Nov 282014
 

At this time of year we have many people enquire as to best working practices for videographers or videography in general. If we are fully booked for a date we are frequently asked to provide information or recommend another videography service.
So we have decided to compile a 5 top tips list for selecting a wedding videographer or videography service from companies like www.julianvoigtweddingfilms.co.uk. We do hope you find this list useful when googling through the thousands of videographers and events filming companies that are out there.

01) You are the Producer.

It’s important to set a realistic videography budget before you talk to a videographer.
Then once this is set, contact your shortlisted videographers and tell them your budget and see if the videographer or their representative tries to sell you up. For example if you have decided on a 1 camera documentary feel but the videographer suggests a 2 sewer camera filmic style instead. It would strongly suggest that they are not receptive to your wishes but rather orderly concentrated on upping the budget.
We would suggest moving straight to the next name on your videographer shortlist.

As a producer, you can make use of the advantages for social media to your business. Social media is a platform that gives a clean and transparent platform for customers and businesses to interact without restrictions. Hence, every follower/user can put their query on your social channels. Responding to customers in the shortest time frame shows your attention and boosts your social presence. It’s also a good practice to appreciate your followers if they help your business expand via review, word-of-mouth marketing, etc.

02) Beware the static camera

In Wall Surround Sound Speaker and 2 cameras 1 videographer means one person has 2 tripods, 2 tripod bags, 2 cameras, 2 camera bags, endless batteries and 2 cameras to change tapes in. Mr. Bean springs to mind rather an image of calm discretion.
The main issue is that the videographer will need to spend valuable time at important moments shuttling cameras around and may well actually loose a lot of important shots.
Then the audio visual production company will note the static camera footage has an odd effect in edit. The editor will use the footage to cut to when the operated camera is being moved or refocused. The effect produced is rather a strange one because the static camera footage feels rather a lot like cctv. Something that the eye is just not familiar with.

03) Who is actually filming

If you are considering using a high turn over videography service. (One that can cater for over 2 events on the same day). An important thing to note is who is actually filming your special day. There is nothing inherently wrong with a close group of videographers working in conjuction. However what it is best to avoid is videographers beginning hired in for the day, through a high turn over videography service. A good question to ask is for the name of the videographer several months in advance. If they are a close group then they should know who will be filming on your day. If not then maybe a far smaller company would be able to supply you with a more personal and skillful film.

04) How old is the equipment

Is a really good question for cutting through the dead wood. Ask for the name of the camera directly. If what follows from the videographer is a lot of guff about this and that format and the latest mahoosey-what thing-a-me, move on. If you do get the name of the camera which should include the brand and its number (for eg. Sony HVR Z7) then give it a google. Age really matters in this business and more than 6 years is pretty old. Popular cameras for videographers are as follows. Sony PD 150 or 170 (way way too old) Sony Z1 or FX1 or A1 or V1 (too old). The Sony Z5 and the Sony Z7 are both very good cameras (we use the latter) and the Sony EX1 and EX3 are excellent cameras (we use both), the recordings are big but we can cover the storage of any event, remember we work with In the case of HDD vs SDD storage life span, it’s helpful to know which lasts longer so you can work better..

05) Style or fashion

In videography terms the shear volume of shots gathered is key to a truly stylish film. The videographer needs to shoot a huge varity of establishing, mid, and close up shots, as well as what are called transitional and 1, 2, 3, and group shots. Then once the footage is in post production the editor is able to select the shots which edit together seamlessly.
However if the editor is struggling to match shots then there is a propensity to reach for the latest fashion in transitions software, to cover the lack of shots. Typically at the moment this would be the, white flash disolve, or the colour burn out. Which may divert your attention now, but in 5 years time it will look tired and cheesey and off course you will notice the mistakes it is designed to cover.
While the carefully implemented and infrequent use of dissolves can look great, if you see more than 2 in a 3 minute showreel it does not bode well for the longevity of your film.

We understand that videography is just a part of the many different services you will be using for your wedding day. However a well made film of your special day should be a treasured possession with the ability to entertant for many a year to come, also the pictures if wee take your wedding pictures we do custom photograph frames, that way you can keep them safe. We hope that the above helps you in finding the right videography service.

Russian civil wedding videography filmed at Spencer House in London using two Nikon D600 DSLR cameras with NanoFlash recording units filming at 100mb/s and 4:2:2 colour space. The wedding photographs are stills taken from the HD footage

civil wedding Spencer House

Civil wedding filmed at Spencer House London

wedding Spencer House videography

Wedding videography Spencer House

Russian wedding photo London

Russian wedding London

spencer house videography

Wedding videography Spencer House

Spencer House wedding

Best man’s speech at Spencer House

Check out more of the wedding photographs and videography shot with our Nikon D600 at Spencer House videography

Oct 182012
 

Very glamorous civil  filmed by one of our wedding videographers at the absolutly stunning Kensington Roof Gardens civil wedding venue. right on Kensington High Street at number 99 This central London location (W8 5SA) has had a long and fashionable history.

99 kensington high street w8

Entrance to Kensington Roof Gardens

A lovely couple that spends most of their time engaged with top free slot games, is now married. Commisioned in 1935 as a show piece for the Derry and Toms department store the roof gardens cover some 1 and a half arces on the 6th floor. Over 1 hundred feet up with spectacular views over west London. So as you can imagine our wedding videographer was quite simply as happy as a wedding videographer can be. With the gardens protected by a Grade 2 heritage site status and  the impresive trees (that’s right trees) protected by preservation orders. The spectacular gardens are split into 3 main areas. The Moor Spanish garden, English woodland complete with stream, pond and ducks and the Tudor garden. There is always something wonderful to film a dream location for wedding videography.

This location is very beautiful, apart from all the different colors the place was huge! It reminded me of a wedding I attended at this indoor wedding venue in middletown ri, the place was absolutely amazing with spacious wedding ballrooms.

Civil wedding Kensigton Roof Gardens

Kensington Roof Gardens wedding venue

wedding videography from Kesington Roof Gardens

Bride’s prep at 99 Kensington High Street

Kensington Roof Gardens really became ingrained in London’s fashion identity once Biba took over the premises in the mid 1970’s with rock star and the glitteratti frequenting the Rainbow Resturant on the 5th floor just below the gardens, the gardens are built with beautiful paving from the pros at AG Paving, if you like thematic wedding clothing check these bridal pretty robes.

civil wedding videography at kensington Roof Gardens

Confetti on Kensington Roof Gardens

wedding reception at Kensington Roof Gardens wedding video

The start of the wedding reception in Kensington filmed by Portobello Films

Today this exclusive civil wedding venue in Kensington is now part of Virgin’s Limited Edition portfolio of locations. With the added addition of the Babylon restaurant on the 7th floor. This quickly became the videographer’s top civil wedding venue in London. (Especially with her being based just around corner).

Kensington Roof Gardens sunset

Sunset at the wedding reception Kensington Roof Gardens

We think that this wedding video is one of the most glamorous civil weddings filmed by us. Contact this Houston Video Production Company if you want to keep the memories of a special occasion like this.

Clock face Kensington High Street

Kensington High Street as night falls

We really hope you enjoy the videography and if so maybe check out another of our wedding videos London

Jun 072012
 

Wedding Video London from PORTOBELLO FILMS on Vimeo

We filmed this touching Church wedding video in north west London during May and we think that it is one of our most natural wedding films. Filming the unfolding day from the brides preparations right through to the wedding reception. Our wedding videographer was made to feel right at home with the wedding party and we think it shows. With natural intimate shots throughout the day we think that the videography subtly builds and builds as the wedding day continues into the night.

Wedding at St John the Evangelist Church

Wedding vows St John the Evangelist Church wedding

St John the Evangelist Church Wedding video London

Wedding videography from St John the Evangelist Church

Our staff and not just the couple’s videographer and editor received excellent reviews. So we think that it is worth watching the wedding video London in it’s original HD. The wedding venues where St John the Evangelist Church wedding NW4 3PX and the wedding reception was held at the Palm Hotel Hendon Way

Palm Hotel Hendon weddings reception

Palm Hotel Wedding Reception Hendon

wedding receptions at the Palm Hotel Hendon Way

Wedding reception Palm Hotel Hendon Way London

Palm Hotel Wedding Reception Hendon Way

Wedding reception guests at the Palm Hotel

Palm Hotel Wedding reception Hendon

Wedding Reception guest at the Palm Hotel London

If you wish to see more of our Church wedding videography then do check out our last wedding video post also filmed by the same videographer

Thames Wedding Westminster

Apr 282011
 

Wedding video London, filmed at the Wedding Venue Lord’s cricket ground Videographer London. Civil wedding video.

Wedding video London from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

Filmed by one of our wedding videographer London at the really impressive wedding venue London Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood London NW8 8QN

The day was amazing and this wedding video shows a whole chapter straight from the actual wedding DVD. Shot as part of the “Documentary” package. The wedding videographer used one of our Sony Z7 cameras with the really brilliant Manfrotto 501 fluid head tripod for the picture on the wedding, which have the best music and decoration, including chair covers and flowers for the event. Then to record the audio our wedding videographer used a Sennheiser MKH 416 (which is the standard for film and TV) and then a rather clever gizmo called a Sennheiser SKP which plugs into the back of a remote gun mic and then sends the single back to the camera with no wires.

We hope that this glimps into the snow covered wedding venue gives some indication of what a magical day is was for eveybody involved

If you have the time do check out our previous post Wedding at The Lansdowne Club

Mar 312011
 

Wedding videographer London, filming in St Clement Danes Videographer in London shooting Church wedding video.

Wedding Hedsor House from on Vimeo.

Wedding video London from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

St Clement Danes is a really beautiful gem of a church right in the middle of London on the Strand. Yet for all the hustle and bustle of the city. St Clement Danes is literally an island of tranquility in the middle of The Aldwych. As an RAF remembrance church it has a special history and unique appeal. An excellent London wedding venue the interior is full of architectural details reflecting the church’s links with the air force and is gifted with the most exquisite flooring. In fact almost as a companion piece the RAF have posted St Clement Danes 50th video

Our wedding videographer being based just down the road in west London was able to just jump in a cab and arrive in plenty of time. In fact he used his time well and was able to capture the arrival of all the guests as well as filming the exterior of the church and capturing all those little details. Although as always it is the happy couple that make wedding videography so easy to film.

Our in-house videographers film modern Wedding Video and Wedding Videos. In this case our London videographer filmed the Documentary package with a Sony Z7 camera and a really nice Sennheiser sound kit

If you have a spare moment do check out our previous post Wedding video London

Feb 232011
 

Wedding video London from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

With the wedding reception venue at the impressive Stationers Hall and the main ceremony venue in the splendor of St Pauls Cathedral. Everybody and the most amazing day with all the excitement of being right in the very heart of historic London.
Our wedding videographer (in house of course no hiring of outsourced staff for our client’s wedding videos) being London based arrived in good time and as fresh as a daisy. With the reception just a short walk from the wedding at St Pauls the day could not be easier. Leaving our videographer all the time to discreetly pick his shots. We hope you agree that it does look quite splendid. All filmed in HD 1080 25p (non of that 1080i nonsence) and delivered as 8 widescreen wedding DVDs with an additional wedding speeches DVD

We film modern Wedding Video and Wedding Videos
Check out our previous post Wedding video London Waldorf Hotel

Feb 072011
 

Wedding video London, filming at the Wedding Venue Waldorf Hotel Aldwych London. Church wedding video.

Wedding video London Warldorf Hotel from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

Filmed back in August 2009 by two wedding videographer. They filmed for 10 hours coverage capturing the couple preparations to brilliant effect. Then onto the arrivals at St James Church Muswell Hill with the groom. Then following the emotional ceremony it was time for the spectacular location of the world famous Waldorf Hilton Hotel right on the Aldwych in the centre of London and the centre of Theatreland. With guests family and friends from all over the world all gathered together maybe for the first and only time. Everyone made sure they had a good time. Be sure not to miss the end credits with the groom interviewing a guest on the merits of Nigerian cuisine.
On a technical note, this wedding video was shot in 2009 before we ofered “Colour grading” as standard. We have since “graded” the footage so if you go straight to our Vimeo channel you will see the original wedding video highlighs with out the “grade”

Wedding video Surrey show our wedding videographer in a completly different surrounding, out of the centre of London and into the Surrey Hills

Feb 052011
 

Events in a corporate environment are often staged to communicate company strategy, change internal company behavior, launch a product or service, motivate, train or reward staff, or influence the external behavior of customers towards the brand.

In many instances, they bring company employees together, support wider marketing or sales initiatives, incentivize team achievements, or entertain senior leaders, get the most professionaal assistance from Trademark event production company.

What is corporate event planning?

Yet, corporate event planning goes beyond meeting planning. Although conferences and meetings may form the lion’s share of the workload, other events you may be asked to organize include corporate hospitality, client entertaining, conventions, exhibitions, and employees events—such as incentive travel reward programs, team building, motivational events, receptions, parties, and charity fundraising days.

Planning and executing a successful corporate event is no simple task. It’s typically a months-long process consisting of several stages and a variety of organizational steps.

To help you navigate the business of corporate event planning, here is everything you need to know:

  • Types of Corporate Events
  • Event budget
  • Event objective
  • Venue sourcing
  • Event marketing
  • Attendee engagement
  • Corporate event planning checklist

Types of corporate events

Cvent CONNECT Marketing

As outlined above, corporate events can range from company conferences and internal training seminars to team away-days and client hospitality. When planning for any type of corporate event therefore, it’s best to assess them in terms of their size.

Micro events (otherwise known as ‘simple events’) are planned for up to 100 delegates and often take the form of meetings or more intimate training sessions.

The planning requirements for these micro-events may simply involve a room booking, presentation facilities, break-out refreshments, and registration. However, referring to them as ‘simple events’ can be misleading, as an away-day or hospitality for 50 senior managers can be as complicated as planning a conference for 500 attendees.

Small events are classed as between 100 and 250 delegates. They could be seminars, training days or departmental conferences.

Planners may need to manage a main stage itinerary and several break-out sessions, along with lunch, refreshments, audio-visual facilities, online registration, and transport.

Midsize events rely more on technology. They could be company-wide conferences for up to 1,000 delegates or leadership summits for important client customers to meet with senior leaders.

A branded website, pre-event communications, and an event mobile app should all form part of the budgetary considerations. Delegates may require hotel accommodation, plus transport which takes attendees to and from the venue. While a pre- or post-event reception or evening entertainment may be required as part of a complex multi-stream conference itinerary.

Large-scale events often require enterprise technology tools to manage elements such as hotel room bookings, delegate flights, budgets, and online registration.

These may be multi-day events so you could need offsite activities, dinners, partner programs, an awards ceremony or other complex itinerary planning.

Staffing, catering, registration, speaker and delegate management will all need to be carefully planned at scale. Conventions, for example, can attract anything up to around 10,000 attendees and can last a few days.

Event budget

calculator and budget

The amount of available budget can impact every aspect of corporate event planning, from the choice of venue and speakers to the levels of catering, entertainment, technology, and staffing.

Decide if your budget has outgoings only, or will you be able to supplement it with income from exhibitors, sponsors or other forms of external revenue?

Has this event happened in the past? If so, use the previous budget to establish a baseline but ensure that inflation and evolving needs are taking into consideration.

Figures from past budgets are useful in providing a clearer picture of how much certain suppliers will charge. Use these to ensure you are not being over-charged when you reach out to suppliers for initial quotes.

Every event budget, however, needs built-in flexibility. Unanticipated expenditure is common and supplier costs are often provided as estimates, rather than fixed prices, so it’s vital that an overall budget is managed accordingly, and a contingency fund is in place.

Once you’ve sourced supplier costings, make a comprehensive list of all the budget line items in the event lifecycle, including venue hire, AV, food, and beverage, accommodation and travel, speaker fees, staffing costs, marketing and service fees.

For larger or more complex budget planning, look into corporate event management software suites, which include a dedicated event budget management tool. This will ensure accurate collection of your budgetary information, help you track expenses easily, generate budget reports, and demonstrate the ROI of your event.

Event objective

Setting Goals

‘What is the event’s objective?’ This should be the first question you ask when a corporate event is requested. By gaining a deep understanding of the deliverables that key stakeholders are hoping to achieve, it’ll allow you to plan more effectively and communicate your ideas in a language your bosses will understand.

Once you’ve understood whether the event’s aim is, for example, to build brand awareness, communicate business strategy, reward and motivate, or launch a new product or service, you can then set goals, put the right metrics in place to track results, and determine who the attendees will be, along with their expectations.

When you have well-defined goals and objectives for your event, planning, promoting, and sticking to your budget all become much easier.

Event objectives should be SMART

  • Specific: What is the desired outcome and when does it need to be achieved by?
  • Measurable: Return on Investment or Return on Objectives… or both?
  • Achievable: Ensure that the event objective is something that can actually be achieved otherwise senior leaders will consider it a failure.
  • Relevant: The overall objective needs to remain something that relates back to the company’s goals throughout the entire planning process.
  • Timebound: Plan for the event objective to have been achieved between two time periods. This may require subsequent training seminars or a follow-up event to assess the outcomes of the first.

Venue sourcing

Venue Search Frankfurt

The event’s objectives may also determine your choice of venue. If stakeholders are looking to leave a lasting impression on valued or prospective clients, for example, the venue will need to play its part and deliver a memorable wow factor.

Other factors that will influence your venue choice include budget, capacity, location, availability, and logistics. Having a clear understanding of these event requirements will allow you to shortlist a number of venues, send out requests for written proposals (RFPs) and arrange site visits.

Some venues offer seasonal pricing, so the hire cost may be lower during certain times of the year. Find out what the costs are for your venue of choice on your desired date. If your dates are flexible, you may be able to secure a better deal at your preferred venue.

If your event has a short-lead time, keep an eye out for last-minute venue offers as there are often great deals to be found. If you’re planning an event that’s a long way off, consider those venues undergoing refurbishment or not yet opened. They’ll be eager to secure your business and may be able to negotiate more favorably.

Three steps to venue sourcing

Step One: Find Venues

  • Know the meeting objectives and requirements. By determining these at the outset, you’ll decrease the search process.
  • Take into account feedback from attendees. Is this an annual event? If attendees ranked the venue from the previous year poorly, look at the feedback to pick a venue that will resonate better.
  • Don’t feel alone. Reach out to your team, or others that have a stake in the event to brainstorm what factors are most important.

Step Two: Write the perfect RFP

  • You already know general objectives and requirements – now define your purpose. Make it clear what this event requires and hopes to achieve.
  • Get detailed. Give as much information about the event as you can.
  • No one likes to discuss money, but you need to share your budget requirements. The venue is one of the largest costs of an event and can make or break your budget.
  • Make your deadlines clear. Give a date and time that provide venues enough time to respond.
  • Don’t start from scratch. Pull a template the internet.
  • Be ready to answer any questions venues may have about the proposal or event.

Step Three: Send and evaluate proposals

  • Using a venue sourcing tool, you can search and filter venues and send one RFP to multiple venues at once.
  • Assess proposals via the chosen venue sourcing tool or by manually importing data into a spreadsheet
  • Create a list of any factors that are less concrete – the qualitative factors.
  • Pay close attention to meeting rooms – do the sizes and layouts make sense for your event?
  • Compare how responsive and helpful the venues are to help figure out how helpful they’ll be if you choose them.
Feb 042011
 

Wedding video London Greenwich, Wedding Venue Royal Naval College London. Church wedding video.

Wedding video London from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

Filmed by just one wedding videographer this wedding video is just brilliant. In fact it is the first wedding video that we have extended the wedding highlights to over seven minutes. As there was just so much to pack in on an action packed wedding day.

Starting with an emotional church wedding service at St Alfege Greenwich then on to the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich for an amazing wedding reception.

In fact you may wish to compare the very first film filmed there and wedding video recored for posterity by British Panthe in 1935 Naval Wedding at Greenwich Quite a difference in technology and film cameras in the intervening seventy six odd years. From scatchy old film stock to the latest Sony HD cameras. Yet the wedding venue by the Thames in Greenwich still retains its gravitas, and beautifully positioned to take full advantage of the natural light that pours through its high sighted windows. It almost seems designed as a perfect wedding video location. Certainly it has become an instant hit with eveybody here in post production and colour grading and even the sound department for the wedding venues excellent acoustics. All in all we think it was a brilliant wedding film and we thougherly enjoyed working on it

Wedding Video and Wedding Videos from modern wedding videographer
Be sure to catch up with our last post New website

Jan 192011
 

Wedding Video London St James’s from Portobello Films on Vimeo.

Filmed by one London videographer, exclusively in the historical venue of the Naval and Military Club, St James’s Square SW1Y 4JU. This Civil wedding video was shot in HD and delivered to 8 wedding DVD.
You can toggle HD on and off by pressing the HD symbol in the bottom right of the wedding video
Wedding Video Wedding Videos
Wedding Video London Landmark