Nikki & Aidan from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
This morning I might be spending my train ride North sleeping off a light hangover, after last night’s The Wedding Industry Awards at Cafe De Paris in London. As a member of the judging panel and one of the #officialbloggers for last night’s star spangled ceremony, you would hope that I managed to stay away from the Jaegerbombs, wouldn’t you?
However, I’m not one for tempting fate, so it’s lucky that I scheduled this lovely little interview for you this morning, isn’t it? Make the most of this not being a blank space, and give a warm welcome to Brides Up North Sponsor Bruce of Love Two Film Videography.
He’s got the credentials to make sure that your big day is captured just the way it should be, he’s offering the first 5 brides who quote Brides Up North when booking a whopping 10% off his services, and rumour has it he’s a pretty good
dad dancer
too… not that you need many more of those at weddings!Let’s meet the man himself, as I run for that train home… I’m never drinking again.
Likely story.
Ben & Jody from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
How did you get into wedding videography?
bruce says:
For as long as I can remember filmmaking has been part of my life, as a child my Dad would wield his trusty 8mm film camera and cast my brother, sister, cousins and myself as the various heroes and villains of his holiday masterpiece. Later on we installed a darkroom in my old bedroom and I would spend hours working out how to best develop black and white film whilst crashing around in the gloom. At school in the early days of home video my friends and I would spend hours making skateboard videos with questionable production values but we had loads of fun.As a graduate I got my first jobs as a junior video editor and loved the dynamic of seeing hours of rushes shaped into a coherent product. My break came when I applied for a runners job with Hot Animation, producers of Pingu and Bob the Builder. Here I became a series editor and really learnt the craft of editing. At this time many of my friends and family were getting married and I often got asked to film their weddings. What this experience taught me was how not to approach wedding videography, don’t ask a friend unless it’s their job, you’re paying them and they are not a guest.
As my career progressed I got more interested in filming and my editing experience taught me loads and has helped inform my camera work. I have invested time and money in the latest video and sound kit and love experimenting and seeing what is creatively possible. For me the expensive technology is secondary, telling a story well and capturing a moment is my primary motivation it does of course make all the difference if image and sound quality is the best it can be.
In the last few years I have been aware of a shift in the wedding videography business that is for the better in my opinion. Well crafted wedding films are far more, cinematic, inventive and inspiring in style borrowing from indi film and music videos rather than news gathering.
Why should a couple have a wedding video?
A friend said to me just the other day, “ I wish we had asked you to film our wedding” it was a nice compliment but more than that it expressed her regret for not getting a record of the day.
I have produced many videos for a range of clients but the best feedback I have ever had was when I was able to show the bride her edited highlight video, she burst into tears of joy and hugged me! A video is more than moving pictures and a record of the day, it is a creative endeavour that when executed well expresses something about the Bride and Groom and captures a precious part of their life. Have a wedding video, you can share it online, watch it again and again, show your family, your future children, cherish and relive all the effort, all the detail all the fun and the special moments you may have missed on the day.
What is your favourite thing about being a wedding videographer?
Weddings are special no doubt about it, I like to tell epic stories and a wedding gives me that opportunity, real people in an often fantastic venue, expressing their deepest emotions for one another it would be impossible to script. Each wedding is of course unique but I enjoy the tweaks and quirks each couple bring, one week I can be filming in a castle the next a tipi tent, it is an awesome responsibility and privilege to be asked to film a wedding.
Joel & Katie from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
How do you get couples to relax on the day?
I could just say my winning smile and I would be half joking, I believe if I try and maintain a relaxed professional attitude it will translate to my clients. I have seen more than a few tense Brides whilst shooting a Bridal Prep sequence and I just try and chat asking about them their day whilst I work.
Which celebrity wedding would you most like to capture and why?
Without realising it I ended up covering a wedding that had several production crew, including the Producer and Anchor of ITV news in attendance, it was my first professional wedding shoot and I am glad I didn’t know before hand, it was pressured, but I got what I needed and the couple were very happy. I have always wanted to film a destination wedding and as a keen cyclist and traveller I would have loved to film the wedding of Michelle Cound and Chris Froome, who married late last year in South Africa, having met on the Tour de France and living in Monaco, Nice!
Any really memorable weddings that you have captured?
Although I am there to do a job I am always captivated by the heart and soul couples and families exhibit on their wedding day, it could be a young page boy struggling with his poem and the Bride and Groom stop to help him, priceless, or when the Groom is so moved during his speech all 6ft 10 of professional basketball player breaks down and sobs with joy, sometimes it’s when I look out a an informal gathering of friends and family enjoying a summers day and the joy they collectively feel no doubt helped by the complementary cider or ice cream and the infectious happiness of the Bride. Finally there are those quiet moments during the vows when even the baby has stopped crying and two people in love say, I do.
Pete & Lauren from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
What sets you apart from other wedding videographers?
I hope it is me. I believe I have the skills but more importantly the vision, empathy and discretion to capture your day without being intrusive or demanding.
What can a couple who book you expect on the day?
It depends what package they have booked but they can expect me to be there on time and ready to capture their day. I either work alone or with a small well trained team of trusted videographers. I make it a policy to speak in person to the Minister of a Church or Wedding planner at a venue and I always email or message the photographer to see how we can best serve each other.
This year we would also love to trial filming short, informal, interview style pieces with the Bride and Groom, the video equivalent of an engagement shoot, depending on location of course.
O’Hara Wedding Reception from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
Are you prepared to travel? Is there an additional cost for this?
Yes we are, last year we got all the way to the big smoke, filming at the Thames Rowing Club, London, ooh get us! This year we would love the Big Apple. Yes we would charge for travel and accommodation. And if you’re happy to feed us at some point on your wedding day, even better.
What is included in your “package”? Can you give us an idea on price?
We are launching two new packages for every budget this year and we are always happy to tweak packages to suit. The Classic will cover the Service and Reception (6hrs coverage), £895, with one camera. The Blockbuster, £1295, is 9hrs of coverage from Bride Prep to Speeches with two cameras. The Epic, £1895, is Bride prep to first dance. With each package we will use a number of gadgets to aid creativity and coverage and with the epic we can include camera sliders, rigs and cranes if the venue allows.
For each package we will provide a deluxe DVD with menu and printed disc and sleeve.For the Blockbuster and Epic you get files for upload to social media if you choose and additional DVD’s more of which can be ordered.
Can you do a discount for Brides Up North readers?
I would be happy to do a discount on all my packages of up to 10% for Brides Up North readers for the first 5 bookings through the site. Quote Brides Up North when booking.
Nikki& & Aidan Prep from Bruce Marshall on Vimeo.
How can Brides Up North get in touch with you or see more examples of your work?
Please check my site at www.lovetwofilm.co.uk.
