Q: Why did you remove your blog?
A: It's a long story... I actually liked updating it. Here's why: "Fans" of the blog started comparing feedback with details in the blog of the weddings I shot. I had one couple (I've known the bride for years so she's a friend) took FOREVER to submit some kind of feedback even though I've seen her and her husband and mom and dad this summer after they got their video. (I won't name names... I am a Professional and would never lower my standards to name names - Tracie and Adam from Muscle Shoals). I never post feedback unless I have something that I can prove that it came from the client. Here's (what I think) is the worst feedback I've ever received from a client (this was from a wedding in 2007): "I thought the DVD was very good. I have a $300,000 contract with a local company for several videos and am aware of the amount of work and expense in producing a video. I am very happy with your product." That's the WORST comment I've received and have never posted it until now.
Q: I don't get it! How can you offer hi-def bluray video for no extra charge! This is a trick or something.
A: Someone recently asked a similar question. They wanted to know if I was 
shooting SD (standard definition) and "upconverting" with software tricks. Nope. I'm shooting and delivering high definition. The BIG question is how can I offer this and not charge outrageous fees charged by others. Here's the dirty little secret - it costs me about $20 extra. Period. Standard DVDs are fairly cheap. I use Taiyo Yuden WaterShield DVD-Rs for my standard DVDs. I don't use labels that can come off. And for Blu-Ray DVDs I use TDK Blu Ray Disc 25GB Inkjet Printable disks.
Q: I saw something on another videographer's website where they said that wedding videos are ALL they do and don't use someone who does it only part time... like you!
A: Great question - first, video is something I do about 60+ hours a week. Granted, working on stuff that is about weapons for the Department of Defense is nothing related to weddings (or is it?). My prices reflect the fact that I don't have to pay for health insurance, retirement, etc. to make my business work. Judging from other videographer's websites, their prices definitely reflect their need to put a LOT of money away for retirement. I just enjoy what I do and want to do it better than anyone else. It's the only job on the planet where you get to meet people who are getting ready for the best journey in life. I think that if I HAD to do this to survive, I probably wouldn't do it.
Q: You'll have to excuse me because this is probably a stupid question, but what does it mean that you deliver the ceremony uncut?
A: Brides are often concerned that the actual ceremony will be edited or cut by one of us video yahoos. They are afraid that we’ll whack a prayer or song or something else. I don’t do that! I recently saw another videographer’s demo where he actually edited the ceremony, cutting out big chunks. So, the multi-camera ceremony is edited in the sense that there are shots taken from multiple angles and the video changes to different cameras but I don’t “CUT” or edit or delete anything from the ceremony. Hence, “ceremony uncut.”
Put another way, if your ceremony lasts 58-minutes, you'll see 58-minutes of ceremony on the final DVD. If the ceremony is 12-minutes... you get the picture. I think the only thing I ever "cut" was I shot a full mass wedding (I'm probably butchering the official title) and there were a couple of hundred people there. Most took communion when it was offered. The mother of the bride instructed that I shorten that part and don't put on the final video every soul receiving communion.
Q: What's with all the references to golden retrievers?
A: UPDATE - We had two of them. "Tracker," the one seen on that CNN.com story I mentioned on the bottom of this "FAQ" has passed. He was about 12. The other is seen here. Rex is about 8.
Q: I am wondering if it is at all possible to capture still photos from the video?
A: AN UPDATED ANSWER: OK, I'm shooting all weddings in high definition. The stills from video come out well. Getting good photographs should be the job of the photographer. Getting great video is my job. Unfortunately, I am still working on getting clients "THE Shot" that the photographer missed.
Q: Can you make me prettier and get rid of any smudges or should I check my makeup every 5 seconds?
A: How can I mess with perfection?
Q: I basically want to meet you in person and just talk about the whole plan and all that good stuff. I figured we might as well meet. We may hate each other. Who knows?
A: Good question that comes up often... should you (the client) and I actually "meet" before the wedding. If you live 300+ miles away, the answer is generally "no." If there's a place we can meet should you have this burning desire to meet me, we can work something out. In the case of the client's note above, she hated me but still booked me. Go figure!
Q: How do you work? Like, what style do you usually use when making a video; 
cinematic, documentary, or a mix of both? What type of lighting do you use?
A: This great question from my client Abbi from Auburn got her a $50 discount on her wedding package. My style is primarily documentary because of my day job - an historian/documentarian for a large US Government agency. I don't like doing cheesy stuff. I've been known (if I think it works) to do little short cinematic features. I don't walk around bothering people. I treat people at a wedding the way I would want to be treated... I want to enjoy the wedding and be left alone from the hired help. I don't walk around during the ceremony. If a camera can be placed in an inconspicuous place near the front of a wedding, I'll do that. Lighting for the ceremony is ambient. I'll use an on-camara light at the reception if 
it's dark.
Q: How ugly are you?
A: Pretty ugly... (see photo right)
Q: Why don't you show clips of your work on the website? What are you trying to hide? Are you part of that vast right-wing conspiracy?
A: No matter how high the quality of the clip on the web, it's no substitute for the sample DVD. There's no obligation for the free demo DVD!
Q: Your prices are too low! That must mean that the quality is low! My dad said I should just get a family member to shoot it for that much.
A: I have virtually no overhead. I shoot video because I enjoy it, not to put food on the table. But, what the heck, listen to your dad... get Uncle Buck to shoot it. My wife has things for me to do.
Q: What stupid names for packages! What gives? "Package A, " "Package B," etc. My grandmother is more creative! I want a videographer with clever package names!
A: I gave this a lot of thought. I didn't like the names the other video yahoos gave, like "Golden Memories." I have a golden retreiver and I didn't want to think of my dog while shooting your wedding. But in your case...
Q: I like some things on some of the packages but don't want everything. Can you give me a quote for a custom package?
A: Probably 80% of every contract I sign is a custom package.
Q: How long does it take to edit a wedding video?
A: If I worked straight, it would be between 18-22 hours.
Q: That's not what I meant when I said how long to edit, you moron! When will I get my video!?!?!
A: A-hem... sorry. In 30 days or less.
Q: What's the square root of 38?
A: 6.164414 (My thanks to Jackie in North Carolina for the answer)
Q: How far will you travel?
A: Pretty far! Let me know where you're at and we'll work something out.
Q: I want the high definition package but I want candle light for my wedding. Will 
that work?
A. If your guests will be required to wear night vision goggles to see your wedding because the lighting will be set for "mood," high definition is not the way to go. If you're planning a subdued lighted wedding ceremony or even so subdued that you're planning on using candles to light the area, high definition is not the way to go! The lighting requirements are more than standard definition video. A normally lit sanctuary or building will accomodate high definition. It does not require bright, blarring lights (though it doesn't mind them - the brighter the venue, the better a high definition video will look).
Q: Do you do windows?
A: Only for my wife.
Q: So how good are you?
A: Approximately 90% of all my work are because of referrals, not first time contacts or advertising.
Q: Didn't I see you on CNN.com?
A: You did. You saw me and (one) of my killer Golden Retrievers... Click on the CNN.com logo for a direct link to the story 