Chicago Wedding Films

Happy New Year! Elegant Videos by Kris is now on Facebook

    Happy New Year from Elegant Videos by Kris--Chicago Wedding Films!   

In 2009 I am celebrating 21 years in business! 

I stay current in business by continually keeping up on trends and attending educational seminars.  If you read my December 2008 EventDV editor's pick, you know that I picked Facebook as a big social trend for videographers in 2008.

 I invite you to join my Facebook business page.  You can find me on Facebook under    Friends of Elegant Videos by Kris (Chicago Wedding Films).    You can see where I've been in the news, articles I have written, view photos and videos.  While there, take a moment to become a "friend"    Once you become a friend, stop back often to see what's new!

 

 

Must See TV: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Watch "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" by Randy Pausch (otherwise known as The Last Lecture).  This video is 76 minutes long on You Tube.  It has been viewed over 10 million times!

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

I've seen Randy on The Oprah show and he has an amazing message!  I love how he asks "are you a tigger? or an eyeore?"   The ending of the video is very touching - don't miss it.   Randy has also turned his lecture into a book.  This would make a great gift.  What would you do if you only had six months to live?   Why aren't you doing it today?  It is really more inspiring than sad.

video clip: 2007 ABC Florida Fusion Conference

See the highlights from the 2007 ABC Florida Fusion Annual Conference!  Watch it here on You Tube.

Special thanks to Bruce Reynolds, owner of Treasured Moments Video Productions in Orlando, Florida for creating a short highlight video (it's under 5 min.) of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) National Conference.  The conference was held in Orlando from November 11-14, 2007.  Bruce was there as the roving videographer, and he put together a wonderful video of what happened at the ABC conference.  I presented "The Power of Video" three times in one day at the conference, as well as worked the WEVA Trade show booth. Thank you Bruce for creating such a lovely video!!  Bruce is also the president of the Professional Videographers of Central Florida (PVCF).  P.S. the video was shot in high-defintion.

Mail bag & video clip: Casey & Gary 07.07.07

(click on photos to view a larger image)  Casey & Gary were my 07.07.07 wedding this year.  They were married at the Barrington United Methodist Church.  Their wedding reception was held at the Invanhoe Country Club.   Their cake topper, church program and invitation played up the 07.07.07 aspect of the day but it was done in a classy yet subtle way. Kieran Moloney of Kramer Photographers and I have worked well together over the years so I was happy to be working with him again.  I brought the newspaper from home which made for a fun prop (see above photo), and I incorporated it into their final video.  Their DJ, from Spinnin' Discs, kept the dance floor hopping all night long!

They did a fabulous first dance which you can see in the video below.  They were big into 1980's music (which I also like) so it made for a fun reception for me. They told me ahead of time they weren't dancers, but their wedding video suggests otherwise - they were on the dance floor almost the entire night!

TO WATCH THEIR HIGHLIGHT MUSIC VIDEO - CLICK HERE

Here's what Casey said after I emailed them their highlight music video:

How cool that it is on the web! I was able to forward it on to my family in Houston, who otherwise would not have been able to see it!

Mailbag:  Here's what Casey & Gary had to say about her wedding video:

Ok, so I couldn't wait! After Gary got home last night, we stayed up until 11:30pm (which is unheard of for me) and watched the reception DVD. WE LOVED IT!!! I can't wait to show our parents! I loved that you got all the ice cream lids and the song choice was perfect! In fact, all the song choices were great! And what you did with the wedding pictures in the hall--what a great way to remember that! Also, during my Dad's toast--I loved how you cut over to the car and the picture of my mom--I almost started crying! And the way you dubbed our parents voices over the father-daughter/mother-son dance was priceless!

But, I have to say, my absolute favorite part was the special messages at the end. Let me tell you, I am absolutely NOT a crier--not even in sad movies, but I am tearing up right now just thinking about all the kind words our family and friends had for us. I think the entire video was worth it just for that! 

Anyway, I hope you can sense my excitement in this email---the video is everything I imagined and more. I can't wait to see the "final" product and the highlight video, etc.

I will say that I would encourage any of my friends getting married to hire a videographer--and I think we made the absolute right choice in you. You made the effort to get to know us as a couple and it shows in every part of the video. As the bride and groom, you miss so much of the day. Watching the reception was like re-living the party all over again, except without the nervous stomach and uncomfortable dress. : )

Thank you again, Kris, for all your hard work!

--Casey & Gary

p.s.  I've been meaning to email you all week--I love what you did with the ceremony DVD! We went over to my parents house this weekend and watched the ceremony and reception videos with them. They loved them and I think now they have finally realized why I was pushing so hard for a videographer (they did not want to hire one initially). 

Video clip: "What's Your Marketing Tip?" by Steve & Laura Moses

Steve & Laura Moses of Vantage Point Productions in San Dimas, California put together a short video to show at the WEVA EXPO 2007 marketing panel that Steve was on.  With the Moses' permission, I am sharing it here - click here to watch.

You will recognize many well-known videographers from across the country (you may even find me in this video) giving their practical marketing advice.    My advice:  Be outgoing.  That is how you meet people at networking events.  I believe networking is more effective than advertising. I'm a social butterfly by nature so I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their story, so that is one of my strengths.  For those who aren't outgoing by nature, put the focus on the other person and let them talk first.   You may not even say too much, but they will think you are wonderful because you took the time to actually listen to them!  Please feel free to post your favorite marketing tip in the comment section.

Here we are at the Awards Night ceremony.  Steve & Laura (on the right) won two WEVA CE Awards (including Gold for pre-ceremony).  They do fabulous work!  We also spent time together in Ventura, California when I was in town to speak at the AFWPI Conference.   They are a great couple and brides are lucky to find them!  They are Orange County's premiere wedding videographers.

Video clip: Attract World Peace

I'm sharing an inspirational video clip that was sent to me.  The music was produced by Shaun Paul. 

Click on this link, and for the next five and a half minutes enjoy...

This is what John Lennon was trying to say back in the 1970s & 1980s:  All we are saying is give peace a chance.