photos, videos, thoughts & things created in my world
I can’t wait till March 20!
I finally get to shoot the wedding of Travis & Lisa! Their engagement session was incredible and can’t wait for their awesome day! Their wedding location is going to be one of the coolest places I’ve shot at too! Stay tuned…
Here’s some shots from Whitney & Adam’s reception back in Kansas City after their Destination wedding – It was held at the Heritage House in Liberty, MO. It was beautifully decorated and a great venue for those of you looking in that area -
my awesome assistant Jewel Reeves caught this shot:
the best part of the night is when all the guests had left, leaving just the family and their own dance party -
Hey guys -
www.mikevarel.com is now featuring the wonderful sounds of Lindsey Jones!
Her new record “Little Blue Dress” is now available on iTunes and you can also listen on her myspace page here. Two of her new songs from the record “Fall In Love With Me” and “I Need You” are on the player in the top right hand corner of my site next to the “contact” button. ”We Fit” is also on there from her first album “Bullet” EP.
Lindsey is a Nashville friend of mine with an incredible voice and after getting this record I knew I wanted to let you all know about it -
Sometimes websites put cheesy “stock” music up rather than getting permission to put really great music out there – Lindsey is so awesome to let me use her stuff! Go pick up her record from iTunes!
(Cover Photography by David Molnar)
So – it’s January and very few people in the midwest get married until March.
So what does a wedding photographer/videographer do in the early months of the year?
Thankfully weddings aren’t the only thing I do. One of my many projects that is happening right now is for Food for the Hungry. One of my favorite people, Anne McCain, sat down with me yesterday for several hours as we began pre-production on several upcoming videos for FH.
Each year FH holds a Summit Conference in Phoenix, AZ and invites field members, country directors, advocates, volunteers, churches and everyone that wants to learn more about what they do to come out and spend a weekend learning, growing and developing community. I’m totally excited to be a part of that this year. Ryan and I will be essentially recording the entire time we’re there at the end of February.
We get to interview all of the above mentioned people including the U.S. President of FH, and the Global FH President. We’ll come back with hours upon hours of footage that we get to work into about 8 different projects as time and budget allows.
I’m also really excited about possibly going overseas this year to film in the field. One of my 2009 goals is to shoot pictures and video in a foreign country for a ministry or non-profit organization seeking to make a difference.
If you’d like more information on Food for the Hungry, what they’re up to, and how you can get involved in the amazing work they’re doing, check out their site at www.fh.org or the global site at www.fhglobal.org - after I finish a few videos I’ll let you know when they’re up and where you can find them.
Ok, it’s time to address the reception portion of a wedding real quick -
I shot a wedding for Carson Swisher this weekend – he’s a good friend of mine out of Blue Springs – he started as a videographer and now does photography as well – we have a blast working together because we can both input ideas into shots, etc, and I get to be an assistant photog for him while still handling all the video end of things -
(photo by Carson Swisher)
We shot in Topeka this weekend & had a blast – unfortunately the DJ at the reception (who’ll remain nameless) wasn’t so great and had some terrible audio equipment. You couldn’t hear any of the announcements and there were about 5 awkward silences that Carson and I kept saying “cue awkward silence number 4″ – I hope that you booked a good DJ for your wedding…
Here’s a tip – check with the company – if you sit down with a guy that runs his own business and he’s the only one that goes and covers weddings, you might be better off. A big company with a bunch of random people that work there may have some folks that don’t really know how to run the gear that well, or it could be one of 7 different “kits” that goes out on any given weekend and it could’ve been damaged the weekend before –
With my background in audio, I could tell just from walking past the DJ’s set up that the music was distorting off his CD player combo deck, then overloading his amp as well. It sounded terrible. His wireless mic was worthless too – We missed the prayer from the bride’s Father because it wasn’t near loud enough to get across half of the room and it kept cutting out. All his attempts to be funny or rally people to the dance floor were lost as well because of the poor quality and inability to hear him.
Let me say this. I’ve worked with a lot of DJ’s in the past 9 years. There is an art to it. You can’t simply get uncle Bob with a playlist full of iTunes music and go at it. (Maybe if that playlist is very well put together you can, but be careful) Once you get people on the dance floor, you have to keep them out there. Dude can’t just play a fast song, then a slow song, then another fast song. The old people get up and come out for the slow songs, then you throw something fast at them and they can’t get away fast enough. Same way with the younger crowd. You get 30 people out there for the Electric Slide, you have to keep them out there with another good fast song like YMCA or Celebration. I know this because I’ve done it for friends in the past – I know it may seem like a good way to save money – but seriously – a good DJ has a good system with loud speakers and a sub that you can feel the bass and helps the party get going. Bad systems with bad DJ’s can ruin your reception.
Then again, you have to ask yourself how much partying or dancing you want to do – where does it rank for you in the grand scheme of your day? I’ve been to some awesome receptions and 90% of the reason was the DJ. People have left other receptions saying “that was kind of lame” because the DJ never played what people requested, played some random music or picked weird times to play things, and didn’t keep the night moving along.
It’s best to plan the whole night out.
I know, you want to talk to people and see everyone.
So do it.
here’s how -
Reception Suggestions:
Get to the reception.
Eat.
Get up from dinner and cut the cake while people are finishing up their meals.
Go immediately into toasts.
First Dance, Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Bridal Party Dance.
wait for it…
Bouquet/Garter.
Yeah, that early. Just get it done. Your photographer is basically done, and your guests are no longer waiting for the last of the big highlights from the reception.
Now – open the dance floor.
Dance a bit with your friends – 5 or 6 songs. whatever you want to do -
Then, go mingle, talk to you friends and family as they’re free to go.
That lets the older folks off the hook too – Then they can leave by 830-9pm.
Now, It’s 930, you’ve talked to some people and the DJ can feel free to play “baby’s got back” and not be worried about offending grandma Betty.
Now you’re free to dance with your friends till midnight or however late you’re going. Your photographer gets a few good shots of dancing and is out the door by 9 or 10.
I’ve seen it work.
Just a thought…
Ok Mike, but we’re taking pictures after the ceremony and my guests are going to wait for us to arrive an hour later. Here’s a thought – Cocktail hour? They get to have drinks while they wait and they still eat with you…No? Ok, let them eat, then you get there, walk right in the door and cut that cake. Then eat your meal with your bridal part while everyone is stuffing their face with cake. Then Toasts, dances, garter/bouquet, same drill as above.
give it a shot.
I know there are more qualified wedding planners out there that will agree with me or have better suggestions.
