Adriana & Josh; Bedell Cellars, The North Fork

Adriana and Josh could not have had a more beautiful day at one of the North Fork's best Vineyards, Bedell Cellars. The couple got ready separately in rooms at the Harborfront Inn in Greenport, before a romantic "first look" by the water. Awesome NYC photographer Brian Dorsey joined Tim Alan Smith to photo and video the couple by the water and other spots around Bedell before an incredible ceremony, with the vineyard as the backdrop, commenced.

East End Floral and Event Designer Claire Bean was there to make sure everything looked just right and flowed as it should and the couple enjoyed hours of dancing, toasts and great music with friends and family from far and wide.

Josh & Adriana & Bedell Cellars Winery, North Fork (TimAlanSmith.Com) from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Kyoko and Rob; Peconic Bay Winery

Kyoko and Rob were married with Peconic Bay as a backdrop at the Vineyard with that name in a beautiful ceremony in front of friend and family late September. The day started with the couple getting ready at the main house in separate areas so not to see each other before the beautiful bride walked down the aisle.

Kyoko's dog Morris was the center of attention and also the ring bearer, which is not a surprise as Kyoko is one of the top dog groomer's in NYC!

After photos by the water and cocktails the couple danced the night away with friends and family as Tim Alan Smith filmed and amazing photographer Rich Janiello of Ciro Photography took photos! (see above for one of his photos from the day!)



Kyoko & Rob's Wedding from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Matthew & Jenny; Rockleigh Country Club; NJ

Jenny & Matthew had beautiful wedding at the Rockleigh Country Club a few weeks ago and Tim Alan Smith NYC wedding videographer was there to document it! When I arrived, photographer Kristine Foley was taking family photos near the main entrance so I joined in to get some footage of the gathering.

The couple soon was signing the Ketubah before walking down the aisle in front of friends and family and exchanging vows and rings.

The cocktail hour at the Rockleigh Country Club was amazing and the guests enjoyed a wide variety of food and drink before heading into the main ballroom for a night of fun that won't soon be forgotten. Because the couple was from NJ, there was a heavy dose of Bruce Springsteen from Play by Play of Faze 4 Orchestras and Entertainment of course, so I continued that theme with the recap below. Enjoy!

Jenny & Matthew's Wedding from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Shannon & Vinnie: ReBar, Brooklyn

Shannon started her wedding day at the St. Regis Hotel in midtown where she got ready with her family and bridesmaids surrounding her before taking a shuttle to The Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn to wed her waiting groom, Vinnie. Vinnie was quite excited as he waited patiently for his bride, whom he had known and dated over ten years! If there were any doubts, on the way to the church they were vanquished when Shannon's father saw a license plate at a traffic light that said "ShanVin".

After the ceremony, the wedding party took shuttles to DUMBO and the Brooklyn Bridge Park for photos with Karen Hill (her photos posted above!) and video with Tim Alan Smith, where we had the incredible Manhattan skyline as the backdrop. After that, the bride and groom hoofed it the short distance to ReBar, where they spent the night dancing, laughing and enjoying their wedding experience!

ShanVin from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Ted & Minhee: The Wainwright House; Rye, NY

There was slightly more than a breeze when Ted and Minhee exchanged vows at the on the banks of the pond at the Wainwright House in Rye this fall. The officiant sped up the proceedings in order to make sure that no one blew away, but that didn't stop the couple from having an amazing day with friends and family. Tim Alan Smith was glad to film the wedding and had fun putting this recap of the day together for the couple to enjoy and share!

Ted & Minhee's Wedding from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Haley's Bat Mitzvah: Martha Clara Vineyard, The North Fork

On a sunny October afternoon, I made the trip to the beautiful North Fork area and spent the day filming Haley's Bat Mitzvah celebration at Martha Clara Vineyards. We film a few Bat Mitzvahs a year and it's always great to capture the kids having such a good time. Haley was no exception as she was all smiles all day and made her grand entrance doing flips and hand springs to the great delight of friends and family.

Working with floral and event designer Claire Bean was also great and she did a masterful job organizing the event and making it look amazing! Photographer Mark K from David Vaughan photography was also fun to work with and we look forward to working with both on more NYC and Hamptons weddings and Bat/Bar Mitzvahs soon!

Haley's Bat Mitzah from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Tim Alan Smith Shoots Wedding-Themed Commercial for Doritos Super Bowl Contest

Tim Alan Smith recently took a break from shooting and editing wedding videos to shoot and edit a wedding-themed commercial! Every year Doritos has a contest in which anyone can submit their own commercial with a chance to have it air during the Super Bowl! I had a funny idea and of course it had to do with weddings so I cast the commercial, secured a church on the upper east side and we shot it! To view the commercial follow the link below and check it out!

http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery?video=2511

Tim Alan Smith named a NY Magazine preferred videographer once again

Tim Alan Smith was recently selected once again as one of NY Magazines favorite videographers in their twice-yearly NY Weddings issue!

Here is the description:

Smith’s background as a magazine writer and stand-up comedian makes him a story-telling pro, and he prides himself on his ability to catch small, fleeting details throughout the day. His work, which was recently honored by the International Special Events Society, incorporates live audio and fun outtakes to veer away from that sappy montage territory.

Lisa & Joe: Bridgewaters NYC

Labor Day Sunday brought great weather as Lisa and Joe tied the knot at Bridgewaters in the Southstreet Seaport last month. NYC wedding videographer Tim Alan Smith started the day filming the couple getting ready in midtown before taking limos down to Bridgewaters for photos and video in historic Southstreet Seaport. After signing the ketubah and a beautiful ceremony, the couple enjoyed a night of dancing, toasts and fun with friends and family.

Ron & Michael: East Hampton Point

Last month I had the pleasure of filming the wedding of Michael and Ron at East Hampton Point. When I arrived, Michael and Ron were not there so I was able to get a few establishing shots of the beautiful locale. It was then off to film the couple get ready with photographer David Vaughan, who took some amazing shots on the day.

Michael and Ron signed the ketubah and mingled with friends before heading to the rooftop with sweeping views of the water for the ceremony. The wind managed to grab Ron's yarmulke a couple of times but other than that it went perfectly and the happy couple headed downstairs with friends and family for cocktails and an afternoon of fun!

Ron & Michael from TimAlanSmith on Vimeo.

Wedding and Event Videographers Association Conference: Disney Dolphin Resort Orlando

I'm attending the Wedding and Event Videographers Association annual convention in Orlando Florida this week to continue to educate myself on the new trends in the industry as well as to network with friends from around the world who also film weddings. It's always a great time and I will return to NYC energized for the weddings and wedding edits that I have coming up!

Taking better photos with your digital camera

Although I'm a wedding videographer I also love taking photos and know many of you bring a small camera with you when out on the town, on vacation and more. Here is an article I saw this morning with tips on how to take better photos with your digital camera.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/419/tips-5-digital-camera-mistakes-to-avoid/

Photos of me from wedding at East Hampton Point: David Vaughan Photography

I worked with one of my favorite NYC photographers last weekend at an East Hampton Point Wedding. David Vaughan lives and works in Manhattan and the Hamptons with most of his work throughout the Hamptons. Here are a few shots he took of me during a few down moments we had. To learn more about David and see his work, check out DavidVaughan.com

Catalina & Jake: Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club; July 17

The Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club hosted the grand celebration of Catalina and Jake's wedding reception on July 17 with a team of Tim Alan Smith wedding videographers there to document the day. Amazing NYC photographer Timothy Lee was also there to capture the still images from the day as Catalina and Jake first exchanged vows at the beautiful Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Bridgehampton before an evening of revelry that ended with a bonfire on the beach!

A 105 Year Old Wedding Video

I happened upon this clip today and thought I would share. It gives you an idea of how powerful video is compared to looking at just a still image. This video doesn't even have sound but seeing how the people move and how things have changed is a great testament to the importance of YOUR wedding video years from now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO9ulCNPbHI

Like what you see? Please forward to a friend as referrals are much appreciated!

At Tim Alan Smith, we get 95% of our business through referrals so if you have a friend or family member who works in the wedding industry or who is getting married and need a videographer in NYC, forward our blog or website along to them! Better yet, send an e-mail and cc me (tim@timalansmith.com) so I can be sure we connect! Your referrals keep our business growing and getting better every year so I thank you in advance! While we don't have a specific referral program in place, don't be surprised if a gift card, Yankee tickets or flowers show up if you send us a new client! We are working on a specific program that will be put in place soon! Thanks again for your support!

Emily & Nathaniel, two nights of fun: The Terrace in the Sky and the Housing Works Bookstore

I had the unique opportunity recently to film a wedding that started on Sunday afternoon at the Location 5 in Tribeca and Terrace in the Sky for cocktails and toasts and finished on Monday night at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho for cake and dancing.

Nathaniel and Emily and contacted me a few weeks before their wedding and I was happy to be able to film the unique NYC wedding! The couple got ready in separate locations before Emily crossed the street with her bridesmaids and surprised the excited Nathan with her beautiful dress and piano solo and song during the ceremony!

After the ceremony, the couple took a few photos in a vintage taxi they rented for the day before taking the lengthy drive north to the Terrace in the Sky where cocktails and toasts continued the celebration.

The couple decided to hold off on cake and dancing until the following night when they invited other friends and wore more casual outfits while drinking wine and beer and dancing the night away to favorites played by a DJ hidden amongst the books. What a night- er two nights- to remember!

Keeping Busy: Locales we have filmed at recently in NYC and the surrounding area

We have been SO busy filming lately that keeping up with the blog has been tough!

Some of the great spots we have filmed include Terrace in the Sky by Columbia University where I personally filmed back-to-back weddings on June 27 and July 4! In the 10 years I have filmed in NYC I had never filmed there and then had the pleasure of filming on back-to-back Sundays!

Other Manhattan wedding sites we filmed recently include the stately Roosevelt Hotel, The Glass Houses, the Yale Club and the Tribeca Rooftop!

Another beautiful but VERY secluded place for a wedding is the Skyland Manor in a state park in Ringwood NJ. Be sure to bring your GPS but the views and ambiance make it worthwhile!

We also shot at the Glen Cove Mansion on June 27 which is also where the groom for our July 3 wedding got ready with his groomsmen! A beautiful wedding with perfect spots for an outdoor ceremony, the Glen Cove Manor is a great place for a wedding if you want to stray from Manhattan. The July 3 wedding was held at Crescent Beach Club where it felt like we had been transported to Jamaica!

We have been keeping busy and hope to get some highlight clips of these weddings and more up on the blog soon!

Last-Minute Wedding Video? Give us a call.

Whether it's a last-minute change of heart or a sudden change in the budget, we have been getting a lot of requests from brides and grooms at the very last minute for wedding video. "Last-minute" to some when it comes to weddings may mean six months from the day of the wedding, but I'm talking about a week, two weeks even two days before the wedding day! Normally we can accommodate even that late because we are able to film up to 3 weddings per day. While this rarely happens, we have enough videographers to cover up to three in one day. This recently happened on July 17 when I was booked in March for a wedding at the Skyland Manor in Ringwood, NJ but we booked a second wedding at the Rye Town Hilton two months before and a third at the Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club on July 13! The trend has happened often for us recently with 7 couples who booked in June and July three weeks or sooner before the wedding date! Whatever the reason, choosing Tim Alan Smith as your NYC wedding videographer is a smart choice. After the wedding you will be SO excited to have the day documented and documented WELL that you will wonder how you could ever even think about not getting a video! We find that it's the couples who were least interested in video going in that are most excited to get their video after the wedding day! So if you're one of those on the fence or find that you are in a "last-minute" wedding video situation, give us a call today! 212.706.8904

Tim Alan Smith Wins Best NYC Event Video at ISES Big Apple Awards for second year in a row!

For the second year in a row, NYC videographer Tim Alan Smith has won the Big Apple Award for best NYC Event Video! The prestigious Big Apple Awards gala was held at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square and is effectively the Oscars for the NYC event industry, honoring the best of the best in categories including event planning, lighting, photographic images, design decor, invitations and more. It is sponsored by ISES - the International Special Events Society- known as THE organization of the event world. Here is a link to the ISES website and all the winners. Tim Alan Smith wedding video - Rich and Alicia's wedding at the St Regis Hotel- was a finalist for best video but it was actually Tim Alan Smith's NYC corporate video company- Avenue 5 Films- that took home the top prize with Dyson fan product unveiling. Congrats to all winners and we look forward to competing for our third Big Apple Award in a row in 2011!

Tim Alan Smith a finalist for ISES Big Apple Award for Best NYC Event Video!

We found out late last week that Tim Alan Smith weddings will have the chance to defend our title as best NYC Event Video at the annual ISES (International Special Events Society) Big Apple awards gala at the Edison Ballroom! Our short video- Rich and Alicia's wedding at the St. Regis Hotel- (filmed one year ago today!) is up against some other great competition! We look forward to the chance at repeating the great honor with another crystal apple for the office mantle! Stay tuned for the results from the June 29 awards gala!

Elliot and Loryn's Wedding: Shelter Rock (Party of Two?)

A few months ago, I had the rare privilege of both filming and attending a wedding as a guest on the same day. My friend Elliot from college was marrying Loryn at the Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn and they hired us to film the big day. I took along two other videographers who took over for me after the ceremony was done so I could enjoy the festivities. Some of the fun I had included helping to lift Elliot during the Horah, catching up with many friends and some former clients who were attending the wedding and enjoying the great food and drink that flowed all night! Some of this footage was included on the Dateline and Today Show special that aired a few weeks ago on marriage and relationships! Below is a highlight of the day using one of my favorites for this part. Enjoy!

MSN Article on Top 10 Wedding Blunders: #3 "You will regret it if you skip videography"

Many people find video very easy to cut out of their wedding budget or a way where they can save money by going for the lowest price, but as this article on MSN points out, skipping the video is one of the biggest wedding blunders you can make....

3. You will regret it if you skip videography.
Photos only take you so far: Videos let you hear your voice tremble as you say your vows and watch your friends tear up the dance floor. With more people documenting your wedding, you'll see things you may have missed on the day.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/article.aspx?cp-documentid=23719391

Today Show Segment with Tim Alan Smith Wedding Clips

Below is a link of the segment on weddings and relationships that appeared on the Dateline NBC, the Today Show and MSNBC. At the beginning of the segment are clips from real weddings and many of them were chosen from the Tim Alan Smith NYC Wedding Video Portfolio. Check it out!

Tim Alan Smith/The Today Show and Dateline NBC! Sunday Night/Monday

Tim Alan Smith Wedding Video will be have some of our work featured on this Sunday's Dateline NBC episode and either Monday or Tuesday's Today Show most likely. Additionally, the footage may appear on MSNBC next week as well! Dateline has produced a segment on marriage and relationships in which they contend marriages are lasting longer and divorce rates are down (good news!). The producer of the show attended one of our weddings and wanted to use footage from the wedding. After getting in touch with us, she really liked our style, and asked for more of our NYC Wedding Videos for the segment. We were happy to oblige! No idea how much is on there or for how long but it should be a very interesting segment regardless. Set your DVRs!

A compilation of fantastic Tim Alan Smith Weddings!

As a NYC wedding videographer, we have had plenty of opportunities to film amazing weddings in and around NYC. While we have been able to post highlights of some of these weddings individually both on the blog and the Tim Alan Smith website, we have never created one highlight with shots from an assortment of weddings. Well, that's changed as of now! After a massive undertaking that included viewing hundreds of master tapes, we have put together some of our favorite shots to Cold Play's "Viva La Vida". While this is not the finished product (we are still going through tapes!), it's a rough draft and a pretty good indication of what the final product will look like. Enjoy!

New York Magazine Wedding Guide: Tim Alan Smith selected once again as a top videographer in New York City.

We are excited to be included once again in New York Magazine's semi-annual industry bible, The New York Wedding Guide. New York Magazine chooses vendors in different wedding-related categories that they consider the best in NYC. Writers and editors then collaborate on a short piece about each company. Here's what they said about NYC wedding videographer Tim Alan Smith:

"Smith's background as a magazine writer and stand up comedian make him a story-telling pro, and he prides himself on his ability to catch small, fleeting details throughout the day. His work, which was recently honored by the International Special Events Society, incorporates live audio and fun outtakes to veer away from that sappy montage territory."

We couldn't agree more. Thanks New York Magazine for honoring us once again and for understanding what our company is all about!

Facebook Fanpage Created: Please sign up!

We created a Facebook fanpage a week ago and we have already hit 200 fans! We have added a widget to this blog page in the top right corner of the page where you can sign up. You can also sign up for updates via the blog mailing list right below the facebook fanpage sign up area. We look forward to providing more information about weddings and NYC Wedding videography via both!

Why Wedding Video? Why Tim Alan Smith? Watch the testimonial video below from wedding at the Hotel Pierre; New York City

Recently Tim Alan Smith interviewed couple Miriam & Zeyad who were married last summer at the Hotel Pierre. Miriam and Zeyad were candid with both why they wanted a videographer and why they chose NYC wedding videographer Tim Alan Smith. The interview is interspersed with actual clips from their wedding day.

Well Wed Magazine Wedding Show in Southampton

Last Saturday I spent the day at the Well Wed Magazine wedding show in Southampton. The show was a collection of wedding industry professionals that works in the Hamptons as well as couples planning upcoming weddings. I was part of the Robbins Wolfe catering booth, which I lent a hand to by bringing out a flat screen TV to project some of amazing photos of their events shot by Hamptons/NYC Wedding photographer David Vaughan. I met many new people and was also able to catch up with others such such as Hamptons/NYC wedding photographers Aga and Marcin or Aga Images as well as celebrity event planner Jill Gordon (who did an excellent presentation to couples about planning a wedding), Tiffany from the Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club and many more.

Although Tim Alan Smith is primarily a NYC wedding videography company, we film often in the Hamptons with shoots at Wolffer Estate Vineyards, the Meadow Club, Saint Andrew's Dunes Church, Shinnecock Hills to name a few. If you are getting married in the Hamptons, please give us a call to set up an appointment!

Are outtakes just for Hollywood? No Way!

We really try to capture ALL of the important moments of the day, which are not limited to just the big ones such as vows, toasts, first dance etc. As a NYC wedding videographer, I have had plenty of experience capturing the planned moments of the wedding day but it's the off-the-cuff moments that make your day unique that we have a knack for capturing as well. Many of these shots make it into the regular part of the video but the funny/quirky ones make it into my signature outtakes sequence at the end of the film. Below is excerpt from a wedding at Saint Pius X in Scarsdale and Trump National in Westchester last June. Enjoy!

Two Cameras? Should we film getting ready? Why is getting great audio so important?

For most of brides, this will be the first and only time you have to worry about hiring a NYC wedding videographer. It's OK if you don't know what to ask about video or even if you're not really sure what you want. A lot of times I get asked if two cameras are needed or if it's important to film the getting ready time. I'm also asked how we capture audio- especially during the vows- so not one important word is missed.

In the short clip below you will see a NYC wedding video excerpt from a wedding we filmed in 2009 at NYC's famed St. Regis Hotel and St. Ignatius Loyola Church NYC on the upper east side. While I don't always think 2 cameras are necessary, you will see why having 2 at a Catholic ceremony is important. Also, you will hear the great dialogue between bride and friends getting ready that photos won't do justice. My favorite part, though, is the emotional vows and how- even 40 to 50 feet away- we capture every word and whisper with the discreetly placed wireless microphone in the groom's coat pocket. Enjoy!

A few more e-mails from happy brides

It's always nice to hear from the couples after watching their videos. Here are a few more recent e-mail....

Hi Tim!

We just watched the video and it is AMAZING! Absolutely fabulous thank you so much! I've already watched the whole thing 2x, love the end with the recap and outtakes, and the clip of the dance you put at the end. Thanks again... if we ever need videography again you can be sure we'll call you.. was great working with you. Thanks!!

Romita & Wilson

Westbury Manor, Westbury, NY

Hi Tim!

We watched the video last night...so fun to see! Love it!

Alicia & Rich, St. Regis; NYC

Super 8 Video....It never seems to get old!

Many clients looking for a NYC Wedding Videographer want something different than what they think of as a traditional video. Many of these clients ask about Super 8 film, which is something we can do at Tim Alan Smith. We use Super 8 on your wedding day as a supplement to your full video, and many clients love the nostalgic look the film proves for their NYC Wedding. Below is a wedding we filmed last summer at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

Weddings are fun! (Put your kleenex away!)

Sometimes people assume because it's a wedding, the video will be sappy and romantic. Sure it's romantic when the couple exchange their vows and kiss in front of all their family and friends, but the rest of the day is FUN! We specialize in capturing this fun and letting the couple enjoy watching it later on their video. Below is a quick, fun recap of a wedding we filmed at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC in November.

Happy Brides E-mail in after watching video

I know how important and fun a video will be for a couple once the wedding is over, but sometimes they don't realize it until they actually watch what we produce. It's always nice to hear from the couples soon after they watch it for the first time....Being a NYC Wedding videographer is a great job, but hearing from the happy couples is what makes it all worth while.

"Tim- Happy New Year! We just watched the video and absolutely loved it! It looks great! We

actually like to get a few more copies. Miriam & Zeyad, The Hotel Pierre".

"Tim- The video was fabulous! It's fun to watch too because we get to see a bunch of the things we missed. The outtakes are our favorite part too! Thank you! Melanie & Nick (The Fountainhead)"

"Hi Tim! We absolutely loved the video!! Your editing work was fantastic!! We also loved the photo/slideshow as well!! ( I really loved your choice of song for that portion.) Thanks again for all your hard work. We and our families so enjoyed watching the video and reliving the happy occasion. Vinaya & Anton, (The Old Field Club)"

"Tim- We just watched the video and absolutely LOVED it!!! You made a video that summed up Jamie and I to a T, and also made us laugh and ooh and aah. Thanks again! Jamie and Maureen, The Power Center, Pittsburgh."

"You just made me cry- love it Tim! Heidi and Brett. The Inn at Fox Hollow."