Lets step “outside the box”

Lets step outside our box of usual bridal video thinking for a moment.  Back in July Sherry and our intern for the summer, Nicole attended a 2 day training class for cinematic shooting techniques held in Chicago.  The class was taught by one of our industry’s leaders, Jeff Wright of Blue Skies Cinema in California.  I was along as well to write an article about the class for our industry magazine Event DV.  What a great time.  The class had a few hours of class room time and then lots of hands on shooting with a model bride all around downtown Chicago.  The theme of the class was to help all the attendees get amazing footage to create a Bridal Spotlight video. 

You’re probably asking, “What’s a Bridal Spotlight video?”  A bridal spotlight is basically a bride in a dress showcasing her beauty in many places, some of which are not typical to wedding imagery.  You may be thinking about the Trash the Dress movement that swept the industry a few years ago.  This isn’t Trash the Dress but it does get it a little dirty.  It is trendy and not what you picture for a bridal video.

After the class was over Sherry mentioned we needed to have a practice day for ourselves.  We found a young lady from our church and set out to create a Bridal Spotlight video of our own.  Our goal was to make it very unique by filling it with footage shot completely in our hometown of Stoughton, Wisconsin.  It’s not urban Chicago but has some pretty cool locations if you think a little outside the box. 

Our footage was shot over 2 days in early August.  On the second day we got some photographer friends, Derrick and April of Creative Look Imagery, to come along and shoot stills for themselves.  They appear in a few scenes of the video as you will see.  Their images can be found on their blog at Creative Look Imagery.  Derrick and April did call the day a Trash the Dress shoot. 

Your probably thinking where a Bridal Spotlight video would fit into a wedding movie.  Well there are a couple of ways.  If  you are game an inexpensive dress could be obtained from a thrift store or the clearance rack at a bridal store and we could create the video to be shown at your reception.  Imagine the reaction of your guests at the reception if they viewed a video like this.  It would be entirely possible to incorporate the groom into a video like this as well.  All the fun stuff could be tailored to the interests you both share.   Another way to create the video would be after the wedding as an additional option.  You could use your actual dress or get another inexpensive one just for the shoot.   

This was a blast to shoot and the star of our video, Bethany, had a real blast.  She was amazing to work with and did a great job.  So the question is are you an “outside the box” kind of person.  If so we can create one of these cool videos for  you.  We know they are not for everyone but those who have done them have a blast. 

Will you become the next Bridal Spotlight? 

Here’s the video…I know you are anxious to see it.  Enjoy!

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