What's Modern / Planning Secrets

My sister Baby J (Jan) who works here at Take-One as an editor brought me a page she had ripped out of the latest issue of "Modernbride" Magazine for the December - January 2008 issue.

The magazine has a section named "what's modern / planning secrets." On page 72 the magazine did an interview with Kristen* (no last name mentioned) who is the owner of Bliss* Video Productions in San Francisco. You can visit her site at http://www.blissvideoproductions.com/. Before I quote you what was in the article you should know that Kristen*'s Bliss studio was voted in the top 25 National Video Studios in the United States by DV Event Magazine in 2007. DV Event Magazine stands for Digital Video Event Magazine and is an extremely well know trade publication for professionals in the Wedding & Special Event video production business. So now that you know that Kristen* is a somebody big (she produced Molly Shannons (actress, TV personality) wedding!!!

Here are the two things that she said that I want to relay to all of you bridal couples in reference to having you Wedding Day filmed. "Modernbride" posed the question "What are the best questions to ask potential (videographers) pros?" Kristen* answered "It's a good idea to focus on the package and the process. You can start by asking. "How many hours of coverage will I receive? What is the turnaround time for the video once it has been filmed? (Great editing takes time; so a wait of six to eight months is not uncommon)."

The first point here for you to remember is what Kristen* said about the length of the editing time - 6 to 8 months. She is absolutely correct on that one. Editing is one of the most time consuming jobs on the planet. I can compare it to making an oil painting on canvas. So when you hear a bride freaking out that her wedding was three or four months ago and still no video remember what the top pros say. Besides you are going to have the video for the rest of your lives and several generations to come. So let your studio take the time to do it right for you.

The second (and last) point that I want to convey to you from the article is the magazine asked Kristen* for some "Top Tips". The tip from her I want to convey is "Keep it concise. A 35 - 55 minute video is ideal; longer than that is pushing it. Toasts can be edited to their 30 second essence."

You can only put 120 minutes on a DVD. Brides and MOBs in the Greater Cincinnati area have asked me for years "How long is the wedding video going to be?" And if I did not tell them 1 hour - 5 minutes and 59 seconds in length they thought they were being ripped off in price. When I have always said I bet a ton of couples don't want a wedding video because they are way toooooooooooooooo long and boring!!! I was right. A television like edited version is so much more entertaining to the viewers. Believe me it is just as much work or more to edit a short form version. So definitely consider having your production edited in short form.

Oh by the way . . . every time I typed Kristen* you will notice the asterisk at the end of her name. That is the actual way she spells her name. Excellent marketing idea if you ask me.

Please go visit http://www.blissvideoproductions.com/ and take a look at this ladies wonderful work.

By the way she starts her packages at a cool $7000 for her video format and a mere $7500 for 8mm film and a whopping $10000 for 16mm film. Somebody see a true value in Wedding Video.

You should too.