Courtney and Brandon
Angela and Adam
Morgan and Kyle
View Our Videos in HD on Vimeo!
Posted on January 16, 2011
I’m so excited to now have Vimeo host our clients vdeos online in HD!
They seem to have the magic formula for encoding videos for the web.
They provide the perfect balance between picture quality and speed.
You can view many of our embedded clips right here on the blog
Or just click on the image below to view them all at Vimeo.
Enjoy!
Our Blog on Your Android, iPhone or iPad with WPtouch Pro
Posted on January 15, 2011
If viewing our blog on your flash enabled Mac or PC, you’ll see the user interface as it was designed to be seen, complete with flash enriched headers and footers.
If viewing our blog on a small touch enabled mobile device, such as the Android, iPod Touch, iPhone or the iPad you’ll see an entirely different interface due to a very cool WordPress plug-in named WPTouch Pro, made by the guys at Brave New Code. Read all about WPtouch Pro here! Listen to James Woodcock’s podcast as he interviews Dale Mugford, who is the co-founder of Brave New Code here .
The WPtouch Pro plug-in will deliver an incredibly fast, incredibly smooth internet experience for our viewers using several different touch type devices, not just the iPhone. It works on the Palm Pre, Google Android, Blackberry 9500, Blackberry 9530, cupcake, dream, incognito, as well as the iPhone, iPod Touch and mini WebOS and the Webmate.
Here’s how it Works. When a viewer with one of the above phones enters the blog, the plug-in automatically transforms the blog into a web-application experience.
Viewing Videos on the iPhone. iPod Touch or the iPad. We’ve also just converted all of our video clips to HD videos hosted by Vimeo. When viewing the blog on the Android or an iPod/iPad you will be able to simply tap on the video and it will stream to your phone directly from the blog post. There’s currently a bug which prevents the iPad from playing the embedded Vimeo clips. Therefore, you’ll need to tap on the Vimeo link under the image to go to the Vimeo page containing the video. It’s a known problem, and suspect it will be fixed soon.
Choosing a Professional Videographer
Posted on December 16, 2010
Remember the old saying; You get what you pay for? Or how about; If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is? Well, you’ll want to keep that in mind when selecting a professional wedding videographer.
How much should you expect to pay for a professional wedding videographer? Well, about the same as you would expect to pay for a professional photographer. However, that word “professional” gets kicked around a quite a bit doesn’t it? So then, how do you know if you’re really choosing a professional videographer, or just a “want-a-be” professional? Well, for starters, you look at and compare their work, just as you do when selecting a professional photographer. Now If they don’t seem have much work to look at, well that should be a yellow flag. Don’t just settle to view a collage of the videographers “best shots” arranged in a demo reel, if you have to ask, then ask to view some real wedding videos, like the ones they actually give their clients.
Here’s just a few aspects you should keep in mind when comparing videographers work? First of all, pay close attention to the picture quality, is the scene to dark or too bright? Is there too much or not enough contrast in the overall scene? Are the colors crisp and do they pop out of the picture or are they just sort of dull and lifeless? If so, these are indictors that the videographer doesn’t take much time if any in post production to color correct his or her work. Also you’ll want to watch out for those video effects and transitions. Does the videographer use them discreetly or does the video cry out “THIS IS A VIDEO EFFECT, or THIS IS A TRANSITION, DO YOU SEE ME?”
The audio is just as important and sometimes more so than the video. Can you hear the bride and groom recite their vows clearly, or is there a lot of background noise or echo indicating that improper or insufficient audio equipment was used when recording the event. Perhaps you don’t hear any natural audio in the videographers samples at all, that may indicate that the audio is very poor and they’re trying to hide that fact. That’s why I like to display various wedding edits from each wedding in my video gallery (such as the short ceremony edit) so you can hear the quality of the captured audio.
You should also expect a professional videographer to display their work on their website, or invite you to their studio to see their work in person. Since I work out of my home studio, I choose to show my work here and on my website in the video gallery where you’ll find more than 90 different client videos from more than 25 different weddings. I’ve even provided you with an index to the video gallery, found here on the blog, to identify the specific type of clips from the associated wedding and reception venues available for viewing. So before you compare our prices, please take the time to view our work. You owe it to yourself because you only have one chance to do this right.
To inquire on our availability and pricing, please contact me personally so that we might have a chance to talk a bit and discover what it is you really need and expect in a wedding video. Then together we’ll customize a package that’s right for you. You can call me anytime between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday, at (270) 312-9760 or use our Reservation Request form to send me your contact information, wedding date, and indicate when would be a good time for me to call you, and I’ll be happy to do so at your convenience.
Professional Blu-ray Authoring
Posted on December 12, 2010
If you’re a videographer or cinematographer currently shooting and editing in HD and are looking to outsource your Blu-ray Disc Authoring, send me an emil using the contact form here on the site and I’ll be happy to get back with you asap.
I use a hardware encoder to encode HD content to H.264 for Blu-ray disc authoring. The major benefit of encoding H.264 files verses MPEG files is the fact that I can put about twice the amount of content on a Blu-ray disc with the same or better quality then MPEG.
Generally, I encode the H.264 files at 20 MBps which will allow me to put approximately 3.5 hours of video on a single 25 GB Blu-ray Disc. When a lessor amount of video is required to be authored to Blu-ray I can increase the bit-rate all the way up to 40 MBps however I recommend to keep the bit-rate at or below 30 MBps to insure compatibility with older Blu-ray players.
I can design the menus using both static button menus with music in the background and pop-up translucent menus. The Content is authored to Verbatim White Hub Printable discs with your label design in full color.
Stream Videos Directly to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad
Posted on March 16, 2010
iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad Viewers
You can now stream our clients wedding videos from our BlogSite directly to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as long as you have a 3g or WiFi connection. Since Steve Jobs in his great wisdom (and I’m NOT being facetious) has decided to NOT allow flash content to playback on Apple’s mobile devices, and since my clients videos on my flash-based website can not be viewed by anyone via their selected Apple mobile device, I’ve made a command decision. I decided to provide links to those same videos here on my my BlogSite to accommodate the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad viewers.
Keep in mind, the headers of my BlogSite also display flash content however, if you’re viewing my blog with an iPhone, IPod Touch, Android, or BlackBerry Storm, you do not see these flash headers due to the incredible WPtouch plug-in Im using on this WordPress based BlogSite. What WPtouch does is it automatically transforms a WordPress blog into a web-application experience similar to a dedicated iPhone application. So when surfing my BlogSite with your chosen Apple mobile device , simply tap on any text link labeled iPhone/iPad Video to stream the QuickTime (h.264) video directly to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. This may also work on the Android or BlackBerry Storm, but I haven’t tested it, so I don’t know. If you have one of these non-Apple devices, please post your comments to the bottom of this post to let us know if it works or not. Make sure to tell us which non-Apple mobile device your using.
Here’s how it works. While surfing the web with your selected Apple mobile device, come here to my Blog-Site and access any of the associated blog-posts containing QuickTime h.264 videos. Any posts under the category of “Weddings” will contain videos. In the paragraph heading describing the video, you’ll see a text link that says (iPhone/iPad Video) simply tap on the link and the video will stream to your Apple device. In most cases if you have a decent 3G or WiFi connection, the video will stream uninterrupted. Below are some example links you can test out, or you can simply tap on the image above and it will stream Courtney & Brandon’s Highlight to your device.
- To view Courtney’s Bridal Prep Video tap on the following link: (iPhone/iPad Video)
- To view Courtney & Brandon’s Highlight Video tap on the following link: (iPhone/iPad Video)
So tell me, just HOW COOL is that!?! Come on, you know it’s cool! The outstanding quality of an h.264 QuickTime movie beats flash playback hands down, and it does it on your iPhone!. You know what? I’m starting to think Steve Jobs is a pretty smart man, what do you think? Add your comments below, let me know how it’s working for you.
Inclusively HD – We Survived the Move!
Posted on February 25, 2010
We Survived the Move from Standard Definition (SD) to High Definition (HD)
Midway through our 2008 wedding season I decided to make the move from SD to HD. I’ll have to be honest, it wasn’t the easiest or cheapest move I’ve ever made, but it was by far the smartest! I basically had to purchase all new equipment. Everything from new HD cameras to computers and software that was able to handle editing ProRes 422 High-Quality HD.
Nothing is free, there’s always a cost!
Shooting, editing, and mastering everything in HD and then delivering the content to both SD DVDs and HD Blu-ray disc not only involved additional finances, but an additional investment in time. Initially there was a steep learning curve required perfect the best workflow. Additionally, it takes twice as much time to transcode HD video footage for delivery to both SD DVDs and HD Blu-ray disc. However, the resulting quality is breathtaking and now that the transition is over, it was well worth the move.
SD Delivery of your HD mastered video
I understand that everyone doesn’t yet have a Blu-ray disc player. Therefore, once mastered to HD, the footage must be transcoded down, or down-converted to the standard definition (SD) widescreen format which will enable our clients to watch their videos on their standard DVD player. It’s important to note that even though your video will be in the widescreen format, it will still look just fine on a standard 4:3 television set. However, it will be displayed in a letterbox format which means you will see some black space at the top and bottom of the screen just as you do when watching a widescreen Hollywood movie on a standard TV set.
Viewing SD on an HDTV:
If you’ll be viewing your standard definition (SD) DVD’s on a widescreen HDTV, you’ll see a noticeable benefit in picture quality if playing your videos on an up-scale (or up-converter) DVD player or a Blu-ray disk player since it will up-convert your SD DVD’s for a more enjoyable viewing experience on a large widescreen TV. Now don’t misunderstand me, an up-convert DVD player will not make your SD DVD’s play back in HD, that’s not possible, but it will enhance the SD playback to give you a sharper picture on a widescreen LCD TV screen.
How does all of this benefit the client that doesn’t want HD?
You may be wondering; What are the benefit’s of shooting, editing and mastering in HD if the client is not asking for final delivery in HD? First of all, your video will be of a much higher quality when shot and mastered in HD versus SD. In other words, SD originating from footage of a higher resolution source (HD camera) is better than SD from a SD source (SD camera) because it doesn’t loose any quality in postproduction. Another benefit to shooting your wedding in HD is the fact that it allows us to re-author your wedding video at a later date to HD Blu-ray disc when your ready. In other words, If it’s not shot in HD now, it CAN’T be delivered in HD later, so there’s no turning back.
HD delivery on Blu-ray disc and in the Apple TV format.
Since all of our weddings are now shot, edited and mastered in HD, you can now have your cake and eat it too! In other words, we can deliver your video in full HD on Blu-ray disc and you’ll also receive your wedding videos in SD delivered on standard DVDs to watch using a standard DVD player, so no worries there! If you purchase a Silver or better package, HD Delivery on Blu-ray disc is included in the package at no additional cost. Also, it makes no difference if your getting the Blu-ray disc upgrade or not, you still receive digital copy files which can be played back on your Apple TV via itunes, or you can sync the files to playback on your iPhone or iPod touch, all of which is free no matter which package you purchase! Oh and just one more program note: You’ll receive digital copy files for all of the same videos contained on your DVD’s.
Wedding Movie Posters Now Offered!
Posted on February 10, 2010
NEW! We’re proud to now be offering our exclusive Wedding Movie Posters free with any Silver or better wedding package booked before the end of March. These are standard 24″x 36″ poster size (frame not included). This is a special promotion which will be discontinued on April Fools Day and will then only be available as an add on option for $250.00.
Previous clients can purchase their Wedding Movie Poster for $150 if ordered before April Fools Day, after that past clients can purchase a poster at regular price. Non clients can also purchase a Wedding Movie Poster for $300. Give me a call at 270.312.9760 to book your wedding or order your poster. You’ll have a chance to approve a proof of your poster design via our website before we go final with printing.
Prospective couples: You can easily customize your wedding package to fit your budget simply by clicking on the “Customize It” link HERE or on any of our wedding packages found on our website. Once you’ve customized your package, click the submit button and we’ll email you a written proposal which you can then easily and quickly accept by providing an online electronic signature, and submitting the required retainer payment using any bank or charge card. This can all be accomplished in a mater of just a few minutes. No hassle, no appointments necessary, reserve your date today while it may still be available!
