Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost?
We have four packages:
- Raw footage only - $700
-
A simple edit to DVD - $1200
-
A more involved edit to DVD with 3 good-looking versions - $2,200
- The works - three beautiful versions that
would not look out of place on a movie screen - $3500
What's Included in the $3,500 package?
- Roughly 65 hours of labor
- 10 hours on your wedding day
- 1 hour second camera at the reception (optional)
- 50 to 55 hours of editing time (or more if it takes longer, which it sometimes does)
- On the day of your wedding, I'll show up early and stay late if you like - usually I spend around 10 hours - and that's the shortest part. I spend as much time as it takes to deliver a great product - generally that means 50 hours of editing time. around 60 hours total.
- 3 different versions of your video
- The Long Version
The long version is a 2 ½ to 3 ½ hour video of your entire day, from before the ceremony to the tail end of your reception. This version has the boring parts cut out, but it shows everything as it really happened - all the getting ready, the full ceremony, the reception, the dancing. I mix still photography, black and white video, slow motion, and varied shutter speeds in an artful way, blending everything in with music and using a good amount of the "real" audio from the ceremony and reception. I use all my tricks and talents toward one end: to tell the story of the day. This is a comprehensive video that most people will watch upon return home from the honeymoon and then again on their 40th anniversary.
- The Short Version
This is a 20 to 30 minute video - all the best moments of your day, put together in a series of 5 or 6 music videos, with snippets of real audio and a short edit of your reception. This is an entertaining video that you can easily share with friends and family.
- The Mini-Mix
This is a 4 minute video - think of it as video maple syrup. All the very best moments put together in a music video format. In addition to the standard VHS and/or DVD formats, I provide this mini version in an extra format: on CD ROM, suitable for posting to your website.
- A photo montage of the two of you growing up and falling in love is included in both the long and short versions.
- You get as many copies of each version as you like, on either DVD or VHS or both, within reason. (We would have to talk about anything over 10 DVD disks, but generally, we do additional disks at our cost to produce - $5 each.)
- I bend over backward to make you happy.
- Do you want me to come early? Stay late? Would you like a couple of extra copies? Do you want me to do something a little different for you? Just ask. I'm not going to tack on some phony fee for an extra hour or so of my time or for an extra DVD or VHS copy of your video. I charge a good price, and I deliver in return. This is your day, and if you are my client, I want you to write me a letter at the end of it all that says, "I was so amazed by the job you did."
What's Included In The $2200 Package?
- Roughly 35 hours of labor
- 10 hours on your wedding day
- 25 hours of editing time (or more if it takes longer, which it sometimes does)
- On the day of your wedding, we'll show up early and stay late if you like, at no extra charge.
- 3 different versions of your video
With the $2,200 package, you're still going to get a long version at 3 1/2 hours, a short version at 1/2 hour, and the mini mix at 4 minutes, but we're going to spend a little less time editing it. It's still a beautiful video, but we understand that some people don't need a move-screen quality edit - they just want a really good-looking, entertaining wedding video they can watch together or show to friends and family. We still think our $2,200 version is better than a lot of other videographer's full packages
What's Included In The $1200 Package?
- Roughly 20 hours of labor
- 10 hours on your wedding day
- 10 hours of editing time
- Your choice of music to make music videos for, the getting ready section, and the cocktail hour.
With the $1,200 package, you won't get all 3 versions as above - but you will get one 3-4 hr video, beautifully shot fully inclusive version of your wedding day, converted to a DVD with as many copies as you like (within reason).
We Can Offer High Definition Video on Request.
What Kind Of Equipment Does Media Northeast Use?
- Professional quality cameras (Sony PD-150 in DV CAM format - frequently used by cable news networks on location - i.e. top quality but small enough to be unobtrusive)
- Wireless UHF microphone at the ceremony means your vows come out crisp and clear (UHF also means no interference from electrical appliances, fluorescent lights, etc.)
- Professional lighting system
- State of the art computer editing system (We use Final Cut Pro on a Mac G5)
What Do Media Northeast's Clients Think?
Bar none, every single one of them has been thrilled and pleasantly surprised. (Just
read the enclosed letters for a taste.) Better yet, call them. Here are three clients
who asked to be used as references:
- Jacquie Nastro - 207-831-1967
- Stephanie and Eric Turgeon - 207-772-3433
- Rusiko and Tom Beck - 203-852-1883
How Is Media Northeast Different?
Video is never anyone's top priority when it comes to planning a wedding. There's an excellent reason for this. For years, wedding videos have been made by either unscrupulous or untalented people who turn out a product that's nothing more than a video record of the day - totally sterile, boring, and devoid of emotion. Many people have seen one or two wedding videos over the past 10 years or so - from friends' weddings - and therefore they know how terrible these videos usually are. As a result, when it's time to plan their own wedding, they put video at the bottom of the list. It's something they'll get if there's money left over, but usually photos are seen as the most important keepsake from the day.
Our videos are totally different. My clients are often people who weren't too concerned about video, but they all invariably tell me (after the fact) that the video we made for them is their favorite keepsake. There's a reason for this, too. We know how to use video to tell a story. We have an eye for images and we know how to capture them, bring them home, and tell the story of that day by weaving them together in a way that's entertaining to watch, even for a viewer who doesn't know the people involved.
Personalized
We don't believe in cookie-cutter video. Your video with Media Northeast will be unique to you - all the moments and emotions and all your friends and family and all the fun are not just captured, but put together in a creative way that puts the focus on you and on your union.
Warm and Emotional
There's nothing cold or formal about your video with Media Northeast. We're all natural people watchers, and that means we catch people looking their best, happiest, craziest, and prettiest. There are bound to be a thousand memorable little scenes at your wedding. Our talent is in noticing them and being there when they happen.
Beautiful Shots
Your video from Media Northeast will be composed of the kind of shots that make you say, "Wow" when you see them. We'll bring a keen eye and a high level of skill to your wedding.
Entertaining
Have you ever seen a wedding video? Many of them make you yawn. With Media Northeast, you'll get a video that people who don't even know you can watch and be entertained by. Frequently when we send out a demo, people tell us they get choked up watching it. There is no greater reward than hearing that.
Great Audio
During the ceremony, we use a wireless UHF mic so the vows come out crisp and clear.
Not Over-Effected
Digital editing is a wonderful thing, but it shouldn't be the star of your wedding video. While we do use the occasional fancy fade and camera effect, it is only in the service of putting the focus more firmly on the two of you and on the meaning behind your union. If it calls attention to itself, we leave it out.
Unobtrusive - Like Part of the Wedding
I got my start shooting whitewater videos - in other words, I had to sell. I quickly learned that people buy more videos when they look great, and I also learned that they don't look great if they know you're filming them. My goal is to look like a part of the wedding, or better yet, a part of the wallpaper. A camera that does a great job in low light with or without extra lighting helps me hit this goal.
My Past Customers Were All Pleasantly Surprised
Take a look at the attached testimonials. Every one of my customers goes away thrilled, guaranteed. Also, please call the attached client phone numbers for references.
Fast Work
Generally, you'll have your video two weeks after the wedding. It may take as long as a month in some cases.
We're Always Learning And Growing
By the time we do your wedding, we will probably have more and better equipment, and a better skill set than we have now. We love video and we're always trying to make it better.
Great Equipment
A professional quality DV CAM camera and lighting system, a wireless UHF mic, and a state-of-the-art computer editing system mean your video with Media Northeast is a stand-out piece of work.