SDEs have changed my business..going to SDE ONLY $$$$ and NO BACKLOG
 

I LOVE SDEs so much that for the most part that is all we are pushing. Next year we already have 12 weddings booked for $3500 (also about 8 others ones booked with other stuff ;( and all they will get as a final product is a SDE like the one we just did and one camera angle of the ceremony and reception. We will film it with multiple angles but those will only be used for the SDE. NO MORE BACKLOG YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost 99% of my bookings come from referrels from SDEs. I just love so much the gratification a SDE gives me. It also really pushes me to do my BEST!

Some little tid bits about that recent SDE.

Shot with the canon 7D and 5D.
Lenses used 50 1.4, 24-105 f4, 70-200 f4, 16-35 2.8
Edited in Sony Vegas
Cineform Neo Scene used to convert the files.
Glidecam 2000 used for flying :)
Cinevate Pegasus
Bogen monopod to keep things stable....

Thanks for answering the question I just posted to you on the 5d forum.

Next question... What system are you editing with Vegas on???

Thanks.

That looked very good Michael, especially considering that it was shot and edited in a day. I really liked the ending shot .
Unfortunately sde's don't sell at all around these parts, that's why I started focussing more at small events since last year as they require just a few hours at location to film and editing is also finished in a day and, very important, it pays better.

I really enjoyed that and would love to be able to produce an SDE. But Im not sure how it works with the UK market and how our days go.

I notice that you also had the first dance in there. So when do you edit and when do you show it?

Here in the UK the first dance is normally around 8pm and then the party starts. Is that the same in the US?

Very nice job. I like the low steadicam shots, really gives a great sense of being there.

So the couple does not get anything but the SDE?

They don't get the ceremony or the reception?

Do they really grasp this up front?

They are basically getting a music video of their wedding day.

I like it but it would seem they would want more.

(I won't go negative on the music copyright issue, but this music did sound like a released song) If it is royalty free it was a great find.

Thanks for sharing

Mike posted that they give "simple edit" with footage from one camera in this package.

Great "business" kill, Mike. Perfect example how to make more doing less :-) I'm at the same process of simplifying my offer and making it more profitable without changing prices. Can't wait for next season already.

Michael, I'd be interested, as well as others I'm sure... how well this works out in the future. Keep us updated. Nice work, btw.

A quad core hp laptop with 6gb of Ram. Has run like a champ all year and converting with the stand alone cineform converter is the only way to go with the 5D footage. It converts in real time and is extremely stable in vegas 8!

Well I'll let you know over the coming years. I already have a few booked for 2011....so we'll see what happens...

Actually this package all the couple got was the full ceremony and this SDE. So I started editing around 4:45 and was almost done when they did the first dance so I ran out there around 8:00 and got a few shots from that then finished it up and showed it around 9. We convert the footage all day long.

You took the words right out of my mouth!! :) That's exactly my mindset. I kept trying to think of ways to make more money and jam my packages with more stuff and ultimately more WORK!! My clients LOVE the Same Day Edits and that's what I LOVE to do more then anything. So I thought instead of raising my prices like crazy just give a little less and do what I love most. It's DEF more profitable this way and a whole lot more fun ;)