What are your prices? We have basic wedding coverage starting at $1200 (ceremony only). Depending on the level of services you need, our prices run between $2000-$3000 for ceremony and reception coverage. Call us at 281-300-3281 for more detailed pricing information. How long will it take to edit my video? Editing is extremely time-consuming, if it is done well. Depending on the time of year, our workload, and other factors, six months or more is not unusual. If we are not busy, we have completed projects in as little as three weeks. We will try our best to give an honest assessment of how long it will take, but remember that it will be worth the wait. How long have you been in business? James Stone, founder of Engaging Productions, has been editing video as a hobby for years, but Engaging Productions was founded in October of 2005. Since then we have produced wedding videos all over the Greater Houston area. What type of equipment do you use? We have recently began utilizing HDSLR cameras to shoot highlight videos. These cameras achieve shallow depth-of-field that creates a "film-like" look. Currently, our main cameras are the Sony HVR-Z5U and the Sony HDR-FX1000. These cameras offer a significant improvement over their predecessors, especially in low-light environments like wedding receptions. In addition, these new cameras have greatly improved optics, and the ability to shoot in 1080p, to achieve the highest-quality HD footage. We still use the Sony HDR-FX1 as a back-up camera. We have two Sony Hdr-HC3 camcorders for wide-angle shots. Importantly, we also utilize professional Manfrotto tripods with fluid heads and lens controllers for each camera to achieve smooth-action pans and zooms. We have two Sennheiser wireless lavalier mic systems (one for the groom and one for the officiant) and a portable MP3 recorder to capture audio (for string quartets, performers, speakers, etc.). For special effect shots, we have a Glidecam camera stabilizer, and an Indislider Pro rail system for cinematic effects. We also have small on-camera lights, if we need to supplement lighting (never at the ceremony, only at the reception) plus an assortment of other equipment--microphones, etc. We have two editing workstations, several terabytes of storage, and two Blu-ray burners. What's the big deal about High Definition? High Definition Video is simply the highest quality cinema-like video available today. It is the future of television. If you are considering a video company that is not shooting in HD, or is attempting to charge exorbinant rates for HD, we hope you'll consider us instead. As a releatively new company, we had the advantage of not being burdened with expensive obsolete cameras. Our cameras are industry proven HDV camcorders and produce excellent high definition video. I don't have a High Definition TV set - Will I still be able to view the video ? Absolutely. We can deliver in virtually any format. DVD is the most common format today. What do I need to view my video in High Definition? 1. A High Definition TV set. My DVD player 'upconverts' to 1080p. Is this High Definition? No. It is simulated High Definition. While up-converting may slightly improve the look of a DVD, there is no comparison between an 'up-converted' DVD and a Blu-ray Disc. Are there any other options for viewing my video in High Definition? Yes. If you have a computer that is less than three years old, you should be able to view HD content using your computer utilizing Microsoft's WMV-HD format. You must have the proper cable to connect the computer to your high definition television. I have no plans to buy a Blu-Ray Player or view my video in HD with a computer. Does filming in HD result in a better DVD-quality video? Yes. Without getting too technical, we can deliver your video on a "dual-layer" DVD. This means that the video will be comparable to commercial DVDs in quality, because the video will be rendered at the highest bit-rate possible for DVD. A standard DVD holds 4.7 GB; a Dual layer DVD holds 8.5 GB and can accomodate larger higher quality videos. Do you travel? We travel within the greater Houston area at no additional charge. We will charge reasonable fees for travel outside of the greater Houston area. Do you film Catholic weddings ? Yes. However, depending on the length of the ceremony, some parts may be edited for time. (i.e. communion) What about other faiths? If your ceremony involves unique traditions, etc. it is important to let us know what to expect. We always welcome your business. How long will my video be? Our typical wedding videos are between one and two hours. This includes your ceremony in real time, the real-time major happenings at your reception (entrances, formal dances, toasts/speeches, etc.) as well as 5-8 minutes of highly edited highlights from your ceremony and reception. Can I purchase the raw footage? Yes. If you provide us with an external hard drive (250GB min) we will load all of the raw footage on the external hard drive at no additional charge if you request it at the time of booking. Otherwise, there is a $100 fee to copy the raw footage. Our budget is very tight - Do you offer a 'bare-bones' package? If you know someone in the family who is willing to edit the footage, we can film your wedding with our equipment, and turn over the raw footage for a reduced rate. We don't recommend this unless you are confident the person doing the editing is experienced with HDV editing. Alternatively, you could opt for the ceremony only package, and hire us at an hourly rate for the reception; the reception footage would be delivered on an external hard drive that you supply. My church has restrictions on videotaping. What do I do? Some churches have restrictions based on bad past experiences with overzealous videographers/photographers. We will always work within the limitations of your venue, but will also attempt to seek out exceptions that would allow us to utilize additional hidden cameras, depending on the situation. For example, occasionally I will have an assistant sit with guests in the pews to film critical shots (i.e. the bride coming down the aisle). That being said, we always strive for good rapport with all involved, and would never act in such a way as to disrupt your ceremony. How do you dress? We normally wear all black dress clothes when working weddings. If you require more formal dress on our part, just let us know. Have you shot a wedding at my venue? We've been filming weddings since January of 2005. Here's where we have worked so far: Aloft Hotel *indicates number of weddings shot at location
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