I shot a bit of video at the last wedding, only because the wedding party was goofing around though and it lent itself to video rather than still pictures. Don't know how I'll give it to the BG yet though. Don't have blueray burner or much for video editing software. You can also catch people off-guard because they don't think of a still camera as having that capability yet.
Thanks Tony! I'll have more fun looking at those samples.
What about photogs though adding video as a part of their arsenal though? I don't expect dedicated photogs or videographers to disappear, but Im wondering if anyone on this forum has tried dabblng in video with their offerings and can speak a about their experiences.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
Probably because the 5D2 was released after version 2... Do yourself a favor and upgrade to LR2.. it's WAY better. Yeah, I guess I need to. I've been putting it off because LR v.1.4 came with my computer when I bought it so I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and pay for a full version of v.2
Tony Hoffer wrote:
You won't regret it. The localized adjustments and metadata sorting are so great!
You're right. I just upgraded and wow! what a difference!! I should have done this a long time ago!! Plus the files from my new 5D2 are nothing short of amazing!! 6400 iso looks cleaner than my 5D at 1600!!!
I think I just set a new record for using so many !!!! in one post!!!!!!!!
OT, but doesn't it suck when buying new cameras you have to buy new software to support it (CS4 and LR2)? I was fat dumb and happy with LR1 and CS2... and now my computer is slow as a dog.. stupid camera upgrade makin me buy software and a new PC... hidden costs I guess...
I've played a bit with my 5D2 and video and here's what I've learned so far:
It's gonna cost a pretty penny to do anything of quality with it's video capability. Sound is one issue that's easily, but not cheaply, fixed. For good sound you're gonna want to record it seperately and then sync it back up in PP. Figure $1000+ for the hardware and you'll need software as well, and not the low end cheap stuff i'd imagine.
Over the past few months I've asked every vidoegrapher I've come in contact with and none, not a one, does HD video, or have plans to do it.
Now if you were to do it, and do multichannel sound, you'd have a product like no other. But you'd have to charge accordingly and that's gonna be a problem. You'l have a couple of 5D2s, lenses, audio gear ($10k) and you're used to getting $2500 or more a wedding. Vidographers often show up with $2500 in gear (if that) and charge $800-1500 (around here). $1500 will get you 2 or 3 cameras and all day coverage and multiple copies of the DVD.
Plus you need to learn the software and have one major good computer to do video editing, HD1080 video no less.
It's going to be interesting to see how people are able to integrate this type of video in with still photography. The problem is doing a professional productions is...well, it turns into a professional production. Anyone can Uncle Bob a video camera, but turning out a worthwhile product takes a lot more than just a still camera that can shoot video. Shooting video has a lot in common with still photography, and making a professional product takes a lot of (but different type) of skill. Finding the time to learn to shoot, and learn non-linear video editing would be a pretty big chunk to bite off. I worked for a CBS affiliate for five years and did some of everything...photog, editor, technical director, even master control op for a while. Got to shoot from the floor of some NCAA D1 basketball games...that was fun . One of my BAs is in Radio/Televison. Even with that background, I'm not sure video is something I'd really be interested in adding...it's enough work just doing it with a still camera, I think it would be hard to find a way to work more than just a few clips into the mix with video.
That said, there may be way to work a few nice clips into a DVD...theoretically you could edit up a mix of video and stills with music and the whole bit. The big question would be is it worth it? As noted above, it would take an investment in time and software, and probably hardware. I guess it's the same as anything else...depends on what people would be willing to pay....
prof_fate wrote:
Over the past few months I've asked every vidoegrapher I've come in contact with and none, not a one, does HD video, or have plans to do it.
prof, did you check out that 'stillmotion' link from the OP? It's really really impressive.... and yes, expensive too...
I do both video (my day job) and stills. I've been producing videos for nearly 30 years and prof_fate and Scott Clark hit the nail on the head. You need different skill sets, tools and techniques. Producing quality video is harder than producing quality stills, at least in my mind. Some people have asked me if I'll shoot wedding videos and the answer is always "no". Too much work!
Yep!
I did video back in college and IMO, I am better at vid that stills, but unless you make movies or perhaps documentaries - and you have control- there is little creative expression in the world of video. And little money IMO in wedding video work. I don't know any full time, self employed, video only folks out there.
If I had unlimited money and time I'd make movies. The 5D2 puts the 'look' and many nice tools in my hands for a fraction of the cost of what it would have taken a year ago. But the amount of work is still the same.
Tony Hoffer wrote:
prof, did you check out that 'stillmotion' link from the OP? It's really really impressive.... and yes, expensive too...
Might be something a second shooter can work on for parts of the day, so the cost of capture is relatively low. Could be sold I suppose as a video instead of them hiring a videographer. Still have PP issues. Now if you're a big enough business to perhaps have cheap help - HS kid, intern or $10/hour and they can edit it up for $50 (5 hours) your labor cost might be $200 to shoot and edit.
But IMO that's still a lot of work on teh wedding day - mental challenges, lighting challenges - you're learning a new skill set, new career in some ways, and developing a new product to sell.
Why?
For artistic reasons is one thing, but for profit? You'd almost certainly be better off selling something else instead - bigger prints, parent album, ipod w/ pics on it, etc.
I see some value in a video for promotional reasons - that stillmotion vid is cool, put it on your blog or website perhaps, or a dvd you hand out to prospective clients.
What I think will happen is you'll confuse the consumer - "Oh, you do video and still?" when you really don't, or your vid product is very different from what the client expects of a wedding video, althought I suppose you could overcome some of that with more gear, personell, etc. (like recording the whole ceremony, all the dances, etc).
jcolman wrote:
I do both video (my day job) and stills. I've been producing videos for nearly 30 years and prof_fate and Scott Clark hit the nail on the head. You need different skill sets, tools and techniques. Producing quality video is harder than producing quality stills, at least in my mind. Some people have asked me if I'll shoot wedding videos and the answer is always "no". Too much work!
'
Hell yes! I did ONE wedding video then turned tail and RAN. Time is not equal to profits made.
. One of my BAs is in Radio/Televison. Even with that background, I'm not sure video is something I'd really be interested in adding...it's enough work just doing it with a still camera, I think it would be hard to find a way to work more than just a few clips into the mix with video.