Ask Mr. Big
Wedding Videography can be a a complicated business, even for us - and we've been doing it for awhile! For a bride-to-be, the details of what goes into your wedding video can surely be overwhelming. Below are some frequently asked questions that should make your search for a wedding videographer a little bit easier.

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Why should I pay for professional video when my Uncle Bob can tape it with his camcorder?
Probably the most common question and definitely the easiest to answer. Assuming Uncle Bob is willing to give up being a guest in order to shoot it for you, he probably hasn't videotaped many, if any, weddings. He probably won't be editing it - unless he's got a few dozen hours to kill - so you're going to be stuck with everything he shoots - however long and however poorly shot. Honestly, it's not that easy.  We've been doing it for over fifteen years and still learn something new each time we go out. Our typical ceremony setup includes three cameras, two wireless mics, and a tap into the sound board - Good ole Uncle Bob with his handy cam won't have a prayer!  And finally, we use very expensive cameras designed to work in extremely lowlight environments - like a reception! We've all seen weddings shot with consumer camcorders - do you really want it to look dark and murky? Now, I love Uncle Bob too. So why don't you give him a break and let him celebrate your wedding with you. And don't worry about the video - we'll take care of that!

"...they didn't even notice we were there!"
I want my videographer to be unobtrusive. Three cameras here, two videographers there... sounds like a circus!
Ah, there's the main problem with wedding videography - getting the shots without getting in the way. Each time we show up at a rehearsal, the officiant takes us aside and sternly tells us there won't be any moving around or "MTV stuff" - apparently someone out there is shooting really annoying video. Our goal each week is to document a wedding, in an engaging and dynamic way, WITHOUT calling attention to ourselves. To that end, we set up 2 cameras at the rear of the church (usually the balcony) and one discreetly in the front - off to the side. This setup allows for maximum coverage with low visibility. In other words, with 3 cameras, we don't need to move around to get great shots. At the reception, our second videographer shoots master shots of the formal dances from a corner of the room, allowing the primary videographer to compose shots from the edge of the dance floor - many times from a kneeling position. The second videographer is also in charge of video greetings. Done in a confessional-style environment apart from the main reception (a hallway, lobby, etc). Our video greetings are totally voluntary - the DJ invites guests to leave a message - and guest are not put on-the-spot with mics and lights shoved in their faces. One of our common and most appreciated compliments is when the Bride and Groom tell us they didn't even notice we were there! 

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What should I know about slideshows/scrapbooks/montages?
First, it's obvious that there are many names for this feature - you may have heard it referred to as a keepsake, album, or even "the baby pictures." At BCV, we refer to this image presentation as a VIDEO SCRAPBOOK - because not only do we use pictures and graphics, but we can can also include birth certificates, report cards or letters...as well as our taking shots of items like baby shoes, pressed flowers and other mementos. That's not the only thing that makes our Video Scrapbooks stand out. Before we begin editing your Scrapbook, we scan your photographs at a very high resolution, crop and color balance them if necessary, and cleanup any dust or scratches - they'll look so good you might not recognize them! But wait, there's more...your Scrapbook is also edited to your favorite pieces of music. Your images will practically leap from the screen as the slowly rotate, pull in or out, dissolve and fade - all in sync with the music and all done with a high level of elegance designed to enhance the presentation (i.e. no cheap effects and transitions). NOTE: Many videographers and photographers claim to offer similar presentations. MAKE SURE they are not simply placing your pictures into a program that automatically generates a slideshow. These programs are a dime a dozen and could just as easily be created by you (or us) with very little cost or effort. And finally, consider having us show your Scrapbook at your reception on our 7 foot screen. We take care of setup and breakdown and can present it during cocktail hour, or at any point during or throughout the night!

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How do you work with the photographer?
 Some of our very best friends in the business are wedding photographers. In fact, a large percentage of our referrals come through photographers. One of the first things we do when we arrive on site is to make contact with the photographer, and maintain clear communication throughout the day. Big City Video is a proponent of the idea that photographers and videographers are NOT in competition for the best shots, but rather should work together to provide the Bride & Groom with the best video AND photographs.

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Should I provide a meal for the videographers?
Big City's Videographers begin work well before they arrive at the ceremony. Checking, cleaning and packing the equipment takes time, and the day usually begins right after breakfast. As things happen fast at a reception, we prefer to remain on-site, and preferably in the same room as the guests, so that we can resume recording at a moment's notice. It has also proved helpful to be served toward the beginning of dinner - this way we can be back on the floor and ready to shoot when the Bride & Groom have finished (I can't tell you how many times we've had plates put in front of us only to have to drop everything and run to the cake cutting!) And while getting a guest meal is much appreciated, sandwiches work just as well.

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Do you shoot at the Bride's and Groom's house before the ceremony?
We are delighted to arrive early at another location to shoot pre-ceremony footage.  Our premium packages allow for an 8 hour day for each of our videographers, and additional pre-ceremony shooting may involve extended hours. In some cases, we can send one videographer to the Bride's home while another sets up and begins shooting at the ceremony location in order to economize time. If you're planning on getting ready at the ceremony location, then we will be sure to check in on you and get some great behind-the-scenes footage.

"Our attendance at your rehearsal is included in Every package..."
What about the rehearsal?
It would be irresponsible for a videographer to attempt to record a wedding ceremony without surveying the site of the ceremony and watching at least one run-through with the wedding party. Many videographers offer wedding rehearsal attendance for an additional fee (that's just attendance - they charge even more to shoot the rehearsal). Our attendance at your rehearsal is included in EVERY edited package, and with "The Package," shooting your rehearsal is included!  Remember, "There's no 'Take 2' when you say 'I do'!"

"...our videos sell themselves."
You send out a video sample, why don't other videographers?
Mailing out a free DVD sample video costs us approximately $5 per sampler. Obviously, this cost can easily mount up when sending out a large number of discs. At Big City Video, 9 out of every 10 sample videos we send out result in a new customer! Other videographers may insist on showing you samples of their work at their office or studio in order to give you "the big sales pitch." While we think it is very important to meet with the bride and groom in person to discuss the details of the wedding video, we feel that our videos sell themselves, and the choice of where you view our sample should be up to you.

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Do you provide a Highlights Reel?
All of our edited packages come with either a 2-minute Recap or a Highlights Reel. What's the difference? Our 2-minute recap is what most other videographers offer as "Highlights." It includes some of the major moments of the day, it's set to music, and includes some outtakes as well. Since the Highlights of your wedding day fill much more than 2 minutes of time, we offer a 10-minute, highly-produced, Highlights Reel. Set to your choice of music and complete with stylish effects like black & white, slow-motion, and freeze frames, our Highlights Reel involves over 24 hours of production time and includes all the special moments, gaffes, and…well, highlights. The Highlights Reel is a perfect way to show an abbreviated version of your wedding day to friends and family. Plus, they make great gifts

"...refinement and innovation have been at the core of our business."
How can you afford to provide "Big City" video at "small town" prices?
Couples looking to hire high-end videographers occasionally pass us over because they are skeptical that Big City can provide the kind of professional video they are looking for at such relatively low prices. In each of our fifteen years of producing wedding videos, refinement and innovation have been at the core of our business. For instance, 5 years ago it took us almost two days to create our Titles & Credits sequence. With today's technology, we can do it in 3-4 hours, and do it at a level of quality we could only dream of back then - but still at the same cost. The added value is passed on to you at no charge! Likewise, back then editing between two tape decks took about a week just to achieve a barebones editing job - highlights, crossfades, effects, & music beds all added additional time. Today, digital editing stations allow us to do much more in the same time (plus there is no quality loss). At Big City Video, we have set prices based on our costs and time - and it's a good thing we love what we do because no one is getting rich here! In this way, we are able to provide "Big City" video at small town prices - to everyone!

"...price difference...is small...the difference in quality is enormous."
What accounts for price differences between wedding videographers?
Many people make the mistake of choosing their wedding videographer based on price alone. In the York-Lancaster-Harrisburg area, the price difference between the best and the not-as-good videographers is small, yet the difference in quality is enormous. Beware of low prices for the following reasons: 1) Some videographers are just starting out (or simply aren't that good) and are giving you a discount for their inexperience and the mistakes that will inevitably occur. B) Video hobbyists may shoot a wedding once in a while, and sometimes they come out really good - and sometimes not. As they have very little structure to how they approach the business, the quality of their videos is hit-or-miss and their customer service is even worse. III) By far the biggest pitfall in hiring solely by price is videographers who promise the world, then deliver something more like a third-world country. This is especially common among places that offer wedding video as part of a "bundled package" with another service. Obviously, there are other videographers in the area besides us who are committed to the craft and do a stellar job. Many of these people are our friends. I'm sure they would all agree that the small amount of money you'd save by going with a low-end service is definitely offset by the lasting quality and enjoyment you'll get from a true professional's work.

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How long have you been in business?
I've been shooting wedding videos since my days at NYU's film school over fifteen years ago. Back then it was strictly part-time, about once a month. In the late nineties, I began taking on more business, brought on additional staff, and created the entity, "Big City Video." From the start, our mission has been to produce affordable wedding videos of a caliber equal to any you would find in larger areas like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Hundreds of weddings later, our commitment to this idea remains as strong as ever! 

"...we're all just frustrated filmmakers who've chosen to lead (semi-) normal lives."
Okay Mr. Big, you've got professional experience and a formal education, but what about these other clowns you've got working for you?
Everyone at Big City Video, except Steve, has gone to school for video production and has had some kind of professional experience in the industry before arriving at Big City Video. Since we shoot as a team, new members of Big City have the opportunity to record weddings in the "Second Camera" role, getting "Big City" experience and learning the skills needed to shoot spectacular wedding videos. It is often a year or more before they assume a "Team Leader" position. As you come to know us, you'll realize we're all just frustrated filmmakers who've chosen to lead (semi-) normal lives."

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How are your videographers dressed?
Our videographers will be in formal attire consisting of tuxedo pants, vest, shirt and bowtie, all in black. We like to maintain an impeccable appearance that at the same allows us be as inconspicuous as possible. We call this look "inconspeccable."

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What kind of equipment do you use?
 We use Sony's professional line of digital field cameras. They're slightly larger than consumer camcorders (about the size of a loaf of Italian bread), and are most often used for broadcast news gathering. We've recently upgraded from our Canon cameras, and are most impressed with the Sonys' reliability, robustness, sharpness, color and amazing low-light shooting ability of 1 lux (we have not found any other professional cameras under $10,000 that can shoot at this light level).  In addition to our cameras, we use only fluid head tripods for smooth tilts and pans, dual-signal wireless microphones for clear audio with no dropouts, and the latest software to ensure that all this great video is only made more spectacular in post-production!

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What about lights?
We prefer not to use lights at the ceremony (and to date never have). For one, unless you're getting married in a cave - hey, some people do - ceremony locations have enough lighting for great shooting. For two, this is one of the most important days in your life - you shouldn't have noise and lights turning it into a media circus. At the reception, we do use a 10 watt light (kind of like the one in your refrigerator - go look, I'll wait...) for the formal dances, scheduled events, video greetings, and open dancing as necessitated by the light level in the room. We apply a pearlescent diffuser to create a warm glow that provides color to our subjects without putting them "in the spotlight." Frankly, if someone tries to convince you that they need to use lots of extra lighting, then they are probably using inferior equipment or they lack the skills to handle focusing in low-light situations!

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Are three cameras at my ceremony really necessary?
 Given that a basic sitcom is shot with a standard three camera setup, we feel it would be a disservice to our customers not to use three cameras at the ceremony in our premium packages (and to make it available for our standard packages). If you're wondering what they're all shooting: Camera A is usually located up front and to this side favoring the bride. This is "The" camera for the coming-down-the aisle shots, candle lighting, and closeups of the bride. Camera B - often in the balcony or rear of the ceremony - gets the groom's reaction as his bride walks down the aisle, gets the readers & officiant, and captures a nice medium closeup of the exchange of vows and rings. Camera C, located just to the side of B, is our master wide shot. The camera is constantly shooting an uninterrupted "wide" shot of the entire ceremony. This allows us to compose phenomenal shots with our A & B cameras, knowing that we can always cut to C during these transitions.

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Do you use wireless microphones?
Yes. We usually put one on the groom and one on the reader podium. If a sound system is available, we will try to tap into that as well. The actual lapel microphone used on the groom is about the size of a pencil eraser so as to be virtually unnoticeable - and not used as an actual eraser. The transmitter is the size of a deck of cards and is attached to the back of the groom's pants at the waist. Of course, we make sure that the microphone is not present on the groom during formal pictures. We have, at times, put the groom's mic on the officiant instead - usually in outdoor situations. However, they are sometimes funny about this (not in a funny way) and would prefer that we leave it on the groom.

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When will my video be completed?
We generally turn a video around in about 10 weeks - sometimes sooner, sometimes later, depending on our production schedule and the type of package you chose. With our "Three-Thirds" payment plan, it is in our best interest to complete your video as soon as possible, as we don't receive our final payment until your proof is ready. In your contract, we state that if you do not receive your completed video within a year from your wedding date, you have the option of being refunded all monies paid up to that point. Happily, we've never had to invoke this article, and reserve it for improbable events like unexpected illness or alien abduction.

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What's the deal with the Timecoded Proof?
Your photographer doesn't make you take your pictures without you reviewing, or "proofing", them first. Your videographer shouldn't either. Once your video has been edited to our satisfaction, we will burn a Timecode clock at the bottom of the frame. The proof will then be mailed to you, along with a blank "revision list." You then have a month to go over your video, noting any changes you would like and the place on the timecode which they should occur. Once you send back your Revision List, we will address your notes and create the "final edit."

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Will my video be on VHS or DVD?
 By default, we  provide all your copies on DVD, however, we can still accommodate VHS - although you should just buy Grandma that DVD player, poor thing! Additionally, your DVD will come with Chapter Points and a Chapter Card to allow you to skip around to the key moments of the ceremony and reception - something VHS can't do. And, of course, the visual and audio quality of DVD far exceeds that of VHS.

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Can I purchase more copies of my video at a later date?
You can purchase additional copies of your DVD at any time - provided we are still operating as a business entity. Copies purchased after your project has been archived will be charged at the current copy rate plus a service charge to reload and rebuild the data for the DVD (service charge is equal to the cost of one copy and is a one-time fee per reload/rebuild - meaning you don't pay a service charge for additional copies made during that duplication session). That said, we will not be held liable in the event your project is lost, stolen, destroyed or corrupted.

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What happens if my DVD doesn't work?
Big City Video uses DVD recording media with the highest reliability, lifespan and compatibility. However, certain DVD players (mostly older models) may cause playback problems with particular brands of DVD-Rs. Big City Video guarantees that if your DVD fails to operate properly in your DVD player, we will replace it free of charge upon our receipt of the defective disc. Big City Video will archive a DVD master of your video which will be made available to you for replacement or duplicate copies as long as we are operating as a business entity, however, we will not be held liable in the event your master is lost, stolen, destroyed or corrupted (vuja de).

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Where does simulated leather come from?
It is my understanding the simulated leather comes from the same cows that produce Similac.

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What about travel?
Big City Video allows for 100 miles of total travel. This means that if your ceremony and reception are within a 25 mile radius of Marietta, PA, travel is included (we've included the travel to and from the rehearsal in this calculation). For each mile beyond 100, Big City charges 50 cents. Many couples from the New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington areas find that it is more economical to pay for our travel (and sometimes lodging) to these larger cities rather than pay "Big City" prices the local videographers are asking!

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What is the circumference of the Earth?
24,902 miles. After our 100 mile travel allowance, it would cost you $12,401 to send Big City Video around the planet.

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