District Weddings

Here at District Weddings, there are a few things happening behind the scenes every day. One of the most important is the work of Danielle, our fabulous Assistant Editor.

Danielle scouts new stories, organizes past and future features, and constantly communicates with D.C.’s best vendors and venues. Starting today, she is sharing her conversations with these local experts. Every Thursday, she’ll be bringing you insider advice from D.C.’s best. I’m SO excited about what she has in store.

Today, she has tracked down the VERY busy Martin Andrews, owner of Blue Sky Films. I’ll let her take it from here…

Here’s Danielle…

Today, I am so excited to share with you amazing insight from Blue Sky Films on the many benefits of hiring a videographer to capture your special day! This interview will take you from the selection process of finding a videographer to ensuring that they capture all your weddings details in an artistic yet comfortable manner. Without further ado, I give you, Martin Andrews…

What are the advantages of hiring a videographer in addition to a photographer?

While great wedding photographs are absolutely essential, a well produced, artistic, and personalized film of the day is a perfect complement to a couple’s wedding day pictures. Think about your parents’ wedding, or better yet your grandparents’ wedding, 40, 50, 60 years ago. What would you pay today, to be able to hear their vows, their toasts, to see your grandmother and grandfather dancing – and to hear the music – that’s where the value is. It’s not just a wedding video, it’s an investment in your family history. It will be watched, both today and tomorrow.

At Blue Sky, we offer base packages which clients can build on. The base package includes coverage and editing with the final film mastered to DVD/Blu-Ray. We then offer a number of options which the couple can choose from to customize their production. These options include things like HD, Super 8mm movie film, online streaming, raw footage on DVD, and rehearsal dinner coverage. Everything we do is custom, and that starts with the package.

What should a couple look for when meeting with (and eventually deciding on) a videographer?

First and foremost, I think personality. Not just the personality of the filmmaker, but the personality of their work. Does the work speak to you stylistically, does it have charisma and charm? There’s a host of textbook questions one could ask, do you bring backup equipment, do you have references, but ultimately any established videographer is going to have great answers to those questions. Watch the work. Take the time to get to know the artist – and ask yourself: Do I want this person at my wedding, following us around, and capturing our day? Lastly, I would insist to see end products of that videographer’s work – not just demos.

At Blue Sky, we book our top filmmakers first, so the longer the lead time, the better the chance that one of our best people are available. All of our people are fantastic individuals, both behind the camera and in dealing with the client, but obviously some have more experience than others. Typically 3-6 months out is normal, but for big days in the summer and fall 9-12 months out is not unheard of.

How do you prepare prior to the event in order to be sure that you are capturing all of the key players involved?

We spend a great deal of time reaching out and working with the client prior to the event, as well as after and during the editing process. You don’t hire Blue Sky to show up, shoot the wedding and mail you a DVD. Clients choose Blue Sky because they are looking for personalized one-on-one service, and an end product that will wow their friends. The client is involved in the process every step of the way. Our number one goal is that the client walks away saying Blue Sky was the best vendor experience they had–period.

When a couple includes a videographer in their special day, what sort of presence does the videographer have at the event?

For us, low profile is key. In fact, I think it’s one of the main reasons so many event professionals and past clients refer us. We are not going to use bright lights, big tripods with wheels, extension cords; we don’t go table to table interviewing your guests–basically all the things that freak brides out into not wanting a videographer. We shoot with small cameras, we wear all black professional attire, we capture the moments using telephoto lenses, we stay out sight and out of the way. I can say confidently that we have never had a client complain that we distracted from the intimacy of the day.

Remember Jessalynn & Diego’s wedding from Real Weddings Week? Check out Blue Sky’s ridiculously amazing video that documents their big day (grab a tissue)…

Thank you SO much to Martin and Blue Sky Films for taking the time to share this expert information! I hope that you find this interview as helpful as I do — and see how wonderful it is to have a videographer capture your big day!