Happy Wednesday! 🙂
There are going to be a lot of big changes and announcements made over the next few weeks! I am rolling out a new aspect of my business, starting a few new blog series and launching an all new website! Today though, I am over the moon excited to be launching the Wedding Vendor Spotlight series!
A couple of weeks ago I went to the wedding show and was completely blown away by the talent that we have here in Thunder Bay. As someone who wasn’t there as a bride I was overwhelmed; I can only imagine how the brides who were looking for people to have be a part of their wedding day felt. This got me thinking of a way to not only honor some amazing local talent in the wedding industry but a way to help brides choose their vendors. I decided the best way to do this was through blogging. It was because of this I am excited to announce that Wednesdays are officially Wedding Vendor Wednesdays! ❤
My first feature is someone whose work I admire, Curtis Jensen and Apple Wagon Films. Since starting in 2007 Apple Wagon Films has touched nearly every market in Thunder Bay and has produced some amazing innovative work! When you love what you do you do it well; the passion that Curtis and his team have for creating videos is evident in every piece of work that Apple Wagon Films produces. As a part of this project I interview each of the vendors and ask them questions which will help brides in choosing their vendors for their big day! Here were Curtis’ answers:
What are your top tips for choosing a videographer?
When it comes to choosing a videographer, I think there’s a few things to keep in mind. First, you need to like the work they do. There’s many different styles out there and they’re not for everyone. That said, there are videographers like myself who are adaptable to different styles. Some couples like slow and reflective videos whereas other couples like something more upbeat. There’s no wrong preference when it comes to styles, but it is important for the couple to know what kind of video they want delivered in the end. By knowing the style they want, there will be less guess work for the videographer on the day.
I think another key element of choosing a videographer is their personality. You need to have someone that you feel comfortable having around on your special day. The more personable you are with each other, the more invisible your videographer will seem on the day. It’ll be like having a friend hanging around with a camera.
Another consideration is always price. Weddings are expensive so it’s important to pick a videographer that will work within your budget. That said, at the end of the day you’ll only have your photos and video; make sure who ever you hire will capture those memories appropriately.
I think experience is also key to finding a good videographer. There’s more and more people doing videography, but it’s very important to find someone with enough experience to anticipate all the variables on a wedding day (and there are a lot of them). A videographer needs to be conscientious of video, sound and lighting (among other things). When I prep for a wedding, I spend nearly a whole day vigorously checking cameras, tripods, monopods, microphones, SD cards and batteries to ensure nothing acts up on the day. I also always plan for redundancy, having spares for anything crucial. If a camera stops working, I want to make sure I have another one nearby to replace it with.
What are mistakes to avoid when choosing a videographer?
I think it’s important to ensure your videographer (and anyone working under your videographer) have the necessary experience to film your wedding. It’s an important day and you want to make sure that at the end of it your videographer has captured the things you want to remember. After 10 years of operating Apple Wagon Films, I have learned a lot and endured a lot and seen a lot. Weddings can be stressful as there are no second takes of anything. You need to get everything right the first time because there’s no going back if something unexpected happens. This is why I’m always in a steady cycle of updating equipment, ensuring that I only ever have the most reliable gear to film with. By updating gear, I’m also ensuring that the couples only get the best possible product at the end of the day. However, this is a costly cycle, which is one reason why my work tends to be costlier than some other videographers.
Another key note is that your videographer is only as strong as their weakest link, meaning they’re only as strong as the crew they surround themselves with. At Apple Wagon Films, I only hire videographers with a lot of experience and training. By having faith in my other videographers, I’m able to focus my energy on other things, which is key to ensuring the day runs smoothly for everyone.
So in summary, make sure your videographer and their crew are experienced and that they use good quality gear that won’t break down on them during your day.
What makes your services special?
I think what really makes Apple Wagon Films unique is our ability to create videos that reflect the personalities of the couples and their wedding days. I try to engage with the couples prior to the wedding as much as possible to learn more about them. This not only helps me personalize the video, but it also allows my presence on the day to be more invisible as the couple is more comfortable with me filming
