Questions & Answers

Briefly, what are the main differences when booking you compared with others?
1- Experience, now in business longer than any GTA competitor. Josh does the camerawork & editing personally
2- Genuine care & finer workmanship, careful & risk-free camerawork, finer more pleasing editing work
3- Best HD camera for event videography, truly incredible Hi-Def images, even in low light, surpassing all competitors
4- Best lens in the trade, a super-wide panoramic lens that sees 50% more, without the usual distortion
5- Promises kept, clients always get more than what they expected, excellent workmanship at very fair pricing

We're former clients from way back, what's changed since last time?
1- Technology has significantly evolved, tape is no longer used, editing is fully computerized, incredible Hi-Def is now dominant
2- Josh's latest camera is much more sensitive to light, lighting has been drastically reduced & images are the best ever
3- The new wide angle lens sees twice as much image as in the past, the new look along with widescreen is amazing
4- Shooting style, safety, image stability, techniques & effects have also evolved & become more eye pleasing and hi-tech
5- Value for the money is now the best ever, but many clients have been conditioned to look for lower & lower pricing ignoring quality
6- Dozens of newbies have entered the trade, most offer low-end services at artificially low pricing, attracting many first-time clients
7- Josh's commitment to finer workmanship, careful editing work and a premium final product has been sustained thru the years

How long have you been recording family events? Do you do this full time? Do you concentrate more on corporate or family event video?
Since 1979. I've recorded and edited well over 3200 family events. I was one of the first to enter the EVENT video business. I'm familiar with a large variety of religious customs. This is a full time profession. I have not concentrated on corporate work for many years; my main focus is on family event work.

Do you personally do the camerawork and editing or do you subcontract all the work? Do you use “junior editors”?
I'm fully "hands-on”. I personally do the camerawork (when not previously booked) and all the editing work. Associate cameramen are available at lower pricing. There is no assembly-line type editing here where a low cost junior editor does the rough cuts and an experienced editor does the rest, each event is carefully edited from start to finish by one person…me. Greatly improved precision, image and sound quality, 3D special effects and the best "pizazz" in our market are all readily available here.

We’ve seen videos where editing short cuts & cutting corners are very obvious, how careful is your editing?
Editing here is done very carefully and I spend an abundant amount of time and effort on each project. In our trade It is quite common to race through the editing process by speeding up & not listening to speeches and by leaving wedding ceremonies uncut. Such practices are not common here; each project is edited in real time and never at high speed resulting in more pleasing viewing.

Since you’ve been in this trade for such a long time, are your techniques and equipment old?
Certainly not, in fact recently a complete equipment changeover has taken place and there's a new very advanced main camera in use. I’ve kept up with the latest trends, techniques and equipment beyond anyone in our trade! I learn something new from every event I shoot and new ideas are very much part of the daily editing activities here. The new Hi-Def camera is by far the best camera used in our trade anywhere in North America. There is no question that the effort, genuine care and expertise that I invest in every production are second to none in our market!

Do you use home cameras, professional cameras, or TV type cameras?
When you book me personally I use Sony’s new High Definition XDCAM-HD (PMW 350) solid state memory TV camera with a super-wide panoramic lens. The camera uses newer 3 2/3” CMOS imagers instead of the lower end 1/3” or ½” CCD’s. Sony's full size cameras far surpass the quality and performance of all the new smaller DV, HDV & DSLR type cameras. Many competitors have switched to small cameras; such cameras are very similar to the lower quality of home type cameras and are not suitable for professional work. The differences between cameras shows very clearly when viewing the production on DVD & Blu-ray discs! No one in our market uses a camera/lens combination as advanced and as costly as mine. Others may offer to rent advanced cameras but rented cameras are often mishandled & unsafe to use for once-in-a-lifetime events.

What are the advantages of your new solid state (no moving parts) memory camera over conventional tape cameras?
Although the majority of lower-end pro Videographers are still using tape for recording, video cameras using tape have become history. There are many advantages to solid state memory recording instead of tapes, here are just a few:
RELIABILITY & SAFETY…Tapes are thin & vulnerable to stretching, creasing, wear due to constant contact with video heads and guides causing friction and increased susceptible to becoming stuck inside a camera’s complex drive mechanism. Professional memory cards are not vulnerable to any such hazards. Memory cards create no friction, wear is eliminated therefore chances of malfunction are greatly reduced. Erasure & accidental recording on top of a previous recording is totally eliminated.
EASE OF USE/MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY…A memory card loads instantly & sets itself for recording unto the next empty space, no need to rewind & fast forward to find an empty spot. There’s instant access to any recorded scene, checking the quality of a recording is not as time wasteful as with tape. Recording on tape more than once will result in quality deterioration and wear; memory cards are good for thousands of uses & do not deteriorate. Time capacity using the latest cards is exceptionally long and the camera loads two cards, once one is full the second takes over.
AUDIO CONTROL FLEXIBILITY DOUBLED…Instead of the standard 2 audio channels, the new camera records unto 4 separate audio channels, this results in far greater control of audio and improves listening enjoyment. One example: a huge improvement in stereo separation, all audio will now be in true stereo instead of mostly mono as with the great majority of competitors.

Some video cameras now use hard drives, discs or common consumer memory cards instead of tapes, are these safe?
Hard drives are very susceptible to vibration, shock & static electricity, recordings can be unintentionally lost. Disc cameras have been reliable but are being phased out because of excessive weight of the mechanism and excessive power usage of the recording laser, this drains batteries far too quickly and batteries fail at awkward times. Consumer memory cards must not be used for professional purposes but they are great for vacation & birthday party photography & video.
Although capturing events on video is routine for us, we know very well how important & personal your special event is. We know how much work you’ve done during the months of planning and decision making. We understand how important it is for you, and for your immediate family, to capture all the results of your hard work and make it all come to life through our video. This is why we use higher end and very costly equipment. Advanced hi-tech equipment does make a big difference in picture quality, flexibility, audio quality, features, capabilities, reliability and ease of use. These are well known trade facts that should not be ignored.

During the shooting of our event will you be keeping the banquet hall clean & uncluttered or will there be a large quantity of equipment, wiring, tripods, stands and assistants present?
I keep things very clean, probably the cleanest in our trade.

Do you use a tripod? Are you mobile, do you attempt to shoot from various heights, angles & locations?
A hi-tech pneumatic $12,000. tripod (known in the trade as a Pedestal) is used for all speeches and scenes that require extra height. This pedestal is super smooth especially when raising & lowering the camera. No one in our trade uses such a pedestal. My mobility is by far the best in the trade due to the use of wire free more advanced equipment. Unique angles & positions are always used. A tripod is used only when required and certainly not overused.

How fast will our video be ready? How early should we book? What’s the booking deposit?
Video is instant; usually an unedited DVD copy can be available the next day or you may even review important moments at the end of your event. An edited version takes longer depending on how soon your editing decisions are made. I strive to edit every production shortly after the event date while it’s fresh in my mind. Generally I can deliver a finished video much sooner than the great majority of competitors. It's never too early to book, once you've firmed up a date & venue start booking all your services. Many clients book video far too late thinking most Videographers will be available. Only a handful in this market are real pros, the best always get booked up early. Usually May to November is booked one to two years ahead. Booking deposit is $500.

Can still photos be made from your HD video?
Yes & results are quite good, but a professional photographer can do much better. We can provide stills of informal images especially if your photographer missed a few important shots.

How do we book?
We make booking fast and easy…(1) You may book by phone; we’ll do the paperwork and rapidly e-mail you copies. Over 95% of our bookings are done by phone or electronically, but personal meetings are welcomed. (2) You may visit here for about 5 minutes and do the paperwork in person. (3) You may book an appointment to view some of our recent work. Chances are we have a video from your venue. There’s no sales pressure, we know you’ll enjoy what you see. Please review our pricing at this website and make sure we are within your budget.

Are DVD discs included?
DVD discs are included with our Standard Def packages, Blu-ray discs are included with our Hi-Def packages. Check our DVD info page or the Hi-Def info page at this website.

Do you know that there are cheaper videographers out there?
I’m aware…others charge according to whatever they feel their product is worth, I do the same. I feel my product is certainly a premium product and surpasses what is available in this market. I'm very experienced by any standard; I'm the only event Videographer consistently using much more costly higher tech equipment, I bring a professional back-up camera, I personally do the work & have full control and my overall standards and commitments are the highest in the trade. Be aware that many lower cost event videographers are now using risky still-cameras with limited video features to record events that require professional equipment. I do not cut corners as so many others do. Check pricing carefully, comparing only dollar figures is misleading; others often use inferior equipment, have less experience & lower standards and charge extra for features I include! Check the contract carefully before signing; many charge excessively for add-ons such as additional disc copies, extra time spent and for customizing, etc. In this market you only get what you pay for.

Some videographers are far more expensive then you are…what’s the difference?
There are a few who have much higher operating expenses such as: high rents/leases, large staff, fancy showrooms and costly salespeople, extensive advertising and leasing costs of pricy production equipment. Some promote useless extras that boost cost. Some need to pay to be referred and must build this into their pricing. Such unnecessary costs can easily add 50% to 80% above our prices. Clients fortunate enough to have unlimited budgets gravitate towards expensive services thinking they’ll get much more in services. Excessively expensive video services offer no added advantage or value compared with doing business with us. We’ve trimmed all expenses that do not relate to the quality of the final product. There’s no “team” here and no time wasters hanging around to increase costs. Since the great majority of clients now book by internet and/or phone we see no need for plush showrooms and sales people who squeeze clients to spend more. Here you will get the most value for your money every time!

We will be very nervous during our wedding ceremony. Instead of a video cameraman standing nearby aiming a video camera at us,
is it possible to have an unmanned small camera recording the ceremony instead?
Yes it is possible, please inform us well in advance.

Do you record full length speeches?
Yes we record all speeches and we do not cut any, unless requested.

We dislike guest table views, can they be cancelled?
Yes, guest table recording may be cancelled but please inform us before your event begins.

We dislike complex special effects, can they be toned down?
Yes, but inform us before the editing process begins.

We don’t really need editing work, can we save by booking an unedited service?
Every event video requires some type of editing work, no one in our trade can produce a professional video without editing!
We are getting requests for unedited services from clients looking to save on video. We do not promote unedited services. Be aware that there are low end video services in the market place that encourage & lure clients to book low cost unedited services knowing that future editing will be required and at that future stage the cost of editing will rise substantially.
There are about 4 forms of editing work in our trade:
1) In-camera editing...very inaccurate editing during the shoot as the cameraman rolls back & tries to erase unwanted material
2) Basic clean-up editing…low cost, inaccurate, not very time consuming but looks better than an unedited service.
3) Editing with basic effects & transitions…the most common in our trade, a cleaner looking edit with some basic special effects.
4) Full production style editing…much more time consuming & costly, much finer & detailed creative workmanship with the latest equipment, techniques & effects. Our specialty is number 4.

Video recording of our wedding is really not important to us; we’re going with video only to satisfy our parents. Can you create a very basic & low cost video for us?
We’re not really set up for basic low cost video work. Time, expertise, higher-end equipment and risk taking all have price tags attached these days. If video is not an important part of your plans we suggest hiring a student from a high school’s audio/visual dept. For over 32 years we’ve been telling clients that the importance of a good family event video increases with the passing of time. Think again before concluding that a video is only important for parents.

Are you able to have a much earlier start and earlier leaving?
Yes it's possible, but keep in mind that often important events do take place towards the end of the celebration.

How long are your videos?

My videos are usually long partly because I shoot lots & partly because I find most clients want as much footage as possible, but every celebration is different therefore final length varies. Although 2-3 hours is my average this greatly depends on the quantity & length of speeches, the guests’ partying mood and of course clients' decisions regarding length. There is no skimping on shooting but I’m quite aware that excessive dancing etc. can get boring.

We're told the most negative aspect of Hi-Def video is the fact that HD makes facial blemishes highly visible, is this really a problem?
This has become a common sales pitch by videographers who have no plans to invest in High Definition equipment and such pitches need to be disregarded. Approx. 95% of our bookings are now Hi-Def. It’s true that High Definition video shows much more detail but the look is much more natural and pleasing than all other previous video standards. A qualified cameraman shooting in HD would know not to zoom in too close on people with obvious cosmetic issues. Many cameramen tend to zoom in too close even when shooting in standard definition; this is simply a bad habit. Images can be softened at the editing stage and some editing software can soften faces only, while keeping other images sharp.

What's "same day edit" all about

It simply describes a short video (similar to a recap) shot during the wedding day, rapidly edited on location and shown to the reception guests on a large screen during the evening's festivities.
It's a bit of a fad started many years ago in the U.S. & is now being promoted here by video services looking to make a few extra bucks & get some free promo from confined audiences at wedding receptions.
Although some clients get turned on by such a production, most guests see it as a "show off" type video that gets frowned upon as many guests simply turn away. The cost of such a production is high mostly due to the additional shooting required before the main event, the projecting equipment rental and the extra staff required to do a rush edit. We discourage rush jobs & do not promote ourselves at formal events.

Why do some Videographers claim they are "Cinematographers"?
It's simply a marketing ploy, don't fall for the hype. Real Cinematographers deal with major Hollywood type movies, they don't bother with family event video.

Video Lighting at formal function…we have practical solutions for this universal concern

Why are lights required at all?
Light creates the image seen by the camera. Proper light also improves the colour & clarity of the image. Josh’s latest camera is the most light sensitive professional video camera ever, images look great even with very low lighting. It is now possible to record without any added lighting.

Our planner tells us you use extra lighting to achieve the best quality and has referred us to another Videographer who uses less lighting. Are her facts correct?
Her facts are way off and date back to about 20 years ago, we can now easily shoot every event with no bothersome lighting. The other Videographer will not light any less! Your planner is getting paid to promote the other Videographer and therefore is trying to pull business away from those that don’t pay for referrals. It’s probably time to take a closer look at all her other referrals.

Why do some Videographers claim they do not require lighting?
Competitors will always make claims that win them business, pitching “low or no lighting” has won many sales for less-qualified Videographers. The best salesman always tells the client what the client wants to hear, this is the nature of our trade and of countless other trades. Those who make such claims know the true facts but they reduce their own image-quality standards in order to satisfy the client’s wishes for no lighting. We can do the same but generally we prefer to record video properly. My new camera can out perform any video camera under any lighting conditions. Those who promise no lighting are known to light up as usual during their shoots; at that stage it’s too late to change Videographers!

What have you done to minimize the effects of lighting at our event?
The purchase of the new super-light-sensitive camera assures that you will not be bothered by any added lighting. Your DJ’s specialty coloured lighting will not be washed out nor affected in any way. I am able to shoot with no added lighting and my images will be far better than those produced by all lower-end budget cameras. Lights are only turned on when required. No need for concern, it's impossible to duplicate a TV studio look at your function and we will not overwhelm you with bright lights. Generally large banquet halls with dark flooring, dark décor & dimmed house lighting will require some added video lighting.

We'll be quite tense on our wedding day, we would like some free space, is it possible to keep the video camera further back from us especially during our bridal dance? Are you able to work without a light on top of the camera, we find them the most blinding?
I'm very sensitive to clients' needs and do not overwhelm nervous celebrants with equipment and technical needs. Keeping further back is no problem, during a bridal dance I keep at least 20 feet away. Some clients tense up more than they've expected while others are able to relax more as the celebration progresses, I'm always prepared to make necessary changes. Although there is a mini battery-operated 25-watt back-up light on top of the camera it is not used constantly.

What we really dislike most about video at our function is the lighting, this really spoils everything. Can’t they invent a camera that does away with all lights?
Such a camera is now available and that’s the one I use! Many newer cameras are able to achieve a borderline acceptable image using only room lighting but all competitors need to increase their cameras’ light sensitivity by amplifying the video signal, this creates a grainy & unnatural look. Josh’s new camera is so sensitive to light that it needs no amplification & produces great images using only room lighting.

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