Carly & Jon | Next, next day edit at Woburn Abbey
March 14, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
This is something quite special. We filmed the wedding of Carly and Jon on Friday the 12th and 2 days later we have their highlights.
There are two reasons for this. The first is that nearly all of the footage for this highlights is from our new camera. I wont go into the technical details now but one of its cool features is the speed at which we can get the footage onto our computers. Infact we spent our lunch break deleting and editing files on the camera so they were ready to go in the edit. The other thing we love is just how amazing the footage looks.
The second reason why we decided to pull out all the stops with this one is that Carly unfortunately fell ill half way through her big day and was unable to attend for a few hours in the evening. Normally this would mean missing out on whatever happened in that time. But as we were there to capture the day it meant that neither Carly or Jon will have missed a moment.
We know that for anyone to miss a part of their own wedding can be hard, so myself and Julie agreed that we would not only create a highlights for two of the kindest, most thoughtful people you could hope to meet that we would do so with some urgency. Normally the day after a wedding is for recovering but we just felt inspired and still excited after such a wonderful day that we really wanted to do this for them. Sort of like our wedding gift to them.
Their wedding took place in the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey. We have long wanted to film a wedding there, not only because it is quite close to where we live but because of its beauty and character. The venue surpassed all of our expectations in every way. Not only in its beauty but the staff could not do enough to help you… and we were just the filmmakers! The energy and care they gave to the couple themselves was nothing short of exemplary.
-Danny
Elisa & Damian | Highlights at St Michaels Manor in St Albans
March 14, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
If I had to describe the wedding of Elisa & Damian in one word that word would have to be ‘intimate’. Set in the beautiful grounds of St Michaels Manor in St Albans the guests had plenty of space to make their own but also, as the couple had the place to themselves it was very intimate. Not only that but the Rolls Royce wedding car was that of her father.
You couldn’t tell by looking at them but both Elisa and Damian were a little apprehensive about being filmed. But then again, who isn’t? Once the day started they were both perfect naturals in front of the camera and were just clearly enjoying each others company.
-Danny
Carly & Jon | A Sneak Peek
March 14, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
This weekend we had a chance to take our new camera out for a proper spin at the wedding of Carly & Jon. They had their wedding in the beautiful Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey and thankfully we had plenty of sunshine.
The new camera is amazing in so many ways but we thought we would share with you some images which were taken from the video footage we captured. You will agree that Carly not only looked stunning but clearly knew how to work the camera.
Colour Grading | What is it?
March 8, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
One thing which helps sets ourselves and other wedding filmmakers apart from you average wedding video is the amount of work which goes into each and every production after the wedding date itself.
It would be all too easy to just take the footage, place it on a DVD and call it a wedding video. What we produce is more like a film than anything else.
Part of what helps us achieve that is how we colour the movie. Something known as colour correction and colour grading.
Colour correction is where we take the video footage and fix any problems that may have crept in. Sometimes the lighting can be a challenge and make things blue or red. So we must correct this so it looks more natural. We must also make the footage from the multiple cameras look the same.
What we then do is apply a colour grade to it. One reason for this is that it helps the video footage look more film like which in turn is much more pleasant to watch. Also what we do to the footage can enhance what you feel when you watch it.
In the example below we have taken some footage from Roshni and Dipan’s highlights. On the left is the footage as it comes straight out of our camera and how most other wedding videos would look. On the right is how it looks after we’ve worked our Mintyslippers mojo on it. We’ve taken the grey London building and given it a spot of colour both outside and in. As this video was taken in October the leaves on the trees were starting to turn a wonderful brown colour. So we used this and gave the highlights an autumnal feeling with an ever so subtle brown and orange tint.
-Danny
The story behind the slippers
March 2, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Everywhere we go people want to know how we came up with our business name. Unfortunately the story isn’t as interesting as the name itself but we still love to tell it when we meet people. But we know we have a lot of readers who we may never get to meet so thought we would share with you the story behind the slippers.
Back in 2006 Julie and I were in my study, enjoying another fine day of married life. Back then, we had time on our hands, and were looking for a custom e-mail address, simply because we were passing a cold wintry rainy day.
So we spent quite a lot of time wondering what was different or not already taken. For no particular reason, Julie looked down at her feet and what she saw were the very same slippers you see above. The slippers were minty in colour. The name Mintyslippers was born and we quickly bought the address mintyslippers.co.uk.
Some years later we started our wedding video business. We knew we wanted to be slightly different and call it something unique. We also knew that people had to remember it, as people just don’t remember names. We then thought about company names which instantly spring to mind and realised they were all names which were a little off beat. Then remembered we had this excellent email address already… mintyslippers.co.uk
So we decided to call it just that. It was unique, it was memorable, when people see the name they instantly want to know what it’s all about. We love Mintyslippers, its so much of who we are now and we love it when people say they have heard about us.
If your after something unique – i.e. an e-mail address – it’s really cheap and easy . We got ours from 123-Reg.co.uk and they are about £3 for a .co.uk address and £10 for a .com address (per year). You just type in what address you would like and it will let you know if you can have it. I mean, how cool would it be to have the email danny@supercoolredpants.com…. actually, that address is available! This could even make a seriously cool gift for you husband to be.
-Danny
Roshni & Dipan | Highlights at the Victoria and Albert Museum
February 25, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
OMG! That was the first thing that went through our mind’s when we saw the museum for the first time before the wedding. As you enter the main room where the party was to be held we were greeted by a huge sculpture hanging from the ceiling right over the bar. Which, during the day is actually the reception desk for the museum itself.
The day itself was to be different to many of our typical weddings. With no bridal prep and a very shot civil ceremony it was clear that this day was about the coming together of two families and the evening which follows. They were actually having a more traditional ceremony a few weeks later in India.
After the ceremony we headed off to Regents park along with their hugely talented photographer, Anil Tohani, to take some informal shots of the couple by themselves. The leaves had just turned to a lovely golden brown and were starting to fall. As we filmed the leaves were falling as if dropped on que… perfect!
The final part of this amazing day was the reception at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. The speeches were held in the great Raphael gallery where some of his work hung from the walls.
We were entertained all night, and starting off was a performance by Nutkhut who had only recently performed for the Queen at Buckingham palace.
After the speeches the entertainment continues with some fabulous cocktail shaking moves (actually they were mocktails as they contained no alcahol). Everyone then danced the night away on the starlit dancefloor.
As this was one of our Dream bookings we storyboard and plan some of the shots we want to get for use in the highlights and the main edit. One part which Roshni and Dipan wanted to see was the transformation of the Raphael gallery from being empty for the public to their spectacular wedding reception. So we setup our cameras but also spent large parts of the day capturing shots outside during the day and evening. The plan was to show a timelapse of the V and A as the sun goes down and the beautiful purple lighting outside comes up.
-Danny
Kemistry | Live music duo
February 17, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
A few months ago we met Kemistry, a live music duo who sound like a 5 piece band. What we really found amazing was how they got the party started and kept it going all night until the bride and groom walked out the door.
They really knew what the crowd wanted and gave it to them. With songs like Sweet Child of Mine, Spinning Around, Ain’t Nobody it was just pure entertainment for us and everyone there.
We got chatting to Kirsten and Graeme and it was clear that as entertainers its important for people to not just hear them (which you can do on their website) but also see them in action. They have some of the best lighting we have seen from a band and knew how to use it, the act is just so entertaining and Greame can really play the guitar. When we said we could shoot a music video for them they were quite excited as it meant they could show it to potential couples as well as showcase the video on their website. There is no doubt that video is one of the best ways to reach your customers and show them just what you are about.
So we filmed 2 of their biggest crowd pleasers, Greatest Day by Take that and Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns n’ Roses which you can watch below.
If you are thinking about having your own promo video to show off your work or talents then take a look at our corporate site www.mintyslippersmedia.com. Don’t forget to swing by Kemistry’s own website at www.kemistryduo.com.
-Danny
Ed Clayton | Photographer
February 16, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
We are always being asked “Do you do photos as well?” by people who love our work. We have thought about it but decided our hearts lie with the filmmaking side of things.
We do however have a small list of photographers that we recommend based on the creativity they displayed on the day and the stunning work they produced for their couples. One such photographer is Ed Clayton who we met at the wedding of Anna and Paul.
We were immediately drawn to him because of the equipment he used. His main camera is the fantastic Canon EOS 5D MarkII. This camera can create the most amazing images in low light which means Ed rarely uses a flash. So even in a dark church where they normally do not allow flash, Ed can capture some beautiful imagery.
We were also impressed by his way with everyone on the day. It was so wonderful and relaxed. Unlike many other photographers who often work to a set routine and want to progress the formals as quickly as possible. Ed was able to get the shots he needed without upsetting any of the guests. Infact, many guests would often mistake him for one of their own.
Ed wanted some way to show people how he works and what he produces. So he asked us if we could produce a promo piece for him. As well as wedding films we also produce corporate videos so were more than happy to do this for him. The following video was shot at the lovely Kingscote Barn in Tetbury and is the first draft of Ed’s promo video that we created just in time for the National Wedding Show.
For more info on Ed visit www.edclaytonphotography.co.uk
If you are interested in promoting your business via video please visit our Corporate film site at www.mintyslippersmedia.com
-Danny
And as if by magic | The flash disappeared
February 9, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Part of the reason we work so well with photographers is that we don’t interfere with their workflow. We let them get on and shoot how they like as we know that we can fix most things in the edit.
One thing however which is a problem for most is the camera flash. Your watching your video as you share an intimate moment with your new partner and that moment is interrupted by constant camera flash’s. Often this can distract from the moment you, as a couple are sharing.
Part of what we now offer for those investing in our ‘Dream’ package is the reduction and often removal of those inappropriate camera flash’s. Below is a little video which shows a side by side example of just how well this works.
-Danny
Training, coaching and one-to-one workshops
February 8, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Making wedding films is a special kind of job. There’s usually a lot to contend with on the day, before the day and after the event. We’d like to share some of our experiences with other interested folk, be you a videographer looking to become a filmmaker/cinematographer or a photographer looking to offer their clients video+photo fusion.
We can now offer a hands on, one-to-one training, group training sessions and coaching. We are just putting the final details in place but registration is now open so contact us on 0845 224 1562 or email info -at- mintyslippers.com to discuss your individual requirements, to give you an idea, these are some of the subject areas we cover:
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to get started in the wedding video world or those who are already established within another medium and looking to broaden their horizons.
-Danny & Julie
Glidetrack | What is it?
January 23, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Part of our ‘Dream’ package is that we make full use of our Glidetrack. This tiny, 50cm long metal strip allows us to get shots with a little more energy than static tripod shots. We usually use this little device to get some jaw dropping shots of the detail in your day. When I say little I mean it, this thing is tiny but the shots it creates have such a massive impact.
It’s like putting the camera on wheels and rolling it around, but with its own built in set of train tracks to make it ultra smooth.
This weekend we thought we would have a little play and see what cool new moves we could pull in preparation for this years wedding season.
By turning the Glidetrack so it’s vertical and by tilting the tripod head we were able to achieve shots which look like they were shot on a crane, so going up and down instead of just side to side, back and forth. We even tried something totally new and had the entire camera turning 90 degrees as it moved.
Here’s the short little teaser we made showing some of our new moves.
-Danny
High Def Blu-Ray | It’s Awesomeness!
January 21, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Since we started 4 years ago we have been filming and editing in HD because it just made our DVD’s look so amazing.
We are very excited to announce that we can now offer Blu-Ray to our couples, past and future.
We create all of our Blu-Ray movies in full 1080p HD which gives unsurpassed levels of detail and sharpness along with beautiful vibrant colours. Being able to see every last detail and button in your dress is just beautiful. To get an idea of how good HD is just check out any of our video’s here on our blog as they are all in 720p HD.
For anyone with a wedding in 2010 and our ‘Dream’ package then Blu-Ray is included as standard (if you want it). For any of our 2009 couples and those with our ‘Simple’ package you can upgrade to Blu-Ray for just £100 for the first copy and then only £50 for each additional copy.
If you havn’t yet made the leap to Blu-Ray then now is a good time. ebuyer have an excellent Blu-Ray player for just £89.99 which will also play back your old DVD’s and upscale the image to HD. Check it out here http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168916. However, my personal favourite Blu-Ray player has to be the PlayStation 3.
-Danny
Protected: Sheridan & Joe | Highlights at Hanbury Manor in Ware
January 19, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Ceris & Ben | Highlights at Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire
January 16, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
You got the feeling that family was very important to Ceris and Ben. They had a family tree which you can see at the start of the video which showed photos from family weddings past.
They exuded emotion and love and just seemed like the perfect match.
Their entire day was held in the medieval themed ‘Poles Hall’ at Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire. Guests were treated to fantastic sunshine outside between each part of their day and who were we to not join them 
- Julie
Wan Sim & Chris | UK to Malaysia
January 13, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Wan Sim and Chris were brave… I say that because they decided to not only get married but to do it twice and with one wedding overseas. Weddings are hard to plan but multiple weddings is just insane.
Wan Sim and Chris both knew the importance of capturing their one wedding day in the best possible way. They had originally wanted a collaboration between ourselves and Mayad Studios who are based in the Philippines for their UK wedding but Mayad were unable to attend. So it was down to us to cover the UK and then for Mayad to cover their wedding a few weeks later in Malaysia. A collaboration between filmmaker’s or even filmmaker and photographer can create an amazing energy on the day. I know we certainly felt that buzz working with their photographer Steve Shipman.
The plan was for Mayad to then create one of their famous highlights using both our footage and their own. A scary prospect for any filmmaker is to have someone else edit your footage.
I’m sure Wan Sim and Chris were both excited to see this video but I have to say, myself and Julie were also pretty stoked about the thought and after watching the video I have to say we were blown away and we wish we could have been there to share this wonderful moment with them.
What I really love about this clip is how it gives a real complete picture of their wedding day’s and records forever this new chapter in their life.
So here it is, the video below is edited by the award winning Mayad Studios and features footage (which I’m sure you will recognise) from ourselves.
-Danny
Protected: Liz & Joe | Highlights at Priory Barn
January 12, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Wan Sim & Chris | Highlights at Rowton Castle in Shrewsbury
January 7, 2010 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
I shall never forget these words;
“A smile which makes me fall in love with you even more each day, just like today, at this very perfect moment now.”
As Wan Sim spoke them I felt myself trying very hard to keep it together and not start blubbing like every one of their guests. Wan Sim and Chris were married in the beautiful Rowton Castle in Shrewsbury late in 2009. When we met them they told us how they were planning on doing a few things which would make their day special in so many ways.
They started off by giving each other gifts and cards with some very touching words from each other. Then for the ceremony they had opted to supplement the normal vows with their own custom vows which allowed them to express just how they felt about each other at that very special moment in their lives. The first dance was a surprise Argentine tango (surprise to us as well) before we moved onto the Chinese Tea Ceremony.
This was our first tea ceremony and I loved it. Parents, uncles, siblings and other family members share tea with the newly married couple before they then exchange gifts.
These highlights were created shortly after the wedding as Wan Sim and Chris were then on their way to Malaysia for the second part of their wedding and wanted something to show their relatives and friends who couldn’t make the ceremony here in the UK.
For those wondering why this video seems to be missing the top and bottom. We actually edited this in super widescreen 2:35:1. The same format your Hollywood movies are created in. This allows us to make the video have more impact to the viewer by drawing your attention to what’s important, the eyes and mouth.
-Danny
Protected: Liz & Toby | Highlights at the Kings Hotel
December 21, 2009 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Gemma & Carl | Highlights at Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire
December 9, 2009 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
We instantly fell in love with Fanhams Hall in Hertfordshire from the moment we drove up the path. On one side it has the old, castle like structure while on the other it was bright and modern with perfect lighting for filming in.
You may remember Gemma and Carl. We featured them on our blog some months ago as they had one of the best surprise first dances yet where they performed the entire routine from the Liverpool Street Station advert for T-Mobile.
Both Gemma and Carl were up for a little bit of fun on their wedding day so we had them do a couple of things for us which we wanted to use in the DVD edit. At Fanhams they had this lovely long grass and a little pathway mowed into it. So as the sun set with this lovely golden shine all around we asked them to just have a little walk along the path while I pushed my way through the long grass with the Steadicam to get a lovely shot with the sun behind them. After that we pushed our luck a bit further and asked if Gemma fancied a little run. Again they were both more than up for it and began running while I chased after them. The shots came out better than expected and just added to the mood of the day and their highlights.
Don’t forget to leave a comment if you like it and send Gemma and Carl your well wishes.
-Danny
Gemma & Carl | Highlights from mintyslippers.com on Vimeo.
Elizabeth & Dave | Highlights at Notley Abbey
December 1, 2009 | Filed Under Mintyslippers | Leave a Comment
Elizabeth is from California while Dave is from the UK (now living in sunny California) and that element brought some interesting moments to the day. Both Elizabeth and Dave were very into the detail of the day and with a venue like Notley Abbey in Oxfordshire its easy to see why. They were also quite focused on their guests, ensuring they had a good time and that they felt as much as a part of the day as they did and it was our job to capture all that.
We had met them both a few times before the day itself to find out about their day but also them as people. This then meant the days before the wedding myself and Julie sat down to go through how we wanted to shoot this to best show what they had planned. We created shot lists, spent hours on Google maps to see what was around and what we had to work with. With this intimate level of knowledge about the day, the couple and the location we planned to make our best feature yet. All we needed was some good weather.
We set out early as we really wanted to create a timelapse of the clouds over the stunning church. The day started out grey but as we got closer the clouds cleared and the most beautiful blue sky we had seen all year appeared and thankfully, along with a few fluffy white clouds.
The day was full of fun, laughter and love but also a cartwheeling bride (in her dress and in her shoes!) and a couple who were up for absolutely anything.
We picked out a very special song, no lyrics, just music and a powerful undertone to really bring this visual feast alive. If your wondering why there is a shot of baked beans?? Well the highlights are also to be shown to their friends back home in California so we set out to make the video have a British flavour, and what’s more British than a good old can of Heinz Beanz.
We were also fortunate enough to work with the very talented Paul Wilkinson whos work is among the best we have seen so far. You can view his own work from this shoot on his blog by clicking here.
-Danny
Elizabeth & Dave | Highlights from mintyslippers.com on Vimeo.