How important is lighting at your event? In a nutshell, it’s very important. Lighting determines how your guests see the room, the ambiance, the decorations, centerpieces, brightness and overall color. It also affects the photography and videography.

The increased focus and popularity of wedding and event lighting is due to advances in wireless LED Technology commonly referred to, but not limited to, “wireless uplighting”.  L.E.D’s (Light Emitting Diodes) have been around for a long time but are now more affordable than ever thanks to more efficient manufacturing technology. This allows them to be mass-produced, making them available for homes and professional applications alike.

The most popular use for wireless uplighting is to place the lighting units along the walls to improve the ambiance of a room by creating an elegant glow. The wireless units have their own battery power so no cables are needed. The lighting units are remote controlled so color changes can be made throughout the event by a single unobtrusive operator.

In addition to LED’s on the walls, wedding lighting can transform a room in a number of ways. It can spotlight many important parts of your wedding decor, such as the centerpieces, the cake, and guests during introductions, dances and toasts.

Wedding uplighting can be your best value for the money spent on decor for many reasons

1. It can make a mediocre room look beautiful and even spectacular.
2. It can add color to a primarily beige or neutral colored room.
3. Specialized lighting can project your names or a monogram on the dance floor
4. Your lighting designer can adjust the overall brightness to fit the part of the evening for the perfect ambiance.
5. You can have many different colors, not just one.
6. Your pictures and video will look so much more colorful and vibrant.
7. It will add more excitement to the overall day and especially the dancing.
8. It will give your room a sophisticated high end look that was, until recently, reserved for the most extravagant of budgets.

As with all of your service providers, experience makes a big difference. Just as an inexperienced videographer can annoy the clergy and the guests, an inexperienced lighting company is unlikely to know how bright to adjust the ambient (in house) lighting to get the right effect and still be bright enough for the servers during dinner and for elderly guests. So choose your service provider carefully. One good way to choose a lighting company is to read online reviews from other brides. A company that has won awards is another indication of a good choice for a lighting company.

Boston Event Lighting is owned and operated by brothers Paul and Fritz Bosch and is considered an innovator and leader in the event lighting industry. The company is Boston-based, but works with clients up and down the east coast.

Why should you archive your wedding video?

Because DVDs don’t last forever!

Why DVDs you get from your wedding videographer are not the same as those that you buy at the video store

DVDs you rent or buy at a store are manufactured by a process called replicating  (they have a protective layer over the video layer). A DVD that you get from your wedding videographer is duplicated and does not have a protective layer – it is fragile!

Most videographers these days will record and edit in HD (High Definition). Then the edited video gets compressed down to standard definition and put on a DVD. The only way to preserve HD is to put it on a Blue Ray disc or store all original HD files on a hard drive or two (in case one hard drive will crash). I had my fist customer asking for Blue Ray 2 years ago. Blue Ray players are now available for under $80.

Alternative wedding video storage – How should you archive your wedding video?

1. Additional master DVD that you don’t use – in 10 years transfer it to other digital media that will be available then. Presently about $20 per 1 hour DVD including transferring.
2. Digital Tape – in 10 years transfer it to other media that will be available then. Presently about $20 per 1 hour tape including transferring. Not HD.
3. A hard drive will hold all video as a computer file – you can open it on your computer any time, you can even edit your video yourself. Files on hard drives are not protected – they are easy to delete or move so you should always have it backed up. Hard drives start at $120 depending on the size.

4. Original HD files on SD card (about $50 for each card)

Handling and Caring for DVDs:

* Handle discs by the outer edge or the center hole.
* Use a non solvent-based felt-tip permanent marker to mark the    label side of the disc.
* Keep dirt or other foreign matter from the disc.
* Store discs upright (book style) in plastic cases specified for CDs and DVDs.
* Return discs to storage cases immediately after use.
* Leave discs in their packaging (or cases) to minimize the effects of environmental changes.
* Store in a cool, dry, dark environment in which the air is clean.
* Remove dirt, foreign material, fingerprints, smudges, and liquids by wiping with a clean cotton cloth in a straight line from the center of the disc toward the outer edge.
* Use CD/DVD cleaning detergent, isopropyl alcohol or methanol to remove stubborn dirt or material.

A standard jewel case is adequate for storage. In jewel cases, the disc is held in place by tabs around the center hole which serve to isolate the written area [read side] from contacting any surface. It also offers some protection against rapid temperature changes

Things NOT to Do with DVDs:
*Scratch either side.
* Use a pen, pencil, or fine tip marker to write on the disc.
* Write on the disc with markers that contain solvents.
* Touch the surface of the disc.
* Bend the disc.
* Use adhesive labels.
* Store discs horizontally for a long time (years).
* Expose discs to extreme heat or high humidity.
* Expose discs to extreme rapid temperature or humidity changes.
* Expose discs to prolonged sunlight or other sources of UV light.
* Write or mark in the data area of the disc (area where the laser “reads”).
* Clean in a circular direction around the disc.

“The worst handling stresses for a CD are caused by severe flexing or application of a sharp point to the top surface.” – Kodak

“Cheap plastic sleeves (for example, those sometimes used to hold CDs in the backs of books or in some types of multiple CD holders) are not suitable for long-term storage.” – Kodak

General recommendation for long-term storage conditions of DVD video:

* For archiving recordable (R) discs, discs that have a gold metal reflective layer are recommended. It’s said that with current disks, which are better sealed than they used to be, the use of gold as a reflecting layer is less important than it was, however it certainly doesn’t hurt!
* For general storage, a temperature between 4°C (39°F) and 20°C (68°F) is recommended with a relative humidity of 20% to 50%
* For long term storage, 18°C and 40% RH are recommended.
* For extended term archival storage even lower temperature and humidity are recommended.
* Storage in the dark, while not absolutely required, can’t hurt.

When you pick apples – whether you are picking just one apple or one thousand – you did the apple picking.  But with editing someone else does the “picking”.  So what you are getting could be a “grab bag”, even though it sounds good and you are getting your wedding video edited.

To explain the costs of different wedding packages I put editing in three categories: basic, documentary, and cinematic – even though there are other terms that could be used.

Here is an example of a cinematic wedding:

Anyone can do basic editing, even a student intern in a company. It can be considered editing the full video, but it may just consist of cleaning; cutting out all unfocused or shaky shots or bad shots (like a guest sneezing, etc).   Sometimes I can edit using the music in the background, but it will not be edited to the beat of the song or tell the story. This is not the creative editing you are hiring a professional videographer to do. This also referred to as Traditional or Long Form editing.  Traditional editing tends to look more like a family video that is shot with just one camera and doesn’t have anything that needs to be synchronized.  Everything is edited in a linear progression and usually in its entirety.  These videos tend to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Documentary editing is also known as Journalistic style.  We shoot all documentaries with at least two cameras so you will have more then one angle.  For example when we have the bride walking down the aisle and one camera is on her – the second camera is on the groom or parents…  Those moments can not be captured with one camera.  During editing those cameras are synchronized and segments are edited as they occur to preserve continuity.  Things are where they belong for example if I shot the church sign at the end of the wedding – I will put it at the beginning to show where we are.  This style of editing will produce a polished documentation of the day as it unfolds while telling a story.  I usually use light background music picked by the bride and groom, match it somewhat to the beat of the song, add transitions where appropriate, adjust color balance, level all sound.  We cut out all repeated moments like the same guest dancing for a while, similar angles or shots that were used already to make it little more compressed.  These videos tend to be 1 to 2 hours in length.

The term Cinematic is defined as making a movie or film.  It is captured and edited for the dramatic effect and mood.  It is usually presented with a particular style and “wow” effect that may not be present in a documentary version of the event.  We edit 3, 6 and 10 minute highlight videos with music of your choice that may be uploaded online.  The shorter highlight version is popular for showing friends, while family members might watch the full-length wedding video on DVD or Blue Ray.  This also referred to as a Short Form Wedding video. This is the most artistic and creative editing style.  We usually offer both Long video and Short highlights in our wedding packages because it gives you the best of both worlds – full lightly edited video and short cinematic highlights to share with friends – and have them be totally amazed after you already cried over it each time you watched it.

So if you are looking for the best – you can have your wedding day shot with 3-4 cameras and edited cinematically.  If you have less in your budget the documentary package is the best one.  And if you are trying to save the basic will preserve all the key moments but it will not be edited artistically (except for the short highlights video that could be added).

How important is the sound when you watch something on TV, or online, or in the movie theater? They all have moving images, so one might think that the sound is so much less important, right? Obviously a documentary, or the evening news has narrative that is often more important than the images. What about an action movie that has little dialog — think of the Fast & Furious or Transformers. Would these movies have the same impact without a soundtrack? You should try it sometime. You would still see the incredible action, but I would say that the movie would lose most of its impact without hearing it. In fact, I would say that the soundtrack, a good soundtrack, is more than 50 percent of the total impact of any movie or video. Even great narrative films have a great soundtrack, but you probably won’t even notice it (which is by design).

The same thing applies to producing a great wedding film. The flow and mix of the audio is extremely important, and can greatly enhance the impact of the film. Have you ever watched a wedding video and felt that although it had some great imagery, the piece just didn’t seem to flow well? It was most likely the way it was edited to the soundtrack.

For an example of using the soundtrack techniques described in this article, please watch this film:

The music added to your film should accentuate the images, by placing key scenes and cuts to the beat and rhythm. Most songs have one or more peaks, key dynamic changes of the music and/or lyrics. These are also key moments that should be reflected by the clips you choose, to flow with the dynamics of the music. For instance, you might place images of the bridal preparation to the portion of the song that starts out slow. Then with the dynamic change in the music, the scene changes to the processional, or maybe the bride & groom kiss, something that is dramatic in the story. This adds more “pop” to your film. The viewer intuitively expects something dramatic in the images when they hear the music change. Like an exclamation point in a sentence!

In addition to cutting scenes to the flow of the music, it’s also important to add narrative and “natural sounds”. Natural sounds are sounds you would expect to hear which are inserted into the soundtrack. For instance, when the crowd is seen applauding you would add the sound of clapping hands into the soundtrack. Sometimes this sound is not actually the sound recorded by your cameras because of other distracting sounds (like church organs), so you would add a similar sound effect – this is often called “Foley” in Hollywood films (named after Jack Foley).

Adding narrative can dramatically enhance the story of your film. For example, a great toast can add sincerity or humor. It is important to create space in your soundtrack to allow for placement of the narrative. This can be done by dropping the volume, but it is also best to use a portion of the music that becomes softer or during a musical interlude without lyrics. And it’s certainly OK to cut and/or loop the music to fit the scene.

So when you produce your wedding film, remember how important it is to create a great soundtrack, one that highlights the images and drives the story you are trying to tell. Then play it back without the sound and see if it has the same impact. I’m guessing the difference will be dramatic.

In the wedding filmmaking world, often the first question we are asked by a prospective client is “How much?”. It’s a fair question, and ultimately it needs to be known. However, it isn’t the most important one. There are so many factors in making the right choice to hire a studio to film your wedding. There’s the quality of the work, of course, but perhaps more importantly is the quality of service. Does the studio really listen to what’s important to you on your day? Does the filmmaker try to get to know you and to learn your story? Does he or she have a passion for making films, for making your wedding film?

We try to listen to the needs of our clients, to understand what is most important on their day. This gives us a perspective of who they are so we can reflect this in our films. This also gives them an opportunity to see how passionate we are about making films, about making their film.

So, what’s the cost of a good wedding film? Well generally the phrase “you get what you pay for” is true. Sure, most great studios had a low price when they started. However, experience in this field is worth paying for. There are some important intangible benefits that come with experience. There are so many variables in recording a wedding well, such as lighting, audio, anticipation, and spontaneity. A good filmmaker needs to work well with the photographer and other vendors. There is also the highly creative process of editing the footage into film that you can relate to and enjoy.

Unfortunately, there is also a cost of not having a wedding film you are happy with. We have couples every year who come to us asking if we can help them by fixing their wedding video, and sadly often times we can’t. When your wedding is over, there are only memories, photographs, and your wedding film. Our hope is that you find a wedding filmmaker that will produce a film you absolutely love!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You’ve found that special someone and decided to spend the rest of your lives together. Now you’re planning your wedding day, a celebration that you’ve envisioned for a long, long time. You’ll invite as many family members and friends as your budget will permit; many of them with whom you’ve shared some of each others joys and sorrows. You’re getting advice from all sides; from family, friends, and co-workers, all with varying age, experience, and opinions – on every detail from flowers to fondues.

Have you considered how you will remember this day? You’ll look at your wedding ring. You’ll look at your wedding album. But how will you remember the words and voices, the music, and the way everyone moved – from the processional to your first dance to your last dance? Some of the people giving you well-intentioned advice on staying within your budget will suggest that you hire a professional photographer but just have a family member or friend with a camera shoot some video of the important parts. Do you really want to give a family member or guest the responsibility for your wedding video, putting the pressure on them to be at the right place at the right time instead of having them enjoy the day with the all of the other guests you’ve invited?  Or what if they are enjoying themselves with other guests but missing a special event like a dance or a toast?

Having a professional videographer produce your wedding video is the best way to capture the magic of your day so that years later, watching it will send you back to that day to re-experience the way you felt. In addition to their professional expertise, cameras, and editing equipment, active NPVA/NE members are continuously perfecting their skills and their art.

Think back to a special time that you had in the past and ask yourself if you wish you had a video to help re-live it.  This is one time you can plan on future memories.  Keep professional video in your wedding day plans, and enjoy beautiful memories in your future.