If you are shooting video and a offer that service, I would like to know what camera equipment (how many cameras, etc) you are using and editing software, (including special effects, etc.) and what other $1000s of dollars of equipment you have.

I do not want to provide crappy video stuff that most local videographers are doing, I want to do stuff similar to www.fourseasonsfilm.com but OBVIOUSLY on a smaller scale, but certainly quality services and products...as quality as I can afford. It is sad, but most local videographers just do the point and edit scenes together...oh and slap in a song, I want to do more.

Looking to integrate with stills taken during wedding, etc.

If you can email me some links to look at samples that would be great.

Hey Darrell,

We shoot video at quite a few of our weddings but it's not that easy to do when you're photographing it as well.

Our set up consistes of two Canon XL1-s cameras, radio mics, handheld mics, cables, video lights, "good" tripods, monitors, plus all the other ancillary equipment such as batteries, film etc etc. Software wise we use Premiere Pro 2, Encore, (on the PC), and I have got Final cut express on my macbook pro. Ideally you need a standalone PC just for video editing with loads of hard drive space. Then finally, you need staff to operate the cameras.

I first trained in photography, then after a few years got into the video side of the business, had a bit of a break and then accidentally got asked to photograph & film a friends wedding, within six months after that one, we had taken 10 bookings to do photo and video combinations. Last year 90% of our weddings were both, this year we've deliberately not taken a many video bookings, really because we worked so damned hard last year, next year nearly everyone we have booked is both again, and we have over 25 bookings already for 2008.

We have managed to fine tune our crew down to three now. Bridal preperations I photograph, my wife shoots video and our assistant photographs. At the wedding, assistant photographs arrivals, my wife shoots outside the church and I shoot inside, getting the sound levels for the radio mics etc. Once the wedding starts, I shoot camera 1 (video), wife shoots camera 2 (video) assistant shoots photos. I can normally grab some photos as well as i'm covering the front of the church. Once we get back outside, Jenny reverts to camera 1 video, that's normally all we need. Camera 2 is remote wide angle, I take lead photographer and assistant is assistant photographer.

We have developed this system over 3 years, we used to have around 4 or 5 operators on some really big weddings, but it got too much. Nowadays we all know our role and it flows like clockwork. We are also all connected by two way radio's with discreet headsets and mic's, which really helps.

Be aware that editing a wedding video, if you add lots of different chapters and creative stuff, takes around a week to edit, so add that time into your costings. Whilst the mark up on video is a lot higher, (once you've paid for your equipment your only physical costs are tapes and discs and covers), time costs are a lot higher. Remember cameras need regular servicing, more than still cameras. And cameras can be very costly, we are now looking to upgrade to HD and expect to be paying around £15k for new equipment.

I read an article he other day which suggests that the quality of HD within the next 2-3 years may allow us to do away with still cameras and just take very high quality stills from video! just think, 30 shots per second available! no more blinkers! Not sure on this one but certainly video quality will be amazing.

Hope this helps. Give it a go, but be prepared for a lot of time in the editing suite!

Carl