Before working primarily in weddings I worked in the documentary field. This storyline driven approach has shaped my workflow and style creating a wedding film. Instead of focusing on getting incredible-looking shots of you and creating a music video, my work focuses on telling the story of the day you are having. This takes time on the day, I’ll want to walk the grounds with you and chat throughout your wedding to get a more rounded view. This is less of a traditional take on wedding videos that asks my clients to open up and be comfortable in front of me and my camera, to focus on telling a story and crafting an experience.
If you’ve watched a few wedding videos you’ll realize most of them look vaguely similar in approach and style. They’re fast-paced, slow-motioned, quick-cutting masterpieces that swirl around excitedly. Generally they tend to look a bit like this:
This is because, when you cram a full day of filming beautiful people, places, and events into a 4 minute highlight, there’s no way to include it all aside from little slivers throughout the day. There’s so much focus on everything supporting the thing that the thing gets a bit muddied. The video turns into an overly romantic, cinematic version of something real that happened, focused on the niceties and pomp. Through it all the couple seems lost; interchangeable. As much a prop as the flowers, rings, and cake.
I’d rather not lose the reality. To be honest (and this is quite embarrassing) it’s where I live. Which is why I take photojournalism literally and create little journal moments throughout your day to create a more straightforward, storyline oriented piece that ends up looking a bit more like this:
It has less twists and turns, isn’t as fancy or as romantic, but I think with a bit less noise a better image emerges. Throughout the day I’ll chat with you, check in on how you feel about major moments, and try to grasp a bit of you to save for later. The end product doesn’t look flashy but grows and ages well, a piece that you can show to your children and your grandchildren. Something that takes its time, offers context, doesn’t jump around much, and focuses on personality above scenery. It will be a glimpse into your past, a life that feels so real now but is just a distant memory.
A place that used to be called the future.
1.
A small family wedding in August
2.
An early November wedding in Berkeley
3.
A classic CA wedding in September
Why use an outdated technology with an equally dated look from the past? Well, because we’re in the past right now. Everything we make, all of the images and videos we create will someday look dated and indicative of the times we are in. Incorporating the past in the present is my hedge against this. It doesn’t hurt that Super 8 is an incredibly beautiful, nostalgic film style that brings me lots of joy to create with.
Nowadays there are a million different filters and stylized effects you can slap over some footage to make it feel dated and nostalgic. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference, and I’m not sure that difference matters. The look and feel of the footage, while important, isn’t the end game for me. The truth of the matter is that film connects with people in an entirely different way than digital cameras do. Living in a digital age means things are nearly instantly accessible, pictures are posted and sent in moments, which leads to a level of self awareness that can cause the majority of people to be a bit camera shy at best.
With super 8, this seems to be the opposite.
I won’t try to sparse out the psychological why behind it. All I know is when these fun little cameras start click clacking away they make me and everyone around me a bit happier, a bit more relaxed, and a whole lot more lifelike.
That’s reason enough.
You can learn a bit more about the analog process and what these cameras are like right over here.
If you’re a filmmaker interested in getting your own setup and dipping into this world I’ve compiled a small booklet covering the details and what to look for. When you first start everything is a bit confusing and hard to navigate, it’s a niche technology for sure. That said the people I’ve met along the way have been incredibly passionate about analog formats and I’m more than happy to pass some of that along and point you in the direction of some wonderful film collectives for buying/developing/scanning. Reach out any time and I’ll send that over!
It’s wedding season y’all! This inevitably means that I’m creating more work than I can showcase in my portfolio, but it’s still work I love and want to share. So this here is a little spot for seasonal favorites.
Whew, the summer is heating up nicely! Here’s a little story from two new friends. Pay close attention to the flowing nature of this, primarily because it shows how important it is to have a photographer who compliments a documentary filmmaker. This was filmed alongside my good friend Anya, getting to work with other creatives who are likeminded is a rare treat.
