Best single shooters?
 

Hi,

I am a massive fan of Ian Cruz, his work is amazing. I am seeing a lot of wedding films made using 2 or 3 videographers and wanted to know if you could share your favourite videographers who still shoot on their own.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Really? I thought Ian has a crew that work alongside him..nevertheless J.P. from www.weddingfilms.com is a great solo shooter.

Kren

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Joel's work is outstanding.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Gary Hanna from Philly, very creative and all around nice guy too!

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I would have thought that the most obvious answer here (provided that you do shoot single-handed) was yourself ... I think it's important to love your work and love what you do and what you produce. If you are totally in awe of some other production company you will tend to try and emulate them which is wrong as your style is what makes brides like you and pay lots of dollars into your bank account.

Cmon guys and girls let's have some self confidence here. Your wedding videography business is going great guns is it not??? Your brides love your work right??? Isn't the answer obvious??? Why give credit and admiration to someone else??

Chris

Re: Best single shooters?
 

He is quoting 3 videographers in his packages Ian Cruz Films
Incidentally check out what you get for your money in the Philippines. Top package with 3 videographers is 95000 Philippine Peso (about £1400/$2200)

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Because there is a lot of respect to others that have years of experience. If you don't study other peoples work, how is your stuff going to stay fresh? I agree that you need to make it your own, but why stay in a cave not looking at what the top performers in the industry are creating? There is always room to grow and one more trick to add to your bag.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

My friend had him fly over with his team, it worked out much cheaper and they loved the videos.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Hey Greg

I agree absolutely...by all means look at other peoples shots and styles but still create your own specific style without trying to do your entire shoot like the person you admire. If I see someone else do a really cool shot yes, I might adapt it into my style but I have seen too many newbies try and "copycat" experienced videographers right down to the way they do their titles and their shot sequence and transitions. If experienced Joe Bloggs uses short shots during bridal prep and has a white flash transition between each shot it doesn't mean you have to emulate it exactly, just cos he is well known. It's still important to develop your interpretation the way you see it but if Joe has filmed the rings in a really nice way..by all means incorporate it in your sequence and film the rings the same way!

Chris

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Hi Nigel,

I think you are trying to compare pounds to pesos which is valid. But houses in SF is not the same price in Bakersfield or in this case the Phils (just an example)

It could be cost of living I think. cost of labor.

But if you look closely at the competition in the Philippines, Ian is one of the higher end shooters, meaning that he charges on the top tier. So, it is relative. because the highest package there which is Jason and bob both at around 120k pesos.

I will argue though, that if they reside in your area or mine, their going rate for three shooters would be similar to the top names you know of here at around 5k-8k, actually might be more.

Similarly, vice versa, if we try to reside there , if we normally charge 3700 minimum here in US , if you convert that to pesos 151000 .. I will say... Good luck : ) because going back to cost of living, not so many people can afford it there and it is 20% already of a decent house in the phils. 20% of a decent house here in sf is $100-200k : )

Im from the phils by the way so I know : )

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Sigmund, I was trying to highlight the point that the cost of living in the Philippines must be much lower than US or Europe for such low prices to be charged for such exceptional work.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Cheaper maybe but it is illegal to use cheap foreign labour without work permits.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I have no doubt that everything was above board..I think you would also need to pay for the flights and accommodation which will balance it all out.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

There is no way that work permits would be issued to film a private wedding. It would be different if it was a news crew covering the Royal Wedding. There are plenty of videographers within the EU to choose from.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Work permits would only be required for long term employment.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Filming weddings is not one of the categories of business visitor who does not require a permit. The rules specifically mention film crew who are allowed in without a work permit for doing location shoots but that's not the same thing at all. UK Border Agency | What business activities can a business visitor do?

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I wonder how much enforcement can be applied, especially as the UK seems to have an open door to all and sundry.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I agree but if you turn up from a country outside the EU with a load of filming equipment they could make an obvious deduction.

You need to get a visa to enter the UK before you even leave the Philippines. I am not sure how tough they are to get but presumably you can pretend to be taking a vacation. With DSLRs you could just claim to be a keen photographer.

All countries reserve work for their own residents. Canadians cannot just drive over the border & film weddings in the US or vice versa.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Fair comments Nigel and no doubt accurate too. I guess as a sole operator I have never had this problem. I have filmed in the US, Canada, Africa, Switzerland and many other locations, never been asked if I was on business. Then again I always think of my work as pleasure.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I called a friend who used Ian and they said he asked for a tourist visa and all was ok.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

Have to agree with Nigel. However for wedding videographers/photographers it is easy to say I am attending a wedding and it's usually end of story.

I doubt if any of the international photographers/videographers actually apply for work visas, nor would I think it is easily granted as every country wants to keep it local.

My 2 cents.

Re: Best single shooters?
 

I asked a photographer we once worked with who does a lot of destination weddings in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean if he applied for work permits, he said there is no need as long as your client is the same nationality as you (Canadian).

Cheers!

Kren