Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wedding Reception Music: It's in the details!
Some good stuff to know by By Mikki Viereck
People always ask me what music is best for a wedding reception. As you might guess there is no exact answer because a lot depends on the reception itself.
For example:
If the reception is being held in a small room adjacent to a church and there is no dancing the bride and groom might want a pianist playing very soft background music.
However if the reception if being held in a banquet hall with 500 guests there is a good chance the bride and groom will want a 12 piece band with a few singers.
And if the bride and groom are trying to achieve a certain theme they will often choose a style of music to complement their wedding. (If the groom wears a cowboy hat and the reception is on a ranch they will probably choose all country music).
But the basic answer to this burning question is that most times brides and grooms want big band, swing, and pop-songs for the first part of the reception. Then after dinner, they choose top 40, oldies, R&B, country, ethnic music, group dances, etc.
In other words, they want a good mix because when you mix different styles of music, you are more likely to please all ages and, as a result, more guests will be inclined to dance.
As soon as you confirm a wedding date and secure a location for your reception you should begin making arrangements to hire (and contract) your musicians or DJ. The most popular wedding music professionals are booked at least one year in advance.
Once you have decided who will be working for you don't be shy about telling your bandleader or DJ exactly what you want. Confirming special details will take more time on your part, but it is the only way to achieve the wedding of "your" dreams. If you are undecided about anything, definitely ask your bandleader or DJ for
suggestions, but you should make the final choices.
You should have an in-depth meeting with your bandleader or DJ at least six weeks before your wedding day.
At that meeting you should discuss...
Introductions:
Bring a list of names of the bridal party and in what order you want them introduced. When you compile a list of your bridal party names, you may want to include something about each person so your guests will now why that person is special to you. Whether it is funny or sentimental, everyone will enjoy this personal touch.
Confirm songs you want played for special moments:
The bride and groom's first dance as a married couple.
The bridal party dance (you could also have the bridal party join in the bride and groom's first dance)
Father/Bride dance
Mother/Groom dance (or you could choose one song for a father/bride, groom/mother dance).
A special garter and/or bouquet toss song (s).
Songs for any other special dances (including ethnic or group dances).
Anniversary song for all other married couples.
A song for the end of the reception.
Confirm exactly what order you want special moments to take place:
Blessing (confirm the name of who will give the blessing)
The toast (confirm the name who will give the toast)
The cake cutting ceremony.
The bride and groom's first dance.
The father bride dance.
The mother groom dance.
The wedding party dance.
Any ethnic dances.
Garter and or bouquet toss.
Anything else you would like to add.
Confirm a list of songs you want played.
Confirm a list of songs you definitely do not want played.
Confirm any special instructions for the cake cutting ceremony.
Confirm any special instructions for the garter and/or bouquet toss.
Confirm band breaks (the band should play CDs while they are on break).
Confirm the band or DJs attire.
Confirm a wireless microphone for the blessing, toast, etc.
Confirm overtime charge (if you think you will want it) and when it would be paid.
Review the entire contract including final payment and when it should be paid.
Confirm that the person who you hired, had meetings with and signed the contract is also the person who will be working for you on your wedding day. You don't want some mystery musician or DJ at your wedding.
www.imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
We are a event film company based in Los Angeles that offers event filming in Arizona, Nevada, and California. for more info & pricing details visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.com!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
6 GREAT Wedding Day Tips
Six Tips For A Worry-Free Wedding
Some really good tips for your wedding day by: Karen Sullen of My Wedding Favors
From getting everyone to the church on time to making sure the centerpieces look stunning, planning the details of your wedding day can be stressful. Use these tips for a worry-free wedding day.
Details, details, details! From the perfect menu to the beautiful centerpieces, there are so many details to take care of when planning your dream wedding. But what happens when your perfect wedding is not so perfect? Let’s face it. There are plenty of opportunities for things to go awry. Even with the best-laid plans, things are bound to happen. But don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you panic-proof your wedding.
1. Don’t make any verbal agreements. Have everything in writing. Be specific about the items you want AND the things you don’t want. For example, if you don’t want to see a lot of posed pictures in your wedding photo album, it’s best to be specific about that and request more candid photos.
2. On the day of the wedding, bring along a survival kit for those little emergencies. Include a needle and thread, aspirin, safety pins, nail polish, hairpins, extra pantyhose and some hard candy or breath mints.
3. Do a test run. Practice driving the route to the ceremony at the time of day and day of week of your wedding. Check out traffic patterns, construction delays, etc. That way you’ll minimize surprises and will know how much time you’ll need to get to there.
4. Call all your wedding vendors and verify your bookings two or three days before the wedding. Confirm the time, date, location of the wedding and reception, directions to the sites and the services or items they'll be providing. A good way to know you are both on the same page is to have them read back the instructions from their notes.
5. Assign someone to take care of the last minute details, such as helping the bridal party get dressed, running errands to the store, etc. Provide her with the contact numbers for all of the vendors, just in case someone is running late.
6. Don’t wait until the last minute for anything. If possible, take care of as many details well in advance of the wedding. The night before the wedding is not the time to put together 200 wedding favors. Limit yourself to just a few small tasks and leave the rest of the day to relax.
What’s the best wedding day stress reliever? Realizing that, while you will have a wonderful day, a beautiful day or even a memorable day, it will most likely not be a perfect day. Try not to make a big deal about things and take it all in stride. Sometimes, it’s the quirky things that go wrong that help make your day memorable. Stressing over every detail can take the joy out of the wedding and the planning process. The most important thing to remember is that you are marrying the man of your dreams, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.
www.iMemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
Some really good tips for your wedding day by: Karen Sullen of My Wedding Favors
From getting everyone to the church on time to making sure the centerpieces look stunning, planning the details of your wedding day can be stressful. Use these tips for a worry-free wedding day.
Details, details, details! From the perfect menu to the beautiful centerpieces, there are so many details to take care of when planning your dream wedding. But what happens when your perfect wedding is not so perfect? Let’s face it. There are plenty of opportunities for things to go awry. Even with the best-laid plans, things are bound to happen. But don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you panic-proof your wedding.
1. Don’t make any verbal agreements. Have everything in writing. Be specific about the items you want AND the things you don’t want. For example, if you don’t want to see a lot of posed pictures in your wedding photo album, it’s best to be specific about that and request more candid photos.
2. On the day of the wedding, bring along a survival kit for those little emergencies. Include a needle and thread, aspirin, safety pins, nail polish, hairpins, extra pantyhose and some hard candy or breath mints.
3. Do a test run. Practice driving the route to the ceremony at the time of day and day of week of your wedding. Check out traffic patterns, construction delays, etc. That way you’ll minimize surprises and will know how much time you’ll need to get to there.
4. Call all your wedding vendors and verify your bookings two or three days before the wedding. Confirm the time, date, location of the wedding and reception, directions to the sites and the services or items they'll be providing. A good way to know you are both on the same page is to have them read back the instructions from their notes.
5. Assign someone to take care of the last minute details, such as helping the bridal party get dressed, running errands to the store, etc. Provide her with the contact numbers for all of the vendors, just in case someone is running late.
6. Don’t wait until the last minute for anything. If possible, take care of as many details well in advance of the wedding. The night before the wedding is not the time to put together 200 wedding favors. Limit yourself to just a few small tasks and leave the rest of the day to relax.
What’s the best wedding day stress reliever? Realizing that, while you will have a wonderful day, a beautiful day or even a memorable day, it will most likely not be a perfect day. Try not to make a big deal about things and take it all in stride. Sometimes, it’s the quirky things that go wrong that help make your day memorable. Stressing over every detail can take the joy out of the wedding and the planning process. The most important thing to remember is that you are marrying the man of your dreams, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.
www.iMemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
Thursday, September 1, 2011
First Dance 101
Some good info on your first dance from:
Judy Lewis, Web Mistress
Hudson Valley Weddings
judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com
Dancing at your wedding reception is a wonderful way to celebrate your special day with your friends and family. There are some traditions relating to "first dances" that are worth following.
After the bride and groom are formally introduced to their guests as "Mr. and Mrs.," the couple shares their first dance, as their special song is played. The lights may be dimmed to add to the romantic atmosphere, or should the couple choose a "raucous song," the lights may be turned up high and the spotlight turned on them.
The process of choosing a song for your first dance is fairly simple. Begin by selecting the type of dance that you would like to do. The fox trot, swing, and waltz are popular choices, but slow dancing, rumba, or any dance you enjoy is fine. Next, you'll need to find a song that fits that type of dance. Many couples don't know how to dance together and, if that's the case, it needs to be addressed when deciding on the song. If you select a song, but are unsure what dance would be appropriate, you can bring a recording to a local dance teacher, or look it up on one of the many wedding song listings on-line. Check song and web site suggestions following this article.
That brings us to the question of whether couples should take dance lessons together before their wedding day. If you have never done any partner dancing before, pre-wedding is the perfect time for you to start. The "payoff" is that you will have found an activity you can share and enjoy for the rest of your lives together. A word of warning . . . if you have decided to take dance lessons only because you feel that some sort of "performance" is expected of you, that's a bad reason to start dance lessons and certainly not conducive to success. As a couple, you will need to decide whether you have the inclination to learn how to dance and whether you have the time available to do so. Any local ballroom will have several teachers with experience in helping wedding couples (make sure that your teacher does), and if money and busy schedules are problems, there are several good instructional videos available that cater specifically to wedding couples.
After the bride and groom have danced for a while (about 2 minutes is enough time), the father of the bride will cut in on the groom and dance with his daughter. The music may change again to suit the change of partners. The groom "leaves" his bride and asks the bride's mother to dance. After an appropriate amount of time, the groom's father cuts in on the bride's father and then he dances with the bride, his new daughter-in-law. Next, the bride's father cuts in on the groom and dances with his (own) wife. The groom will then ask his mother to dance. Next, the parents change partners with their in-laws. The best man comes out to ask the bride to dance and the groom dances with the maid or matron of honor. To complete the wedding dance tradition, the entire wedding party, ushers and bridesmaids come out onto the dance floor and join in the dancing. Once the entire wedding party is on the dance floor, all the guests are invited to participate.
This process is a relatively simple one, made even easier when the couple discuss the particulars, well in advance, with whomever is supplying the music. The couple should make it clear exactly when they would like the father of the bride to cut in, so that it is not done too late or too early. A good MC, band leader or DJ, playing the right music and coming in on cue, can make this tradition run smoothly and create a lovely beginning to any reception.
Visit the WedAlert Wedding Song Directory for wedding song lists.
Here are some First Dance song suggestions:
WALTZ
The Lovers' Waltz by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (Angel Records)
Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray
Fascination by Nat King Cole
FOXTROT
I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
Our Love is Here to Stay by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Moondance by Van Morrison
There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Time After Time by Jack McDuff with Gene Harris
SWING
Let's Fall in Love- by Louis Armstrong and Oscar Petersen
Baby, You've Got What it Takes by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums
I Will Be There by Van Morrison
Dianne Minogue from DJ Entertainment adds "Your first dance will, no doubt, be a special memory-maker. There are virtually an unlimited number of songs from which you may make your selection. Here are some favorites which our brides and grooms have chosen in the past."
Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison or Rod Stewart
From this Moment On by Shania Twain
Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Amazed By Lone Star
Never Thought by Dan Hill
At Last by Etta James
Unforgettable by Natalie and/or Nat King Cole
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
I Swear by John Michael Montgomery
Could I Have this Dance by Anne Murray
Always and Forever by Heatwave
Here and Now by Luther Van Dross
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Still the One by Shania Twain
Power of Love by Celine Dion
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Always by Atlantic Starr
I Finally Found Someone by Barbra Streisand
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You by James Taylor
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
I Cross My Heart by George Strait
Whatever song you choose as your First Dance, it will always be special to you . . . and if you have taken the time and effort to hone your dancing skills (or build new ones), it will be a worthwhile investment in your special day and for every time in your future together that music for dancing is played!
www.imemoryfilms.com
info@imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
Judy Lewis, Web Mistress
Hudson Valley Weddings
judy@hudsonvalleyweddings.com
Dancing at your wedding reception is a wonderful way to celebrate your special day with your friends and family. There are some traditions relating to "first dances" that are worth following.
After the bride and groom are formally introduced to their guests as "Mr. and Mrs.," the couple shares their first dance, as their special song is played. The lights may be dimmed to add to the romantic atmosphere, or should the couple choose a "raucous song," the lights may be turned up high and the spotlight turned on them.
The process of choosing a song for your first dance is fairly simple. Begin by selecting the type of dance that you would like to do. The fox trot, swing, and waltz are popular choices, but slow dancing, rumba, or any dance you enjoy is fine. Next, you'll need to find a song that fits that type of dance. Many couples don't know how to dance together and, if that's the case, it needs to be addressed when deciding on the song. If you select a song, but are unsure what dance would be appropriate, you can bring a recording to a local dance teacher, or look it up on one of the many wedding song listings on-line. Check song and web site suggestions following this article.
That brings us to the question of whether couples should take dance lessons together before their wedding day. If you have never done any partner dancing before, pre-wedding is the perfect time for you to start. The "payoff" is that you will have found an activity you can share and enjoy for the rest of your lives together. A word of warning . . . if you have decided to take dance lessons only because you feel that some sort of "performance" is expected of you, that's a bad reason to start dance lessons and certainly not conducive to success. As a couple, you will need to decide whether you have the inclination to learn how to dance and whether you have the time available to do so. Any local ballroom will have several teachers with experience in helping wedding couples (make sure that your teacher does), and if money and busy schedules are problems, there are several good instructional videos available that cater specifically to wedding couples.
After the bride and groom have danced for a while (about 2 minutes is enough time), the father of the bride will cut in on the groom and dance with his daughter. The music may change again to suit the change of partners. The groom "leaves" his bride and asks the bride's mother to dance. After an appropriate amount of time, the groom's father cuts in on the bride's father and then he dances with the bride, his new daughter-in-law. Next, the bride's father cuts in on the groom and dances with his (own) wife. The groom will then ask his mother to dance. Next, the parents change partners with their in-laws. The best man comes out to ask the bride to dance and the groom dances with the maid or matron of honor. To complete the wedding dance tradition, the entire wedding party, ushers and bridesmaids come out onto the dance floor and join in the dancing. Once the entire wedding party is on the dance floor, all the guests are invited to participate.
This process is a relatively simple one, made even easier when the couple discuss the particulars, well in advance, with whomever is supplying the music. The couple should make it clear exactly when they would like the father of the bride to cut in, so that it is not done too late or too early. A good MC, band leader or DJ, playing the right music and coming in on cue, can make this tradition run smoothly and create a lovely beginning to any reception.
Visit the WedAlert Wedding Song Directory for wedding song lists.
Here are some First Dance song suggestions:
WALTZ
The Lovers' Waltz by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason (Angel Records)
Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray
Fascination by Nat King Cole
FOXTROT
I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
Our Love is Here to Stay by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Moondance by Van Morrison
There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder by the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Time After Time by Jack McDuff with Gene Harris
SWING
Let's Fall in Love- by Louis Armstrong and Oscar Petersen
Baby, You've Got What it Takes by Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums
I Will Be There by Van Morrison
Dianne Minogue from DJ Entertainment adds "Your first dance will, no doubt, be a special memory-maker. There are virtually an unlimited number of songs from which you may make your selection. Here are some favorites which our brides and grooms have chosen in the past."
Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison or Rod Stewart
From this Moment On by Shania Twain
Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
Amazed By Lone Star
Never Thought by Dan Hill
At Last by Etta James
Unforgettable by Natalie and/or Nat King Cole
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
I Swear by John Michael Montgomery
Could I Have this Dance by Anne Murray
Always and Forever by Heatwave
Here and Now by Luther Van Dross
I Love You Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel
Still the One by Shania Twain
Power of Love by Celine Dion
Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
Always by Atlantic Starr
I Finally Found Someone by Barbra Streisand
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You by James Taylor
I Knew I Loved You by Savage Garden
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
I Cross My Heart by George Strait
Whatever song you choose as your First Dance, it will always be special to you . . . and if you have taken the time and effort to hone your dancing skills (or build new ones), it will be a worthwhile investment in your special day and for every time in your future together that music for dancing is played!
www.imemoryfilms.com
info@imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Magazine shoot with Aaron Tsai
We filmed a magazine shoot with photographer extraordinaire Aaron Tsai of AaronEye photography. Model Renee Betts was stunning, and the Santa Monica pier provided the backdrop for our shoot.
Aaron shoots many high end weddings in the LA/Orange County areas. You can see his work at www.aaroneye.com
iMemory was on hand to capture the entire day on camera & film,......the photos were submitted to Elle magazine for a upcoming pictorial feature.
www.imemoryfilms.com
info@imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
For wedding film pricing and info, see us at www.imemoryfilms.com. For more wedding tips, ideas, and info please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
Save the Date Cards and Etiquette: Everything You Need To Know
This article is courtesy of Edna Renskers from Edna's Sweet Announcements
Edna is a professional wedding invitation designer.
www.EdnasSweetAnnouncements.com
info@ednassweetannouncements.com
Save the Date Cards, what are they, do I need them, how do I word them, and when do I send them? I'll answer these questions and more, to help you make an knowledgeable decision.
Save the Date Cards are announcements that inform your guests of your future wedding in order to keep your special day free. They are essential in the following situations: if many of your guests are traveling to your wedding, your wedding takes place on or around a holiday, you are planning a faraway destination wedding, or your wedding will take place in a seasonally busy or tourist locale, where the flights and hotels perhaps book up early.
They are generally sent at least 4-6 months prior to your wedding but, if you are planning a destination wedding, for example Hawaii it is strongly recommended that you send them 12 months in advance if not longer. For seasonally busy and tourist locales or on or around a holiday it is best to send them 9-12 months in advance. Your guests will then have ample time to make all the necessary arrangements needed to be a part of your special celebration and may even extend it into a vacation of their own.
Use your imagination, Save the Date Cards are not meant to be formal. There are many design options available. You can have them match your wedding invitations, magnets, brochure style, post card size, multiple layers, booklet style, you can add a picture of you and your fiancé, or embellishments to add a personal touch.
Here are some guidelines on what your cards should state, your names, date of wedding, city or town and state of where wedding will take place. Also, because Save the date Cards are a recent trend and many that have not attended a wedding recently may mistaken them for the actual invitation be sure to include something along the lines of, "Invitation to follow", "Invitation and details to follow", "Invitation will follow" this is usually placed at the bottom of the card. For more wording suggestions visit www.verseit.com. If you have a wedding website don't forget to include the address for your guests to view.
If you need to keep your guest list to a minimum, make a list of close family and friends whom you want to make sure will be able to attend and mail them a Save the Date Card, you do not need to send Save the Date Cards to everyone you are inviting but, every guest that receives a Save the Date Card must also receive an invitation.
We recommend providing your guests with additional information to help facilitate their planning such as airline, car rental, hotel, information on things to see and do in the area and surrounding areas, special events, theatrical shows etc. Go the extra mile and acquire group discounts by calling specific companies and seeing if they offer group discounts.
Have fun planning your special day!
iMemoryfilms
www.imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
For more info, tips, and details on wedding videography, please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com
This article is courtesy of Edna Renskers from Edna's Sweet Announcements
Edna is a professional wedding invitation designer.
www.EdnasSweetAnnouncements.com
info@ednassweetannouncements.com
Save the Date Cards, what are they, do I need them, how do I word them, and when do I send them? I'll answer these questions and more, to help you make an knowledgeable decision.
Save the Date Cards are announcements that inform your guests of your future wedding in order to keep your special day free. They are essential in the following situations: if many of your guests are traveling to your wedding, your wedding takes place on or around a holiday, you are planning a faraway destination wedding, or your wedding will take place in a seasonally busy or tourist locale, where the flights and hotels perhaps book up early.
They are generally sent at least 4-6 months prior to your wedding but, if you are planning a destination wedding, for example Hawaii it is strongly recommended that you send them 12 months in advance if not longer. For seasonally busy and tourist locales or on or around a holiday it is best to send them 9-12 months in advance. Your guests will then have ample time to make all the necessary arrangements needed to be a part of your special celebration and may even extend it into a vacation of their own.
Use your imagination, Save the Date Cards are not meant to be formal. There are many design options available. You can have them match your wedding invitations, magnets, brochure style, post card size, multiple layers, booklet style, you can add a picture of you and your fiancé, or embellishments to add a personal touch.
Here are some guidelines on what your cards should state, your names, date of wedding, city or town and state of where wedding will take place. Also, because Save the date Cards are a recent trend and many that have not attended a wedding recently may mistaken them for the actual invitation be sure to include something along the lines of, "Invitation to follow", "Invitation and details to follow", "Invitation will follow" this is usually placed at the bottom of the card. For more wording suggestions visit www.verseit.com. If you have a wedding website don't forget to include the address for your guests to view.
If you need to keep your guest list to a minimum, make a list of close family and friends whom you want to make sure will be able to attend and mail them a Save the Date Card, you do not need to send Save the Date Cards to everyone you are inviting but, every guest that receives a Save the Date Card must also receive an invitation.
We recommend providing your guests with additional information to help facilitate their planning such as airline, car rental, hotel, information on things to see and do in the area and surrounding areas, special events, theatrical shows etc. Go the extra mile and acquire group discounts by calling specific companies and seeing if they offer group discounts.
Have fun planning your special day!
iMemoryfilms
www.imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
For more info, tips, and details on wedding videography, please visit us at www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wedding Slideshow 101
10 Tips for Creating a Great Slide Show or Video Montage
By Michael Yared of www.dvdphotographs.com
Creating a captivating video montage or slide show that you can enjoy for years is not difficult, but by taking a few steps prior to creating a slide show or having one created for you can go along way. Here are some lessons that we've learned at DVDPhotographs.com while creating our slide shows.
Know who your audience is - Knowing who your intended audience is an obvious, but sometimes overlooked step in the process of developing your slide show. For instance, if you're showing your slide show at your wedding reception, perhaps you'll want to include some pictures of the guests, and not just pictures of you and your fiancé.
Shorter is sometimes better - After you've determined who your intended audience is you can start to get an idea as to how many pictures you'll want to include in your slide show. We've found that video montages that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to overdo it. You may want to create two slide shows, one you show at your wedding, and another you keep for yourself.
Choose Quality Photographs - While recent advances in digital photo restoration have allowed torn and poorly developed photographs to be brought back to life, there is only so much that the software can do. Pictures that look great printed (correct lighting, framing, developed properly) will also look great while scanned. Pictures that are extremely dark or grainy, while perhaps improved somewhat, will still not appear the best. Make sure to choose a photo montage company that can make digital enhancements to your pictures.
Choose a Variety of Photographs - Even though you may love all the pictures of your dog Rusty, the audience may not want to sit through all the pictures of him. Instead of showing 10 pictures of Rusty, perhaps choose the best 2 or 3. Using a variety of photographs can keep your audience interest.
Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures - Given the standard 4:3 dimensions of television monitors, photographs that are in landscape mode (vertical) as opposed to portrait mode (horizontal) show better on a TV. While portrait photographs certainly can and SHOULD be used, you should be aware that there will typically be a black border that appears around the photograph. It's best to use these sparingly throughout the slide show and not clump them all together.
Give some thought to music - Choose music that has meaning to you, music whose lyrics go well with the pictures. Also pay attention to how long the music you're choosing is. If you're only showing 30 pictures, you might not want to choose a 8 minute song. The photo montage company should be able to give you some suggestions as to the number of pictures with your selected songs.
Add short video clips - Do you have any home videos sitting around gathering dust? Think about adding perhaps a 10-15 second video clip in the middle of the slide show. The video clip can help break up the video montage and is a great way to keep your audiences interest. Make sure to choose a slide show company that can convert your video clips.
Add motion to your slide shows - Slide shows developed on PowerPoint and other consumer level software will typically be just static photos that go from one picture to the next. Consider having your slide shows created with the "Ken Burns" effects that Pan and Zoom on each photograph. This can help bring your pictures to life. Make sure you inquire to see if your photo montage company can create motion with your pictures.
Add transitions to your slide shows - Transitions such as fade in/fade out, dissolve, and image peel are also an effective way to move from one photograph to the next. Be careful not to get too carried away with transitions as they too many of them can distract from the overall slide show.
Test! Test! Test! - An event as big as your wedding requires that you make sure you test ALL the equipment prior to the big day. Make sure the projector or television, DVD Player or Laptop, and sound is all working.
Creating a captivating slide show or video montage can be done successfully with keeping a few of these tips in mind. Pictures that are preserved to DVD can be enjoyed for years to come. Partnering with an experienced slide show company like DVDPhotographs.com can help create a slide show you'll be proud of.
By Michael Yared
www.dvdphotographs.com
www.imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
For information and pricing on wedding videography, please visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.com
For great tips, ideas, and wedding info, visit our other blog at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com
By Michael Yared of www.dvdphotographs.com
Creating a captivating video montage or slide show that you can enjoy for years is not difficult, but by taking a few steps prior to creating a slide show or having one created for you can go along way. Here are some lessons that we've learned at DVDPhotographs.com while creating our slide shows.
Know who your audience is - Knowing who your intended audience is an obvious, but sometimes overlooked step in the process of developing your slide show. For instance, if you're showing your slide show at your wedding reception, perhaps you'll want to include some pictures of the guests, and not just pictures of you and your fiancé.
Shorter is sometimes better - After you've determined who your intended audience is you can start to get an idea as to how many pictures you'll want to include in your slide show. We've found that video montages that are between 8 - 12 minutes in length are ideal for wedding receptions. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 75-100 pictures. While you can certainly display more photos during your slide show, you want to be careful not to overdo it. You may want to create two slide shows, one you show at your wedding, and another you keep for yourself.
Choose Quality Photographs - While recent advances in digital photo restoration have allowed torn and poorly developed photographs to be brought back to life, there is only so much that the software can do. Pictures that look great printed (correct lighting, framing, developed properly) will also look great while scanned. Pictures that are extremely dark or grainy, while perhaps improved somewhat, will still not appear the best. Make sure to choose a photo montage company that can make digital enhancements to your pictures.
Choose a Variety of Photographs - Even though you may love all the pictures of your dog Rusty, the audience may not want to sit through all the pictures of him. Instead of showing 10 pictures of Rusty, perhaps choose the best 2 or 3. Using a variety of photographs can keep your audience interest.
Landscape pictures show better than Portrait pictures - Given the standard 4:3 dimensions of television monitors, photographs that are in landscape mode (vertical) as opposed to portrait mode (horizontal) show better on a TV. While portrait photographs certainly can and SHOULD be used, you should be aware that there will typically be a black border that appears around the photograph. It's best to use these sparingly throughout the slide show and not clump them all together.
Give some thought to music - Choose music that has meaning to you, music whose lyrics go well with the pictures. Also pay attention to how long the music you're choosing is. If you're only showing 30 pictures, you might not want to choose a 8 minute song. The photo montage company should be able to give you some suggestions as to the number of pictures with your selected songs.
Add short video clips - Do you have any home videos sitting around gathering dust? Think about adding perhaps a 10-15 second video clip in the middle of the slide show. The video clip can help break up the video montage and is a great way to keep your audiences interest. Make sure to choose a slide show company that can convert your video clips.
Add motion to your slide shows - Slide shows developed on PowerPoint and other consumer level software will typically be just static photos that go from one picture to the next. Consider having your slide shows created with the "Ken Burns" effects that Pan and Zoom on each photograph. This can help bring your pictures to life. Make sure you inquire to see if your photo montage company can create motion with your pictures.
Add transitions to your slide shows - Transitions such as fade in/fade out, dissolve, and image peel are also an effective way to move from one photograph to the next. Be careful not to get too carried away with transitions as they too many of them can distract from the overall slide show.
Test! Test! Test! - An event as big as your wedding requires that you make sure you test ALL the equipment prior to the big day. Make sure the projector or television, DVD Player or Laptop, and sound is all working.
Creating a captivating slide show or video montage can be done successfully with keeping a few of these tips in mind. Pictures that are preserved to DVD can be enjoyed for years to come. Partnering with an experienced slide show company like DVDPhotographs.com can help create a slide show you'll be proud of.
By Michael Yared
www.dvdphotographs.com
www.imemoryfilms.com
818.760.9490
info@imemoryfilms.com
For information and pricing on wedding videography, please visit us at: www.imemoryfilms.com
For great tips, ideas, and wedding info, visit our other blog at: www.imemoryfilms.wordpress.com
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