04/14/10

>From Weddings to Energy Drinks

When we were first contacted by Rockstar Energy Drink to put together a concept video for their models, we were taken back to learn that they had found us because of a blog post from a wedding. . .

It is so rewarding and so much fun to take so many of the techniques we apply to weddings and bring them to life in the corporate model as well. So here is the concept video we put together for Rockstar Energy Drink. {Follow Up Note: We just filmed another feature for Rockstar, so stay tuned for another fun post :-)}
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03/29/10

>It Runs in the Family

While I am most certainly a filmmaker, I would still consider my craft a form of photography. After all, movies are nothing but a succession of images shown one frame after another to simulate the look of “motion”. So, in a round-a-bout way, I consider myself a photographer, too. 🙂
Over the past two weeks, my father was cleaning out my grandfather’s house and he found a few cameras that had been stored away for many decades by now. One belongs to my grandfather. It is the F-2 Nikon series for all you Nikon junkies out there. A cool camera that still works just fine I might add. My grandfather used to go to the Dodger games with a Media Pass and photograph the players back in the Koufax, Drysdale era. My father grew up in the press box at the Ravine and I still haven’t forgiven him for wearing and losing, might I add, BOTH ballcaps that Don Drysdale wore during the 1963 and 1965 world series. I suppose you take those things for granted when you are a kid. He also decided it was best to play catch with a ball that was signed by the ENTIRE 1963 world series Dodgers team (for those that don’t know or care, in the right condition, that ball would be worth over $10,000 today). I still have the ball, but you can barely make out any of the signatures. Another story for another blog post. In any case, my grandfather’s camera is sightly vintage, but nothing like the other camera my father found in my grandfather’s closet.
I must admit that I didn’t think I would be as fascinated as I was today and I must say it is such a cool feeling to hold your great-grandfather’s camera. I never knew the man, but I could only imagine the pictures he must have taken and how great he felt when he first held this camera.
The Eastman Kodak No. 3a – Autographic Junior Model-A was made from 1914-1926. My grandfather wasn’t able to tell me what year it was purchased, but based on the fact that it is a Model A (there was a Model B and C), and the last patent on the casing shows 1917 as the date, I think this camera was likely purchased around 1918, which would make it 92 years old.
The shutter still works and the camera is in surprisingly decent condition. A little rust and the side strap is broken off, but all in all, I think it would still take a picture. Such a great little piece of history and I’m so stoked to have such an amazing family heirloom sitting in the studio. There are now 3 different generations of cameras proudly sitting on display.
My Grandfathers Nikon F-2 Series. . .

My Great Grandfather’s Eastman Kodak No. 3a Autographic Junior Model-A . . .

3 Generations and their respective gear . . .
Such a Sick Family Heirloom!
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03/22/10

>A Rant {The Importance of a Good Wedding Film}

As a wedding filmmaker, I feel as though our job can become a twofold approach. It is not uncommon for us to meet with couples and have the first thing they say be, “At first, we really weren’t interested in having a wedding video”. Back when I used to hear this, I would want to become defensive of our industry, but the truth is that over time I have learned that most couples simply don’t know:

1.) the difference between a “wedding video” and a “wedding film”
2.) what a good film looks like
3.) what huge regret they will have if they don’t document their day in the way it deserves to be documented
4.) They are overwhelmed by all the garbage they find combing through the endless demos they find on the internet. A montage of slow motion clips to a sappy song. . . sound familiar???
It is because of these factors that I often tell our couples to “throw every preconceived notion they have about a “wedding video” out the window”, because to be honest, that phrase doesn’t do our craft justice.
A wedding film is much more than a regurgitation of the days events. We are not here to show you what happened that day all over again. Uncle Joe will be more than happy to do that with his handi-cam over lunch at his house. We are here to show you your day in a way you never thought was possible. We are here to create a piece of art that not only you can watch, but your friends, your family, and even strangers will enjoy as well. There are so many facets to one day that go unnoticed and it is our job to bring those to the forefront. We are here to do what no “wedding video” can do. . . . we are here to tell your story through a film. You will laugh, cry, laugh again, then grab the tissues, and I GUARANTEE any groom who says, “why do we even need a video” will reconsider once we show you what we can do with a camera and a couple hours.
I received this card in the mail just a few days ago from one of our brides who gets it. While she may not use the lingo (film vs. video), she understands what it is we can offer that no photographer can give you. Don’t get me wrong, the photographs are incredibly important, but don’t tell me a good wedding film should ever take a back seat to a photo album.
When the flowers have wilted, the linens have been returned, the dress put away in a box, and the gifts have been opened. . . . all that will remain are your pictures AND your wedding film. Just my 2 cents.

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02/05/10

>Weddings by SML Wins 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards



2010 Bride's Choice Awards - Wedding Photographers, Wedding Cakes, Wedding Venues & More Weddings, Wedding Planning, Wedding Websites, Wedding Checklists

So today was pretty exciting when we received the word that WeddingWire has just announced Weddings by SML has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards for Wedding Videography!!!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

So what this means is Weddings by SML is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada!

We are honored to be considered among the very best within the WeddingWire Network and a very large thank you goes out to all our couples for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards!!!


Here’s to another fun and exciting year in 2010!

-Steve
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10/24/09

>Jenny + Anthony // Same Old Song and Dance {not really}

This past year was full of fun surprises and some of our couples surprised their guests with some wedding day choreography. Jenny has an extensive background in dance and Anthony. . . . well Anthony married Jenny, so there you go. LOL, actually we think Anthony held his own in this one, you be the judge 🙂

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