Happy New Year from Jessica Pi

on Dec 30 in wedding video

Here’s a short little animation we created to wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

The Bliss Collection Staged Wedding

on Dec 28 in Wedding

Jessica Pi Productions recently helped coordinate a video and photo shoot for The Bliss Collection, a collection of wedding vendors who are carefully selected for their outstanding reputation.

Jessica worked with other Bliss Collection members to plan a staged wedding.  We used actors for all the principle roles and then the entire group got together and contributed services to show what a beautiful wedding we could put on if we all work together on one event.

You can see the promo video we created from the day’s events on the Bliss Collection Website. I  also recently completed a behind the scenes look at how the day went, showing each of the vendors at work.

Here is a list of all of the vendors who participated in this event and what they contributed:
Bergerons Flowers & Events – ceremony flowers, bouquets, personal flowers, centerpieces
Blush Bridal Boutique – gowns for bride and bridesmaids
David Madison Photography – photography
The Finer Points – member of events committee, added event planning support
For All Occasions – member of events committee, added event planning support
Gala Cloths – tablecloths, napkins, chair covers
Jessica Pi Productions – videography
Leslie Kane - Mary Kay Cosmetics
M. Beem Jewelers – engagement and wedding rings, and bride’s jewelry
Makeup Artistry by Tracie Rosales – make-up application for bride and bridesmaids
MallowDrama – wedding and groom’s cakes
My Mobile Salon – hairstyling for bride and bridesmaids
Photography by Alexander – photography
Presentations – invitation suite, programs, escort cards, menus, table signs, custom-labeled wine bottles
Say “I Do” Your Way – officiants
Seasons Cards & Gifts – favors
Select Event Rentals – china, chargers, glasses, flatware
A Sound Plan – DJ/emcee
Stonewall Golf Club – event facility

A Greek Orthodox Wedding

on Dec 22 in wedding photographer, wedding video

I recently had the pleasure of working with Documentary Associates again.  I always enjoy working with Tom Van Veen.  Not only is he fun to work with, bringing a great energy to the day, but his pictures are great.

I love to see what photos come out of the same wedding that I videotape.  We are capturing the same event, usually side by side, but what a photographer captures and what I capture are often very different things.

Of course video has movement and sound, and photography does not, but that’s not the only difference.  When you look at a video and compare it to photos from the same time frame, you can also see a stylistic difference.  I have an artistic eye.  Tom does as well, and we each make creative choices throughout the day.

I love the choices Tom makes.  his photos are always beautiful and I look forward to working with him again in 2010!

DC Green Wedding 2010

on Dec 17 in Green Wedding, wedding video

Kevin and Virdinia were announced as the winners of the second annual Earth Day Wedding GiveAway sponsored by the DC Green Couture Wedding Consortium.  Jessica Pi Productions is sponsoring the event for a second year in a row by donating videography services to the winning couple in order to promote eco-friendly wedding practices.

Kevin and Virdinia have won a $50,000 green wedding on Earth Day 2010 at the Decatur House.

Andrea Jacobson, of The Observatory, who will be one of the photographers providing photo services at the Green wedding,  took the photos shown here from the DCGWC party, where the winners were announced.  The cupcakes shown were provided by Cakes By Design as well as one of the newest members of the consortium, MallowDrama.

The couple will receive:

Design Consulting Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $7,500

Floral Design & Décor Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $2,500

Event/Venue Space Rental of the Stephen Decatur House Museum worth $6,500

Event cuisine by Occasions Caterers worth $5,000

Music services by Disc Jockeys On Call worth $2,500

Lighting, fabric draping, furniture rentals from Ampa Events worth $9,000

Bridal Styling by Polished Image & Style worth $1,000

Linen Rentals from Table Manners worth up to $1,000

Photography services from Tom Van Veen of Documentary Associates worth $5,000

Photography services from Andrea Jacobson of The Observatory worth $5,000

Videography services from Jessica Pi Productions worth $3,500

Wedding Cake from Cakes by Design worth $650

Make-up Artistry from Carola Myers worth $250

On-site hair services by Elegant Hair by Giselle worth $250

Officiating Services from Jim Burch worth $350

Congratulations Virdina and Kevin!

A Winter Themed Bat Mitzvah

on Nov 30 in Bar/Bat Mitzvah

I recently got to work with The Finer Points event planners again.  This is probably the fourth event Jessica Pi Productions has done with The Finer Points and they are always great events.  The Finer Points, LLC is a company that strives to design and coordinate outstanding events that their clients will treasure. They are set apart by the care and consideration shown not only to clients, but to the vendors they work with as well.

This Bat Mitzvah took place  at Lansdowne Resort.  The main ballroom was transformed into a winter wonderland by Fandango, a company dedicated to providing the highest quality production capabilities and precision in designing, managing and implementing events. The tables were draped in silver linen with silver chiavari chairs, there was a skating rink dance floor, glowing kids’ tables and a spectacular lighting display of swirling snowflakes.  A snowboard simulator, alpine skier, greenscreen photographer, and a caricature artist from Entertainment Connection kept the kids and adults entertained. The band, Nightlife, got the party started with some great games for the kids and then provided fantastic music to keep the guests dancing late into the night.

This video is just a short clip of one of the songs performed by Nightlife with some quick shots of some of the fabulous event design and party elements brought together by a great team of vendors.

A Meeting with Diamond Events

on Nov 23 in Wedding, Wedding Planner

I recently met with Stephanie Hughes, Founder and President of Diamond Events.  Stephanie has terrific energy and a great bubbly personality that would make her a joy to work with, especially at an event like a wedding.

I have already met with one of Stephanie’s 2010 couples and could tell that they are really enjoying working with her on the wedding planning process.

Stephanie has been in business for herself for a little over a year now and has been learning about all of the different venues and vendors in this area since she moved to Northern Virginia from Blacksburg last year.  Stephanie is extremely detailed oriented and able to take care of all of your wedding and event planning needs.

If you are interested in learning more about Stephanie, check out her website or visit her blog!

A Simple Wish Wedding

on Nov 13 in Wedding, Wedding Cake, Wedding Flowers, Wedding Planner, wedding photographer, wedding video

“Jessica,

We just got finished viewing our video and loved it!!! It really captured the whole day and brought me to tears a number of times… thanks again!

Julia”

I had the best time working on the video for Rhett and Julia this past month.  Partly it was because the couple were a joy to work with, and partly because of the amazing team of vendors that I got to work with.

A Simple Wish pulled together this team and planned the wedding from start to finish.  Ashley Gordon ran the show the day of and did a great job making sure everything went like clockwork.  I truly do love working with wedding planners.  They take care of all the details and leave the bride and groom stress free.  Not to mention, they know what vendors will work great together and fit the couple’s tastes.

I met and got to work with a fabulous photographer I have never worked with before – Marilynn Spindler, of Sandi Foraci Photography.  She brought a great eye and a great attitude to the wedding.  We worked side by side and had a great time doing it.  Marilynn provided all the photos for this post.

The musicians at the church, provided by Music by Anthem, had a great trio of strings, not to mention all the perfect notes provided for the procession and recession.  It makes for great audio, for my video, when the musicians are professional and on key the whole time!  They also provided a harpist who played through the cocktail hour and sounded like an entire orchestra all by herself.

Westfields Marriott was a great venue for the reception.  I have been there several times and am always impressed.  I especially like the outdoor patio where cocktail hour was held.

Holly Chapple, of Holly Chapple Flowers, did an amazing job with the ceremony and reception flowers.  Fall colors were everywhere, and the bouquets looked beautiful with the bride and bridesmaids dresses.

Connie Schweizer, of Connie’s Cake Creations, made a beautiful cake.  What I love about Connie’s cakes is that, on top of looking great, they taste wonderful.

All in all, Rhett and Julia had a beautiful wedding and a great time, and that is what is most important at the end of the day – that the bride and groom were happy every step of thye way!

The Observatory Likes to Watch

on Oct 28 in Wedding, wedding photographer

I recently sat down for coffee (well, tea, really) with Andrea Jacobson of The Observatory.  Andrea and I are both members of the DC Couture Wedding Consortium as well as the DC Green Wedding Consortium together.  We had a great talk about the wedding business and bigger things, like life in general.  I had a great time and the best part was when Andrea shared some of her current projects with me.

The Observatory, as you can see from these photos, does amazing work.  Andrea is not only the owner, but also one of the photographers.

The photographers for The Observatory are all unique, yet they all shoot documentary style.  Furthermore, as you will see if you visit ObservatoryPhoto.com – is that they all like to watch.

The Video Process

on Oct 15 in Wedding, wedding video

A lot of people want to know what goes into producing a professional video.  Just like with making movies – as i did for the first few years out of film school – or producing corporate video – like my other company Capture Video does – a wedding video has three phases.

Pre-Production:

I meet with and talk to each bride and groom before their wedding day (assuming they want to meet!).  During the meeting we discuss what is important to the couple and what is not.  A wedding is a very special day, but there are often sensitive issues involved.  I like to find out, ahead of time, what the key moments and who the key people are that I or my associates need to focus on.

Production:

Like the photographers, we have to get the shot.  Framing, lighting, and remaining unobtrusive are key concerns.  In addition to getting the best shot we can get, we have the added elements of movement and sound to deal with.  I arrive an hour before the ceremony to set up both cameras and plant microphones as needed, before going out to capture establishing shots of the venue, flowers and the guests and bridal party arriving.

Sound: During the ceremony, we are sometimes forced to stay in a balcony far away from the the whispered, “I do.”  Sometimes a family friend is singing the “Ave Maria.”  We set up two – four professional wireless microphones during the ceremony, hidden close to the action, so you can hear her voice as she says “until death do us part.”  At the reception, we capture the toasts, blessings, and impromptu karaoke moments that would otherwise be lost in time.

This bride and groom were anxiously awaiting their video after they got their photos and could not figure out – “What was so funny?”  You want to be able to remember and hear the answer to that question whenever you share your photos with family in years to come.

Movement: Capturing big dance moves and sweeping shots of the beautiful venues and landscapes is always important, but so is being ready to catch small moments like a tear rolling down a cheek, or a hand shaking while trying to place a ring on a finger.  These movements tell a story, and the way we, the videographers, move to capture that story, sets the stage for the final product.

Post Production:

Post is where we spend the most time.  It is hard for people to understand, but video editing takes a long time.  Our typical wedding video takes between 4 and 6 times as many hours to edit as it took to shoot.  So, for example, a 6 hour wedding package can take anywhere from 24 – 36 hours for us to edit.  Part of that time is just the process – going through all the footage and picking out the best shots -  and part of that time is due to me being a perfectionist.  I do not personally edit all the videos that leave my studio, but I supervise every one.  Once the music is selected, the shots are chosen, the montages pieced together, the ever changing light and color leveled and corrected, and the audio mixed, I watch the entire video and tweak little things here and there to make sure it tells the story I know the bride and groom wanted to tell.

Only then do we master it onto DVD and send it off -  to get responses like this one, from Matilda and Richard:

“We did watch the DVD and we love it!  When my parents watched it my mom cried from start to finish.”

And then the video process is complete!

2010 Earth Day Wedding Contest

on Oct 01 in Green Wedding, Wedding

Last year, I was one of the vendors who donated my services to the inaugural Green Wedding Giveaway.  You can view this short video from last year’s FREE Earth Day Wedding.

Jessica Pi Productions Photo Session Video from Jessica Piscitelli on Vimeo.

The 2nd Annual Washington DC Green Wedding Consortium’s Earth Day Giveaway is now accepting applications.  The wedding giveaway is comprised of the following eco-friendly prizes:

• Design Consulting Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $7,500
• Floral Design & Décor Package from Elegance & Simplicity Wedding & Event Designers, Inc. worth $2,500
• Event/Venue Space Rental of the Stephen Decatur House Museum worth $6,500
• Event cuisine by Occasions Caterers worth $5,000 (Couple MUST pay labor fees, associated taxes, delivery, rental fees for serving pieces and alcohol)
• Music services by Disc Jockeys On Call worth $2,500
• Lighting, fabric draping, furniture rentals From Ampa Events worth $9,000
• Bridal Styling by Polished Image & Style worth $1,000
• Linen Rentals from Table Manners worth up to $1,000
• Photography services from Ralph Alswang Photography worth $5,000
• Photography services from Andrea Jacobson of The Observatory worth $5,000
• Videography services from Jessica Pi Productions worth $3,500
• Wedding Cake from Cakes by Design worth $650
• Make-up Artistry from Carola Myers worth $250
• On-site hair services by Elegant Hair by Giselle worth $250
• Officiating Services from Jim Burch worth $350

Once you have read all of the rules, regulations and guidelines (and are in agreement with ALL of them), please click on the application survey link here.

Official Rules, Regulations and Guidelines can be downloaded here.

All applications must be submitted online by October 20th, 2009 by Washington, DC Metropolitan area residents only.  Ten Finalists will be chosen for in-person interviews.  The winning couple will be announced on December 9, 2009 at the DCGWC Holiday Party!

Apply today!

The Washington DC Green Wedding Consortium consists of the leading green wedding professionals from the Washington DC metropolitan area.