I get a lot of questions from clients, and other videographers about my DVD’s. I thought it might be fun to share my latest Wedding DVD design. This also gives you a little insight into all the interworkings of what we offer in a typical wedding package. Believe it or not the DVD cover art tends to be an extremely important part of the overall wedding video. These videos could be passed around for years to come. The DVD cover is the first thing you look at when you see the video.
I have very strong opinions on DVD cover design. I like to use simple, clean layouts that let the images speak for themselves. I avoid background images, neon backgrounds or crazy designs. I just don’t want my wedding DVD’s to look dated in 20 years. Thus, I decided to simplify my designs and challenge myself to shoot images worthy of a simple layout.
The cover below is from Ben & Kezia’s wedding. I usually shoot the images for the cover myself, however we were just too busy shooting video that we didn’t have the extra time to take some snaps. These images were graciously provided by Ivey Photography. As you can see I did a little photoshop magic to them. I think the overall look turned out well. The couple was pleased which means I was pleased.
Well it is that time again. Time to show you a piece of one of our weddings. I promise to do this more frequently. Now that the site has been updated on the back end I will start updating all of the files in our gallery. Keep checking back as I add more and more weddings from our vault to the site.
Enough about other weddings, lets talk about Ben and Kezia’s big day. Ben and Kezia were such a great couple to work with. They were very easy going and we had a blast at their wedding. The day went very smoothly thanks to our favorite wedding planner Teresa Choate. Photography was done by Ivey Photography. Kezia and Ben’s wedding was held at the Waxahachie Bible Church, and the reception was held at the Waxahachie Civic Center.
It was a beautiful wedding from front to back. Without further ado, here it is:
It is time once again to highlight a recommended wedding vendor. I do this to help couples with the decision of “who should I use”. Lets face it, there are a lot of vendors who do not do quality work. This particular vendor is definitely not one of those.
Ivey Photography is located in Midlothian, Texas just a short drive south of Dallas. Their primary focus is Bridal & Wedding Portraiture; Individual, Family & Children Portraiture; and High School Seniors. I have known many of the photographers for many years, and I can absolutely vouch for their professionalism and quality. This company brings over twenty-eight years experience to every shoot. The studio also provides a custom and ready-made frame shop for the convenience of their clients.
Below is their mission statement:
Our mission as professional portrait artists is to provide our clients the highest quality images possible, while maintaining a comfortable environment and dedication to complete customer satisfaction. We understand that life passes quickly, and professional photography is the timeless way of securing the moments that are priceless. Capturing the moments that become your memories is our area of expertise. We take that responsibility very serious. Your memories will last a lifetime.
Ivey Photography has provided some of the shots from the last wedding we worked together. I think these turned out great. You can also view more of their great work at their website.
I usually don’t post about reviews other people have done, however I feel the review from Izzy Video on the Sony XDCAM EX is one to share. If you read my previous post you know that I am a big fan of Canon products. I have almost all Canon equipment. However I do know many “prosumers” swear by Sony’s camera lineup.
I am currently deciding which HD camera to bring home. I am strongly looking at the Canon XH G1, or the XH A1, but this Sony XDCAM ES. Izzy Video is a great place for reviews and knowledge surrounding videography. I subscribe to his podcast and never miss a show. This review discusses all of the features that the Sony XDCAM ES has. You can find his review below:
My new camcorder is the Sony XDCAM EX. Although this seems to be what everyone’s calling it, the actual model number is Sony PMW-EX1. In this installment of Izzy Video, I give a miniature video review of the new camera.
If you haven’t heard of this camera before, I should let you know that it’s pretty revolutionary.
You can get Izzy Video 75 here.
So I get asked from time to time by very knowledgeable clients, "what are you using for production"? While I would love to add the systems, programs, and equipment I use, to our FAQ’s page it really wouldn’t work because I find I am constantly upgrading my equipment. I will however give you a quick list of what I am using right at the moment. I’m sure this list will be outdated in a month (Christmas is almost here).
If you have read any of my other blogs you realize that I am a proclaimed Apple fan-boy. I am actually writing this post from my iPhone :). So of course our studio is a 100% Mac production house. I have a Mac Pro, a Power Mac G4 (fully upgraded, it still runs good), and a Mac Book. I have dual screen setups on both towers. I use Xgrid to help with rendering projects quickly. At the heart of it all is Final Cut Studio 2. The programs I mainly stick to are Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro. I haven’t really used Color that much as I love Magic Bullet Colorista, and Magic Bullet Look Suite. I love it.
The cameras I use are two Canon GL2, and one Sony (who’s model number escapes me). These cameras have been perfect for me as they are identical to the XL 1S but without the option to change lenses, and the GL2 has a LCD screen. I have shot lots of weddings and have never really found an instance where I needed a longer local length. Other people’s experiences may vary. Of course we have a Canon light w/ a diffuser, Canon WD-58H wide-angle adapter with hood, an extreme fisheye lens, and remote controllers. I love Canon products like I love Apple products, so I am planning to upgrade my cameras soon to either the Canon XH G1, or the XH A1. Once this whole format war is figured out. However I am in the Blu-Ray camp right now. I use Sennheiser Wireless mics. I have 2 fluid head tripods. Lastly I also bring along My Canon 400D Digital Camera. We take great DVD cover shots that we include all stills in any package. If I start going into my digital camera equipment we will be here all day. I’m probably missing a gadget or two but this is a good rough estimate.
If you are looking to get into videography I suggest getting a decent 3CCD camera, a tripod, and a wireless mic to start out. Do your editing in iMovie or Final Cut Express. With a eye for detail and great shots you can get your start. Then start to upgrade everything.
