*** Recent Additions to our Wedding Photography Portfolio ***

Including personal graphics, in this case a songsheet created by the bride enabling us to fully personalize every wedding video.

We include your wedding invitation, program, many beautiful photographs, perhaps a chosen reading or favorite scripture in our titling, and incorporate your music selections. Special effects of black and white, softening filter and slow motion just to mention a few.

You may become a film co-producer of your dynamic wedding cinema!

A truly beautiful video requires superb and detailed camera techniques: knowing which shots “work” and how to assemble this great footage in the edit suite. Framing, timing, lighting, audio, artful camera movements should be technically correct and artistically pleasing, from the first take to the last.

SMS Design Wedding Video & Photography camera and editing techniques are born of over 14 years of experience in professional video production. We have shot and edited weddings, special events, along with corporate training and promotional videos. In addition, we have experience in TV and broadcast production keeping us up to late on latest trends.

Results are important! Using documentary style, we piece together the events of the day; using cinematic style enables us to create a romantic story and your customized and elegant finished featured film. We can blend color with black-and-white footage for a natural and timeless approach. This seemingly straight forward style requires considerable artistic skill that we use to capture the mood without special effects while keeping the focus on you. We look for interesting actions and images which communicate the emotions of the cast and we make your “movie” as stylish, entertaining, and unforgettable as the day itself, while remaining as unobtrusive as possible. Artful camera moves and tasteful digital special effects assure a video you' ll be proud to share with family and friends. Your most memorable day becomes a moving work of art.

Why select a professional videographer to record your wedding? The truth is, a high-quality image is only part of what it takes to make a professional product. Wireless and professional microphones must be use. 3-chip digital cameras offering broadcast quality that record well in low-light surroundings are required. A fluid-head tripod should be used for smooth steady shots. And back-up equipment for everything must be on-hand as weddings are a “Once in a Lifetime” event.

There really is a significant part of your wedding that you don't get to experience if you don't have a video. At your wedding, you see the ceremony from the narrow space between you and the officiant; imagine everything that's happening around you ... imagine the expressions of your guests, emotions of your family and friends, and the view from the side or balcony, not to mention the reception.

Invest in SMS Design Wedding Video & Photography™ wedding services. “Still photography captures important moments, but only videography will show your walk down the aisle and the smiles you shared during your first dance. The only way to really relive the day is through video. You can hear the way people speak, see the way they move.” says Robert Allen, a Videojournalist. Experience the moments you remember, and allow your wedding video to reveal things you will miss. You may find in the future your children love watching your wedding.

We understand the importance of this day to you, your family and friends. We will consult with you multiple times before your wedding to go over specific details. We discuss time scheduling and get to know a little about you and your families. We will be dressed in formalwear and will begin the day at the location where you dress for your wedding. We arrive approximately 1-2 hours before the ceremony and take video of you, your family, bridal party, and friends. No detail is missed and all without creating distractions. Because we use several cameras, it is not necessary for us to move around to capture another angle. This allows us to record your faces and emotions during the ceremony, without distraction.

The best way to end up with a video that you will view again and again is to communicate with your professional in advance. Let us know what attracted you to our work. Look for visual elements that interest you, and for the mix of sentiment and style that appeals to you. We will invite your participation in the editing process to include your choice of songs for background or theme. We typically spend over 40-80 hours editing and creating your elegant wedding video. This makes a big difference in the finished video. Great editing can mean the difference between an okay wedding tape and a fabulous wedding tape. At SMS Design Wedding Video & Photography™, we expect to create the wedding of your dreams on DVD & VHS. Your family heirloom on DVD will last for your grandchildren.

Perhaps most importantly, we are almost invisible as we work. The client compliment we receive again and again: “We hardly knew you were there.” We take most pride in that we are told “You fit in so well, like our family and good friends.” We are often asked, “How many weddings will you shoot on our wedding day?”

Only one, and we would like it to be yours! (We videotape only one wedding per day and do not use freelancers)

Call us today at 630.416.6843 or email us at jkaliher@smsdesignplus.com to make an appointment to view our work of complete events, not just “best of videos”.