First, my sincere thanks to all my clients who entrusted their video work to First Impressions Video! Whether a direct production or as a freelance contributor, 2016 was a very special year, and I am truly grateful! And as we head into 2017, just remember this important axiom: Rule #1…don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule #2…it’s ALL small stuff!
May we all be wildly successful in our respective endeavors in the coming year!
~TRW
With so much going on in digital marketing these days, it might be easy to forget about organic search, or just dismiss it as being too difficult to execute–especially with so many updates to Google’s search algorithm. I should know. As many who read my blog are aware, I spent over a decade in digital marketing of all sorts and types, before starting the video business. So here’s my take or organic search: it still works!!
Yesterday, I shot a funeral for a family. It was a very moving ceremony and was held at Forest Home Memorial Park in Glendale. I received a call about a week before the service from a photographer friend of the family asking if I was available. He was a pleasant gentleman and I could tell that we both had the right kind of sensitivity in our approach to this unique assignment, so I agreed. Through several calls and emails, I forgot to ask him how he found me, since we didn’t know each other, but I was able to ask after the service and he said, “I Googled you!” Understanding search queries, I asked further, what search terms (keywords) he used? His reply, “I Googled ‘funeral videography orange county.’ ”
I was very pleased at this revelation as it proves positively the value and importance of good search engine optimization (SEO). I ran the same query this morning and found this search result:
First Impressions Video appeared–after the ads, that I don’t buy–in the first four positions of the search engine results page (SERP), and the map! I think it’s safe to say that I would likely NOT have received the call that turned into a nice piece of business had I not invested the necessary time to optimize my website.
No matter what your business is, taking the time to build robust SEO for your website can be…no, should be…a critical component of your overall digital marketing strategy. Do not overlook organic search…it is a cornerstone to effective online visibility!
I just returned from Palm Springs, where I went to shoot a wedding. It was a really cool occasion (though HOT out in the Desert!)–even in spite of it being a holiday weekend. I normally wouldn’t work a holiday, but the groom was an Air Force pilot, and he chose the Palm Springs Air Museum for his wedding venue!
Lots of people were efficiently scurrying around–all working their butts off to make it a memorable occasion, and it occurred to me that it is important to acknowledge the teams that make weddings happen as smoothly as possible. We’re talking about the wedding planners, venue planners, officiants & clergy, food and beverage providers, florists, cake makers, DJs, bands and other music providers, and, of course, photographers and videographers. We all have our respective tasks, but our goals are mutual: to make an extraordinary day for the bride and groom! And I don’t really like the term ‘vendors’ because it often diminishes the role we all play…I prefer the term ‘partner’ because that’s who we are in making the event special!
Thank you all for what you do!
I shot a wedding this past October. The couple and their family couldn’t have been nicer! I got this wonderful note shortly after the wedding:
“Terry, thank you for being my videographer. I don’t even need to see the video to already know you did a great job, I can’t wait! Even my guests commented on how they could tell you genuinely enjoyed your job and that will show in the quality. Your pricing was also very reasonable and the video will be the most cherished item for me so I can relive my special night, thanks again, we can’t wait to see the video!”
The wedding venue was one of the most challenging in which I’ve ever filmed, with extremely severe contrasts between the late-day western sun blasting into the windows and the interior of the venue which was quite dark. Even with my own extra light fixture, it didn’t help much, but I persevered. And because the final product didn’t meet my strict expectations, I gave the couple some of their money back. The great news came when I received the following comments from the very happy bride:
“Thank you Terry, you did a great job, made me cry. And I appreciate your professionalism, I had a feeling the venue would be difficult to work with, thank you for the refund. I will surely recommend you and provide positive reviews!”
Well, thank you, Lisa…you just did!
2014 was a great year for First Impressions Video and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the clients that are also my friends. I value you and welcome the opportunity to serve in 2015.
Got video? Need video?
Warmest regards,
Terry
Funerals and memorial services are tough. They are full of emotion as the families and loved ones grieve for the one that passed away. I have commented about memorials before, and the absolute need for discretion and sensitivity when shooting them. So I am always deeply gratified when I get comments like the one I just got from a family whose mother passed away last year. And the impact was truly amplified when I got a “heads up” from the officiating pastor that the son of the decedent would be seeing his own son—and his family—from whom he had been estranged for quite a number of years! Here is the testimonial:
“Words cannot express how thankful we were for your availability and to beautifully capture Marie’s memorial service last October. For Jim (Russell), as a pastor it was great to ask you to watch for certain interactions and then to let them develop. For John (and I) and Danny, it began the process of restoring their relationship which has since, been such a blessing.
Thank you again. Many blessings to you!”
Christina Clausen
Administrative Assistant to
Mike Erre, Lead Pastor
EvFree Fullerton
And this is why I love doing what I do!
Yesterday, I delivered the final wedding video DVD to my friends Kim and Scott Timmins. In addition to the video of the ceremony and reception were slide shows of both. It was a monster project and the slide shows required keyframing of over 100 pictures to create the “Ken Burns” effect for each one.
Feedback from the couple: “Just watched the video…it is AWESOME!! THANK YOU!! Can’t wait to show our family back east. Love it! Love it!!” And for added measure, they added the emoticon for a big smiley face! I guess you could call that a happy customer!
Here’s a shot of me just before going to work. Weddings on the beach can be magnificent, but you get sand everywhere, so I have to use brushes and compressed air to remove the sand out of my gear!
Picking a wedding date can have its unfair share of challenges. When The Fetching Mrs. Wall and I got married (20 years ago!), we chose February 19th. No particular reason, but over time, we noticed how snug it was to Valentine’s Day. Not bad, mind you, but we’d exchange cards for Valentine’s Day, only to turn right around and do it again for our anniversary! This got me to thinking about the impact of booking weddings on or near holidays, which is relevant since we’re in the early part of the year.
Holiday weekend weddings have ups and downs. Yes, you’ve got an extra day for the celebrations (and recovery!). Also, a Sunday wedding is often less expensive than one on a Saturday. However, costs of travel and hotels may be higher. And remember what I said about Valentine’s Day! Be mindful of your floral bill, especially if your choices are centered on red roses — they’ll likely be more expensive than at any other time of the year. In the case of reception locations, trying to book a venue for New Year’s will—no doubt—command a premium. Lastly, think of the impact of a holiday wedding on your guests—especially those farther than driving distance away (see earlier comment). Air travel and hotel accommodations will be more expensive and availability may not be as abundant. And as a practical matter, some families may just have standing plans or traditions that they’d prefer not to miss.
That said, here are a few holidays to think about. If you want to find the exact date(s) for a holiday, simply “Google” it. Thanks also to “Reverend Joe” of Savannah Georgia, for the comprehensive list. And may your wedding—whenever you plan it—be everything you want it to be…and more!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (always a Monday)
Presidents’ Day (always a Monday)
Mother’s Day (always a Sunday)
Observation: Make sure your moms are okay sharing this weekend with your wedding. And ask yourself, do you want your anniversary to fall the same weekend as Mother’s Day when (or if) you become a mom? Also, flowers are very expensive that weekend.
Memorial Day (always a Monday)
Father’s Day (always a Sunday)
Observation: Like you would with your moms, check with your dads about doubling up on this day. And grooms, make sure you’re okay with celebrating your anniversary the same weekend as Father’s Day if you decide to have kids.
Independence Day
Labor Day (always a Monday)
Columbus Day (always a Monday)
Halloween
Observation: Avoid it if you’re terrified that someone might actually show up in costume (OR…embrace it if you want them to!).
Thanksgiving (always a Thursday)
New Year’s Eve
Religious and Cultural Holidays
Be mindful of religious and cultural holidays (your own and those of your guests) when planning your wedding. There may even be restrictions at your house of worship as to whether you’re allowed to marry at these times.
Palm Sunday
Easter Sunday
Passover (begins at sunset the night before)
Tisha B’Av (begins at sunset the night before)
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sunset the night before)
Yom Kippur (begins at sunset the night before)
Hanukkah (begins at sunset)
Christmas
Kwanzaa
Eid al-Fitr (dates may vary based on how each family observes)
Eid al-Adha (dates may vary based on how each family observes)
Major Sporting Events
If you’re die-hard sports fans — or if you’re worried your guests might have a hard time choosing between your wedding and the big game — avoid getting married during popular sporting events. And if a lot of your guests come from the same alma mater, watch out for homecoming weekends and bowl games that might conflict.
Unlucky Dates
If you’re superstitious, you might want to watch out for these historically inauspicious dates from across several cultures.
The Ides of March
For ancient Romans, an “ides” was simply a date that marked the middle of the month — until Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15 in 44 B.C. Since then, “Beware the Ides of March” has become the mantra of this superstitiously unlucky date, though it must not have been a problem for my mom and dad, since this was their anniversary date!!!
Friday the 13th
The unluckiest date of the year has questionable origins. Some historians say it comes from the 13 diners who were present at the last supper, but the famous Code of Hammurabi doesn’t include a 13th law, which suggests this superstition is as many as 3 millennia old. And it wasn’t until a successful novel titled Friday the Thirteenth was published in the early 1900s that Friday became part of the unlucky equation.
Leap Years
Greeks and Romans thought that starting any new life event — from getting married to baptizing a child — in a leap year would bring bad luck.
When I look back over the first year of First Impressions Video’s “official” existence, perhaps the one area that has surprised me most is memorial videography. Nearly half of all the projects I shot last year were memorials. And for some reason, this seems like an area that should not be tampered with out of respect for the deceased. Yet, it is because of respect for the deceased and concern for the living that video is becoming an increasingly important part of the grieving process. There are two reasons for this.
First of all, there has been significant change taking place in the funeral industry overall. Mostly due to the rise of the Baby Boomer generation, contemporary thinking is to now personalize the funeral or memorial service. Add to that the rise in cremation, which allows for great latitude on the part of those planning services. No longer are you limited to a funeral home or a house of worship. Once cremation has taken place, the cremated remains can be released to the family, and they can do whatever they want without the involvement of a funeral director. Think of scattering ashes in the ocean, for example.
The second factor is technical advances in the video industry. With the marriage of video and the computer, it has become possible to offer high-quality video in a relatively short time and at a reasonable cost. I’m sure this contributed to my sudden surge in memorial videos last year. I could shoot and turn them around relatively quickly, and the families have been profoundly appreciative of the service I provided.
There are two distinct ways video can be used for memorial/funeral services: One way is the memorial tribute video. This is a video usually made up of about 30 to 50 photos—and can include short video clips—and lasts around five minutes. The key elements necessary for a compelling memorial tribute video are time, quality, and movement. Fast turnaround times are crucial; most of the tributes I do have to be completed within 24 to 48 hours. To control my schedule, I like to pick up the photos at the funeral home shortly after the family brings them in. If the funeral home is too far away, I ask the funeral director to scan the photos and send them to me using Google Drive, Dropbox or some other file sharing service. Once I have the photos I may do some modest retouching in my computer. My editing includes use of a “pan and scan” effect (sometimes called the “Ken Burns” effect) to put movement in the photos. This will provide a nice distinction from a more traditional slide show.
The second way video is being used is in the recording of the service itself. With the personalization of services and the stories that are often told about the deceased, it becomes a wonderful way to capture memories of an individual that will be treasured by those left behind. What’s more, with families being scattered, it is often hard to get everyone together for a service. A funeral or memorial service captured on video can easily be shared with loved ones anywhere in the world, which I recently did for a client who had family in Norway! For 2014, I am exploring streaming as yet another way to deliver the service to people at remote locations. Right now, the cost may make streaming prohibitive, but as pricing comes down (and it always does, where technology is involved), I will update this blog accordingly.
This kind of videography requires great sensitivity as I am entering a space typically packed with emotion. Whereas weddings are by nature joyful events, memorials involve grieving family members and friends. I must be able to conduct myself unobtrusively so as not to intrude when people are often at their most vulnerable. I am honored to say that I have this gift, and if I can ever offer such a service to you, a friend or family member, I will take great care to show respect and dignity to the task to which you have entrusted me.
A year ago, I lost my job in internet marketing. Rather than continue in that field, I took a risk and with the blessings of a supportive spouse, started First Impressions Video. After all, if not now…when? It’s been an interesting journey and have worked on a myriad of interesting projects. And while there could have been more jobs, every starting entrepreneur says the same thing. That said, I convey thanks to every customer who entrusted their projects to me, and thanks to Laurie Probasco Wall, for believing in me! And here’s to an even more prosperous year 2!!!
Proud to be a member of this prestigious organization
First Impressions Video 