Vivid Wedding Films » Behind the Scenes

Cabo Balcony Timelapse & Our Stay at Dreams Los Cabos

Ryan Welch — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:41:13 +0000

After shooting Emily + Dan’s wedding at Cabo Azul Resort in San Jose del Cabo, Susan and I switched hotels for a few days of rest and relaxation in the Cabo sun. We moved to Dreams Los Cabos Suites, an amazing resort with amazing people. It was a very relaxing time and a nice break from the long, cold northwest winter/spring.

Above is a timelapse I set up one evening from our balcony (Room #4409), that starts around 10:30pm and ends the next morning around 7. I had to change the battery pack a couple of times early in the morning, as you’ll notice a couple of small camera movements.

Here’s a couple of photos of our stay…this is pretty much where we spent most of our time.

The architecture around the resort was amazing. This is one of our favorite courtyards.

We rarely come out from behind the camera, but here we are just before dinner our last night there.

I don’t think you’ll have to twist our arms to get us to come back, so if you’re planning a wedding in Cabo, let us know.

Great to meet new couples at January Wedding Shows

Ryan Welch — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:11:40 +0000

We just finished up a weekend of wedding shows – one in Sunriver, Oregon and one in Eugene. It was so great to meet all kinds of new couples looking to have their weddings filmed. We get very excited to meet couples who really see the value and art in what we do. What we do is WAY MORE than just show up with a couple cameras and hit “record.” We tell stories. True, real stories about couples on one of the most important days in their lives. ”Remember it Vividly” is what we like to say.

We’re already booking up for 2010 pretty quickly so if you’re interested in ’10 dates, contact us soon. Remember that we’re also offering 10% off any packages booked by the end of January.

We’re super excited about the couples we get to work with this year!

-Ryan

In The Works | Your Day In Focus with Vivid Wedding Films

Ryan Welch — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:01:35 +0000

Totally stoked to announce that we are producing an exciting new blog series, no doubt it will be a valuable resource for brides looking for tips from some of the Willamette Valley’s most sought after wedding vendors. We should be launching in the coming weeks, with plans to release a new video every month or so. The team here at Vivid Wedding Films is blessed to work alongside of so many gifted wedding specialists. Here is a peak behind the scenes at Studio 385 in Eugene, of course the shoot was a bunch of fun, the first vendor to be featured in the series is our good friend Karen Stott of Avayah Photography. Look for Karens video to be up and running soon.

Karen and Susan on the set of Your Day In Focus

In Studio with Karen at Avayah Photography

Ryan Rossman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:27:49 +0000

One of the things we love is working with other creatives around the Northwest. Yesterday, we had the chance to work with Karen Stott of Avayah Photography on her promo video. She’s a very, very talented photographer, who loves to push the envelope in terms of creativity and what she’s offering couples as far as wedding photography is concerned. We had a great time in the studio yesterday with her. Here’s a couple of shots (one’s a video still and one is a photograph) from our shoot yesterday.

Re:Frame Wedding Filmmakers Conference Recap

Ryan Rossman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:42:47 +0000

Todd and I returned last week from San Francisco and the Re:Frame Filmmakers conference. It was 4 days of intense shooting technique, business management, HD workflow, branding & marketing, creative storytelling techniques, social media and more.

We both learned so much during the 4 days and are exciting to putting those things into action as we move ahead into 2010. More than anything though, we were encouraged by all the relationships we built with other filmmakers around the world. We’re also very thankful to the 4 filmmaker who founded the Re:Frame Collective: Kristin Bliss, Bruce Patterson, Jason Magbanua and Julie Hill.

Here’s a few photos from our week in San Francisco.

- Ryan W.

A view from the roof of the Clift Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

Todd helping Jason Magbanua during our shoot-out. Jason was demonstrating how to get the ring shots.

We had 3 models to shoot during our shoot-out at a SF park.

Todd and Ryan after the shoot-out.

One of the models we had the chance to shoot.

Oregon in the Fall

Ryan Welch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:06:42 +0000

Wow. What a gorgeous day we ended up having this past saturday to share with Aaron and Lauren and their family up in the West Linn area just outside of Portland. It absolutely poured sheets of rain earlier in the day, but God was showing us some favor with a break for sunshine and autumn color hitting us from every direction. Here is a video still we shot just before the sun set behind the mountain.
One of my favorite scenes of the day was when the bride and groom ran out the door after being pronounced husband and wife and headed to this belfry in the old church and rang it out with a couple of good tugs on the rope.

Re:Frame Filmmakers Conference San Francisco

Ryan Rossman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:45:18 +0000

What a crazy last few days it’s been. We’re in San Francisco now, but the journey here began last Friday morning as I flew to Leavenworth, Washington to take pictures (still and motion) for Whitney and Wes’s engagement shoot. Saturday, I flew to Portland and met up with Todd to shoot Lauren and Aaron’s wedding.

Sunday morning we flew out to the Re:Frame Filmmakers Conference in San Francisco. We just finished out first day of classes and have been so impressed by what we’ve learned in just one day. It’s been invaluable to learn from the industry’s best and to chat and share stories and ideas with others around the world doing what we’re doing. Below is a short video done by a couple of our fellow filmmakers. It highlights the beginning of the conference.

Vivid Wedding Films expands to New York, East Coast

Ryan Rossman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:43:32 +0000

These are exciting times for Vivid Wedding Films. Bittersweet, but exciting. Ryan Rossman, an integral part of the Vivid team here in the Northwest for the past 3 years, has seen an opportunity to expand the Vivid Wedding Films reach to the east coast. So, tomorrow he and his wife, Brittney will fly back to New York to begin a new journey and continuing the quality of wedding films produced by Vivid in the Northeast.

While it will be tough to see Ryan leave us here at the Northwest studio, we’re excited for the opportunity Ryan and Brittney will have. He’s already made some great contacts in NY and we’re excited to offer brides in that area the same creative wedding films we’ve produced in the Northwest for over 10 years now. Ryan will be posting a few blog posts over the coming weeks detailing the transition and keeping you up-to-date with wedding films produced in New York. You can also follow along via Twitter.

DVD Motion Menu Look

Ryan Rossman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:56:29 +0000

Everything we do at Vivid Wedding Films stems from our desire to create the most amazing wedding film we can for each of our brides. We take pride in knowing that, just like each couple, every one of our films is unique tailored to that couple. This even extends in to our DVD production. Here’s a look at the menu for Jessica and Kenny’s DVD.

A Very Nice ‘Thank You’

Ryan Rossman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:20:33 +0000

We received this note the other day from Teri, mother of Molly, who’s wedding we filmed in July.

“Dear Ryan, I forwarded the trailer you sent for Molly and Ryan’s wedding. You would not believe the response. Friends are sending it to friends who don’t even know the happy couple. I’m hoping you will be flooded with inquiries for future work, because you are amazing.

Molly and Ryan, along with both families, spent four days up at Creation, in the Gorge, after the wedding. They didn’t see the video until a week later & Ryan’s eyes welled up as a watched your production.

I just can’t say enough good things about your work and we’ll be your greatest cheerleader in the reference department. If any potential client needs a first person reference please give them my name and number. Thank you again for everything. – Teri Schaefer”

View Molly & Ryan’s Trailer

Showtime: Watching the Same Day Edit

Ryan Welch — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:40:35 +0000

After 10 to 12 hours of work on a Same Day Edit, there’s nothing quite like watching the bride and groom have a chance to sit down and watch their day unfold before them on the big screen.

Here’s a shot of Lauren and Nathan as they – along with their guests – watched their Same Day Edit last Saturday evening at the Brasada Ranch in Central Oregon.

Watch Your Step When Working the Glidecam

Ryan Welch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:13:21 +0000

Here’s a quick clip that shows the importance of watching your step when filming a couple while walking backwards with the Glidecam. Luckily, the camera did not hit the ground, as I did.

Watch Your Step from Vivid Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Same Day Wedding Edit Process: Telling the Story

Ryan Welch — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:19:03 +0000

How to do a Same Day Wedding Edit: Part One

This is the first part of a series of posts describing how Vivid Wedding Films puts together a Same Day Wedding edit.

One of the things we love most about producing wedding films is the story behind each couple. Good visuals, lighting and audio are very important, but if you can’t tell a story, then your film won’t add up to much.

We pride ourselves on being great story-tellers at every level of the production. It begins with the way we film – what you capture through your lens is much like the “ideas and words” authors use to tell stories. While filming, we’re already beginning to think about the edit and how we’ll tell the story – and without a doubt, each story is unique. Being able to see the story unfold before us is what separates us from a lot of wedding videographers.

Editing a Same Day Edit + Love Story is sort of like reverse-engineering the story – or edit. After interviewing the couple, we begin to piece together their story, while thinking about how it will integrate with shots from their actual wedding day. As you can see in the photo below, we leave “gaps” in the story for which images and audio from the day will occupy.

For us, this is the fun part: not knowing exactly how the story will unfold and being flexible enough to alter any ideas we had going into the day. As we lead up to Meredith and Mark’s Same Day Edit, June 19th, we’ll be passing along more insight into the process of “telling their story” using the Same Day Edit + Love Story.

Engaged? You’ve already made one great choice…

Ryan Welch — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:52:09 +0000

You’ve already made one great choice…. from Vivid Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Poloriods of Sarah & Jesse

Ryan Welch — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:31:23 +0000

Here’s a few more shots of Sarah and Jesse that we ran through a program called Poladriod – a really easy program that turns your photos into Poloriods. Be careful though…it can be a little addicting.

Vivid WF Mentioned in Event DV Magazine

Ryan Welch — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:49:38 +0000

Vivid Wedding Films was mentioned in the February 2009 edition of EventDV magazine in an article about HD presentation on the web. The screenshot from the photo of our bride and groom (Karin & Kyle) was captioned “Another classy Vimeo wedding video channel.”

Old Friendships & Kindred Spirits

Ryan Welch — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:41:35 +0000

This wedding season was one of the most epic in my history of shooting wedding films. It seems that old friends were getting married off, older friends children were growing up. I had the privilege of working with one of my dearest friends, Greg & Kim Lawless, Greg was one of the first people I clicked with upon my move to Oregon, he played in a band called Adam Again that have I always admired. That was about 12 years ago, well many encouraging conversations and countless cups of dark coffee later. My wife Lorrie and I watched their kids grow up all too quickly, and then this past summer, first their daughter Kelsey, and then their son Ryan took the marital plunge all within a 48 day period. Wow!

Here are a few shots from Kelsey & Kyle’s wedding, we will post some of Ryan & Lauren’s day down the road. One of my favorite things about shooting wedding films is that every couple is different, and those differences always come through in a finished wedding film, from the music to every subtle detail. I am looking forward to hitting the editing suite for my favorite Lawless kids soon.

Shooting in Portland Oregon

Ryan Welch — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:22:29 +0000

I got the chance to shoot another old friends wedding film in Portland earlier this year as well, Aaron and I met at a christian music festival called TomFest back in the day. Aaron is a great filmmaker in his own right, and we dig the same music, we went on to work on a couple of video projects together for Michael Knott. Aaron is an outstanding individual, then he finally met his match in Lyndsay…what a fantastic couple and I also had an opportunity to work with their photographer Jelani Memory, here are a couple of shots of Jelani’s from the gig and thanks to both Aaron & Lindsay for their friendship and collaborative spirit.
TZ

Vivid Wedding Films heads to Bend Oregon

Ryan Welch — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:36:50 +0000

We were invited this past weekend to showcase our films at a wedding show in Bend Oregon at the Tower Theatre check it out as a cool retro Bend venue for your wedding. Kerry & Sara at Events By Mint of course put on an incredible show, if you are in the Bend area, talk to Mint for over the top event coordination. We introduced the SDE to a lot of new brides and grooms and everyone was really into it. It was also great meeting lots of other Bend vendors at the show, thanks to all of you for making the Tower event a success….check out a few shots from downtown Bend.

Limo Driver Saves the Day

Ryan Welch — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:09:03 +0000

Todd and I were out this weekend to shoot Cassidy and Sef’s wedding here in Eugene. It’s rare that we get to shoot together because we’re usually working separate weddings on any given Saturday. But this being May, not quite the full wedding season, we had the chance to do so.

Their ceremony took place at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on University of Oregon’s campus. It was a small ceremony – mostly just family – that took place in this courtyard-type area in the middle of the museum. It was, for sure, one of the most unique places we’ve filmed a ceremony. It provided some really cool shots – we’ll try to post some stills and video here soon.

After the ceremony the bridal party, photographer and I, loaded up in the limo and headed to 7-11. No lie. Both Cassidy and Sef got out – in their wedding uniforms – and went inside to buy some ice cream and champagne. A pretty funny sight to see, but the guy behind the counter wasn’t laughing. He wouldn’t even let them buy the champagne because neither of them had their IDs (Any of you underage kids thinking you could stage a wedding, rent a limo and then buy some beer with no issues, had better think otherwise). Luckily, the limo driver did have his ID and was able to get them their champagne.

[flashvideo filename="http://www.vividweddingfilms.com/vivid-gallery/Bongers-7-11.flv" /]

Mint Event Coordination & Design | Central Oregon Weddings

Ryan Welch — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:23:54 +0000

On a recent trip to Bend we worked with Sara and Kerry from Mint Event Coordination and Design to produce a short promo video for them. Here’s a look.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQCUigZ4Ib4&hl=en]

From Eugene to the Bahamas

Ryan Welch — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:08:55 +0000

The main thing we love at VWF is working with couples to create the best wedding film possible. A close second to that (behind the actual “art” of creating such films) is getting to travel to cool places. It’s mostly the Pacific Northwest, which, we think, is one of the coolest regions in the country, but occasionally it’s to some place like….the Bahamas, Paradise Island. Below are some pics of me filming (the day before, and during the ceremony) at a recent wedding in the Bahamas. Thanks to Glen at Aperture Photographics for the pics.

Behind the Scenes at Vivid Wedding Films

Ryan Welch — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:07:06 +0000

Here are some photographs in the studio from our recent video shoot with three of our brides. It was a fun and relaxed shoot with Whitney, Catherine and Megan. Each of them had a different angle on why they appreciated their own wedding film from Vivid Wedding Films. Take a look at the finished video here on our Blog or on our website. Thanks again ladies for a fun day, and thanks to David Loveall Photography for the use of Studio B and final thanks to Connie from Bridescorner for the excellent skill in rose petal tossing in the intro…….flawless!

New Day, New Year, New Wedding Films

Ryan Welch — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:05:50 +0000

So keeping up on the blogging thing has been more challenging than expected. But hey, it’s a new year, and time for new plans, strategies and resolutions.

We do want to take a second to thank all of our clients from 2007 for a great year full of new locations, new collaborations, and memorable wedding film moments. We are honored to serve the Northwest, and work with people who appreciate what we do, people who actually “get it”! Another shout of thanks goes out to the great circle of filmmakers that work closely with Vivid Wedding Films, as iron sharpens iron, you bring vision to the business of wedding filmmaking.

Here is a vignette sample from Robin & Jason’s wedding film. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0bxHX0Z7Pg&rel=1]
We worked with Richard & Christina Roman for the first time, they are a refreshing photography team, you can view their work over at www.richardromanphotography.com
Thanks again for supporting the art of wedding filmmaking. Check back soon for more from the team @ Vivid Wedding Films.

Bridal Interviews

Ryan Welch — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:47:08 +0000

We finally finished our bridal interviews in time for the Oregon Wedding Showcase. Take a look here as we spoke with 3 brides who discussed their experience with Vivid Wedding Films.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5xHIwumv-k&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1]