The Observatory Likes to Watch

on Oct 28 in Wedding, wedding photographer

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

JessicaPicProduction:

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 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:

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.

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