Today I’m very excited to share a new blog series that will highlight a few of my very favorite vendors. Over the years I’ve worked with all sorts of wedding creatives, and there is no doubt that having the perfect team can make all the difference on your big day! When it comes to videography it doesn’t get any better than Jakfoto Films. I had the pleasure of working with them last year at Susan and Steve’s intimate Strawberry Farm Wedding, and when I saw their fusion film I was completely blown away. It was the perfect representation their wedding, and the combination of my still photos throughout the day helped highlight both arts – which I love!

Now you might be wondering what a fusion film is… it is the combination of professional video, audio, and photography into a “fusion” video that truly captures the story of your wedding day. The best way to really appreciate this blending is to see it for yourself, so take a look at Susan and Steve’s full video below. Jakfoto Films has also graciously shared some tips for choosing a videographer and insight into their amazing company, so get ready for lots of goodness!

Tell us a little bit about how you got started in weddings?

I’ve been working in video production for nine years now, on everything from local cable commercials to feature films to a self-produced documentary. I thought for a long time that I didn’t want to do weddings because I had this image in my head of the old school wedding videos – 2 hours of poorly lit backs of heads, heart wipes, and crummy audio – the type of video that when someone pulls out the VHS labeled “Our Wedding,” everyone runs away. Yuck – I could never do that! But I started working with lots of wedding photographers, producing identity videos to introduce them to couples, and some photographer friends urged me to reconsider. About the same time, I started seeing “short form” wedding videos. This was something totally different – fresh new music, beautiful images from cameras that are small and discreet, and the potential to use the emotionally-driven editing style that I learned in film school. Once I realized that lots of couples wanted this type of film – a personal, emotionally driven story that’s fun to watch and to share – everything changed. I was having fun, I was telling amazing stories, and people would email me saying that they were crying watching these films, even thought they didn’t know the couple! I enlisted my husband Josh to help me shoot and plan. Weddings are now our favorite stories to tell!

How would you describe your artistic style?

For me, it’s all about emotion and honesty. I’m not creating a story, I’m discovering and distilling the amazing stories that are already present on a wedding day. That means that my style of shooting or editing will probably change somewhat from one film to the next, as I adapt to the personalities and emotions that I observe. Everything from lens choice to editing pace to music should tell you a little about who this couple is.

What inspires you?

Of course I’m inspired by some of my favorite movies and television shows. As you might guess, I like character driven stories. From classics like Roman Holiday, to quirky modern pieces like Moonrise Kingdom, to cult favorites Firefly, Doctor Who, and anime like Fullmetal Alchemist. Yep, I’m a geek. Surprisingly, I don’t like many romantic comedies – they’re just not as engaging as real life love stories!

What do you love about weddings?

Weddings are a remarkable tradition. You drop everything, take off of work, buy a new dress… just to spend the day celebrating a couple and surrounding them with support and affirmation. It’s a moment for everyone to stop and realize how amazing love is – how incredible that two people would find so much delight in each other, that they want to spend the rest of their lives nurturing that delight! With each celebration that’s the same, and yet different because we carry such different stories. It gets me every. single. time. :)

What are the most important factors couples should consider when choosing a videographer?

First of all, I can’t say this enough: Get it on film. I think every couple should have video of their wedding day. A pro will know how to capture the moments (and the moments between moments – those are my favorite) with gorgeous light, clear sound, and emotion. Without a video, the words spoken are gone forever. It’s the closest thing you’ll have to a time machine to transport you back to your wedding day.

When it comes to finding the right videographer, the number one most important thing is finding someone whose work resonates with you. Watch a few films. If you start to feel like you know the couples personally after a few minutes of their wedding film, that’s a really good sign! And of course try to meet with your videographer before signing a contract – they’ll be with you through your whole wedding day, so it’s a good idea to make sure your personalities click!

What sets you apart from others in your field?

Well, I might just be the only wedding videographer around who collects tattoos and plastic dinosaurs. :) But as far as our work, I keep coming back to emotion and personality. Our films can be very different from one to the next, because the couples are all different. We put in a lot of time and effort to get to know the couples whose stories we are telling. It’s about way more than just the wedding day.

What advice do you have for newly engaged couples?

First of all: celebrate! Don’t get so overwhelmed with to-do lists that you lose sight of how amazing your love is. Secondly: prioritize, and personalize. Don’t stress out over things you’re “supposed to do” for your wedding. What is most important to you? Really think about it. What about your wedding day will be most precious a year after your wedding? That’s what your time and budget should be built around. If a particular tradition isn’t meaningful to you, it’s ok to cut it, or adapt it to make it your own. This is the first step of an amazing journey together. Savor it.

I absolutely adore working with Jakfoto Films, and her talent for capturing the essence of each wedding is unmistakeable! If you’d like to add a Fusion Video to your wedding coverage contact me today for all the details.