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!

Nelle & Billy; Dec. 15: The Yale Club; NYC

Knot Vendor Party Video Launched

In November, we mentioned in this blog that Tim Alan Studios was asked to film the Knot party at Slate on 21st Street held for advertisers and others working in the wedding industry in NYC.

The party- planned by Christine Paul Events- was a huge success. Much fun was had as old acquaintances reconnected and new friends were made. We put the video recap together soon after and it will be featured on the Knot.Com soon via a link that will be provided in the January issue of the New York Metro Issue. You can also find it at Tim Alan Studios in both the 'demos' and 'about' section.

For the highlight below, we essentially put some of the best shots of the night together in a fast-paced manner to emulate the feel of the night set to the music of the steel drum band provided by Jason from Signature Events.

Tim Alan videographer, Adam, filmed most of the night so I could talk with friends, meet new people and even dance. If you look carefully, you can see a quick shot of me on the dance floor with a move that will definitely not win me any contests!

Shari & Neil; December 15, Commack

Shari and Neil didn't let the cold December evening get in the way of a great time last Saturday in Commack, Long Island at the Hamlet Golf & Country Club.

The couple got ready in separate rooms but saw each beforehand as they wanted to take photos and sign the Ketubah before the wedding ceremony. There was a little drama before they saw each other as Neil popped out from around a corner as Shari approached with cameras from Beth Keiser and Tim Alan Studios videographer, Lu K., poised to capture the moment.

The traditional Jewish ceremony under the Chuppah followed the Ketubah signing. It concluded with Neil breaking the glass and giving his new bride a kiss on the lips. The bride and groom enjoyed cocktail hour before heading in for the reception whose highlights included spirited dancing, the Horah, a few toasts and the traditional Mezinka dance to end the night.

Engagement on Ice: Ricardo & Ana Miguel

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail inquiring whether or not we could film an engagement at the ice rink at Rockefeller Center. I have never filmed an engagement and was excited by the request. Now all I had to do was work out the logistics.

The logistics with this one were a little tricky because Ricardo was writing me from Portugal and he wouldn't be arriving until a day before the proposal! We had to plan everything through e-mail with limited room for error. Forecasts called for rain storms, so we were prepared to reschedule for the next night if it was a downpour.

Ricardo and I planned to meet in the bathroom at the Rockefeller Skatehouse at 9:30 on Tuesday along with Peter, the manager of the rink. Ricardo left his unsuspecting girlfriend, Ana Miguel, to wait in line for skates while he snuck off to meet us. While Peter quickly gave him instructions as to what would happen, I hid a wireless microphone on his jacket so we could record every word of the proposal. Peter took a CD from Ricardo which would play two songs of his choice (one of which is used on the video below) during and after the proposal.

As soon as Ricardo left, we waited a few moments and discretely made our way to the steps overlooking the rink to get a good view. Ricardo and Ana Miguel eventually came out of the Skatehouse and joined the hundreds of skaters circling the rink. At ten, an announcement was made that the skaters must clear the ice. After the last few stragglers left, Ricardo delayed and handed his camera to a rink employee asking him to 'take as many photos as you can."

He then took Ana Miguel to the side and told her how much he loved her before getting on one knee and proposing. All eyes from the restaurant, the side of the rink and the tourists above were on the couple. A cheer erupted from all when Ricardo and Ana Miguel hugged, a sure sign that she said yes!

Peter made sure they did the ceremonial lap around the rink to celebrate and they said a few words on camera for posterity before heading off in to the night, which will be one they won't soon forget!

Tim Alan Studios Website Updated

As 2007 comes to a close, we have just finished updates on all facets of the Tim Alan Studios website.

The website should now be a little easier to navigate and the demo videos easier to view. A major part of the update was adding new video demos from some amazing 2007 weddings. All of the wedding demos along with the NYC Knot Vendor part can be seen on the 'demos' page.

In addition, we created a page of NYC wedding vendors we recommend so that brides who like our style will be able find like-minded artists in other fields.

I would like to thank and endorse my web designer, Jason Roberts of Net Fusion Studios. In addition to his skill designing impressive websites, he also possesses a tremendous work ethic. When many web designers take weeks and even months to get back to you on updates, Jason turns things around in a few days or even hours.

If you need a new website, web programmer or just some advice on an internet-related topic, don't hesitate to contact Jason and Net Fusion Studios.