The Wedding Biz (page 3)

If you're just starting out in the video business, try to use a simple editing software that you can easily master. Getting in over your head technically isn't going to get your product delivered quickly. Remember, time is money. If it takes you 20 hours to edit a video that you earned $300 dollars for, or 30 hours for that same video, your hourly rate drops with each additional minute you scramble around.

Leave the cheesy video effects for the family dog's day at the park. The focus should be on the couple and their family and guests, not how many star wipes you have in your FX folder. Most transitions you'll use will be straight cuts and dissolves. As you get more comfortable, you can certainly try the fancy effects you've seen on some of the other wedding videos, just remember that simple elegance is the best. Experiment until you find a formula that works best for you. Once you have it honed, you'll spend less time editing each successive video, and your profit will be greater.

Remember to deliver your finished edited product on time, as promised. Whether it's within a few weeks, a few days, or the next month, make sure you have a delivery date in writing, along with the number of copies and the agreed upon formats. It's easy for a videographer to get sidetracked by other pending projects, but nothing hurts your reputation more than a bride who doesn't receive her promised video.

These are just a few tips to getting started; as you grow, you may want to experiment with bigger occasions and fancier setups. For the basics, these tips should do fine. Nowadays, some wedding video packages rival Princess Diana's and Prince Charles' elaborate event. There's a lot of money changing hands for these videos, and if you want to earn that level, you'll need to supply all the whistles and bells to get there. Go to the Videomaker website to see some of the Short Video Contest winners over the past few years in the wedding category; these are compilations of very well-done videos. Again, check out other videographers' websites and watch other wedding videos online to keep up with the trends.

Overall, shooting weddings is a rewarding experience. You are capturing people on one of the happiest days of their lives. Once you get a few under your belt, you will start to feel comfortable and confident, and you'll actually be able to enjoy yourself while you work. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to build a name for yourself, but once you're there, you will have a successful and rewarding business. Hey, it sure beats going to the office.

Brent Holland runs a successful wedding videography business.

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