Best Friends
February 22, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
I've been so lucky in life in that I grew up with the greatest bunch of lads and, to this day, we have all remained as close as ever. James was the baby of our group and we spent an awful lot of time trying to keep him out of trouble. Today he is probably the most sensible one of us - after me of course - and we were all delighted to take a trip to Dublin for the weekend and attend his wedding. I'm always nervous at every wedding I cover and although there was no pressure on me with regard to video coverage for this one - I was sort of like the friend with a video camera - nevertheless, watching one of your best mates getting married is pretty nerve racking. Here's a sneak peek of what happened... All in all, it was a great weekend - I got to meet Liezel's lovely parents and family from South Africa, Osias and his wife Erika invited us to visit them in Brazil (get a bed ready for us guys!), it's always a pleasure to chat with John & Margaret Pierce, and I'd great craic catching up with Liz while my mates poisoned their Baileys' with shots of brandy and Sambuccas. Congratulations James & Liezel. PS. Tell all your guests and mates to feel free to watch the video and leave a comment!
Coming Soon
February 19, 2007 | Filed Under Take 1 Productions | Comments Off
I'm working on a face lift of my website. It's going to be cool, hip, and edgy. I don't have the exact launch date yet so stay tune. I would like to thank Kevin Kramer of Advantage Photography for allowing me to use his awesome images on the site.This year will be an exciting year for me as I'm taking my productions to an even higher level. Having a new website is only the begining. Oh yeah, I also have a new businees card...check it out.
Velvetine Girls Rock Best!
February 19, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
This is a sneak peek for Helen and the craic at her wedding. I'd such a great day shooting this video and editing it is bringing back fond memories... so I decided to make this internet clip as a little bonus for all the gang in Dublin. Check out www.velvetineproductions.com for more information about our range of services.
Little Becky
February 17, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
I've just got to share this with any of you who haven't yet discovered, Little Becky, the rising star of Dublin's morning radio show 98FM. This following prank call is Becky's proposal to a demolition company. Enjoy! Thanks to Lixxa at YouTube for the animation. Check out some more of her videos at this link.
White Noise
February 12, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
I don't know what's weirder... the fact that they play GAA in Cayman or that Tim needs to hear some white noise - preferably a hairdryer but a hoover will do - in order to get some sleep. Tim and Laura are living and working on the Cayman Islands and they recently came home to Ireland to get married in Kenmare. Their DVD is almost ready but here's a look at the spoof movie trailer that I put together for this great couple. Check out www.velvetineproductions.com for more information about our range of services.
Inside Wedding Videos
February 8, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
It took me several years, endless training, and extensive research to get where I am with video today - and I'm still learning! Every time I bring my cameras to a wedding day event I meet new friends and make videos that exceed my clients' expectations. I've made and learned from my mistakes along the way and now I feel it's time to address my biggest mistake of all.
My biggest mistake was actually more of an oversight - I assumed that all brides knew what they wanted from their wedding video. How could they? After all, it took me several years to come to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the industry, there is a technological explosion happening around us that often baffles and divides videographers, and we the professionals are coining generic phrases like cinematic, timeshift, shortform, MTV edits, and contemporary docu-style to identify our products.
Are you lost?
If you are, well, you're not alone and these Inside Wedding Videos articles are designed to give you an insight to the past, present, and future of wedding video, what to lookout for, and advice on choosing a professional.
So, first of all, why should you choose to hire a professional videographer?
Why Have A Wedding Video?
Ask any of your married friends who don't have a wedding video what their biggest regret about their wedding day is and I can guarantee you that an overwhelming amount of them will say "I wish we had a video."
There are many types of wedding videos of varying standards which range from the sublime to "who gave our drunk uncle a camcorder?" Poorly produced video reflects badly on the industry as a whole but thankfully the horror stories are few and far between. For the most part, couples are thrilled with their wedding videos which actually grow in value as the years pass by.
A wedding video not only captures sight and sound but it also records things you may have missed that you will later cherish; your guests' reactions, the smile of a loved one, your groom preparing to go to the church, and the anticipation before you walked up the aisle to join him. These moments and memories can be relived by you time and time again and not only that, if you are blessed with children then they can share in your wedding day as well. After all, how many of you are lucky enough to have your parents or grandparents wedding video? And my next question... Would you like to have it?
Of course you would!
Couple all these good reasons with the work of a professional(s) who produce work that bares the same high standards you have come to expect from watching your favourite TV shows and I ask my final question... "Can you afford not to have a wedding video?"
Vendor - Ballygarry House
February 8, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
I have had the pleasure of working at Ballygarry House on several occasions and not only can I highly recommend this fine hotel as a wedding venue but I would also encourage casual guests and tourists to enjoy a stay there. Located on the outskirts of Tralee, any visit or stay at Ballygarry House guarantees picturesque surroundings, elegant style, first class and friendly service, and delicious food. > Call 066 712 3322 for more details and when you meet Padraig McGillicuddy tell him that Maurice sent you and ask him about his Six Gardens for the craic! Trust me, he'll get the joke ;)
Inside Wedding Videos - Present
February 7, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
The Present Day
The technological advances within the industry have been hugely significant. DV revolutionised video formatting and picture quality and we have already dipped our toes into the new High Definition era. All very well for two or three techno geek brides out there but what does this mean for the rest of you?
First of all, there is no excuse for technical weaknesses when it comes to your wedding video because the modern videographer has access to a wonderful range of equipment that our predecessors could only dream about while they got sunburn from the heat of their lights as they stood on the corner of a dancefloor. Today's cameras offer a picture that is rich in colour saturation, full of detail, and need just a 10 to 20W light to get a clean image at dark receptions (Velvetine Productions never use any auxiliary lighting - we work with what we've got and this is one reason we have become so popular with our clients, their guests, and the bands!) We all have access to various forms of sound recording equipment, internet training, the latest and most powerful computers, and state of the art editing suites... and despite all this, the industry still has too many amateurs running around with one decent camera and notions of making some easy money.
The average price for a wedding video in Ireland is 1,000E and that looks like easy money for a few days work to some guys.
Videographer associations are beginning to establish themselves in the UK and I would welcome a similar Irish based body that offers filmmaking training, and enforces strict qualification standards of its membership. Personally speaking, I do not accept the IOV or APV associations from the UK as recognised bodies here in Ireland. I have seen them contribute nothing to its few Irish members who pay an annual fee for the privilege.
Today, Ireland has several leading companies who are immediately visible to enquiring brides and prices for their standard services range from 1,000E to 1,500E. To the best of my knowledge, Velvetine Productions is the most expensive wedding video outfit but this cost is reflected in the quality of our product and service.
My hometown 
of Tralee is home to about six prominent wedding videographers but one can also find a similar number waiting in the wings offering cut price video - and poor standards! Cast the net around Kerry and one can find at least one major videographer in each big town so consumers now have more choice than ever before. One can take a costly risk with the 400E merchants, decide which one of the average priced outfits suit your taste, or delve into the higher end of the market.
So, access to better technology has offered the modern videographer opportunities to explore more creative, artistic forms of video production and deliver a superior product to his customers. On the evidence of the many wedding videos I have seen I can tell you that the industry is improving and most notably so within the last three to four years.
Wedding video is showing signs of becoming more sophisticated and it is developing genres that complement the videographer's style of expression and the personality or needs of his client base.
Inside Wedding Videos - Past
February 6, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
We've all seen a wedding video at some stage or another and we probably all agree that we've seen at least one awful one! I have no hesitation in admitting that I had an impressive list of excuses when friends used to ask me around to watch theirs. Poorly produced video by hobbyists masquerading as professionals has held the industry back until the present day. It is no coincidence that the wedding videographer is not held in the same high esteem as a professional photographer. To understand this phenomena we need to look back to the earliest days of wedding videography. Some of us are lucky enough to have some Super 8 film footage of family events and what not, but it wasn't until Sony made video cameras available to the consumers in 1980 that we became accustomed to the Video Man... and his microphone cables... and his blinding light... and his home video looking footage. Let's be brutally honest, the vast majority of the video pioneers were amateurs who had no motion picture training, no understanding of shot composition, thought cinematic language was a foreign tongue from Scandinavia, and brandishing (necessary) lights that were powerful enough to trick birds into morning song . But, nevertheless, video was a novelty back then and seizing upon this market demand, coupled with relative accessibility of primitive video equipment, individuals with an interest in motion picture began to set themselves up in a professional capacity. In an industry with no governing body and hobbyists with no training, film experience, or technical ability, the Video Man was beginning to form a negative reputation with his dissatisfied customers. In 1995 Sony released the VX1000 - a 3CCD camera that was compact, discreet, and offered better picture quality. It was the start of a technological boom which would see new low-light cameras offer broadcast quality pictures, non-linear editing suites which allowed editors to flex their creative muscle, and new delivery formats like DVD to replace the degradable VHS tapes. Nowadays, you can watch your wedding video on your mobile phone!
Destination Wedding
February 6, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
We've been in demand throughout Ireland and we've even covered a couple of weddings in the UK but I can't tell you how happy I am that Myra & Damien have booked Velvetine Productions to cover their wedding on the island of Crete.
WeddingStory is as unique as each couple that entrusts us with their wedding memories but Myra & Damien's story is going to be different in that it will include airport departures, guests checking into hotels, wedding eve party, and Mediteranean sun, sea, and sand! They want every angle of this once in a lifetime event to be covered and captured for prosperity and they have wisely chosen a wedding video studio who can meet this challenge.
And of course, being the fun couple that they are, I'll bet I can twist their arm into allowing me to give you all a taste of what Velvetine Productions can do with a destination wedding.
Roll on September!!!
Inside Wedding Videos - Future
February 6, 2007 | Filed Under Velvetine Studios | Comments Off
The Future
Continuous technological advances, better trained professionals, and increased competition will see wedding videography become a main priority for the majority of brides around the globe.
We are already entering the High Definition age and this technology offers the videographer stunning images which can compete with our cousins in the photography field. Within the next decade on-camera lighting will be a thing of the forgotten past so, no decent videographer will have any excuse for making wedding guests uncomfortable with his light.
Technology offers more creative freedom and, coupled with this, better trained videographers will begin to realise their full potential as the industry moves away from amateurish home video and takes a natural evolutionary step toward broadcast quality productions.
Video is becoming a huge part of modern society and today's generation are exposed to and use it in their everyday lives as a means of entertainment or self expression. Many of us own a camcorder, we have a camera on our mobile phone, we watch video on the internet, some of us upload video to the internet... Video benefits our lives in so many ways and today and tomorrow's young couples appreciate and value this medium as an important need on their wedding day.