Jennifer & Alex's Highlights / November 2009

We hadn't shot a wedding in the Toccoa area until November. The drive up was beautiful as all of the leaves were changing colors. The yellows and oranges were especially bright! Jennifer and Alex got married at Ebenezer Baptist Church and held their reception at North Georgia Tech. Jennifer had the most amazing purple heels to wear with her dress! And Alex's dad played guitar during the ceremony. We had a great time capturing the day! We worked along side Troup's Studio who took photographs for the event.

Check out the highlights from the wedding day!

Allison & Jason's Highlights / August 2009

Allison and Jason had a beautiful ceremony at the First United Methodist Church and an exciting reception at the Classic Center. This wedding day celebration marks the third I have filmed for the Reinecke family. Each unique wedding day has been filled with love and joy. My husband and I wish you all happiness in love and life!

The wedding was photographed by 35 Atlanta and catered by Center Stage Catering.

Post Ceremony @ Tucker Plantation

Here is some more of Emily and Jonathan's wedding video from Tucker Plantation. This was the footage we shot after the ceremony, before the bride and groom were announced at the reception. We call this the post ceremony section. Kudos to Emily for braving the freshly cut field! I love a bride who will conquer a hay bale!

Emily & Jonathan @ Tucker Plantation

Emily and Jonathan had a wonderful ceremony at Tucker Plantation, located in Colbert, GA. The sky was blue, the hay had been recently baled, and the sun shone all day. Carefree Celebrations coordinated the event, MusicMaster DJs kept the crowd dancing all night long, Hallie Jane's Catering set up an excellent buffet, and last but not least 35 Atlanta took photographs all over the facility grounds. Enjoy Emily and Jonathan's highlights!

Pre-Ceremony @ Ashford Manor

I thought I would change it up a little and add some pre-ceremony footage from one of our summer weddings. This clip is from Mary Beth and Michael's video; their highlights are in a post below. All of the footage was shot at Ashford Manor. Enjoy!

Mary Beth & Michael @ Ashford Manor

Did it rain on May 2nd? Yes it did. Did it ruin a beautiful outside wedding? Not at all! Mary Beth and Michael got married on May 2 at Ashford Manor in Watkinsville, GA. The moment the bride and groom kissed is when the first rain drops fell. It poured for about 30 minutes while the guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres under the tents. As the bride and groom were introduced to the reception, the sun reappeared. The rest of the evening went flawlessly!

Tracey with Consultants Unlimited coordinated the event. Jason Thrasher Photography documented with photographs. Epting Events provided the food, cake, centerpieces, and ceremony alter design. Gardenia Floral Design created the bridal bouquets and boutonnieres. Loose Chain of Atlanta rocked the party with everything from oldies to rap!

Enjoy the highlights!

Nina & Daniel's Highlights / November 2008

We shoot a good number of weddings in the Madison area. Because Madison is such a close-knit community, we see a lot of our past brides, grooms, and attendants at these events. We also meet future some of our brides and grooms. By the time we met Nina and Daniel, they had already heard about us and even seen a friend's wedding that we produced. And our first face to face meeting was at one of these weddings!

We had an excellent time shooting their wedding! I love it when I get to shoot preceremony footage of the bride getting ready - slipping on the dress, touching up the hair, putting on the jewelry and the garter!

The ceremony took place at Centennial Baptist Church in Rutledge, Georgia. The reception was held at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. We had the pleasure of working again with photographer Chase Lanier.

What can you do? Tips to enhance your video!

Brides and grooms plan for months and months to make sure their wedding day is perfect! Vendors have to be interviewed and chosen, flowers have to be selected, food has to be tasted, and photograph time lines have to be created. But what can you control regarding the video?

Here are some simple ideas to take into consideration that will enhance the quality of your video.

1. Don't turn the lights all the way down. To create an image - photo or video - there needs to be light. Keeping some ambient lighting on will help your videographer and your photographer capture more realistic and sharper images. Think about how bright a flash is how it is needed to produce a photograph. On camera video lights can illuminate something close to the camera, but not the whole scene. If the lights are dimmed, as opposed to off, your video (and photographs) will look much better! If you are planning on turning the lights low or off, make sure you check out a sample video with similar lighting conditions so you'll know what to expect.

2. Don't chew gum! You may be able to hide the gum while taking photos, but you're going to be smacking away in your video. As emotions and tensions mount on your wedding day, you'll chew harder and faster. If you absolutely have to chew, wait till after the first dance.

3. Face each other for the whole ceremony. The bride and groom always turn toward each other for the vows, but most of the time their backs are to the congregation up until this point. Think about turning toward each other after the father gives the bride away. This way you'll get to see each other for the ceremony, and your guests and the video will get to see you.

4. Cut the cake yourself. I know this sounds like a strange one, but hear me out. If you have any questions about cutting the cake (how to cut it, where the plate is, what exactly you are supposed to do), ask your planner or helpers before you start. This is not just a photo opportunity, its a ritual between the bride and the groom. I'm currently editing a video where the bride and groom stage a "cutting the cake" photo and leave the actual cutting to someone else.

5. Act natural around the video camera. Your photographer may want you to pose, smile, or acknowledge her, but most of the time the videographer wants you to pretend she isn't there. Unless you are speaking to the camera or showing something to the camera, there is no need to look directly at the lens and smile.

6. Tell us about anything that is important to you! We will capture as many special moments of your wedding day as we can, but we are not mind readers. If you have unique traditions, surprises, or guests you want to make sure are captured, let us know in advance. We ask all of our brides fill out a wedding day questionnaire to help us plan for the entire wedding day.

Vows from Brenda and David / November 2008

In November, we had the good fortune of shooting Brenda and David's wedding. The ceremony took place at Living Proof Baptist Church in Tyrone, Georgia. Here is a short clip of the vows from that day.

Collection of Wedding & Reception Clips

In case you haven't seen the sample demo on my website, here it is! This demo has clips from many different types of weddings, receptions, and locations. You'll see clips from the Botanical Gardens, the Day Chapel, The UGA Chapel, The Foundry Park Inn, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church to name a few.

Things to Consider When Hiring a Videographer

These days almost anyone can buy a buy a video camera and call themselves a videographer. It gives everyone a chance to be artists and to record memories that are most dear to them. But when you are looking for a videographer to capture one of your most important events, be it a wedding, a family history, or a corporate event, you need to keep a few things in mind. These tips will help guide your search for the perfect videographer.


1. View samples of their work! I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but some people will decide on a videographer by price alone. By seeing current samples, you'll get a feel for the style and expertise level of your videographer.

2. Have a conversation with your potential videographer. Give this person a call and talk about your wedding day or special event. Do they sound like someone you want to work with? Did you get a good vibe from them? I know its not always possible to have a face to face meeting with everyone you hire, but a phone conversation is almost as good.

3. Has anyone heard of them? Recommendations from family, friends, and other wedding vendors can be valuable source of information. They can provide insight into professionalism, attitude, and general shooting style. As a bride, it was a relief to know that my chosen vendors had worked together frequently and successfully. You can always ask a videographer for recent bridal references.

4. Does their style of videography match your vision? Most videographers consider themselves documentarians. This means they will capture the day as it happens with minimal interference. You may want someone who does this or you may want someone who will need a portion of time just like the photographer to create a more dramatic feel to your video.

5. Do they provide the coverage and options that you want? Most people I talk to have not been married before and have never hired a videographer. They want a wedding video, but they aren't exactly sure what that includes. Maybe you want lots of bridal prep, maybe you want an interview station, maybe you just want ceremony coverage, and maybe you don't know what you want. Ask what the differences between the packages are if its not immediately clear. Ask how many people will be shooting. Ask about deposits. Ask lots of question!

6. Remember - you get what you pay for! That's why it is important to cover all of these points when looking for a videographer. Just like your photographer, a videographer's job is only partially completed when they leave your wedding or event. It takes time, effort, and experience to create the video you envision. If someone promises you the moon for a fraction of the cost of everyone else, there has to be a reason!

Virginia and Kevin's Highlights

I had the privilege to shoot Virginia and Kevin's wedding in late October 2008. All of the leaves on North Campus were in full color and the temperature was perfect. The ceremony was held at the UGA Chapel and the reception at the Classic Center's Foundry Street building. Natalie Bradley Events orchestrated the event. Marisu from ZoomWorks was in charge of photography. Hallie Jane's Catering prepared the meal.

This is the highlights section that Virginia and Kevin received on their dvd. Enjoy!