Why so many new wedding videographers?

Glen Elliott · August 17th, 2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.J. Briones

and newbies? weren't we all? didn't we all have "stupid" questions to ask at one point? aren't you glad that there's this cool place where people interested in getting into dv filmmaking can get the right answers instead of asking the "gadget guru" at best buy?

Very good point. It's funny you mention Best Buy because just 4 years ago when I bought my first DV camera (Sony TRV-17) there were a few guys at Best Buy that were attending college for video production. I would frequently visit and hit them with all sort of questions, "what's real-time, how do you output to VHS (this is before the onset of DVDs mind you)". They were my "DVinfo".

Partially due to my unbridled passion and another part due to my tendancy to be obsessive over my "hobbies" I soaked up as much info as I could. I ate, sleep, and ...(well, you know) Videography.

Ironcily enough I took some recent work into Best Buy recently (one of the two video guys still works there). He was floored at the work I was doing now. Funny that he's the very one that gave the the info to get me started, surrogated soon after by DVinfo. Passion and diligence can get you pretty far. Especially when you have forum communities like this one. I welcome all newbies to learn about this great craft. If it wasn't for people willing to share and teach I wouldn't be as far along as I am now in my continued learning experience in videography. I try to give as much BACK whenever possible.

Ash Greyson · August 17th, 2005, 02:49 PM

I dont do weddings, sans the couple super high-dollar ones maybe once a year but I always say the more milk, the faster the cream rises to the top. No offense to anyone here but wedding guys can be very competetive and downright EVIL. My friend decided to offer weddings as a service in her video business and got HATEMAIL when she advertised a cheaper price than most...

ash =o)

Mike Teutsch · August 17th, 2005, 03:38 PM

One other thing that we might be missing here, is that because of all those entering the field, it brings the prices of equipment down for all, and raises the quality of the equipment.

Without all the new people entering, we would not have all of the neat toys we have now and will have soon. In order for the companies to advance their products and spend the money on research and development, they have to make sales. That neat new HD camera would cost $20,000 instead of $5,000, if it were made at all.

Welcome all.

Mike

Pat Sherman · August 18th, 2005, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Costa

Hey, I don't do weddings. The business is not attractive to me for a lot of reasons having nothing to do with this post. It just seems to me that there are an awful lot of newbies coming to the various forums saying "I am buying video equipment to be a wedding videographer. What should I get?". The normal way into this business IMHO would be home movies -> serious hobbyist -> do a wedding for a friend -> do a second one -> hang out your shingle. By the time most people do their first wedding, they would normally have 20-50 hours of shooting experience and some editing. I bet a lot of them today don't even own a one-chipper. I was just wondering if this seeming (to me) influx of posts of complete newbies is normal, or a sign of the last year or two. And if it's a new phenomenon, why?

I follow you now.. Yeah I would have to say in High School I never said to my self "I want to be a wedding videographer"..:) Actually due to my fulltime professional Director/Editor it was an easy fit.. Much less stressful doing weddings than doing the usual training videos and Documentaries.. IMHO..

Joel Peregrine · August 18th, 2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Teutsch

"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

Socrates (470 - 399 BC)

That is a great quote, Mike. It was such a shock to get to the end and realize how long ago it was said...

Bruce Linden · August 18th, 2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Peregrine

That is a great quote, Mike. It was such a shock to get to the end and realize how long ago it was said...

I know Mike and he was probably there to write it down when it was first said.<G>

Mike Teutsch · August 18th, 2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Linden

I know Mike and he was probably there to write it down when it was first said.<G>

OOOH, you are cruel! Not saying your wrong, just cruel.

Mike

Mike Teutsch · August 18th, 2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel Peregrine

That is a great quote, Mike. It was such a shock to get to the end and realize how long ago it was said...

Joe,

Isn't it great! Heard it nearly 30 years ago or so, while watching the Tonight Show of all things. Johnny was talking to someone about kids, and their behavior, and brought it up.

Just for Bruce’s information, the quote was not written down by Socrates, but was repeated by Plato and attributed to Socrates. I did know Plato.

Mike

August 17th, 2005, 03:38 PM	#33
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	One other thing that we might be missing here, is that because of all those entering the field, it brings the prices of equipment down for all, and raises the quality of the equipment. Without all the new people entering, we would not have all of the neat toys we have now and will have soon. In order for the companies to advance their products and spend the money on research and development, they have to make sales. That neat new HD camera would cost $20,000 instead of $5,000, if it were made at all. Welcome all. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

August 17th, 2005, 02:49 PM	#32
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	I dont do weddings, sans the couple super high-dollar ones maybe once a year but I always say the more milk, the faster the cream rises to the top. No offense to anyone here but wedding guys can be very competetive and downright EVIL. My friend decided to offer weddings as a service in her video business and got HATEMAIL when she advertised a cheaper price than most... ash =o)