Orlando Wedding Videographer Convention

I just finished three days of workshops, lectures and networking in beautiful, sunny Orlando with videographers from around the world. The 4Ever Group Videographer Association holds the annual event as a way for videographers to continue to improve upon their skills, network with others in the industry, and to learn about the latest technology and trends available in the marketplace.

Some of the exciting things that happened for me this week include discovering new and exciting music, connecting with a company that can host full wedding videos online, and learning new techniques I can use in my wedding shoots.

One of the most important parts of the wedding edit is the music. If the bride and groom don't like the song, for whatever the reason, they won't feel connected to their own wedding. That is why I set out to learn where other videographers with similar styles find some of the cool music they use in their videos. The good news? I found it! Cool and exciting songs- that still have the sound and vibe I love- will be coming to Tim Alan wedding videos near you!

Another exciting find is a company to host fully edited wedding videos. We have been able to put small highlights online, but until this week, I hadn't found a company that could host fully edited wedding videos. Many couples have family and friends from around the world who cannot make the wedding, so having the ability to have the full video online soon after the edit is finished is reason to celebrate. This will only enhance the value of opting to get a wedding video as well as to increase the friends and family who are able to watch once it is done. (If any of my clients from the past are reading this and would like their video online, please contact me for details!)

Much like using repeating song choices in different videos, it's also easy for a videographer to be comfortable using the same shots and techniques in all of the weddings. While I pride myself on creativity and flexibility in shooting, I did learn some new shooting techniques and editing flair that I will work into my videos in 2008 and beyond!

While I have given myself tomorrow to enjoy the weather and a day at Universal Studios, I will be sure not to forget all the interesting and exciting things I have picked up this week at the convention when I return to NYC!

2007...What a year! A recap and review....

It's been a few weeks since my last post due much to the stress of the holiday season as well as the demands of a new calendar year.

2007 was a fun and exciting year for Tim Alan Studios with weddings and events in and around NYC.

So before we embark on another year of wedding video in and and around NYC for 2008, I'd like to do step back and review some of the high points of 2007.

Besides shooting many amazing NYC weddings, the blog was one of the best things from Tim Alan Studios in 2007. It's been a way to share work with clients soon after their wedding, share information about wedding video with those who don't know much about it and a way to have more of a dialogue in general with clients, vendors and anyone else interested in the weddings and wedding videos in NYC. In 2008, we plan to provide even more informative articles and entertaining videos but we would also like to do some video features on some of NYC's best wedding vendors.

The blog started with a bang in April with the wedding of Patti Ann and Aron. The couple got married during the Boston Marathon and followed it up with a ceremony later that week at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in NYC and a reception at Bridgewaters in the Southstreet Seaport.

The Yale Club and St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University followed on April 28 with Davin & Karyl enjoying a memorable day. We ended the year with a wedding at the Yale Club as well on December 15 with the ceremony held
at the Church of the Incarnation on 35th and Madison.

Josh and Allegra opened up May with a wedding at the Puck Building while another happy couple got married a few weeks later at the Church of the Heavenly Rest on 90th and Fifth Avenue. Their reception followed at the Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History. In July, we also shot a wedding at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, but this time the reception followed at Cipriani 23rd Street.

June saw back-to-back weddings at Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral in Soho with receptions at the W Union Square and the Ritz Carlton Battery Park respectively. The following weekend we had weddings at the beautiful gardens of Wave Hill in the Bronx, as well as the Bourne Mansion and The Sands in Long Island.

We were back at Wave Hill in August but not before weddings at The Tarrytown House, St. Patrick's Cathedral and The Harmonie Club in July. We returned to Saint Patrick's Cathedral in September as well, but this time the wedding reception was at the Metropolitan Club.

We also had a great time shooting the wedding of Melissa and David in August at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers and also shot a corporate event for More Magazine at Chelsea Piers in October.

In September, we were at our busiest. A shoot in Central Park for Fitness Magazine and a wedding at Tavern on the Green started us off. We were out of town for a shoot at the Mile Away Restaurant in Milford, New Hampshire the following weekend. We also shot at Gurneys Inn, the Westchester Country Club, a wedding on the beach at Gurneys Inn in Montauk, Southward Ho Country Club, The Towers in Narragansett, Rhode Island and Oheka Castle in Huntington, Long Island.

One of my favorite spaces and weddings of the year was 632 Hudson in the Meatpacking District where we filmed the intimate wedding of Brian and Veronica in October. Snuffys Pantagis in Scotch Plains NJ was next followed by an amazing wedding at Gotham Hall in NYC.

We had another wedding at Gurneys Inn in Montauk later that month as well as a ceremony at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on 83rd and Park with a reception following at the Central Park Boathouse.

Things slowed a bit in November and December but we filmed a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Snuff Mill at the New York Botanical Gardens.

The following Saturday, we filmed an incredible Armenian wedding ceremony at Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral on 34th and 2nd, followed by a reception at the W Union Square. In November, we also filmed The Knot Magazine's Vendor party at Slate on 21st street, steps from Tim Alan Studios offices.

December ended the season with the shoot at the Yale Club, a rehearsal dinner at the Colony Club on Park Avenue, a wedding at the Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack, an engagement at the Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, and finally a wedding on New Year's Eve at the Tribeca Rooftop to end an amazing year of filming weddings and events in and around NYC!

Please check the archives of this blog if you would like to see video recaps of many of the weddings listed above. Stay tuned in 2008 as we have many weddings and videos to come at old favorites like Wave Hill, Bridgewaters, The Palm House and Brooklyn Botanic Garden as well as new weddings from spots such as the Manhattan Penthouse, The Pierre Hotel, The Essex House, Le Parker Meridien, Loft 11, Puerto Moreles, Mexico, and many more!

Please keep checking in regularly as there will be more weddings, informational posts, and vendor features coming up in 2008!