run through all the shots very quickly I can get a very usable bridal prep. Granted, I like to have more time but if I can't I STILL have to make it work. Or how about when you get a Bride and/or Groom that don't even look happy? I've gotten a couple of those. This happens all the time too. What I usually do, with the camera still rolling and on the bride, simply say, "Hey...SMILE, this is YOUR Day". That usually evokes a really big smile and great expression. Whether it's genuine or not it still looks great. Don't be afraid to ask them to smile. Even though we are not photographers sometimes a little bit of direction/guidance can help the shot. I guess one of our challenges as videographers is to create that illusion "everything went exactly as planned like God himself had scripted it" and do the best with the footage we're able to get. Absolutely. Some may argue that what we are doing is "changing" the reality....and I suppose we are- but in a good way. No one wants to remember how "hectic" the day was. They all like to look like movie stars moving very gracefully across the screen. As Chris Watson said once- we are still achieving the Emotional Truth in the video. No discredit Glen (the B&G will love it), but I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot) and nothing beyond the cake cutting... ??? The groom was in every shot after the cake cutting. ..did you leave before the reception was over or is it because you consciously choose to omit scenes when the lights are turned down? All the dance floor shots (first dance, parents dances) were when the lights were turned low. I was shooting with two VX2100 at +12db and a frezzi mini dimmer with softbox. The gist of what I am saying is you don't have to have perfect conditions to create your best work. In fact most videographers tend to create their best work in weddings when there were an inordinant amount of challenges and problems- this one not being excluded. That's the heart of the challenge behind wedding/event videography. __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films

August 25th, 2005, 09:22 PM	#25
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	No I didn't leave the reception early- the cake cutting was, however, the last formal event of the night. Only fast dancing followed. I don't include fast dancing in my vignettes usually- especially ones that are edited with a more romantic, elegant flavor. __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films

August 26th, 2005, 10:11 AM	#26
Matt Trubac Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 286	Glen, Whose reflection is it that I see in the bride's first prep shot.. on the right side of the mirror? Would that be you? __________________ Matt Trubac

July 30th, 2005, 10:44 AM	#18
Chris Thomas Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Burlington ON, Canada Posts: 118	Why did the link disapear so fast? I didn't get a chance to have a look :(

August 25th, 2005, 07:47 AM	#20
Leonardo Silva Jr. Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 124	Another piece of art...i believe this is the bigger cake from what you have let us tasted a few weeks back. really nice audio, i hope i will acquire as clear as yours when i shoot with the iriver..hey did you put a lav mic on the groom? where did you put it and how far is it from his head...i didn't notice that. keep it up...gel;n, educate us more... :)

August 25th, 2005, 12:28 PM	#22
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	Fantastic work Glen but I BET THEY DON'T ALL COME OUT THAT GOOD! ok now that I've got everyone's attention (don't banish me) - I'll expound on that statement. Not due to lack of talent or lack of imagination or effort but because every once in a while we get pinched! Like when the bride gets back from the hairdresser 45 minutes late! So now your competing with the photographer to get hurried shots... so Glen, there goes your shots of the bride in front of the mirror/doorway looking all relaxed right out the window. How about when the ceremony starts a half hour late or runs longer than planned, then after the ceremony the bride cancels the post ceremony time and heads straight to the reception? Happens all the time. Or how about... when the B&G show up at the reception hall over an hour late and scrub those location shots? Or how about when you get a Bride and/or Groom that don't even look happy? I've gotten a couple of those. I guess one of our challenges as videographers is to create that illusion "everything went exactly as planned like God himself had scripted it" and do the best with the footage we're able to get. No discredit Glen (the B&G will love it), but I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot) and nothing beyond the cake cutting... did you leave before the reception was over or is it because you consciously choose to omit scenes when the lights are turned down?

August 25th, 2005, 02:01 PM	#24
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	Sorry Glen - I'll clarify... first sentence... I noticed no preceremony of the groom (not even a one sec shot)? next sentence... Was there no video shot by you late into the night, after the cake cutting? In other words, did you leave before the reception was over? For the record, I get the "gist" of what you're saying. ...I'm pickin' up what you're trowin' down to me ...and I even smell what you're steppin in on this one Glen. WALLDO would be proud of my work... ummm, well, some of it. I believe I've got plenty of creative elixir. My biggest challenges are logistical. I got a lot to learn - like how to get those self-important photographers out of my shot, how to negotiate for time, or how to get the limo departure and arrival without driving through redlights.

August 27th, 2005, 01:25 PM	#28
Joven OHara Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont,CA. USA Posts: 50	Hi Glen- As always......very,very nice video. Quick question. How did you do the time lapse effect with the cross and clouds. Let's see if I understand the setup. The shot was done timelapse. 1. Sat camera on tripod and shoot for a few minutes without touching camera. 2. On post....fast-motion effect so the clouds can be seen moving and a zoom-in effect at the same time. Am I correct or totally wrong? I am very new in the wedding business. Shot for somebody (about 15 indian weddings) but never really found time to edit myself. Started to study adobe but since you mentioned vegas, converted to vegas 5. I shoot alright but would really need major help with editing. Regards!! __________________ To be.....or not to be

August 27th, 2005, 07:30 PM	#29
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	Exactly- just lock the tripod down for about 5 minutes. My assistant did this while I was in the church setting up. (Another good reason to work in pairs) Good choice with Vegas. What kind of help do you need- general editing technique help or Vegas specific editing help? __________________ Glen Elliott Cord 3 Films