Terrence Lighten of Lighten Films has written about the difference between wedding videography and wedding cinematography for us and I am so excited to share! I hope you find it educational!

There is a new wave of wedding videos coming out – however they are no longer called videos, they’re “films.” Cinematography and event film-making has spread across the globe rapidly.

So, what’s the difference between wedding videography and cinematography? Videography is more of a traditional approach that documents and chapters the day in a very simple format.
Cinema offers much more than the upgraded filming gear of the popular DSLR cameras, steadicams, and lighting. It is not only about capturing the unique day of each couple but also developing the footage into an in-depth story that comes to life and makes the day seem even more amazing than you remember it!

Wedding videography has gotten a stigmatism for being boring and cheesy over the years. “It’ll never be watched, it’s not important, and my photos are all I need to remember my day,” were commonly uttered when anyone brought up hiring a videographer. Well, those days are over. More and more couples are declaring that their wedding film is hands down the best remembrance of their wedding day – far surpassing the best of photography. If done correctly, your wedding film brings back every emotion from that day, and oftentimes, emotions that you didn’t even have time to experience.  It’s not about watching your wedding that was recorded, it’s about reliving your wedding day when you watch it.

What are some of the differences, you ask?

1. Long form videos vs. Short form films.
The assumption that you get more for your money with longer videos is completely false. As a matter of fact, longer equals boring, which is why wedding videos are only watched maybe on anniversaries, if that.
We live in a world today that moves fast. From technology to our food, we want it fast – because that is what we have time for.  Our attention spans have even gotten shorter. Short form films are more entertaining, leaving a stronger impact, and will be watched hundreds of times over the years.

2. Coverage vs. Story Telling
Another difference is basic coverage where a couple just wants the ceremony and/or the reception recorded, which there is nothing wrong with, by the way. In this type of videography coverage, you would get your ceremony and reception in full-length, but there is no creativity behind it, which also leads to boring. Most cinematographers capture the entire day starting from 7, 8, 9 or up to 14 hours. Why? This is how much time is needed to tell an effective story of your wedding day. Also, getting to know the couple more personally is key, how can you tell their story if you do not know who they are.

It is oftentimes customary for the cinematographer to meet with all of their couples before their wedding day and hang out for an hour or two just so they can have a better idea of who they are filming on the wedding day.

One of the most frequently asked questions are: Why longer hours filming and shorter films? I personally always tell my couples, to compare us to real feature films in the theatres. They film for 3, 4, up to 6 months, and you end up with only a 2 hour movie. Short form wedding films are the same way, and you end up with an emotionally entertaining feature film that you will want to watch over and over again. Then there are other features that are offered like coming attraction trailers that give couples a sneak peak of what to expect from their films, here is our latest…

Krystal + Joshua \\ Coming Attraction from Lighten Films – 702.266.6226 on Vimeo.

Film Maker: Lighten Films ~ Photographer: Mia Dolce Photography
Getting Ready Rooms: JW Marriott ~ Wedding Venue: Bears Best Golf Course
Floral: Floral by Kathy ~ Lighting: Woolard Production ~ DJ: Knight Sounds ~ Cake: Cravin Bakery

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

For a complimentary consultation for wedding planning services, please email us: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Green Orchid Events ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

It was meant to be for this gorgeous couple…they have known each other since elementary school! Thank you to Ashley with Hey Aster Photography for sharing these beautiful photos. Also a shout out to Katie’s mom and dear friend of mine Carla for making the LOVE frames and to Katie for making her own belt and hair piece. I can’t wait to see Luke marry his “Galway” girl!

Photo credit: Hey Aster Photography

And you can’t see it in these photos, but LaVey has a tattoo of Elvis on her arm. Yup, it was meant to be since I’m a huge Elvis fan too!

We are so looking forward to their wedding this September out in Boulder City! Check out these absolutely gorgeous photos of LaVey and Tyson by Alt F. Makeup done by the bride herself who is one half of Your Beauty Call and hair was done by her partner Janine Cali.

And if I have to choose a favorite…this breathtaking one would be the winner!

Head over to Alt F’s blog for more photos from their engagement session.

Photos: Alt F

Makeup: LaVey Ortiz of Your Beauty Call

Hair: Janine Cali of Your Beauty Call

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Vintage Wedding Video Shot Entirely on iPhone 4 from Monachetti on Vimeo.

What do you think?

Brides, I wouldn’t suggest you allow your cousin Joe to do this for your wedding since this was still shot by a professional videographer!

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Adam is running a great special for the new year for all of the newly engaged couples. For the entire month of January, take advantage of this great offer! A free 16×24 canvas as well as a “day after” or Trash the Dress session is included in any level of wedding investment.  Please let him know you heard about this great offer through us!

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Prize Package:
6 hours of photography coverage
a disc of your images from the day with a release
a $500 print credit
a custom bound album
an engagement session!
Total value: $3,000

Rules:
If you’re getting married in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, St. George, Provo or Salt Lake City send an email to giveaway at megruth dot com with your names, a photo of you together and 300 words about your story or why you should win. Meg Ruth will be selecting the top five entries and then you and your friends and family can vote for the winners.

Deadline:
The 5 finalists will be posted on February 1st. There will be a week for voting from February 1st to February 7th. The winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day!

Meg Ruth Photography
Meg Ruth website Meg Ruth blog

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Photos: Chelsea Nicole

Hair and Makeup: Lori White

Locations: Red Rock Canyon and Red Rock Casino

Head over to Chelsea’s blog for additional photos from their engagement session.

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

• The Bridal Spectacular promo has been extended until January 1st! Promo Code: Christmas2for1. This is for our blog readers ONLY so please mention that when you register!

Floral: Flora Couture; Photography: Artistic Imaging

Photography: Artistic Imaging

• 20% off your videography package from Memory Lane Video. Book between January 1st-20th

• Denise Hoogland’s photography package special expires on February 4th!

• Look out for a photography giveaway from Meg Ruth Photography coming soon. To get a head start, start preparing 300 words of your story and why you should win! Winner will get 6 hours of photography coverage, a disc of images, $500 print credit, an custom bound album, and an engagement session! Total value: $3,000!

• We’ll also have a promo from Adam Trujillo Photography as well so stay tuned!

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Please call 702-501-5622 to book your complimentary consultation

Memory Lane Video offers full ceremony and reception coverage, save the date videos, same day edits, photo montages, highlight reels, preview trailers, feature films, and more.

*New clients only.  Certain Restriction Dates may apply. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Must be booked by midnight January 20, 2011.  Based on Availability.

Memory Lane Video, LLC
website: www.mlvnv.com
Blog: www.mlvnv-blog.com
E-mail: memorylanevideo@aol.com
Phone: 702-501-5622

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com

Name: Alicia Lynch and Chris Purdum
Location: Las Vegas
Company Name: Orange Soda Photo
Number of Years in Business: We had our own photo businesses prior to meeting, falling in love and becoming Orange Soda Photo. Together we have 20 years combined wedding photography vision and experience.
Website: orangesodaphoto.com
Blog: orangesodablog.com
Twitter: @orangesodaphoto
Facebook: facebook.com/orangesodaphoto

How did you get started in wedding photography:
Alicia: Most of my family are photographers, so I grew up with a camera in hand and a darkroom in the basement.  I began photographing landscapes and my family growing up during our travels across the US.  In high school I started photographing weddings of friends, and needless to say, I loved it!

Chris: I always wanted a life behind the lens. I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was 12 and that first magical look through the viewfinder started it all. I did quite a bit of photography in the Army during deployments and later natural history and landscape photography shooting large format film through out Washington State and in the deserts of Utah, Nevada and Arizona. In the 1998, a friend asked me to photograph their wedding, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

What did you do prior to this?
Alicia: I had a prior life in the medical field, with two bachelor degrees from the U of WA, first in Cell and Molecular Biology, and then later in Prosthetics and Orthotics.  My residency in Prosthetics brought me to Las Vegas in 2002.  When I wasn’t on call, building artifical limbs, or putting on HALOs in the Trauma ICU, I was off photographing weddings.  The lure of the camera lead me to choose a career as a professional photographer, and in 2004, I left the medical field, and started career in the photography business.  I haven’t looked back since.

Chris: I was an Art Director and production artist. I’ve been doing color correction and large format digital printing since the 90s. At one of my jobs we had a darkroom with a copy camera which I loved using – I think I spent more hours in the darkroom than I did sleeping.

If you didn’t do photography for a living what would you be doing instead?
Alicia: I love what we do, I honestly wouldn’t choose anything else.  This is my dream job.

Chris: What she said, except with a YEAH! at the end.

What are some of your hobbies? We both love SCUBA diving, and I am an instructor as well.  We love the great outdoors, and go hiking & camping when we can. Urban/desert exploring and disc golf are our short escapes.  Besides the outdoors, we love to watch movies. And of course, playing with our crazy Corgi, Boon!

What is the craziest wedding experience you’ve ever had?
We’ve seen some crazy weddings for certain, but nothing too over the top. A recent groom was a wrestling coach so all of his friends attended the wedding as wrestlers. The expressions from the other guests was priceless.

What is the best wedding experience you’ve ever had?
They’re all the best! We get to photograph people in love and the share the celebration of that love with their friends and families. That is the most rewarding experience we can have.

What is your inspiration?
Cinema, art museums, old masters, pop culture, fashion, books – just about anything that has passion and an interesting story. The connection of people in any manner, and of course the people themselves and the friendships we make with them. We get to see the phrase “love conquers all” in real life, almost every day. That’s so much inspiration to keep us filled! We love nature and we really love being under the surface of the ocean diving with the beauty of the underwater world. It gives you a perspective on life that we carry to every event, no matter how small or large. Diving with a humpback whale to sharing the most important day in a couple’s lives are unique experiences that cannot be reproduced, and is always remembered – we bring that experience every time we pick up a camera.

Name an exotic location you’d like to visit soon.
Alicia: Truk Lagoon, Micronesia, Central Pacific

Chris: The Galapagos Islands.

Why do your clients choose you over some of your competitors?
Because our photography is awesome and fun!
We work as a team, and it’s always the two of us. We work with our couples to determine exactly what they would like to have in their photography.  We have a very fun attitude towards life, and it’s infections to our brides and couples. We always end up being friends with them, even halfway around the world. We always get the true personalities to show in our images, and we always get our couples to smile. We obsess over the smallest details so that what they see is perfection and exactly how they want to remember their experience, but most of all we have fun.

What is the best piece of advice you can offer a bride and groom on their wedding day?
Alicia: Hire a wedding planner, so you can relax and enjoy your day, and when booking a photographer, give them the time they need to photograph the fantastic images you are looking for.

Chris: What she said. Hire a planner. We’re planning our wedding right now and without a planner I’d want to jump off a cliff.

Anything else interesting you’d like to share?

We are so lucky to have so many cool wedding vendors as friends here in Las Vegas. Beyond making the day go that much smoother, we all feel like an extended family and want to thank everyone for supporting us!

We’d also like to extend mega thank yous and smooches to Juliet and Green Orchid for interviewing us!

Cake by Simple Elegance

Wedding Ceremony at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

Newlyweds and owners of Sound Fusion Entertainment

Juliet’s notes: Alicia and Chris will be getting married next April and I hear it will be a fun and crazy party!

If you enjoyed this post, we’d love to read your comment! Also, please consider subscribing to the feed or receiving our articles in your email!

website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com