Ever since I formally began Afternoon Media, I knew I wanted to offer video in some capacity. Fun fact – I actually got my start in wedding video + have a film degree! That’s why I’m super thrilled that this year I’ve added wedding video + Super 8 services to my offerings.
During my consultations with couples, I get a ton of questions about the difference between digital video and Super 8, and which I think would be right for their day. So I decided to create a handy lil guide for you! Keep reading to find out more about both, and why each may fit into your day!
Wedding Video
What Is It?
Afternoon Media’s Wedding Video collection includes an associate videographer who will join me while I’m photographing your wedding. These are pros who run their own separate videography businesses but will sometimes work under others to fill out their calendar for the year. I have a roster of pro videographers I frequently work with that follow my business’s style and standards!
Your videographer will be as non-intrusive, chill, and helpful as I am during the day. They won’t interrupt a first look, re-stage a hug, or force you to be someone you’re not. You can expect them to use a pro, 4k cinema camera on a gimbal (looks like a weird little handle, actually very cool to see in action) during more candid moments and a 2-3 camera tripod setup during the main events (ceremony, speeches, etc.). They will also have multiple audio recorders and mics to make sure the important words of the day are captured. You choose if/when you’d like to be mic’d up and for how long. Your videographer will be in control of when it records too, so if you have to pee, we won’t be in your business.
My philosophy behind wedding video is pretty much how I feel about photo – it should be a time capsule of your day, as it actually happened, that’s 100% authentic to you. I’ll create a Highlight Film for you, which will be a 4+ minute long retelling of your wedding set to music + including audio clips. You can check out an example above! Each highlight film is unique, and my goal is to bottle up your personality in a fun, home-movie style package. You’ll also receive full-length videos of your ceremony and any reception speeches.
If you’d like even more content, I offer a few extras you can include in your package. A Documentary Film is all of your footage from the day stitched together in a 30-60 minute video. If you’d like to see an example, please send me a message! I also offer Guest Interviews if your timeline allows, which are super fun and also included in the video above!
Why It May Be For You
While photography is truly magical, and one of the most important parts of your day, there are some things it just can’t capture as well as video does. If hearing the emotion in your vows, watching your best man cry while delivering his speech, or feeling the momentum of the dance floor are important to you, wedding video preserves those moments much better than photo.
While yes, you technically can recruit a relative to set up a phone tripod to film, there are SO MANY variables that could go wrong with that. Not picking up audio, being blocked by guests, not catching all the angles, poor quality, etc. If documentation of these parts of the day are very important to you, professional wedding video is the only way to ensure you’re getting the full picture!
Also, this is my personal opinion, but my wedding videos are just fun AF. They include bloopers, silly sound bytes, and capture your personality in a way that doesn’t always translate to photography!
Why It May Not Be For You
If you’re a shy person, a little more introverted, or just don’t love the idea of multiple cameras involved in your day, wedding video may be a little overwhelming. While your videographer will try their absolute best to accommodate you and make you feel as comfortable as possible, if it’s just not your jam, that’s okay!
Another reason you may not want to book wedding video is that it requires a little more planning + padding with your timeline. Video involves a lot more equipment than photo, so we need to accommodate for that during our timeline talks! I promise it’s not a whole lot extra, but if the idea of sending a floor plan to me gives you hives, maybe wedding video isn’t the best choice for you.
The last reason is money – my Wedding Video collection begins at $3250. It may be difficult to fit into your budget if you haven’t already allotted money for it. If you’d like a smaller custom package that only includes a ceremony video or ceremony + speeches only, I can definitely create one for you at a lesser expense!
Super 8 Video
What Is It?
Super 8 is straight-up magic. It’s like bottling the flashback of a memory into a nostalgic, grainy vintage video. In a digital age of retouching, 10k video, and social media phoniness, Super 8 is experiencing a revival for its authenticity, charm, and grit. It provides home movie vibes in a sweet lil lo-fi package.
Technically speaking, Super 8 cameras were first introduced in the 1960s as a way to make home movies more accessible for amateurs and families. The camera uses analog reels, which means the video is being shot on physical film. These cameras in their true form weren’t manufactured after the 1970s, so finding a reliable camera that’s over 50 years old is difficult. Thankfully, there are refurbished cameras out there, and Super 8 film is still available to purchase from Kodak!
When you add Super 8 as an add-on, I charge per reel. Each reel is about 3 minutes of raw footage, and it does not record sound. No matter how many reels you decide to add, I always film throughout your day. In the example video above, the couple added 3 reels of super 8. After your wedding, I ship your reels off to a lab to develop and scan the film into a digital copy! I take from your raw footage to create a Highlight Video that’s anywhere from 1-5 minutes long, depending on how much footage there is. I will also deliver all your raw footage in a full-length archival reel.
Why It May Be For You
If the actual formalities of your wedding day aren’t super important to document on video for you and you’d rather have a visual collage of lo-fi, homemade-looking clips, Super 8 is amazing for that! With only 3 minutes of footage per reel, I shoot very intentionally, which makes each shot more special. It also invokes a warm, timeless aesthetic that is very hard to replicate with filters or modern video – this is the real deal!
Also…the cool factor of Super 8 is undeniable. Seeing one of the most important days of your life, shot on physical film, in motion, is SO FREAKIN MAGICAL. Because Super 8 videographers are still pretty rare and hard to come by, you’ll have a souvenir from your wedding that is very unique to you. I promise you, as soon as you see the footage you’ll be dying to show it to everyone you know!
Finally, if you’re on a budget but would still love incorporate video in your wedding, Super 8 is more affordable than digital video (to a point). If you’d like full-day, dedicated Super 8 coverage closer to the length of a digital wedding video, that’s when it actually becomes more expensive (7 reels = $3500)
Why It May Not Be For You
I want to make this very clear – Super 8 is not a replacement for digital Wedding Video. If you’re looking to accurately document the important events of the day (ceremony, speeches, vows, etc) with full audio and sound, Super 8 will not do that.
If you want a lot of high-quality, crisp footage, Super 8 will also not do that. Super 8 doesn’t really go above a 720p resolution, and its appeal is in its imperfect, low-fi nature. These cameras, while incredibly durable and built to last, are very old. Film is more prone to light leaks, damage, color variation, etc. than regular digital footage.
If your wedding is taking place in mostly dark, indoor areas, Super 8 may not be the best choice for you. Since these cameras were originally manufactured as home movie cameras, they have limited functions, and tend to have trouble with low light. While I will always bring appropriate video lighting and there are higher sensitivity film stocks out there, these cameras function best in bright, well-lit areas and outdoors!
Can’t Decide?
If you love the look + feel of Super 8 video, but still want the reliability, quality, and audio of digital Wedding Video, good news – you can always have both! I love incorporating Super 8 clips into highlight videos, and it really gives you the best of both worlds.
Are you looking for a wedding photo + video team that also shoots Super 8? Want to include some Super 8 in your photo package? Just reach out – I’d love to hear more!
