I'm hiring an excellent photographer - why should I also have my wedding videotaped? Initially, many of my clients felt the same way.  But imagine for a moment, being able to watch your parents or grandparents wedding day.  Not just look at photos, but actually hear their voices... see how they moved as they walked across the room... smiled and laughed with their friends... looked lovingly at each other.  Video brings those moments to life in ways photos simply can't... with movement & sound.  The expressions... mannerisms... gestures...  A wedding is a day full of once-in-a-lifetime moments that should be documented, re-lived, and shared with future generations.  In the right hands, video captures the sights, sounds, and emotions of a wedding like nothing else can. How do I know which videographer is right for me? There are many reasons one might choose a certain videographer:  style, quality, referrals, and fees to name a few.  I'm confident that I'm one of the best in the Metro Detroit area at what I do.  However, I encourage you to look around, meet a few different videographers and see what's out there.  What's right for one couple might not be right for the next.   I want my clients to feel, without a doubt, that I'm the person they most want documenting their special day.  That they can trust me with their precious memories, and be confident,  that I will produce a movie that truly reflects the spirit and emotion of their wedding day. Here are a few reasons to choose me: you'll hardly notice me there, I'm sensitive to my surroundings and your guests, I generally work alone (unless you desire a 2nd videographer) so am very unobtrusive, no big cameras/lights, I really like and care about what I do, you hire me - you get me (from the first meeting to the delivery of your finished movie), high quality, I'm not a production line pumping out hundreds of videos a year so you get my full attention, I don't have alot of confusing packages or endless options, no long boring 2 hour videos, no cheese, I'll shoot & edit your video so it looks more like a movie and less like "a wedding video", you'll watch it lots of times, your friends will be jealous, you know it'll be the best wedding video you've ever seen.  Need I say more... Do you offer package pricing?  How do you determine your rates? I don't offer package pricing in the sense of having a low, mid, and higher price.  My objective is to consistently produce high-quality work and the only way to do that is to charge a consistent rate as well.  Offering a lower priced package would mean having to lower the quality or cut corners in some way, which I am not interested in doing.  My packages are tailored to your needs, so you don't end up paying for things you don't really want just because they're included "in the package".  You only pay for the time you need and the options you want. As far as determining my rates, they are mostly based on one variable: time.  My packages start with up to 8 hours of continuous coverage time on your wedding day.  Should you need more than the 8 hours, then a rate would be determined based on your specific hourly requirements.  This would cover both the extra shooting and editing time involved.  Between meetings with a client, the actual wedding day, and editing/authoring the video/dvd, I can easily spend upwards of 60 or more hours with a single client.  Considering the amount of time and effort I put into making your video a truly one-of-a-kind keepsake, you can see why my services may be one of the best investments you'll make on your wedding day.  Think about it this way... you can spend thousands of dollars on flowers, seat covers, limos, musicians, etc., but once the day is over, the only documented account of all the sights and sounds of your special day are the images captured by my video camera.  That's when it hits most couples how truly PRICELESS my services really are... What is the "Retrospective Narrative" option? The "Retrospective" is an option that personalizes your wedding film even more.  Basically, it works this way: sometime shortly after your wedding (usually a few weeks), we get together for a look back at your wedding day.  As you  reminisce to each other, my camera rolls capturing all your thoughts and feelings.  These thoughts are then incorporated into your wedding movie, either as actual video footage or as voice-over sound bytes, creating a very personal and moving narrative.  A very cool way to document your wedding day memories.  Click here for an example. What will your presence be like on my wedding day?   Do you use big, bright lights, etc.? My approach is to be as discreet and unobtrusive as possible, capturing real moments, not "staged for the camera" moments.  I want you and your guests to be comfortable with me and go about your day as if I'm not there (I even go so far as to wear all-black to "blend in").  Whether you want me standing right up front next to you when you say your vows or hidden in the balcony, that's entirely up to you.  I want you to feel comfortable and enjoy your day.  For this same reason, I don't "direct" or set up alot of shots.  I feel the best footage comes from the natural, spontaneous moments of your day.  As far as lighting goes, my small digital cameras do an excellent job in low-light and I have a small on-camera light that I use only when necessary.  Many clients have commented on my ability to capture so many special moments all the while going unnoticed. Do you do guest interviews? No, for 2 reasons.  First off, my clients don't request them.  Many think of them as cheesy... a wedding video cliche.  They'd rather their guests just enjoy themselves and not be bothered by having to do interviews.  My personal feeling is that I'm there to document the events of your day, not make them happen.  Once I start approaching guests, I've crossed that line from observer into participant, making things happen that wouldn't naturally.  I've actually had many wedding guests comment to me how refreshing it was to not have "the video guy" shoving a camera in their face. How long will my finished video be? On average, my videos run around 45-60 minutes.  Sometimes less, sometimes more.  Don't be fooled into thinking a longer video means a better video.  It's the feeling you get when you watch it that's important - not the running time.  Believe me, it's alot easier to string long video segments together to make a 2-3 hour video than it is to handcraft it into a unique, moving 45-60 minute movie that you'll actually enjoy watching more than once.  After all, how many times do you really want to re-live a reading or sermon?  How much dancing do you really want to watch?  If you've ever watched a wedding video that seemed to go on forever, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  If it's so long that it's more of a chore to watch than a pleasure, you'll never watch it - and what's the point in that?  My goal is to capture the feeling of the day - not just be a running "play-by-play"...  Remember, you also receive a copy of the unedited footage.  So on those long rainy afternoons when you want to watch it all, you can.  It's really the best of both worlds; a highly polished "how you want to remember your wedding day" version and the complete unedited version. Do you edit the ceremony? For the sake of storytelling and pacing, time-compressing of events throughout the day is needed.  Movies and television do this all the time.  The reason?  To keep the story moving and the viewer interested.  Wedding video is no different.  During the ceremony, events that directly involve the bride and groom (processional, vows, rings, unity candle, kiss) would be included.  Readings, sermons, long songs, etc. would, most likely, be edited in some way. How long will it take to complete my video? Typically, it takes between 12-16 weeks to complete depending on the time of year.  Sometimes it may be shorter, sometimes longer.  I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and put a lot of time and effort into making your wedding movie the best it can be.  Your wedding day is only the beginning.  The editing process is really where it all comes together.   How soon before my wedding should I book? Popular dates and summer dates book up quickly.  It is not uncommon for me to book 6 months to 1 year or more in advance.  Please call or e-mail for availability.  In order to maintain my high standards of quality and client service, I book a select number of weddings per year and usually will only book one wedding per weekend. lee@contemporaryfilmsonline.com 2  4  8  .  6  5  0  .  2  1  3  5