Copyright 2005-2007 Victory Productions.  All rights reserved.

Q:  Why do I need a professional to videotape my wedding?
A:  There are lots of wedding video services in our area. Unfortunately, many of them don't have
the experience, skill and equipment to entrust with recording the most important day of your life.  
Since 1995 we've produced over 300 wedding and special event videos, and we know how to
videotape a wedding without turning it into a Hollywood production. (For example, we use
broadcast cameras that don't require distracting lights.) Every wedding video we produce also
includes custom "post-production" editing. We use music, graphics, titles, and special effects to
create a polished, professional video you'll enjoy watching year after year.

Q:  Will the video equipment be distracting during the ceremony?
A:  Because portable video equipment is compact and silent, the most important consideration
here is whether or not the videographer has the skill to avoid intruding on the ceremony. We feel
strongly that both the ceremony and reception should be taped in as unobtrusive a manner as
possible. For example, the videographer should not move about during the ceremony - the
camera should remain stationary on the tripod.  Most people are concerned about the use of
flood lamps during the wedding service, and we agree that use of such lighting is not appropriate
during the ceremony. We use low-light professional cameras, which can produce images in all but
the most dimly-lit interiors without video lamps.

Q:  We want to be sure that our vows can be heard on the video. Will this be possible if
the camera is placed away from the altar?
A:  If the ceremony were to be recorded using the camera's built-in microphone, your vows would
most likely be inaudible. These microphones lose clarity at distances beyond 7-10 feet. We utilize
two broadcast-quality wireless microphones, generally worn by the officiate and the groom; these
provide excellent clarity.

Q:  We are being married in an evening ceremony and the church lights aren't very
bright.  How will the video look?
A:  Although video cameras produce their best images when there is ample light, our professional
low-light cameras do remarkably well in most churches and synagogues. However, you can
expect that the colors on your video will not be as vivid as those you see on broadcast TV, which
uses tons of lighting; there is also some loss of picture sharpness.

Q:  How important is it for the videographer to attend the rehearsal?
A:  Unless we've taped a ceremony at your wedding site before, we feel it is very important to
attend the rehearsal. This enables me to avoid such unpleasant surprises as having an
attendant block my view of the couple during the vows.

Q:  You offer an edited tape. Why would we need editing, since we want to see all the
scenes that were recorded?
A:  As we use the term, editing does not mean the removal of usable scenes from the tape.
Rather, editing a wedding videotape involves the following:
• The addition of titles, music, still photos, etc.
• The elimination of "glitches" which would detract from the tape. For example, we must
sometimes leave the tape running while rushing to capture a spontaneous scene at the
reception; this footage is edited out.
• Editing can be used creatively to give a tape better pacing. For example, a lengthy scene of
guests dancing can be "broken up" and made more interesting by editing in interviews with
guests every few minutes.

A well-edited tape looks far more polished and thus will be more enjoyable to watch; unedited
tapes always have an amateurish quality.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS