Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Limiting Archway dates; buggy for JuneBug!
Because of Brian's new job (read other blogs dated today if you haven't already), the practical issue is that we have less man hours available for editing. For that reason, we will have to limit the dates we book for Archway due to the intensive editing hours the Archway product requires. That being said, I'll book a JuneBug wedding for every week if I could! The reason for the different name is to minimize confusion, since it is a very different product. There is probably a blog about it somewhere down the line here. Anyway, we can turn a JuneBug product around a lot quicker because, while it is still filmed with an artistic style, we don't do the high-level special effects and cinematic interpretation. JuneBug is closer to a documentary-style end product, but with a sound track underlayed to still give it a polished feel. All of our JuneBug clients so far have been floored at what they received, saying it's so much more than they expected. That's right...that's how I roll. :) Anyway, please keep JuneBug in mind as another option, but if Archway is what you want, don't hesitate in case the month you need is already closed!!
About the move
A little more about our move...
My last post was a quickie to let you all know we are still operating and basically what happened with us. BUT, I realize you're probably wondering why.
If you've read our bio information or know our history, Brian actually went to seminary and is an ordained minister. Of course, this plays into our passion for weddings and in creating the highest quality representation of a couple's wedding day that we can - we really believe it can be a tool for marriage enrichment (or even a life line!) down the road. Anyway, our life's journey since we got married has developed the unique skills that have lead to the conception and success of Archway. However, Brian has wanted to use his abilities in a church and ministerial setting for years now. He has checked on jobs now and then, but nothing seemed to be attractive enough to spend time pursuing it - plus the potential of moving me away from my mom and son! So, of course, we stick to the task at hand, pouring everything we had into Archway! Then, the perfect job popped up during one of his casual searches. Sooooo, our reason for moving is so that Brian could step into his dream job...yeah, seems worth it to me. :)
He is a new man! Yes, we are still operating Archway Media and also JuneBug, but now he has a steady full time job with benefits, and about 1000 pounds of stress has been lifted from him. He loved doing Archway full time, but the stress of running our own business and going through a DRY off-peak season every year was wearing on us - especially him. Now we're able to breathe a little bit during this off-peak season, continue editing, and not spend every waking moment fretting about how we're going to generate business during the off season and for the next year. Now that Archway doesn't have to provide full-time income for both of us and 100% of our family's support, we can focus on editing and enjoy the fruits of the word-of-mouth and reputation we've worked so hard to build. We have weddings booked here and there through October of next year and want to keep filling more dates! I love making wedding films...I love being involved in the wedding industry...I love our favorite vendors...I cannot let go. ;)
My last post was a quickie to let you all know we are still operating and basically what happened with us. BUT, I realize you're probably wondering why.
If you've read our bio information or know our history, Brian actually went to seminary and is an ordained minister. Of course, this plays into our passion for weddings and in creating the highest quality representation of a couple's wedding day that we can - we really believe it can be a tool for marriage enrichment (or even a life line!) down the road. Anyway, our life's journey since we got married has developed the unique skills that have lead to the conception and success of Archway. However, Brian has wanted to use his abilities in a church and ministerial setting for years now. He has checked on jobs now and then, but nothing seemed to be attractive enough to spend time pursuing it - plus the potential of moving me away from my mom and son! So, of course, we stick to the task at hand, pouring everything we had into Archway! Then, the perfect job popped up during one of his casual searches. Sooooo, our reason for moving is so that Brian could step into his dream job...yeah, seems worth it to me. :)
He is a new man! Yes, we are still operating Archway Media and also JuneBug, but now he has a steady full time job with benefits, and about 1000 pounds of stress has been lifted from him. He loved doing Archway full time, but the stress of running our own business and going through a DRY off-peak season every year was wearing on us - especially him. Now we're able to breathe a little bit during this off-peak season, continue editing, and not spend every waking moment fretting about how we're going to generate business during the off season and for the next year. Now that Archway doesn't have to provide full-time income for both of us and 100% of our family's support, we can focus on editing and enjoy the fruits of the word-of-mouth and reputation we've worked so hard to build. We have weddings booked here and there through October of next year and want to keep filling more dates! I love making wedding films...I love being involved in the wedding industry...I love our favorite vendors...I cannot let go. ;)
We have not fallen off the Earth!
Do not fear! Yes, we have moved, technically, but we are not "going" anywhere! Stick with me. We are blessed to live in the age of technology...the entire world can fit in our pockets now! So, while we have moved to Evansville, IN, we really have just moved down the street. Next door, even. :) Really, the only thing that has changed is our address and phone number. The 345-4000 number was a land line we couldn't keep. But Archway Media Services is alive and well, and I'm confident that if you are technologically minded enough to appreciate the value of a professional wedding video and recognize the quality of our work, you can see that our working relationship - and certainly the quality of the product - will not suffer just because our residence is in Indiana now.
We are still HIGHLY invested in St. Louis - personally and professionally. Since we moved in October, there have only been two weekends we were not in town. Thank GOD gas prices went down! I am so close to my mom (who lives in the St. Louis area) that we both get physically ill if we go too long without seeing each other. My son is also there with his dad, along with so many friends and professional acquaintances that we must reconnect with from time to time! So, whether it's for a wedding gig or just to see my mom and son, I will be making the short trek back and forth quite often.
Anyway, Brian's having a technical issue with the server, but he is in the process of changing our contact information. Now, both Archway and JuneBug will use the same cell phone: 618-580-5052.
We are still HIGHLY invested in St. Louis - personally and professionally. Since we moved in October, there have only been two weekends we were not in town. Thank GOD gas prices went down! I am so close to my mom (who lives in the St. Louis area) that we both get physically ill if we go too long without seeing each other. My son is also there with his dad, along with so many friends and professional acquaintances that we must reconnect with from time to time! So, whether it's for a wedding gig or just to see my mom and son, I will be making the short trek back and forth quite often.
Anyway, Brian's having a technical issue with the server, but he is in the process of changing our contact information. Now, both Archway and JuneBug will use the same cell phone: 618-580-5052.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Katrina & Jesse 8/31/08
The chocolate queen has found her king! What a gorgeous - but HOT - outdoor wedding. I don't think they had to use any heat in the chocolate fountain. :)
Katrina owns Kamy Chocolate Fountains - always a hit at ANY event, and this was no exception. I didn't know this until the minister joked about it during the ceremony, but Katrina & Jesse met online through some kind of singles or personals site. That's how Brian and I met! Not that we needed anything to help us feel connected to Katrina and her groom...they are so fun and down to earth that I felt like I was with a bunch of my own girlfriends while filming her getting ready. I bet these two never meet a stranger. In fact, apparently Jesse has fashioned quite a nice friendship with a certain legendary Cardinal who was also in attendance!
The festivities took place on the grounds of the breathtakingly beautiful The Studio Inn in St. Albans, MO, just past Wildwood. We had never been there, and we were honestly struck speechless. First of all, it's sooooo nice when everything can happen in the same location! It's easier on everyone, and I'm sure it makes a huge difference in the photos, because usually the photographer has more time because there's no need to travel to and fro'. (Yes, "to and fro'.") But THIS PLACE...my goodness...an old mansion set amongst Missouri's rolling hills and a spectacular golf course. Does it get any better than that?
Speaking of pictures, the day was photographically documented by the superb Alisha Clark. We thought we'd go ahead and take care of the video. :) Anyway, always a pleasure to work with Alisha. We work and play well together, and I think our fun energy as we work with each other is infectious and helps everyone relax, which of course works out pretty well for what we're trying to accomplish in the photos and video! I always encourage couples to meet personally with the photographer and videographer and even to see if the vendors know each other. We've actually had joint meetings before with photographers we know - what savvy shoppers! They got to see the dynamic of our little group before the wedding day. Why not!? Well, I can't wait to see the photos from the day - especially the ones of Alisha and I making a bride samich on the dance floor! :) Good times.
The ceremony was so relaxed and fun - the officiant did such a fantastic job! I complimented him on even orchestrating little details here and there when necessary, like directing the bridesmaids to make way for Kat and Jess to get behind them for the sand ceremony (by the way, Katrina - how much sand did you spill!? Too cute!), and reminded the Matron of Honor to hand Kat the bouquet before the presentation. Very smooth. I think too many times, officiants try to be so stoic and serious, and they don't think they should point things like that out. Yes, a wedding ceremony is a serious matter that certainly deserves respect, but there's no reason we can't all enjoy it and relax a little bit!
The reception was completely pink'd out by Erin at Exclusive Events - how cool! She's got a couple pics on her site. The lanters, oh, the lanterns!! THEN, the reception was ROCKED by Jimmy Hussey, A Rockin' DJ ferSHER! Man, he keeps the party hoppin'. I was a little worried that no one would want to dance because we were all just deflated by the hot day, but he got everyone going! I have to find out what the song was that Jesse and his mom danced to. I probably don't want to listen to it, though. I'm so used to "What a Wonderful World," but this was like a love letter from a mom to her son. I sobbed. Yes, sobbed. Tried to pull myself together to go get the mic from Jesse after, but he noticed my face and asked if I was okay...that did it. I lost it again. He and his mom and some other people around loved on me a little while I took the mic from him. Good Lord, how rediculous am I!? It wasn't just the song...their dance was so sweet and tender. I hope I get to share moments like that with my son.
From my point of view behind the camera, it was such a perfect day (well, could have been cooler, but I'm reaching), and I would imagine it met and surpassed all of Katrina & Jesse's dreams. We hope to do the same with their movie, and I can't wait to get to it!
Blessings,
Angee
Katrina owns Kamy Chocolate Fountains - always a hit at ANY event, and this was no exception. I didn't know this until the minister joked about it during the ceremony, but Katrina & Jesse met online through some kind of singles or personals site. That's how Brian and I met! Not that we needed anything to help us feel connected to Katrina and her groom...they are so fun and down to earth that I felt like I was with a bunch of my own girlfriends while filming her getting ready. I bet these two never meet a stranger. In fact, apparently Jesse has fashioned quite a nice friendship with a certain legendary Cardinal who was also in attendance!
The festivities took place on the grounds of the breathtakingly beautiful The Studio Inn in St. Albans, MO, just past Wildwood. We had never been there, and we were honestly struck speechless. First of all, it's sooooo nice when everything can happen in the same location! It's easier on everyone, and I'm sure it makes a huge difference in the photos, because usually the photographer has more time because there's no need to travel to and fro'. (Yes, "to and fro'.") But THIS PLACE...my goodness...an old mansion set amongst Missouri's rolling hills and a spectacular golf course. Does it get any better than that?
Speaking of pictures, the day was photographically documented by the superb Alisha Clark. We thought we'd go ahead and take care of the video. :) Anyway, always a pleasure to work with Alisha. We work and play well together, and I think our fun energy as we work with each other is infectious and helps everyone relax, which of course works out pretty well for what we're trying to accomplish in the photos and video! I always encourage couples to meet personally with the photographer and videographer and even to see if the vendors know each other. We've actually had joint meetings before with photographers we know - what savvy shoppers! They got to see the dynamic of our little group before the wedding day. Why not!? Well, I can't wait to see the photos from the day - especially the ones of Alisha and I making a bride samich on the dance floor! :) Good times.
The ceremony was so relaxed and fun - the officiant did such a fantastic job! I complimented him on even orchestrating little details here and there when necessary, like directing the bridesmaids to make way for Kat and Jess to get behind them for the sand ceremony (by the way, Katrina - how much sand did you spill!? Too cute!), and reminded the Matron of Honor to hand Kat the bouquet before the presentation. Very smooth. I think too many times, officiants try to be so stoic and serious, and they don't think they should point things like that out. Yes, a wedding ceremony is a serious matter that certainly deserves respect, but there's no reason we can't all enjoy it and relax a little bit!
The reception was completely pink'd out by Erin at Exclusive Events - how cool! She's got a couple pics on her site. The lanters, oh, the lanterns!! THEN, the reception was ROCKED by Jimmy Hussey, A Rockin' DJ ferSHER! Man, he keeps the party hoppin'. I was a little worried that no one would want to dance because we were all just deflated by the hot day, but he got everyone going! I have to find out what the song was that Jesse and his mom danced to. I probably don't want to listen to it, though. I'm so used to "What a Wonderful World," but this was like a love letter from a mom to her son. I sobbed. Yes, sobbed. Tried to pull myself together to go get the mic from Jesse after, but he noticed my face and asked if I was okay...that did it. I lost it again. He and his mom and some other people around loved on me a little while I took the mic from him. Good Lord, how rediculous am I!? It wasn't just the song...their dance was so sweet and tender. I hope I get to share moments like that with my son.
From my point of view behind the camera, it was such a perfect day (well, could have been cooler, but I'm reaching), and I would imagine it met and surpassed all of Katrina & Jesse's dreams. We hope to do the same with their movie, and I can't wait to get to it!
Blessings,
Angee
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Ellie photo shoot!
OH...my...goodness, did we have fun with Stephanie, Zettl Photography, taking some pictures of Ellie at the Muny the other day! I think she captured every cute little "here today, gone tomorrow" expression Ellie makes these days that I just want to lock away in my heart forever. I haven't seen the shots yet, but she was clicking away at all the right moments, and she's so great with the itty-bitties! Ellie got a little fussy, but Steph and I were tag-teaming her with all our best material, and Ellie gave it up for the camera. That's my girl! :)
I'll upload some shots as soon as possible!
I'll upload some shots as soon as possible!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Dena & Quinn - 8/16/08 - VIDEO
WHY were we so excited about this wedding? WHY!!?? In a word, Shelli. That's Shelli Alred, Alred Wedding Consultants. Yes, Dena and her mom, Betty, joined the elite club of smartest brides and moms for hiring a professional planner, and I think they get some kind of extra credit for hiring Shelli. :)
Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Clayton. 'Nuf said. Well, that was where the girls got their glamour on (MAC girls - gorgeous!) and then everyone got their party on later. :)
Goodness...so many thoughts. Trying to keep up with everything I want to oush and goush about.
Can I just take some time here to verbally and internetally (ha - you like that one?) love on Jon Koch and Joanna Kleine, photographers ultimus? That's the scientific name for what they do. Ha! There are a handful of photographic artists that, when I learn I get to work with them, make me giddy and tingly and just a ball of girly excitement. These guys are in that group. I know that when I work with them, I'm in for a day of fantastic filmtistic opportunities because these guys shoot so unobtrusively! Yes, I'm making up words right and left. Let's move on. I know that, as I'm in the middle of a sexy pan up bride's body, they're not going to be shouting directions of "move a centimeter" this way or that, which ends up ruining my shot because then bride either looks up in confusion or her face is for some reason moving robotically...it's just not good. Jon and Joanna are so great about going with the flow, and they're so thoughtful about our job and even receptive to ideas I might have. It's a dance of give and take and, lemme tell ya', the dance got a little hot and steamy between Quinn, Dena, Jon, Joanna, and myself during the shoot between ceremony and reception! Part of me thought Dena might just steal Quinn away for a while and show up and hour late to the reception! The weather was great, but we were all sizzlin' by the time we headed out to the Ritz. Gettin' a little warm remembering. Can't wait to see if all that steam shows up in Jon's shots!
So, what else to report? Well, the photos and the filming were unbelievable. What else matters?
I'm kinda' working backwards here, but I can't forget the ceremony! This was our first Greek Orthodox experience at Assumption Greek Orthodox church. What a special service, full of so much symbolism and tradition. The church was so unique - the walls and ceiling were completely full of ornate murals. I'm so excited I was able to experience a new culture. We are so blessed to have so many opportunities like this just because of what we do - new people, cultures, traditions; we're all part of this beautiful earth and bound with the common bond of humanity.
Alright. That's it for now. I'm gonna' go watch Oprah. :)
Congratulations to the gorgeous couple and THANK YOU, Dena and Betty, for choosing us to capture the memories!
Ang
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Jen & Joe (8/2/08) - WITH VIDEO
What a gorgeous and perfect day. I sure didn't notice any glitches! We started the day in Joe's hotel room, with him in the shower (no, we didn't film that!), and his mom playing hostess. What a generous, gracious, group of people - all day! Joe's mom offering us a "pop" (haven't heard that in a while), Jen's parents making sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed at their home...and Brian was just tickled pink all day because Joe's side is full of Cubs fans! :) The officiant even worked that into the ceremony. Too cute!
Wonderful group of vendors to work with, too. David & Elaine from Through A Lens photography were wonderful to work with. They were so considerate of us and really seemed to be getting some great shots! It's always nice to work with another husband and wife team. We saw the flowers at Jen's parents' house and instantly thought of Jeff at Grimm and Gorly florist and, 10 minutes later, he walked through the door to check on everything and we squealed in delight for being right again! I can't put my finger on it, but there's just something about his arrangements!
The ceremony was so nice, and the reception, well...the Renaissance is always so beautiful! Alteration Band kept the place hoppin' - as always. They are just phenomenal! Gordon knows how to keep the show rolling and even does such a great job announcing events and keeping the flow of the evening going with energy and his fun personality. You know? I don't think a lot of brides think to pay attention to how events are announced and exactly how the band will keep the energy up through all the rig-a-ma-roll...wow...don't think I've ever spelled that out. :) Anyway, Gordon is one of the best, for sure.
It was a fantastic day, and I hope it met all of Jen and Joe's expectations. Hawaii for a honeymoon?? Seriously - does it get any better? Oh, and Jen's brother was so nice to remind Joe that there are other things to do in Hawaii besides things in the hotel room. I think everyone in the room blushed! Ha! I hope they remembered they would have this fun video to watch, too, you know...in case they got bored. :)
Love to Jen and Joe and everyone who participated in their day!
Ang
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Kristin & Brandon 7/19/08 with VIDEO!
Pick your jaw up off your keyboard. Yes, it's me...blogging again within the same MONTH even!
So, yesterday was a dream wedding for us...oh, yeah. Probably Kristin and Brandon had a good time too, but the planets and stars and all other celestial beings were alligned for us as filmmakers. :)
Wonderful people, first of all. I wish I was a part of their family! Both sides of the church were filled with such fun and genuine people. A couple so in love, I had tears in my eyes filming their Love Story...then again while watching it...then again during the ceremony...then again during the toasts at the reception. Can't really see what I'm doing in my camera if I'm tearing up, people! :) So, you can imagine that picture time was a blast because we professionals didn't have to dictate every move, trying to "create" the magic. SPEAKING of pictures, we had the honor and pleasure of working with Chris Croy and his wonderful assistant, Tamara. Wait. I'm getting ahead of myself. People, loving couple (oh, and they're GORGEOUS, too - that don't hurt any!), amazing photographer who respects our job as much as his, COORDINATOR - oh, boy...the difference having a coordinator makes. All this added up to a 12 hour day that almost didn't feel like work. My feet, legs, back and shoulders tell me otherwise today, but yesterday was a perfect illustration of why I love my job. Hmmm...could have done without the heat, though.
I started the day filming all the ladies getting ready in the conference room at Kristin's parents' business. What an opening scene! There was plenty of room and it was well lit - so much better than I'm usually able to work with in a cramped hotel room with a few lamps. Anyway, the girls were having such fun hanging out and/or getting done up with "My Best Friend's Wedding" playing in the background. A running theme of the day was "This or That?" Jennifer Aniston or Julia Roberts...Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire...Madonna or - can't remember that one. One moment, a bridesmaid is catching grapes in her mouth, the next moment Kathy is singing "I Say a Little Prayer for You" into a toothbrush case and getting the bridesmaids to join in as backups in true old-school night club fashion. Priceless!
Off to the church, where Kristin soon received a card from her moments-to-be husband and had to choke back tears from the heartfelt sentiments. She would call out "pants!" whenever a moment was getting to her, and her bridesmaids were supposed to do something to help...they stuck their butts toward her, acting like they were going to flash her, so I guess "pants" is short for "underpants"? Perhaps something left over from some private joke through the years or a recent slumber party or something...this is what a wedding day should be, isn't it? I just couldn't have scripted it better.
The only "hairy" moment the whole day, as far as I could tell, was the challenge of getting the veil on. Mom and Dad tried to help, but a hair emergency resulted, and a couple bridesmaids saved the day. I remember Kristin saying, "I don't care if it all falls out after today..." just do whatever is necessary, basically. :) You are among friends, Kristin. We all understand, and most of us don't even have the gorgeous fairy-tale locks you have! And it was perfect.
The ceremony was lovely. I had a very limited view from a doorway up on the altar, but I could see Brandon and Kristin grinning and giggling, sometimes chatting (I can't wait to hear what they were talking about!), and bridesmaids dabbing tears away all down the line. They exited the church amidst a shower of rosepetals and made their getaway (just down the street and then back behind the church to get pics underway) in K's dad's classic, cherry-red Mustang. Say it with me: sweet. Yes, it's overdone, but in this case, it's necessary.
Alright, alright...time to sing the praises of Chris Croy and his tiny assistant, Tamara. We didn't have a lot of time for pictures because of the 1 hour drive to the reception in St. Louis, but these pictures are going to be spectacular. Chris was so thoughtful to make sure I was getting what I needed for the film as well. Such an artist, a professional...and a gentleman. The last time we worked together was a nightmare - Bridezilla straight from the TV show - probably the worst either of our companies has had to deal with. Hmmmm...I wonder if she would read this and know it was her.....don'tcare. It was so refreshing for us to experience what it's like to work with Chris when we're really allowed the freedom to actually do our jobs and practice our craft without sour faces, screaming, and tantrums. Uh, I'm talking about the bride there - not us. :) Brian and I usually only have tantrums in the office.
Well, the reception was beautiful and, as I mentioned earlier, brought more tears...the HUGE room at Windows OFF Washington was so full of love and excitement it was almost tangible. Alison from Simply Elegant Events and her assistants were available to take care of anything we needed or answer any question. Of course, as a bride, you're aware that your coordinator needs to be there for you...but do you really understand how important it is for her to support your vendors too? I'm not sure all coordinators understand that. The best ones do. (See our resources page!) I know Kristin's mom, Kathy, was deeply involved in planning, too. I don't know whose hands did what, but the place, the party, the DAY was amazing. Oh, LORD...I can't talk about how spectacular the reception looked without also mentioning Erin with Exclusive Events! Lit jewel curtains at the corners of the dance floor...fabric backdrops...I don't even know everything she designed, but it was breathtaking. And whose idea was the chicken wing bar!? So fun!
So, yesterday was a dream wedding for us...oh, yeah. Probably Kristin and Brandon had a good time too, but the planets and stars and all other celestial beings were alligned for us as filmmakers. :)
Wonderful people, first of all. I wish I was a part of their family! Both sides of the church were filled with such fun and genuine people. A couple so in love, I had tears in my eyes filming their Love Story...then again while watching it...then again during the ceremony...then again during the toasts at the reception. Can't really see what I'm doing in my camera if I'm tearing up, people! :) So, you can imagine that picture time was a blast because we professionals didn't have to dictate every move, trying to "create" the magic. SPEAKING of pictures, we had the honor and pleasure of working with Chris Croy and his wonderful assistant, Tamara. Wait. I'm getting ahead of myself. People, loving couple (oh, and they're GORGEOUS, too - that don't hurt any!), amazing photographer who respects our job as much as his, COORDINATOR - oh, boy...the difference having a coordinator makes. All this added up to a 12 hour day that almost didn't feel like work. My feet, legs, back and shoulders tell me otherwise today, but yesterday was a perfect illustration of why I love my job. Hmmm...could have done without the heat, though.
I started the day filming all the ladies getting ready in the conference room at Kristin's parents' business. What an opening scene! There was plenty of room and it was well lit - so much better than I'm usually able to work with in a cramped hotel room with a few lamps. Anyway, the girls were having such fun hanging out and/or getting done up with "My Best Friend's Wedding" playing in the background. A running theme of the day was "This or That?" Jennifer Aniston or Julia Roberts...Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire...Madonna or - can't remember that one. One moment, a bridesmaid is catching grapes in her mouth, the next moment Kathy is singing "I Say a Little Prayer for You" into a toothbrush case and getting the bridesmaids to join in as backups in true old-school night club fashion. Priceless!
Off to the church, where Kristin soon received a card from her moments-to-be husband and had to choke back tears from the heartfelt sentiments. She would call out "pants!" whenever a moment was getting to her, and her bridesmaids were supposed to do something to help...they stuck their butts toward her, acting like they were going to flash her, so I guess "pants" is short for "underpants"? Perhaps something left over from some private joke through the years or a recent slumber party or something...this is what a wedding day should be, isn't it? I just couldn't have scripted it better.
The only "hairy" moment the whole day, as far as I could tell, was the challenge of getting the veil on. Mom and Dad tried to help, but a hair emergency resulted, and a couple bridesmaids saved the day. I remember Kristin saying, "I don't care if it all falls out after today..." just do whatever is necessary, basically. :) You are among friends, Kristin. We all understand, and most of us don't even have the gorgeous fairy-tale locks you have! And it was perfect.
The ceremony was lovely. I had a very limited view from a doorway up on the altar, but I could see Brandon and Kristin grinning and giggling, sometimes chatting (I can't wait to hear what they were talking about!), and bridesmaids dabbing tears away all down the line. They exited the church amidst a shower of rosepetals and made their getaway (just down the street and then back behind the church to get pics underway) in K's dad's classic, cherry-red Mustang. Say it with me: sweet. Yes, it's overdone, but in this case, it's necessary.
Alright, alright...time to sing the praises of Chris Croy and his tiny assistant, Tamara. We didn't have a lot of time for pictures because of the 1 hour drive to the reception in St. Louis, but these pictures are going to be spectacular. Chris was so thoughtful to make sure I was getting what I needed for the film as well. Such an artist, a professional...and a gentleman. The last time we worked together was a nightmare - Bridezilla straight from the TV show - probably the worst either of our companies has had to deal with. Hmmmm...I wonder if she would read this and know it was her.....don'tcare. It was so refreshing for us to experience what it's like to work with Chris when we're really allowed the freedom to actually do our jobs and practice our craft without sour faces, screaming, and tantrums. Uh, I'm talking about the bride there - not us. :) Brian and I usually only have tantrums in the office.
Well, the reception was beautiful and, as I mentioned earlier, brought more tears...the HUGE room at Windows OFF Washington was so full of love and excitement it was almost tangible. Alison from Simply Elegant Events and her assistants were available to take care of anything we needed or answer any question. Of course, as a bride, you're aware that your coordinator needs to be there for you...but do you really understand how important it is for her to support your vendors too? I'm not sure all coordinators understand that. The best ones do. (See our resources page!) I know Kristin's mom, Kathy, was deeply involved in planning, too. I don't know whose hands did what, but the place, the party, the DAY was amazing. Oh, LORD...I can't talk about how spectacular the reception looked without also mentioning Erin with Exclusive Events! Lit jewel curtains at the corners of the dance floor...fabric backdrops...I don't even know everything she designed, but it was breathtaking. And whose idea was the chicken wing bar!? So fun!
There is so much more I could talk about, but you should just watch our fun little video. I can't wait to see the real thing myself, but these things take time. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy watching this little treat in the meantime. This is something new we're trying! This blog video was shot with our JVC harddrive handycam, so it's certainly not up to the quality of our broadcast cameras, but it sure is great to be able to download something to the computer and get a little something put together the day after! :)
Enjoy!
Ang
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Apology and peace offering of pictures.... :)
So, my last post was in March, and I said I was going to try to do better at this blogging thing. Uh... Well, you see... I'm sure, blog stalker, that I have hurt you deeply. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to make you feel ignored or unappreciated. I guess all I can really do is try to do better moving forward. I can't change the past. We can only look ahead to the future. And...the future is....uh, great...and...bright...and we, we can't live in the past. No, and we can't let something like this come between us. What we have is a beautiful...a strange and wonderful, yet beautiful thing. I will try to rebuild whatever I have damaged in our relationship...whatever I have damaged in you. Please don't give up on me. I can't promise to be perfect. I can only offer you these typed words and try to give you more in the future. In the meantime, I can share.....
So, tomorrow is the 4th, and we have a wedding to shoot! (Well, JuneBug has a shoot.) Hey - what better way to celebrate, I say - fireworks on your wedding day and every anniversary! And, who can't appreciate the duality: committing to a life partnership on Independance Day. :) Love it.
What else...well, way busy in June. Not so much in July. What gives? Also, September and October are practically EMPTY. What!? Any of you out there still need a videographer for Sept or Oct? For crying out loud, do NOT assume we are booked!
I'll attach a pic or two here - fresh from July 1st, actually. Brian took the pics and I did some editing. No biggie...we're just having fun learning about photography and PhotoShop for our own enjoyment. We'll leave the high-pressure professional stuff to those who KNOW what they're doing! (Hey, that's how people should feel about their wedding video! :) And on that note....
Till next time!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Catching up
OMG, Ellie is 3 months old now and I haven't blogged since January!!?? I'm so sorry, faithful blog followers - especially you, blog stalker. First of all...I know I don't give this blogging thing a high enough priority...if you faithfully check this blog, I'm sure you are disappointed over and over again. So sorry! I really am going to try and do better at this. For goodness sake...every day at lunch?? I'll do my best to give you (you know who you are) better reading material!
I suppose I'll end up writing about personal as well as professional thoughts and experiences. It's too tough not to talk about Ellie, as she takes up a large portion of my thoughts and activities any more. If you're reading this, we've most likely taken part in your life on your wedding day, so I guess you might as well get to know more about Brian and Angee "off the clock" here. :)
Well, Ellie was just three weeks old and Brian traveled with another of our crew to film a wedding in New Mexico. Wow - it was hard to have him gone, but little bit and I got along just fine. I think it really was harder for him. He had to work without me, and then he had to miss Ellie! He said she had changed so much in the three days he was gone.
As soon as the New Year hit, we geared up for weddings on Jan 5 (Carrie and Steve) and Jan 12 (Erin and Brian). Let me just say that I do NOT take for granted that I get to do the bulk of my work from home! Wow, it was hard to be away from her, even for just a few hours until another crew member relieved me! It was nice to get back into the swing of life, though, too. I was starting to get cabin fever - and I was beginning to feel that there was nothing left of "me" except whatever was necessary to cater to this tiny, hungry little poop machine. So, it was good to get back in the game. :) I had been looking forward to Carrie's wedding for over a year!
In the meantime, projects kept backing up in the post-production schedule...as you may know if you're one of our brides and you haven't received your finished movie yet. So, Brian and I made some pretty drastic decisions and restructured our company - he's doing more editing now and little to NO web work - just a couple long-standing clients. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!
Now, we're getting very close to making some serious headway in our project schedule. Next month, Brian will be traveling (alone this time) to Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters' convention. It was such a great learning experience last year, and we shopped some new equipment, although we didn't make any purchases. THIS YEAR, we're in a position to make a hefty investment in one or two directions, but I can't really discuss that any further. I'll DEFINITELY be posting about the purchases once they're made, though! We have to see which direction looks better at the convention...something exciting is about to happen in Archway, though, for sure!
Oh! ARCHWAY HAD A BABY TOO! I almost neglected to mention this! We realize there is a need out there for professional videography at an affordable price. So, we decided to create another company, JuneBug Productions, in order to fill that need. Basically, we offer our experience and style of filming without all the editing, which is what drives the cost of the wedding films we produce as Archway Media. So, a bride can get a true-to-life representation of her ceremony and reception for under $1000 if she can't fit Archway's artistic product into her budget. To avoid any confusion about the difference in the two products, we created JuneBug.
In closing, if you haven't checked out Ellie's website in a while, check it again! We recently added new pics (thank you, Stephanie Zettl and Gina Kelly) and video, and MORE pics should be loaded shortly.
I suppose I'll end up writing about personal as well as professional thoughts and experiences. It's too tough not to talk about Ellie, as she takes up a large portion of my thoughts and activities any more. If you're reading this, we've most likely taken part in your life on your wedding day, so I guess you might as well get to know more about Brian and Angee "off the clock" here. :)
Well, Ellie was just three weeks old and Brian traveled with another of our crew to film a wedding in New Mexico. Wow - it was hard to have him gone, but little bit and I got along just fine. I think it really was harder for him. He had to work without me, and then he had to miss Ellie! He said she had changed so much in the three days he was gone.
As soon as the New Year hit, we geared up for weddings on Jan 5 (Carrie and Steve) and Jan 12 (Erin and Brian). Let me just say that I do NOT take for granted that I get to do the bulk of my work from home! Wow, it was hard to be away from her, even for just a few hours until another crew member relieved me! It was nice to get back into the swing of life, though, too. I was starting to get cabin fever - and I was beginning to feel that there was nothing left of "me" except whatever was necessary to cater to this tiny, hungry little poop machine. So, it was good to get back in the game. :) I had been looking forward to Carrie's wedding for over a year!
In the meantime, projects kept backing up in the post-production schedule...as you may know if you're one of our brides and you haven't received your finished movie yet. So, Brian and I made some pretty drastic decisions and restructured our company - he's doing more editing now and little to NO web work - just a couple long-standing clients. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!
Now, we're getting very close to making some serious headway in our project schedule. Next month, Brian will be traveling (alone this time) to Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters' convention. It was such a great learning experience last year, and we shopped some new equipment, although we didn't make any purchases. THIS YEAR, we're in a position to make a hefty investment in one or two directions, but I can't really discuss that any further. I'll DEFINITELY be posting about the purchases once they're made, though! We have to see which direction looks better at the convention...something exciting is about to happen in Archway, though, for sure!
Oh! ARCHWAY HAD A BABY TOO! I almost neglected to mention this! We realize there is a need out there for professional videography at an affordable price. So, we decided to create another company, JuneBug Productions, in order to fill that need. Basically, we offer our experience and style of filming without all the editing, which is what drives the cost of the wedding films we produce as Archway Media. So, a bride can get a true-to-life representation of her ceremony and reception for under $1000 if she can't fit Archway's artistic product into her budget. To avoid any confusion about the difference in the two products, we created JuneBug.
In closing, if you haven't checked out Ellie's website in a while, check it again! We recently added new pics (thank you, Stephanie Zettl and Gina Kelly) and video, and MORE pics should be loaded shortly.
Thanks for reading and understanding that we're spread pretty thin these days. What a wonderful life!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Alright, here's the baby! Everybody calm down.
Okay, okay. So, I thought it would be unprofessional to talk about our new little baby girl here on our Archway blog, but Brian reminded me we're not that professional anyway! Really, we end up sharing in the lives of our clients, so why not share the most wonderful event in our life with you?
So, here she is, Ellie June. AKA: Miss Ellie, Ellie-bean, Ellie-button, June bug, Snuggle bug, Ladybug, smellyelliebelly. Daddy needs to load some more pics up there - the picture page is all that works so far. She had her own website before she was 24 hours old, and has already had two professional photo shoots, thanks to Stephanie Zettl and Gina Kelly - can't wait to get some of those loaded!!
So, I was still filming weddings up until 38weeks, and I got back to doing some editing 2 days after we got home from the hospital. Still, I'm having trouble getting into a rhythm with my project schedule. Ellie has certainly turned our lives upside down! Really, I'm trying to take advantage of working at home and when I'm with her, I'm with her.
Brian has taken to his new role as daddy. He got baptised with "fire," let's say, with changing diapers. His first time, just a couple days after we got home, she basically exploded on the changing table between diapers. He even cleaned it up! He's still a little timid with handling her - just not wanting to hurt her. He doesn't believe me that she's really not all that delicate. She's just 6 weeks old now and weighs over 11 pounds already!
It would be great to get some VIDEO loaded on her website... Or, maybe we should just start working now on her photo and video montage for her wedding. Ha!
We did find out we were having a girl at about 20 weeks. We were sooooo happy! We really were both hoping for a girl in our hearts, but hadn't really talked about it. So, we drive home together, pretty much speechless. We went our separate ways doing errands or whatever, and it hit me. I called B right away and screamed into the phone as soon as he answered: Oh my God, we have to pay for a wedding!!! :) Here's hoping the next one's a boy.
So, here she is, Ellie June. AKA: Miss Ellie, Ellie-bean, Ellie-button, June bug, Snuggle bug, Ladybug, smellyelliebelly. Daddy needs to load some more pics up there - the picture page is all that works so far. She had her own website before she was 24 hours old, and has already had two professional photo shoots, thanks to Stephanie Zettl and Gina Kelly - can't wait to get some of those loaded!!
So, I was still filming weddings up until 38weeks, and I got back to doing some editing 2 days after we got home from the hospital. Still, I'm having trouble getting into a rhythm with my project schedule. Ellie has certainly turned our lives upside down! Really, I'm trying to take advantage of working at home and when I'm with her, I'm with her.
Brian has taken to his new role as daddy. He got baptised with "fire," let's say, with changing diapers. His first time, just a couple days after we got home, she basically exploded on the changing table between diapers. He even cleaned it up! He's still a little timid with handling her - just not wanting to hurt her. He doesn't believe me that she's really not all that delicate. She's just 6 weeks old now and weighs over 11 pounds already!
It would be great to get some VIDEO loaded on her website...
We did find out we were having a girl at about 20 weeks. We were sooooo happy! We really were both hoping for a girl in our hearts, but hadn't really talked about it. So, we drive home together, pretty much speechless. We went our separate ways doing errands or whatever, and it hit me. I called B right away and screamed into the phone as soon as he answered: Oh my God, we have to pay for a wedding!!! :) Here's hoping the next one's a boy.
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