We here at Milestone are firm advocates of always hiring videographer to document your big day. And with the quality of work being produced by local companies like Marliss Productions and Love Story Media, there is no reason why you should have to settle for anything less than silver screen quality.
And as we all know, no Hollywood picture would not be complete without a stellar soundtrack. Music has the ability set the tone, pace and mood of a piece. It can add true emotion, and really take your video to the next level when combined with stellar cinematography. For an example of how this works, check out Love Story Media’s website and view a few of the videos on their home page.
The way they artfully incorporate music during establishing shots, then fade it down during important dialogue is nothing less than cinematic, while really showcasing the most important moments of the day. A reputable videography company will always use high quality microphones to capture sound during vows, speeches, etc. This way, the final product will be dynamic, with well balanced levels for dialogue and music.
Where most wedding videographers do incorporate music into their final edits, the more reputable ones will suggest that the brides and grooms provide a list of several songs they would like to have incorporated into their soundtrack. During a talk I recently attended by Kathy Marliss, of Marliss Productions, and she made the point that, although an expert in her field, she may not always know what kind of music the client may like or dislike. By having a list of songs to include, it helps shape the mood of the final product, and give a clearer vision to the editor. ( Note: Kathy always insists on editing all video in house, rather than contracting it out. That way, there is more of a connection to the couple, and none of the truly important moments are left on the cutting room floor.)
When it comes to choosing the actual songs for your wedding video, my personal feeling is to pick songs that have emotional significance for you and your partner. Essentially, let the soundtrack to your video reflect the soundtrack of your life. It will add a level of timelessness to the final product. Similarly, when you choose songs that are classic, and not too “trendy”, the video will seem less dated, when looking back on it.
Like I state in the majority of my posts, music is one of my favourite ways to set your wedding apart from others. When it comes to videography, this is no exception. Keep it unique, fresh and let it set the scene for your own personal love story.
xo Cailyn