After so many hours of preparations and care brought to the choice of the dress, the suit, the bouquet and so on, it's only normal that the bride and groom wish to preserve a lasting memory of their wedding day. A day which regrettably always goes by very quickly.

So, a video has alwaysbeen the best choice to keep these magnificent memories but also to share them with the couple’s loved ones. The wedding video has benefitted however, since the advent of digital technology, to many improvements. More visual effects are available for the bride & groom to produce a more sophisticated product.

Let’s forget about the small hearts and balloons animations that are well out of fashion. Nowadays, wedding videographers are no longer part-time amateurs but video professionals who are dedicated to offer you not just a video, but a wedding film with credits, biography, interviews and an unmistakable care brought to the overall look of the film.

To learn more on the services offered by these video directors, the Montreal Wedding Guide met Nathalie Ristord, director for O2 Productions (website: www.o2productions.ca) who speaks to us about their high-end wedding films.

Montreal Wedding Guide : Your advertisement talks about a wedding film and not just a video. Can you explain to us what the difference is?

Nathalie Ristord: Wedding video implies less work during filming and editing. It corresponds to the old idea of video where the images were simply added one after the other without any creative effort. When we evoke the term wedding film, we already think of a more artistic and more personalized production. For our part, at O2 Productions, we take time to know the visual and musical tastes of the couple, as well as trying to know their personalities.

MWG : You talk about your films as high-end wedding films. What makes them different?

NR: High-end wedding films imply a care brought to the filming to obtain visually aesthetic shots while thinking of their use during the editing process. We offer personalized cinematic effects for each couple which are all given particular attention.

GMM: What advice would you give to future brides & grooms in search of quality videgraphers?

NR : Above all it is necessary to evaluate two elements : the budget and the style of the wedding video the couple is looking for. Generally, in the Montreal area, you won’t find a refined wedding film below $1500. It's necessary to visit web sites of various companies, to view their video samples (it will save time), ask for their price lists and choose among the companies that meet their needs. They should consider the videographer as an artist who possesses his own way of working. So, compare video styles but also videographer’s personalities. They should have a suitable creative approach but also a personality that fits well with that of the couple.

GMM: What important elements should the couple consider when watching different wedding video samples?

NR: First of all, does the general style of the videographer meet their own style? Then, verify the quality of the image (too dark, low image definition, out of focus images), the sound quality (are the voices of the bride and groom audible during the ceremony? Are several microphones being used?) and the effects used (are they natural or do they break the rhythm of the film?). On the technical side, which type of video cameras are used (amateur or professional).

GMM: The high-end wedding film obviously has a considerable visual style, but is it really worth the investment?

NR: Once again, it's a question of taste and budget. If the couple cannot afford to hire a professional videographer but still finds getting a video is essential, it is then better to invest less and still get a memory of the day. However, if the wedding video remains an essential element, the couple should take time to go shopping for their videographer just as they would take time to choose a artist to paint their portrait. Personally, I see the wedding film as a portrait of the bride and groom during an important moment of their lives, with the addition of my creativity and experience.

GMM: Then what is the difference with the services O2 Productions offers?

NR: That is a good question (laughter)! Couples who hire us to produce their wedding film have had the chance to watch samples of our work at our studio. They know our style well and know that the final product will be personalized and unique. We are artists and not mass producers. So, we take the time necessary so that the film is polished up, and let me tell you that we dont hold back when the time comes to dedicate several dozens of hours to the editing! We also have full control of the production of each film. No intermediaries. Furthermore we are dynamic while remaining very discreet. In short! The ideal team (laughter)!

© J-S. Cossette

To find out more about O2 Productions' high-end video services, contact Nathalie or Peter at :
Internet : www.o2productions.ca, email : info@o2productions.ca, telephone : 514.685.6981