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Be fearlessly authentic.Bravely be you.

When you see a good wedding film, you will feel connected to the couple, even though you don’t know them. The reason? Because it is real…a video is actual moments.  A good wedding filmmaker knows how to anticipate those times, during your vows, first dance, even during the photo session. Some of the best real moments happen just after a photo is taken. I will tell you to “look at each other, hang out…hey, you’re married!” You pause, look into the eyes of your beloved, maybe even get a little teary…real smiles, reveling in the moment.

As a filmmaker, especially as a wedding filmmaker, capturing authentic moments is my life’s work. It makes me giddy, and I am lucky to have filmed some of people’s “real real” moments. But it’s not luck, it’s being present, and having the experience to anticipate emotions. And being open to feeling all the feels while engaged in the very technical art of filmmaking. It’s a dance, it’s a slippery slope, but when I get those seconds that will never happen again, those words, those glances…oh my, I have the best job ever! The best description of authenticity I have read is “Never perfect. Always genuine.” This resonates with me, because it shows the beauty, the bittersweet reality of how little of our lives we truly live in the vain pursuit of perfection.

The wedding world is full of blogs and insta stories touting the “perfection” of a couple’s wedding day. I NEVER promise perfection, because frankly, I find it boring and contrived. I am the black sheep after all, and I kind of want a story…not that I want things to go awry, but if it rains, and we have to dash out of it, and we are all laughing, and covering each other not to get too wet, that’s a fun story that happened on YOUR wedding day. In order to capture those sincere moments, you must relinquish the pursuit of perfection, and just go with it. Hire the best, plan to your heart’s content, but when the day arrives, relax and have a great time. Even if it rains, even if people arrive late, if the cake never shows up…have a plan B, cut that big chocolate chip cookie that the venue just made for you and hit the dance floor.

I often hear my couples discussing wedding photography, and the love of the “candid” photo. You know, the one where everyone is not mugging to the camera, but where they look fabulous, the foreground is clear of unnecessary clutter and the background has just enough bokeh and none of the wait staff clearing plates. Phew…that’s a lot of things to accomplish in one photo.  The “candid” is where video excels. As a videographer, I film 24 frames per second, and I have no loud shutter, red focus beams or flash. I am like the ninja of the candid. BUT, I have seen a lot of videographers recently who seem to be more concerned with adding epic shots to their show reel than filming honest, beautiful moments. Be careful who you hire on your wedding day. I can’t imagine having anyone directing every moment, being in so many of the photographer’s shots because they are more concerned with getting an “epic” shot than working together to create some cinematic magic. It’s a wedding, not a production…many in this industry have forgotten why you are there, why this is important. I see so many highly acclaimed videos of usually just the couple, oh, lolling on a sand dune, like you do on your wedding day, or taking off on a Chris-Craft on Lake Como, also, like we all have done. So many over the top, posed, almost cringingly fake scenes…I would feel so uncomfortable being those two, and certainly, that filmmaker. If you look back at that video in 10 years, with all of it’s slo-mo, over the top PDA, no family and friends reactions, very few ‘real’ moments, I can’t help to think how poorly it would date. I’ve had videographers tell me that they don’t tape the entire ceremony or all the toasts, because they just need those “beauty shots”, and editing an entire ceremony is boring…who would watch that anyway? I think many are out of touch with why people want video in the first place, which is to document the day-in all it’s glam and glory.  If you do that, beautifully, and create a film that is chock full of REAL moments, it will bring tears and cheers from the day it is first viewed until the grandkids are downloading it from the cloud in 50 years. It’s about love, family and friends that have all come together to celebrate, and the time is limited. Respect it, capture it unobtrusively, and make a gorgeous film that will stand the test of time.

J&M wedding

I walk a fine line between emotions and technology. In order to capture those moments, you can’t have giant cameras, blinding lights or fussy camera gear (drones, gimbals, jibs and sliders, OH MY!). Now, I love really good tools and new technology…if a cool time lapse is really going to tell your story better, let’s do it! But time is finite on a wedding day, and I truly feel that creating real memories, taking time to have a first look with your Dad, dancing with your favorite Aunt, taking 10 seconds to look around at your friends and family during your ceremony, those are so much more important than having a drone fly over your wedding party during the recessional. I don’t want to create a false reality, I want to capture the essence of you and yours.

When you look at a wedding video, you should see and hear emotion, and feel the vibe from that day. Nothing will bring you back to this “best day” better than sight, sound and 24 frames per second. I love beauty shots of the two of you, but if you look at one of my films, you will only see those used when there is connection. If I see any “pose-y” moments, they don’t make the cut. I want your film to capture that day, your story, that only happens in this small window of time.  Candid photos transport you because they feel honest and precious…like you could have missed that moment, when a shutter snapped, but there, by the grace of God, you have it. It is the same for the wedding film, but x10. All those moments, toasts, glances, vows, dance moves…there, in a beautiful film. Watch, listen and feel Jacqueline and Matt’s ahhmazing wedding held at the El Conquistador in Tucson. It will make you laugh, cry and feel; it resonates because it’s real 🙂

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Tucson:Say”Yes”to the Destination Wedding!

Okay, so maybe I’m a little biased. I was born and raised in Tucson. I grew up swimming in our backyard pool from March through November. Flip flops, shorts and a sweatshirt (which I normally ditched by noon) were my cold weather outfit. Hiking to Seven Falls with a backpack full of my Humanities homework was my weekend hangout as I attended Salpointe Catholic High School(GO LANCERS!) Many days were spent in the glorious sunshine on the U of A mall, writing scripts and honing my camera skills…and possibly checking out the Rugby team (BEAR DOWN ARIZONA!). Tucson is a very special place to me…it’s my hometown.

After graduation, I left Tucson. I couldn’t wait to leave. Bright lights, big city…LA, San Francisco, cable tv shows, studio services, feature films…it was fun. But it was hard. Feast or famine. So I came back. I couldn’t wait to get back. The mountains, the monsoons, the Mexican food, oh, and my family that I missed terribly. I met my hunky English hubby, started Black Sheep Filmworks, rescued an Australian Shepherd, a brown tabby cat and an Australian Cattle Dog. I also gave birth to two of the finest human beings you will ever meet, Alexa and Aidan. Okay, so maybe I’m a little biased.  Tucson is the place that chose me from the get-go. And the place I chose to call home when I had a choice.

YOU have a choice as well, where to hold your wedding. That most ahhhmazing day with your dearly beloved(s)….why choose Tucson for a Destination wedding?  Here are my top five reasons:

1. The Scenery. Search  “Tucson, Arizona”  in google images and you get choices: Mountains, Skyline, Sunset, Downtown and University of Arizona, all of which are spectacular, especially the mountains and the sunsets. All sunsets with high wispy clouds are pretty, but when you have a sunset with gorgeous color AND a huge saguaro in the background, that’s ICONIC.

ritz-carlton wedding

Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain-Destination wedding perfection!!!

2. The Venues. From The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain to the Westin La Paloma to Hacienda del Sol to Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, Tucson is full of  world class resorts, spas and inns that want to pamper you and your guests with loads of Tucson hospitality. The views, the food, the pools, the golf…just basking in the warm Tucson sun, it’s AHHHmazing!

3. Margaritas. From prickly pear to mango habañero, you won’t find a better specialty cocktail. Enough said.

4. The Wedding Professionals. Or the Wedding Vendors, or “Friendors” as my friend Brie Dumais of Brie Dumais Designs likes to call us;) Hands down, some of the most talented, creative, fun, hard working, kick a** individuals you will ever have the pleasure of being around. From florists to photographers, event planners to filmmakers (!) Tucson’s talent is extraordinary. And we all like each other. We will scramble up a hill loaded with cacti and maybe a gopher snake or two (don’t worry, they’re non-venomous ;)) to get that dream shot of you and your beloved. We are used to this 100+ degree “dry” heat. We don’t over direct and under produce. Golf carts, Quarter horses and dirt bikes were probably our first mode of transportation, or our most recent, so we’ve got you covered. We know Tucson, we love it, and we want to share it with you and your besties.

5. The Feel. No place in the world feels like Tucson. It’s a sprawling city (over 227 square miles!) in the middle of four mountain ranges under a huge sunny sky 350 days a year, but it still feels like a small town. When I meet a new client, somewhere in my portfolio, you will know someone. 6 degrees of separation with Kevin Bacon? It’s about 2 to 3 degrees of separation in Tucson. From The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum to the Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson is full of natural beauty, wildlife, and history. And really nice people. Come to Tucson for your Big day, home of the best sunsets, warm sunshine, spas, saguaros…oh, I could go on and on. Okay, maybe I’m a little biased…

Destination weddings are one of my favorite things to capture…we film a lot of them. We get to know everyone beforehand with FaceTime, a pretty detailed wedding questionnaire, text conversations and even chats on the phone..if you’re into that. Come to Tucson, cheers with me over a prickly pear margarita, marry your beloved and live happily ever after. Make those “once in a lifetime” memories and invite a few black sheep to make sure you can re-live it all, over and over. Yes, I am biased, but I won’t steer you wrong; Tucson is destination wedding perfection!!!! Just watch 😉

 

 

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Engagement videos: Yes, you should say “I do”!

My ahhmazing wedding and event planner Rackel Gehlsen approached me with the most romantic engagement proposal…well, not FOR me, but for me to film. Ranjith wanted to propose to his beautiful girlfriend Grassia, and he wanted it to be epic! And a total surprise to her! Under the guise of a business dinner, Ranjith brought Grassia to Hacienda del Sol. She thought they were getting a tour of the newly renovated suites before dinner, but she had no idea how her life was about to change!

With fabulous photographer Chris Richards at my side, we went about hiding in a cactus patch outside of a stunning suite at Hacienda del Sol. I had mic’ed Ranjith prior to his “popping the question”, so that we could capture this moment, in sight and sound, in all its glory. With Dr. Costa playing their favorite song on the guitar, about a million rose petals, Perrier-Jouët champagne and candles blazing, Ranjith got down on one knee and sweetly asked Grassia to be his “one and only”. She said YES!!! Rackel then brought in two surprise guests, Grassia’s pups, and the night was off and running. I interviewed Grassia, and even though she was a bit shocked, she was SO happy, and grateful that we had captured this moment, and their thoughts right after the big moment. Ranjith had penned a poem entitled “Latindian Dharma” for Grassia, which was sweet, emotional and funny. Brie Dumais designs created beautiful paper products, and made the event that much prettier! Black sheep filmworks was honored to be a part of this surprise, and I’m sure there are many more to come. We will be filming Grassia and Ranjith’s wedding in March, 2017, with this same dream team of wedding pros. It’s going to be great…I’ll keep you posted!!!
So, if you are planning to “pop the question”, get in touch with Rackel Gehlsen, She will make the engagement of your dreams a reality! And black sheep filmworks will be there to make a magical video that you can post, share and pass on to future generations. Let’s do this!!!

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