How to create your own stress-free wedding timeline.

How to create your own wedding timeline.

It goes without saying that a wedding timeline is crucial to the organization and flow of your special day, but it can also be the cause of a lot of anxiety for some. Some people are lucky enough to have what we call “the rare one”, which is when a wedding flows according to the timeline without any complications. For the rest of us though, there are bound to be a few bumps in the road along the way! No two weddings are the same when you consider cultures and traditions, locations, traveling, vendor setbacks, weather, and spontaneous moments. Keeping up with the video and photo timeline is not always easy and requires a substantial amount of time, but you’ll never feel like it’s dragged out or a bore. We make the experience fun for everyone, which always helps the time fly by. A “Day after session” is encouraged for those who do not have the time during the wedding day for us to capture the necessary couple session.

We understand that some of you may have a wedding planner that will develop the timeline for your day almost entirely on his or her own, however, for those who want to create their own timeline or compliment the one they received from their wedding/event planner and feel they’re unsure about what to expect or plan for, this guide will be sure to help get you organized and answer all of your questions. For those of you that will have your venue wedding coordinator create your timeline, keep in mind that they typically do not plan for anything prior to the reception.

A few key pieces of advice to begin with:

• Understand and be open to things possibly running behind.
•  Live in the moment and enjoy it, it’s your special day and even the speed bumps that come your way are a part of this adventure. Remember, some of the best shots we get are the candid ones.
• Allow yourself to have buffer time throughout the day in case of any setbacks.
• We highly recommend having your cinematography and photography team cover 10 hours, but no less than 8 hours in order to tell your wedding story.

Things to consider:

1.    How many hours do you have the videography and photography team for?

2.    How long does it take to travel to the different destinations?

• Getting ready at home or another location separate from the Ceremony.
• Ceremony in a different location from the reception.

3.    Putting aside adequate time for the bride and groom video and photo session.

• Allow 60 minutes for detailed shots: dress, shoes, rings, etc.
• Allow 45 minutes for make up.
• Allow 45 minutes for hair.
• Allow 30 minutes for the bride getting dressed because no two wedding dresses are the same and some take more work to finish putting on due to lacing, zippers, buttons, and other unique styles.
• Allow 30 minutes for the groom and groomsmen to get dressed for the ceremony.
• Allow 15 minutes for a portrait session with the bride involving her bridesmaids.
• Allow 15 minutes for a portrait session with the groom involving his groomsmen.
• Allow 10-20 minutes for the gift exchange between the bride and groom.
• Allow 10-20 minutes for the exchange and reading of the letters between the bride and groom or any personal messages you want captured on video.
• We find it important that your timeline has room prior to the ceremony that will allow yourself 30 to 60 minutes for refreshing of hair and makeup because factors such as the weather can affect these things during the portrait sessions.
• It’s imperative to go over important information during the wedding rehearsal and to have your officiant make an announcement not only before, but also after about the portrait session to the family, bridal party, friends, and anyone else who is schedule to be a part of the portraits before the ceremony begins:
• We will need the family to stay behind after everyone leaves so we could gather them in a timely fashion to meet with the bridal party and us for their portrait session. This allows us an opportunity to stay on course with the timeline or even perhaps catch up on time lost.

4. This is your special day so once the ceremony ends we want you to cherish it and take it all in as much as you possibly can, but keep in mind how long your cocktail hour is because this is the time you have to get in your portrait sessions.

• Allow 30 minutes for the Bride and Groom portrait session.
• Allow 15 minutes for the bridal party portrait session.
• Allow 15 minutes for the immediate family portrait sessions.
• Factor in travel time if applicable.

5. Will you be doing a first look?

• Allow a 30 minutes time frame.
• The first look takes time because we like to setup from multiple vantage points to capture every moment. Then, once it’s captured, most couples would like a few moments to take it all in and cherish the moment after it’s all shot.
• Time willing, we like to capture the first look as unobtrusively as possible to keep it as authentic as possible, then we can fake a few creative shots afterwards.

6.    What time is sunset?

• Natural light is very important because it’s naturally the best lighting and also the most flattering. 
• We advise our clients to plan for 2 hours prior to sunset for the best source of lighting possible.

7.    Will you plan on doing a grand exit?

• If not then consider moving up your usual reception formalities such at speeches, cake cutting, garter retrieval, and bouquet toss to reduce the amount of coverage needed, which will not only save you money in the end, but it will also allow your wedding guests to enjoy the dance sessions with a limited amount of interruptions.

Do you feel like the time needed will clash with the time you actually have available? Having a late sunset ceremony? Have a preference to shoot at multiple locations? Then the ‘day after session’ is ideal.

Other advantages to this include a relaxed environment to shoot in, the couple gets to enjoy their reception more, and there’s less anxiety related to completing things according to the timeline.

Sample timelines available upon request.

WHY YOU SHOULD DO AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION?

Engagement Portfolio - Click Here

What exactly is this term ‘engagement session’? Another surprise proposal around the corner? Nothing so dramatic; rather, it’s more fun and practical. We like to think of it as an extra photo shoot, or a trial run before the wedding. An engagement session is a relaxed portrait session allowing you to get comfortable in front of a camera and bond with your photographer.

The reasons are multiple with one of the most important being the new found confidence and comfort you’ll feel while being yourself around live action film. With this experience you’ll be able to preform like a rock star on your wedding day, one of the most important days of your life (not that we need to remind you!).

We would estimate that about 90% of us do not feel atomically comfortable in front of the camera. We smile with a cheese-like grin, holding stiff poses we’ve polished over the years. In the comfort and privacy of an engagement session, your professional photographer will be able to impart of wealth of experience and know-how to make the whole experience second nature. No deer caught in the headlights for my happy couples!

Why are engagement sessions important?

One, we want to get to know each other. I’ll get to know your best physical features, what makes you smile, and how you look when you’re feeling shy. It’s all about building rapport. This is also the time for you to share your creative ideas, expectations and desires. We will than have built a trust, leaving you confident that I will capture all those desires at the big event just for you.

Two, it’s time to let your inner Top Model out and get rid of the nerves. Just like you’ll probably practice the first dance a few times before the reception, it’s a good idea to get comfortable in front of the camera as well. It's unlikely that you've worked with a professional photographer before, thus it’s totally natural to feel a bit nervous. Part of the goal here is to get rid of the camera jitters. When the big day rolls around, you won’t be paying a second thought to my paparazzi working our magic in the background as you enjoy your wedding day.

Three, if you have a hair and make-up team already selected this can be a great opportunity to test out your ‘look’ or at least get a great feel for each other with a professional practice run. Remember to choose outfits that reflect your personal style as well. They can be fun, funky, artistic, sporty—whatever makes you YOU! It’s all about personality and planning. The more time you invest in choosing a stylish outfit for your photo shoot, the happier you’ll be with the outcome.

When’s the best time to plan this?

Well this can depend on how long in advance you’ve planned the big day. We’ve had some couples book us 9-12 months ahead of time. They than used their engagement session photos as a Save-the-Date invitation for their guests. The least amount of time we recommend is 2-4 months before the wedding. This gives both of us plenty of time to go over the shots and make adjustments. Another idea is to use some of these engagement photo session pics for a guest-signing book at your reception, as an engagement picture for your hometown newspaper to announce your marriage or in your wedding program.  

Location, Location, Location!

We are more than happy to suggest a fantastic photo site that fits your preference in case you are having any difficulty coming up with the ideal venue. Here are some fun ideas to consider:

• Horse back riding or farm setting

• Hot air balloon field

• Orange groves or botanical gardens

• Pumpkin patch

• Rent a sailboat

Remember, this is all about you. This is your engagement; it should be honored and celebrated. Take the time to document your love story. These moments are special and deserve being captured as part of your life’s journey. Plan a day of it, and a night as well. We say head right from the photo shoot to date-night out and continue the fun!

All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Chad Andreo Productions/Andreo Studio Photo + Cinema. 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING MORE CINEMATIC!

The big day is here and you have a million things on your mind. To help put one of those things to rest, we’d like to offer some tips and suggestions to consider ahead of time when setting the venue for your wedding ceremony and celebration.

You have made a significant financial and personal investment when hiring our team to capture every amazing moment of this day. To that end, our goal is to produce a cinematic work of art that you will enjoy for eternity. What does cinematic technically, mean? It’s described as the use of images captured on film as the primary expression of dialogue, script, and scene depiction all using optimal light, focus, angle and color. Or to simplify, taking some easy preparation steps to make sure we’ve got everyone’s best look in the most ideal setting.

Here are a few pointers to consider. Of course you’ll want to delegate these out to the wedding planner or other family members who are in charge of the day’s details so you won't have to be thinking of anything other than walking down the aisle to marry your soulmate!

1.     SCHEDULE

This is the big one. The more detailed the schedule of day the more we are able to prepare for each event.

·      It is prudent to actually insert short periods of relaxation and extra cushion time in the schedule. If things begin to run behind, these cushions not only help you, but they also allow us to work on more creative and planned shots.

·      For the first dance, the cake cutting, the speeches, etc., our team needs to change lenses and audio settings. Thus a 5 minutes lead-time before each event will help us be ready and in place for the action.

2.     SETTING

·      If possible, set it up so the bride can get prepared in a room with loads of natural light.

·      If possible, have the hair and make-up artist setup within a few feet of a large window.

·      Assign a person to make sure that the brides suite is maintained and kept neat. Use a closet or spare room to place any times not wanted in the final shots.

·      If there is an option to take the group shots in true lighting this keeps skin tones looking natural and makes the colors in the end product look all the more vibrant.

3.     LOCATION

If the ceremony is in a church or other religious venue, we request to be briefed about the rules regarding movement during the ceremony. We understand that some locations have strict rules against moving during the ceremonies and want to be mindful of that. Our team is very respectful to religious traditions and will only do what is necessary to cinematically capture the event but will never be anywhere or do anything to take away from the formal moments.

4.     PERSONAL TIME

Set aside 10-15 minutes during in the wedding agenda to allow us to get specialty footage of the couple together by themselves.

·      If you are comfortable with a ‘first look’ we highly recommend this, as it will give us footage of the couple at their most intimate moment before the ceremony begins.

·      Another idea to capture the intimate bond of a couple is to have them write their own vows or a personal letter to each other, allowing us to capture the reading on film.

·      Or a personalized surprise gift exchange is another sweet and personal moment just between the betrothed.

5.     SPEECHES

Although each image, still shot and action sequence we catch will be magnificent, the backbone of your film will be the speeches. These are stories about you coming from people who love you dearly. They will be telling the story of how two became one. It is ok to ask you presenters to have well thought-out and meaningful readings ready for the main event.

In the end we are going to capture a cinematic tale of your day and it will be fantastic. After we have done all the necessary prep work, the best you can do to sit back, relax and rest easy knowing we’re getting all the best footage of your big day!

All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Chad Andreo Productions/Andreo Studio Photo + Cinema. 

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER DOING A FIRST LOOK.

Why Consider Doing a First Look

Should you have a first look? Are you still trying to decide what is best for you? If so, we would love to tell you why we think first looks are a fantastic addition to your wedding day! 

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are on the fence about including the First Look in your wedding plans:

1. You can react however you want! When you walk down the aisle, you will be in front of your family and closest friends – although, it is easy to zero in on the moment that you first step into your groom’s sight, the subconscious is very aware that everyone is watching. During a first look, it’s just the two of you – emotional reactions are not broadcasted to everyone so you can be 100% comfortable with just being with each other in the moment. Bring on the tears and “you look amazing’s” – you can be as loud or quiet as you want when you are not standing in front of hundreds of people.

2. It’s a time saver.  After the ceremony, you’ll only have family formals left (unless you are REALLY good at coordinating before!) and then you can spend the rest of the time enjoying and celebrating with the people who have always been there for you, yours guests.

3. You will be looking your absolute best. Although you will be glowing the entire night, you know you will be feeling your best RIGHT after your hair and makeup has been finalized and your soon-to-be husband will be absolutely handsome – tie or bowtie still intact!

4. Things happen. Wedding days are hectic and we are trying to fit so many amazing things into 8-10 hours! It is always better to have your portraits done early in the best light possible! Once the ceremony is over, the rest of the night will fly by – so getting the portraits out of the way early, ensures that you get all of the photos and footage you want while maximizing your time with your guests later on. The last thing that you want is an entire nighttime portrait session!

5. You get to spend more time with your new husband. Think about it. You start getting ready with your bridesmaids at 10 AM, but the ceremony isn’t until 4 or 5 PM, the reception will end promptly at 11 PM. Yikes! That means by the time the ceremony is over, you’ll only actually spend time with your new husband for less than half of the day PLUS you also have to spend time with EVERY other wedding guest you invited. The first look gives you an extra hour or two of JUST you two, so then you won’t feel like you didn’t even get a chance to see each other outside of the formalities during the day!

6. You get the best of both worlds. Not only do you get to walk down the aisle towards your groom starring adoringly at you in front of your guests, but you also will be able to share your first wedding moments intimately with just the two of you.

Just to recap, here are the benefits to having a first look:

▪ Private setting

▪ You are looking your best!

▪ Less stress

▪ Time saved 

▪More time together

▪ Looks AMAZING on photo and video

We hold strongly to the belief that your day should be about you and while we do recommend having a first look, ultimately it comes down to what you are comfortable with. We are there to capture YOUR memories, your story and provide you with the best advice along the way.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Chad Andreo Productions/Andreo Studio Photo + Cinema. 

MODERN WEDDING CINEMATOGRAPHY VS. TRADITIONAL WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY

In this article we’re looking at the difference between cinematography and videography, giving you all the 411 so you can decide which method is the right option for your event. 

Modern Cinematography: Film production

Cinematography is a big word; it’s what the professionals in Hollywood use to define a person’s title when shooting movies. For our purpose here, we’re taking cinematography to the level of creating a cinematic, or movie-style film of your wedding day.  

Cinematography can be defined as the art and science of motion picture photography, involving all aspects of realizing the vision and the artistic creativity of the director (that’s me) and/or client (that’s you!). To this end, it can involve which lens and lighting choices to make, as well as what filters and the specific camera action operators will be taking.

To lie out some of the other qualities you’re going to get with a cinematographic production let’s take a look here:

·       We’re going to document the day in a movie-like, artistic perspective.

·       The cameras will be small and unobtrusive, as well as being able to capture scenes in limited light with no additional spotlights needed.

·       We’ll be using modern film tools such as Steadi-cams, sliders, aerial drones and other advanced devices to capture unique footage.

·       We’ll be able to record speeches and other audio stories with high quality; this will allows us to later narrate the wedding feature in a creative style.

·       Instead of just a one-man team behind a bulky video cam, we use multiple cameras to capture the ceremony from various angles.

·       Using a cinematographer means the film captured will look more movie-like (this is called a shallow-depth-of-field look). It results in smooth camera movement and the feeling of high production value.

·       Rather than basic event coverage, cinematographers opt for narrative-style or documentary-style “short films” or “story videos”.

·       The editing style for your cinematic film will emphasize the story, thus much more work goes into the editing (could be 40-80 hours versus 10 hours for a traditional wedding documentary).

We ultimately like to call these short films. Your wedding film captures all the actual events and more, which are than edited with additional story telling taken from many hours of footage; including speeches and separate audio recordings acting as narration for the story.

Traditional Videography: Video production working with video vs. film

Videography at its basic can be compared to security camera footage. It is usually taken from one static position, thus unable to take into account surrounding moments of spontaneity, beauty and other artistic elements. 

A video production will offer you:

·       Very straight forward edit with all of the footage delivered in a chronological order.

·       Long, possibly boring shots.

·       Lower quality image.

·       No movie-style movement or action shots.

·       Videography is unable to be as creative and produce a storytelling final document.

·       May have more of those cheesy style interviews with family and friends.

·       Almost exclusively uses wide-angle shots to capture as much of the event at once.

·       Finished video will be on the longer side and include almost everything shot that day.

·       Most video is shot at a higher frame rate, which gives the video a “home movie” feel.

So, once we take out the mumbo-jumbo of tech speak and break it down into the basic cinematography versus video is a lot easier to understand. Some people prefer a homemade movie style giving them a kind of old fashioned feel to document their special event. Others may prefer a hint of flash with some modern style editing, allowing for a bit more artistic license and creativity.

Only you can know what style might fit you best when hiring a film team for your wedding in South Florida. Now, with all that said, no more talking and please take a look at our videos in the link below! 
Wedding Portfolio - West Palm Beach, Miami, Florida Wedding Videographer
Portfolio of South Florida Wedding Cinematographer Videographer Chad Andreo, serving West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and NYC.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Chad Andreo Productions/Andreo Studio Photo + Cinema.