CREATING YOUR FILM: This is a more detailed description of how we put together our wedding films, which we've developed over fourteen years, to give you what we believe is the best way to present your special day.

Putting your film together in the right way is very important. How many wedding videos have you seen that make you feel like slashing your wrists? One of the nicest things about our films that we hear is that the bride & groom’s friend’s are happy to watch it and find it interesting!

That’s because of our TV & film training, we actually put together your wedding video as if we were making a film. Most importantly is the ‘so what factor’. What we won’t do is film the same person three times doing the same thing, just to pad out a film. If there is lots going on, then we’ll film lots. If it’s a quieter gathering, then we’ll be more select, making the end result a beautiful and interesting memento of your special day that you will treasure forever. One of the most important things we understand is that it will be unlikely that you’ll ever again get all these special people in the same place at the same time, so we make sure that we try and get everyone on camera at least once, even the shy ones!

We start your film at the wedding venue, half an hour before the service, so the first shot should be the groom arriving and looking a bit nervous! One of the nice things to do is get the reaction of the key players on film, and we especially enjoy chatting to parents, etc, to get lovely reaction shots from them on the video.

We then get snippets of the guests arriving, all filmed either on the tripod or shoulder with a zoom so they don’t know they’re being filmed, the bridesmaid and the bride’s mother, try and get some reactions from them, and the first part of the film culminates in the arrival of the star of the day, the bride!

If it’s a church ceremony, we’ll film the important bits, the coming down the aisle, first and last verse of the first hymn, of course all of the vows (the ‘I do’s’), the rings, signing the register, and leaving. By cutting out the extra hymns and the vicar’s readings, this cuts the ceremony down to around twelve minutes, a perfect length for anyone to watch.

If it’s a civil ceremony, we’ll film the lot, as it’s a much shorter service. Please be aware though that we are obliged to follow any rules imposed by vicars, priests or registrars, and so cannot guarantee the best filming position (although most officials know where we should go to get the best shot, and are helpful). Also, there are certain ‘rules’ imposed in certain places, and (for example) sometimes we are not allowed to film the signing of the register. It’s worth chatting to your vicar or registrar before the service to see if there are any such restrictions.

After the ceremony we’ll blend into the background and capture the atmosphere of the day. We’ll follow the action wherever it goes, again using a zoom to capture people being natural, before they realise they’re being filmed. Once again our years in TV production has trained us to seek out and get the best shots! If you have an official photographer, we won’t just film you being photographed, we’ll intersperse it with the guests who are waiting to be photographed and mucking around, being natural. One of the nicest compliments we frequently get is from couples and guests at weddings, saying that they forgot that we were there, which tells us we’re doing our job right!

Then it’s off to the reception (unless you’ve got married in the same venue), where you may have a line up. We’ll film the highlights of that – the people you look most pleased to see (I think you know what I mean!), then film you being welcomed into the room and sitting down to the wedding breakfast, then fade out and let you eat in peace (I don’t know about you, but I can think of nothing worse than filming people eating!)

We then continue with the speeches, although you may cut your wedding cake before (it’s the only part of the day that can officially be suitable in a few different places, and can be before or after the speeches, before or after the first dance, or anytime in the evening). We film all of the speeches, and use two microphones, one hand held for maximum clarity by the speaker and one general purpose to get your guest’s reactions, all carefully mixed together in the final edit for the perfect sound balance. After the speeches we will get shots of your evening guests arriving and mingling, and invite your parents and immediate family to put a short message onto the video, then it’s the first dance.

We can offer you two different packages, and the Gold package ends at the first dance. This is an ideal roundup to the film if the majority of the important guests have been there during the day, and you’re not a particularly wild party bunch.

However, if you have another load of guests arriving in the evening, who are equally as important, but you just couldn’t fit them in during the day, and you have a good party crowd, then you may wish to consider our Platinum package.

With the Platinum Package we stay till 11pm. Around 9pm, when your guests have had a couple of drinks (but hopefully not too many!), we’ll invite them to put a message on the film. These usually range from really nice to absolutely hilarious! We’ll then capture one-minute snippets of the dancing & party through the evening, as (hopefully with a good DJ or band) different people get up to dance. For most of the time we don’t need any additional lights other than those provided by the DJ or Band, as our camera, being a proper professional broadcast camera gives fantastic pictures in incredibly low light, which means we won’t ruin the party atmosphere. And by filming little snippets, then getting off the floor, it means we’ve been and gone before people notice us and get self-conscious! If you’re leaving before 11pm we’ll film your leaving circle, but if you’re staying later, then just before 11pm we’ll mock up a beautiful shot of you walking off into the night hand in hand, which makes a lovely ending!

At the end of both of the packages we add a selection of still taken from the film – lovely natural shots of the key players enjoying themselves. The beauty of video is that we can choose 25 different frames per second of movie, so there are always some lovely natural shots that your photographer will have missed, but not us!

We also add to the film your choice of music – songs that are special to you, carefully blended into the film to compliment it while still retaining the atmosphere and sounds of the day.

All this is carefully mixed and given to you in a presentation case with your names, the venue details and the date individually printed.

All our weddings are filmed using Proper Professional Broadcast Digital DVCam Camcorders, the same cameras used by the BBC and most other National TV Stations. These are not the little camcorders you buy in a retail store, and allow us total control over any filming situation, which is why we are consistently able to produce beautiful shots throughout your special day, whatever the conditions (when many so called ‘semi-pro’ cameras would have given up!). This ensures a top quality film, and by carrying through the editing totally digital, this ensures no picture quality loss at all. In fact, if you were famous (and you may well be, in which case, hello!), you could sell this tape to the BBC for proper broadcast!

If you’re having VHS tapes we make sure that we use Super Hi-Grade Back coated videotapes for the maximum quality. All our VHS machines are regularly cleaned and serviced to maintain maximum quality, and in fact all our duplicating machines were replaced in 2002 with the latest up to date Hi-Fi Quality videos.

If you’re having the DVD option, then we author our DVD’s using professional encoding equipment, making sure we offer the maximum picture and sound quality. Audio is encoded to Dolby Digital and our pictures use the latest VBR pass technology to give the best DVD picture quality, depending on the final length of your film. Then, like a proper DVD, we author in chapter points at all the important parts of the film, so you can skip instantly to the best bits again and again. We also custom create your own opening menu – all in all making it a true ‘DVD’ experience!

What we always try to do is make a film that you will treasure forever, and that’s why we never sub-contract out work. We only take one booking per date, and if you’ve liked what you’ve seen, then you can relax in the safe knowledge that you’ll get the same high standard of work for your film. So if you’d like a chat and to see more, please contact Philip Beasley on Freephone 0800 389 8730, mobile 07802 864477 to make an appointment to see why we believe we are the best for you!

Thank you for your time.

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