​Lights, camera, action! Dive into the world of professional videography where innovation and creativity collide to capture the most precious moments of your special day. From cinematic storytelling to cutting-edge technology, these trends are shaping the future of wedding films to make your video truly unforgettable.

1. Elevating Storytelling Through Cinematic Techniques
In the realm of professional videography, storytelling is king. By incorporating cinematic techniques like dynamic camera movements, creative lighting, and masterful editing, your wedding film transforms into a cinematic experience that transports viewers into the heart of your love story. Every frame becomes a brushstroke on the canvas of your memories, painting a picture that speaks volumes even without words.
Imagine your wedding day unfolding like a blockbuster movie, with every emotion, every glance, and every shared smile captured in the most visually stunning way possible. Through the lens of a skilled videographer, even the simplest moments become cinematic treasures that you'll want to relive again and again.
By infusing your wedding film with cinematic grandeur, you not only document your special day but also create a timeless masterpiece that captures the essence of your love in a way that truly stands out from the rest.

2. Innovations in Drone Videography for Stunning Aerial Shots
Take your wedding film to new heights - quite literally - with the rise of drone videography. From breathtaking aerial views of your venue to sweeping cinematic shots that capture the magnitude of your celebration, drone technology adds a touch of grandeur and sophistication to your wedding film.
Imagine the opening shot of your film showcasing your wedding venue from a bird's eye view, setting the stage for the romance and magic that's about to unfold. Drone videography offers a unique perspective that transports viewers into the skies, providing an unforgettable visual journey through your special day.
With innovations in drone technology, capturing stunning aerial shots has become more accessible, allowing you to add a touch of cinematic flair to your wedding film that will leave you and your guests in awe.

3. Mastering the Art of Light and Shadow in Videography
​Light and shadow play a crucial role in setting the mood and tone of your wedding film. Professional videographers understand the nuances of lighting, using it to highlight emotions, create depth, and add a touch of drama to every scene. By mastering the interplay between light and shadow, your wedding film gains a cinematic quality that elevates it to a work of art.
Picture a soft, golden sunset casting a warm glow over your first dance, or the gentle play of shadows adding mystery to your vows. The artful use of lighting transforms moments into visual poetry, infusing your wedding film with an ethereal quality that lingers long after the final frame.
Whether it's the soft, natural light of dawn or the romantic glow of candlelight, the careful orchestration of light and shadow creates a visual tapestry that captures the essence of your love story in the most enchanting way.

4. The Rise of VR and 360-Degree Video Experiences
Step into the future of wedding videography with immersive VR and 360-degree video experiences that transport you right back to your special day. By donning a VR headset, you and your loved ones can relive your wedding moments in stunning detail, as if you're truly there again, surrounded by the sights and sounds of your celebration.
Imagine being able to look around and see every guest's smiling face, to relive your vows from every angle, and to immerse yourself in the magic of your wedding day anytime you wish. VR and 360-degree videos not only capture moments but also create an interactive experience that brings your wedding film to life in a whole new dimension.
With the rise of VR technology, the traditional wedding video is transformed into a dynamic, immersive journey that redefines how we experience and cherish our most precious memories.

5. Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Emotion in Films
Technology has revolutionized the way emotions are captured and conveyed in wedding films. From the use of AI for emotion recognition to advanced editing techniques that enhance the mood of a scene, the intersection of technology and emotion is reshaping how we connect with the stories being told.
Imagine AI that can detect the subtlest smiles, the gentlest tears, and the unspoken emotions that make your wedding day so special. By fusing cutting-edge technology with heartfelt moments, your wedding film becomes a deeply personal and emotive experience that resonates with you on a profound level.
Through the seamless integration of technology and emotion, professional videographers can craft films that not only document events but also encapsulate the raw, authentic feelings that make your love story truly unique.

6. Revolutionizing Editing Techniques for Seamless Visual Narratives
Editing is the heartbeat of any great wedding film, shaping raw footage into a seamless visual narrative that captures the essence of your day. With advancements in editing software and techniques, videographers can now create films that flow effortlessly from scene to scene, weaving a storyline that unfolds with elegance and grace.
Picture a perfectly synced montage of your preparations, vows, and celebrations, each moment transitioning seamlessly into the next. The art of editing enhances the rhythm and emotion of your wedding film, creating a harmonious blend of visuals and audio that keeps you captivated from start to finish.
By embracing new editing techniques, your wedding film becomes a masterpiece of storytelling, where every cut, every transition, and every effect serves to enhance the beauty and emotion of your special day.
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7. The Art of Capturing Authentic Moments in Wedding Videography
​Amidst the grandeur and technical wizardry of professional videography, the essence of capturing authentic moments remains at the heart of every great wedding film. It's the candid smiles, the unscripted laughter, and the genuine emotions that breathe life into your wedding video, making it a true reflection of your love story.
Imagine looking back on your wedding film and reliving those spontaneous moments that brought joy to your heart. The art of capturing authenticity lies in the ability to be present yet unobtrusive, allowing the magic of your day to unfold naturally while being expertly preserved for eternity.
By prioritizing the authenticity of each moment, professional videographers ensure that your wedding film is not just a recording of events but a living, breathing testament to the love and connection shared between you and your partner.

Embarking on a journey through the lens of creativity, we delve into the contrasting realms of wedding filmmaking and wedding content creation. Each with its unique storytelling approach, these two art forms encapsulate the magic and emotions of weddings in distinct ways. Let's explore the artistry and techniques behind each, unveiling the essence of immortalizing moments versus crafting narratives in the world of weddings.

The Art of Capturing Moments: Wedding Filmmaking

Wedding filmmaking is a dance of emotions frozen in time. It is the delicate art of capturing fleeting moments of joy, love, and laughter in a visual symphony that echoes through time. The lens becomes a storyteller, translating the unspoken emotions into a cinematic tale that unfolds frame by frame. Each shot is a brushstroke on the canvas of memory, painting a vivid tapestry of the wedding day.
A skilled wedding filmmaker is a silent observer, anticipating moments before they unfold, ready to encapsulate the essence of the occasion. Their expertise lies in weaving together snippets of time, creating a narrative that not only tells a story but also evokes feelings and nostalgia. From the gentle touch of a hand to the tearful exchange of vows, every detail is meticulously preserved to immortalize the essence of the day.
The magic of wedding filmmaking lies in its ability to transcend time and space, allowing viewers to relive the precious moments again and again. The artistry of capturing candid emotions and unscripted moments sets wedding filmmakers apart as visual poets, narrating tales of love and togetherness that resonate beyond words.

Crafting Stories Through Lenses: The Role of a Wedding Filmmaker

The role of a wedding filmmaker is akin to that of a visual storyteller. They are entrusted with the task of not just recording events but crafting narrative arcs that encapsulate the essence of the couple's love story. With a keen eye for detail and an intuitive sense of timing, wedding filmmakers curate a cinematic experience that unfolds like a symphony of emotions.
Beyond just documenting the events of the day, wedding filmmakers aim to capture the soul of the celebration. From the nervous excitement of getting ready to the jubilant energy of the reception, every moment is a piece of a larger narrative puzzle. Through skillful editing and keen storytelling techniques, they bring to life a visual masterpiece that reflects the uniqueness of each couple's journey.
The true artistry of a wedding filmmaker lies in their ability to transform mundane moments into magical memories. Through their lens, ordinary gestures become extraordinary, simple exchanges turn profound, and the entire wedding day transforms into a cinematic spectacle that tugs at the heartstrings of all who watch.
Wedding filmmakers not only capture the events of the day but also the essence of the relationships and emotions that define the couple's journey. Each frame is infused with a narrative thread that weaves together the past, present, and future, creating a visual heirloom that will be cherished for generations to come.

Behind-the-Scenes: Wedding Content Creation
Wedding content creation is capturing moments as they are; it is is not necassarily story-telling, but is short snippets of the day. Unlike traditional wedding filmmaking, which focuses on visual storytelling, wedding content creation is behind-the-scenes content. If a wedding film is the main movie in on the blu-ray disc, content creation is the blu-ray behind-the-scenes extra content.

From Vision to Reality: The Process of a Wedding Content Creator

Unlike wedding filmmaking, which focuses on capturing raw moments in motion, emphasizes storytelling, conceptualization, and visual planning. Wedding content creation a lot less thought and intention, but to record video or capture photos quickly with a cell-phone.  Each element is edited with templates for trendy social media short-form clips.

Harmonizing Visual Tales
In the symphony of wedding visual content creation, the dance between wedding filmmaking and wedding content creation orchestrates a harmonious spectacle. While wedding filmmaking captures the raw emotions and fleeting moments in motion, wedding content creation takes trendy footage and forms them into a tapestry of memories. Both are integral to the artistry of immortalizing weddings, each bringing its own flair and essence to the canvas of love and celebration.

         I used to think there was 2 types of wedding video. One is the type that everyone is familiar with, where a video guy shows up with a large camera and a blinding light planting himself in the middle of the ceremony then gives you the tape. The other is the wedding videographer that films artistically and edits a video or "film" for you and it is like a music video. Common marketing language for this type of videographer is "Cinematic" or "Wedding Cinematographer". 
      But as I've grown in this craft and grew as a storyteller, I realized I fall into the third category. I fall into the wedding filmmaker category. What separates a wedding video from a wedding film is a distinct story. Many videographers that edit highlights will claim they "tell a story", but to be quite honest and blunt, video footage edited over a song where half of it is footage of flowers and overhead drone shots is not telling a story. In order for compiled video footage to become a story it has to make sense as a whole from start to finish. Within the overall story are smaller stories that are noticeable and has a clear start to finish. 
         The approach to wedding filmmaking, in my opinion, is quite simple. We are no different than the filmmakers that make documentaries you see on Netflix or any of your favorite streaming services. We don't go to film a wedding to film and event. We are filming a documentary of one of the most important days of a couples life. We have to pay attention to the relationships and interactions that play out throughout the day. Not only the relationship of the couple, but the relation ship with their friends and family. We record the audio of the ceremony and reception speeches to implement into the film to help tell the story. We film with intent. We set up and compose shots not just for art, but to create or bring back the emotion to the viewer.
         We ask ourselves questions as we are filming such as, "How is the bride feeling? How is the mother of the bride feeling? How can I set up this shot to authentically convey the feeling of how the mother of the bride feels helping her daughter button her dress?" Then during editing, "how can I color grade this shot to help the emotion, what part of this musical score can I use here to help the emotion, what part of the vows or speeches can I use here to help the emotion, and how does this scene fit in with the rest of the day?" We ask ourselves so many internal questions producing each and every wedding film. We are in a constant state of problem solving. In the weeks and months before editing the final film, we are constantly thinking of how to craft this story as authentically, beautifully as possible, and also works as a true reflection of the couples love and individual personality.
Wedding filmmaking is documentary filmmaking. It is storytelling. Footage without story is just video. 

As an engaged couple to be married, ask yourself... do you want just motion photographs, or do you want your story told?

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#1 You Don't Value It Enough
#2 Company Doesn't Know Who is Showing Up
#3 Person you talk to isn't the Videographer
#4 Limited Portfolio on Website
#5 Promised Quick Delivery

Many times during my consults with potential wedding couples inquiring about wedding filmmaking they tell me they are not sure what questions to ask. Sometimes they are asking the wrong questions... With that said, here are the following questions you SHOULD ask...

1) What is the name of the wedding videographers that will be filming my wedding?
If the wedding video company you are talking to does not know the name of, AT LEAST, the primary videographer that will film your wedding... RUN. Why? Because they are a volume videography company that hires random shooters (at times VERY last minute) to show up and film your wedding. 

​2) How many videographers will be at my wedding?
You want at least 2 videographers at your wedding. Don't get me wrong, 1 videographer can get the job done, but the video will be better with at least 2. Believe me, I've solo shot many weddings before. 

3) Can you send us links to 3 wedding films NOT featured on your website?
First off, let me tell you all of my films are on my website. I want my couples to do their due diligence before hiring me as their wedding filmmaker.
Many other wedding videography companies only post their "featured" films, or the ones they think are their very best films. But the question is, are they consistent? If they film 20 wedding a year and only showcase 5, how are those other 15? You want to see that your wedding filmmaker can consistently deliver great films no matter the wedding budget, culture or location the venue takes place! 

4) Can you send us links to films you produced 3 years ago, 2 years ago, 1 year ago?
You want to see progression. Whether it be the cinematography, image quality, colors, editing flow, and/or storytelling abilities, you want to see improvement throughout the years in your videographers skills. Seeing no change in a videographers portfolio year to year indicates complacency and lack of passion. Filmmaking is an art and as an artist we are always looking to become better and better at what we do. Their is no end to this journey. If a videographers work is stagnant or their edits seem templated, they don't care enough.

5) WATCH THEIR FILMS
The films speak for themselves. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE. Regardless of how well their website is designed or who recommended them, WATCH THEIR FILMS. Some videographers have great marketing and websites, some wedding videographers are good friends with your photographer or planner that recommended them, but their work may not be the best for you. WATCH THEIR FILMS!

#weddingplanning #weddingplanner #Weddingvideographerquestions #weddingvideographer #weddingcinematography #weddingvideography

Here is a little family Christmas film. Merry Christmas to all, from my family to yours.

Most people out there know Desmond Dennis and Destinee's wedding from Desmond's musical performance video we filmed that went viral. It was featured on various difference social media outlets as well as TV. Desmond's performance of "Can You Stand the Rain" by New Edition was amazing. But it was not quite as amazing as their entire wedding day. Here is their full wedding film. 

A few weeks ago we traveled to Galicia, Spain to film a wedding.
As always, traveling is always a challenge, yet alone traveling with video camera equipment.

Thankfully, we always pack light. We were able to bring three camera bodies. 2 Sony a7III and 1 a7RIII. We had a multitude of lenses including a 70-200 GM. We had 2 tripods, 3 Came-tv Boltzen lights and 3 light stands as well as 1 DJI RONIN-S gimbal and a Zhiyun Weebill Lab gimbal.
All with just two carry-on Nanuk cases and 2 backpack personal items for 2 cinematographers.

Here is the sneakpeek from the wedding!
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#sonya7iii #djironin #weddingvideo #destinationwedding #weddingvideographer #weddingfilmmaker #destinationweddingvideographer

10.27.2018
What an incredible wedding it was at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington DC.
It was my first ever wedding where I had the amazing opportunity to do a full SAME DAY EDIT FILM for the bride and groom.
For those that don't know, same day edits are films 3 to 5 minutes in length that are edited and premiered on the same day of the wedding during the reception.

Nhu Thuy and Alexander were amazing and understood the work it would take to be able for us to capture their day and to be able to produce a film worthy of their love story to premier the same night of their wedding. 

I cannot thank my team enough for helping me pull this off.

We filmed their amazing day starting at 9:30am. I began editing as my two assistants took over filming at around 5pm. The video premiered at 9:00pm during the reception.
 
@kinpix Kin Hulamm is a beast. Dude is talented, has high energy, super creative, and has an incredible determination to get the shot when we absolutely need it. He has been huge in pushing me to get better and better in my craft. Hopefully working for me helped push him the same way he has pushed me.

@purpuhl_media RJ Goodwin... This dog can film. Point blank. His work in automotive films speak for itself. He was called upon somewhat last minute. He is also creative and can get the shot on demand. 
Truly an honor to collaborate with the finest of creatives. No .. we aren't world renowned filmmakers, but we have the drive to create, push ourselves and eachother, get better and better each time we film, and that is what makes us great. It is the journey.

This has been such a gratifying and humbling experience.

Below is the REACTION of the bride and groom watching their wedding film and the film itself. Enjoy!

​Washington DC | Maryland | Virginia Cinematic Wedding and Event Videographer / Cinematography

Oxon Hill Manor - 9/22/2018
We had the honor of filming this beautiful wedding at Oxon HIll Manor. 
They got ready at The Mandarin in Washington, DC. Being a wedding videographer in the Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia area  provides us with the privilege of filming at many different venues. Farms, Hotels, Mansions, and Vinyards. The Oxon Hill Manor provides a little bit of everything in one location. Combine the amazing venue and the beautiful personalized details of Erika and Shayan's wedding, it was not difficult for us get the perfect shots. 

Every wedding is different, and for this, we used 35mm and 50mm lenses for most of the day. 85mm and 135mm provided the telephoto reach. 16-35mm lens provided extreme wide angle and the standard 70-200 was used for ceremony. Cameras used was a Sony a7III, Sony a7RIII, and Sony a6500. 
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