Demo Video

[ampsonic]

Here's a demo video I put together last night. First 4 minutes is montage, then a bit of ceremony, then a bit of reception.

Naperville Wedding Memories Demo

[BillGrant]

Nick,
Thanks for posting this. I have a few comments...
First of all, this LOOKS amazing. Great white balance, good movements, seems to be well placed shots. What camera was this? Looks like a DSLR. If so, you nailed focus which is cool and very hard to do. Ok, that being said.
I couldn't watch more than about a minute or so. The slow motion coupled with the slow music put me to sleep. I love a few of those for slow motion shots, but not EVERY SHOT. Also, as a demo, I doubt that any perspective bride would sit through 4 mins of someone else's prep just to get to ceremony and reception stuff. I know I didn't. Now, this may just be a matter of style and opinion but there it is. I have moved completely away from slomo in the last year, and I try to include as much nat sound as possible. I feel like pieces like this tend to remove you from the moment because the slow motion is surreal and the music bed is the only audio. Again, it looks great, but try mixing up the real time and slomo a little more and vary the speed of the piece. Pacing is extemely important. Good luck and thanks again for posting.
Bill

[ampsonic]

Bill,

You are full of good advice, as always.

What you saw was shot on a Panasonic GH1, DSLR. I love it.

I've redone the montage to include more than just prep, http://vimeo.com/12630588

It's still all slowmo, as I shot it all with that in mind, but you're right about needing to mix it up.The video as I linked to it now is the deliverable for the client, but for my own demo, I'm going to change the song and throw in some other weddings I recently shot.

[HankCastello]

Just installed a new, faster router, so maybe I can watch more of these videos now that my I-net is faster.

First off - good work.  This is certainly professional work.  That said, I do have a few notes I made while watching -

Too much slo-mo (I agree with Bill)
Uneven audio
Better timing on some of the cuts
more close shots and close-ups
preacher not miked
1st shot of preacher shaky
exit shaky
church music could be cleaner
dj not miked (when he announces couple)

Maybe I'm old fashion, but I'd like to see more tripod use and then handheld shots inbetween.

On the audio - try compressing.  That's where you set the upper volume limit, then boost all audio louder than a certain level (you don't want to boost background noise, a/c, etc.)

Get a mic on the organ & preachers.  Go on/off tripod or get second cam op on tripod.  Get more close shots and some really close-ups for variation and drama.

An example of cut timing, is one scene where, near the end, the bride looks directly into the camera lens and holds her gaze for a couple seconds before looking away.  You cut about a second into the "away" look.  I would have preferred to cut while she still looks into the lens.  Try the book - "In the blink of an eye" by Murch.

Again - good, professional work.  Your clients are lucky to have you!

[ampsonic]

Here's a new montage I did, I tried to take your suggestions into account, much less slo mo, incorporating more nat sound, ect..:

http://vimeo.com/14002063

Thoughts?

[HankCastello]

Something I noticed about both videos (I only watched about two minutes of each), is that they could use more close-ups.  Perhaps the occasional shot of a tightly cropped face; a super close-up of hands buttoning or zipping during preps; super-close shot of ring, etc.

Great work on those back-lit window shots!  They were exposed perfectly.

I think the matter of slo-mo with music track vs live audio and real time is a matter of style, and sometimes one wedding may call for one style and the next may call for the other.  But in the end, it has to be the editor who just "feels" the right way and goes for it.  Especially, when that editor was the videographer and was there for the live event and knows the people, etc.

You'll find your own style and make your own way.  You're doing fine.