The Reel Deal column - I Have An App For That! by Kris Malandruccolo
I've been asked by several bridal consultants if I could compile a list of apps that would be helpful to consultants and couples as they plan their wedding day. I created a list of 50 wedding apps. This is my personal compilation of helpful wedding apps. My criteria for downloading apps to my iPhone is that they must receive a review of at least three stars (out of five). Read the article here
Kris Malandruccolo, owner of Elegant Films by Kris, attended the 20th Annual WEVA Expo in Orlando, Florida from August 23-26,2010.
For the past 14 years, I have made the annual trip to attend the Wedding & Videography Association Expo. It has been held in different cities such as Washington DC, San Diego, New Orleans, Miami, Las Vegas (for 8 years) and Orlando (for the past 3 years). After attending my first one in New Orleans in 1997, I haven't missed one since!
Attending WEVA Expo revitalizes myself and my business - this year was no exception. I attended many seminars over three days and have found new life for my business. Our industry is always evolving, so even missing one year could put you behind the eight ball. Stayed tuned as I have new and exciting things planned! I was also a featured WEVA Expo speaker for the 6th year in a row, and was a tradeshow exhibitor for my Heritage Makers storybooks, Elegant Storybooks by Kris.
Also attending with me is my dear husband. He shoots second camera and also edits. He's an integral part of my business and has attended all of the Expos with me. We split up and attend different seminars, and then compare notes later.
There is nothing that has been more important to helping my business than attending WEVA Expo. To learn more, visit the WEVA website.
Attention all Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) members: You are invited to attend WEVA's Power of Video & Social Media at Disney's Dolphin Hotel on Wednesday, August 25 at 3 pm. You must pre-register by Friday, August 19th. See the flyer below for details. You will get one hour of continuing education credit. Any questions contact Kris@ElegantFilmsbyKris.com
Kris Malandruccolo to speak at WEVA EXPO 2010
I am excited to say that I will be speaking at the 20th Anniversary of WEVA Expo! I will be presenting "The Power of Video - 2010 Edition" on Wednesday, August 25 at 3 pm. The Power of Video was first developed in 2006 and has been updated annually to showcase WEVA Creative Excellence Videos along with marketing and social media tips to gain more clients and make more money.
This presentation was developed by the WEVA Public Relations Committee. I have been the WEVA Public Relations Chairperson since August 2004. Serving with me on the commitee is Al Ritondo, Personal Touch Video (NJ), Mike Nelson, Remember When Films (UT), Steve Moses, Vantage Point Productions (CA) and Christine Moore, C Moore Video Productions (TX). Thanks to a great committee that has been working very hard on WEVA's behalf to benefit not only WEVA members but the wedding industry at large! My committee is awesome!
Here's a picture of the WEVA Public Relations Committee from WEVA Expo 2009. From L to R: Al Ritondo, Kris Malandruccolo, Mike Nelson, Steve Moses. (Christine didn't join the PR committee until Spring 2010).
This is my sixth year as a featured WEVA Expo speaker, and my 14th straight year as a WEVA Expo attendee!
Visit WEVA Expo 2010 to learn more about weva expo, see featured speakers, registration, hotel and much, much more!
WEVA Public Relations Committee Chairperson Kris Malandruccolo says the Committee is now set for its 2010 ''casting call'' for WEVA members who are passionate about wedding & event video, motivated by new opportunities in new media (familiar with and already using social networks like facebook and others) and want to serve on the WEVA Public Relations Committee!
Kris says, ''The Committee is looking for highly-motivated, self-starters who want to help WEVA move our industry forward. We want individuals who have a proven track record of using PR and media marketing to advance their own video business. We are looking for fresh and innovative ideas!''
The WEVA Public Committee has been responsible for developing and promoting ''The Power of Video'' at local events and through national/international industry conferences and trade shows since 2006.
The Committee's successful ''Take a Bridal Consultant to Lunch'' initiative continues to be one of the most effective ways to network with fellow wedding professionals and get more business for your business.
Due to action by PR Committee,the WEVA membership has been heavily promoted in bridal magazines, major news media, books, online wedding sites, through bridal video promotions, and much more.
Criteria for Selection:
*You must be a current WEVA member.
*You must be available to attend a one-hour conference call in the evening twice a month.
Questions the Committee Will Ask:
* How have you used PR to advance your business?
* How would you like to help promote our industry?
* What new ideas or concepts would you like to help develop and accomplish?
Send your name, company name, website, and contact info to WEVA PR Chairperson, Kris Malandruccolo at: Kris@ElegantVideosByKris.com
Deadline: Friday February 12, 2010.
Current WEVA PR Committee members include Kris Malandruccolo- Elegant Videos by Kris(Chicago, IL); Al Ritondo - Personal Touch Video (Islin, NJ); Mike Nelson - Remember When Videos (SLC,UT); and Steve Moses, Vantage Point Productions (San Dimas, CA).
This is a new decade for WEVA. Get involved today, and help shape the future for tomorrow. Contact Kris now!
Tips for Brides: Brides On A Budget - How To Save Money On Wedding Videography
As a professional videographer for over 20 years, I get frustrated when I hear others (not in the videography business) give advice to brides on how to save money on wedding videography! Having a friend videotape your wedding or totally skipping videography is not the way to save money! Married women confirm this in the WEVA Nationwide Survey of Brides (the only survey of brides done AFTER the wedding regarding their wedding video). Read the WEVA survey in its entirety.
The Wedding & Event Videographers Associational, International (WEVA) decided to address the current economic situation of our industry. As the WEVA Public Relations Chairperson, I worked with the committee to come up with some money tips for those who need to scale back due to the current recession.
Read the entire WEVA News Story here
WEVA PR Committee Addresses The Current Economic Situation of Our Industry
May 07, 2009
Sarasota, FL - The present economy is impacting the way our industry does business…even weddings are not immune from some of the effects. Recently in the majority of the Bridal Media there have been numerous articles and shows devoted entirely to “saving Brides money”. This type of promotion is not new, but with the current state of the economy, there is certainly more emphasis on this subject not only for weddings, but everything from grocery shopping to purchasing big-ticket items.
“This is an important issue every one of our members and in fact to all wedding professionals,” states Dan Argenas, WEVA Director of Association Communications. He goes on to say, “Our PR Committee has done an amazing first step in educating couples when they are searching for a videographer. It is important that we get the message out there and this will give us some excellent ammunition when speaking with the Bridal
Media in behalf of our industry.”
For example, one suggestion by a bridal consultant in California was to have a friend or relative of the Bride/Groom shoot the entire wedding day with a video camera, then hire a professional to edit the footage. Those of us in the industry know this is equal to a “disaster waiting to happen”.
However, just the fact this was mentioned in a mainstream media source warranted WEVA’s concern of the ramifications it could have on our industry and more importantly on how the brides thought about choosing to do their wedding video.
The WEVA PR Committee went to work to draft a couple of tips for the media. The PR Committee members are Kris Malandruccolo of Elegant Videos by Kris, Steve Moses of Vantage Point Productions, Mike Nelson of Remember When Films and Al Ritondo of Personal Touch Video. There were a number of factors considered as the wording of the release was discussed, debated and finally completed. First was the obvious point that many couples are looking very closely at their budgets and in some cases, reworking them. Many videographers have already adjusted and re-worked packages and services, and adjusted their packages to coincide with this issue. Taking this into account the Committee looked at what could be done to minimize the effect on the finished product/wedding film, while offering some money-saving tips for the couples. The other factor was that a recent WEVA survey shows that Videography becomes much more important to a couple AFTER they are married and that almost half of those couples who did use a family friend or a relative regretted it. Following is a summary of the Committee’s response.
Brides On A Budget: How To Save Money on Wedding Videography
We understand that the current economic conditions are making everyone look twice at their wedding budget. We would also like to offer a couple of money-saving tips to all WEVA members to communicate to their couples when they are considering their services as a professional videographer.
First, as our national survey shows, there is no substitute for a professional videographer. Half of those surveyed who had a friend or relative record their wedding would tell you, DON’T! Your wedding is too important a day to leave in the hands of well-meaning friends and amateur videographers. There is no
“take two” on your wedding day and it must be captured correctly the first time. Their advice: Invest in a professional. If your couples are looking for ways to reduce their videography budget, one way is by reducing the total hours of coverage. For example, the videographer can start the coverage at the ceremony instead of the pre-ceremony coverage at a Bride’s home. The hours of coverage at the reception could also be reduced, especially if all the key events are completed early. Another money saving tip is to suggest a “documentary” style of editing as opposed to an “artistic” style of editing. Artistic and cinematic editing involves more hours to edit, so that will add to the cost of the package.
Where should one begin to search for a professional videographer? Ask their family and friends for a
recommendation. Videographers can also be found on the Wedding & Event Videographers Association, International (WEVA) website (www.WEVA.com). Once there, click on the Brides Guide tab on the left. While there, look at the WEVA Nationwide Survey of Brides, which is the only survey of married brides. This survey shows that 98% of married brides recommend that future brides get their wedding videotaped. Let a WEVA member capture the emotion of your wedding day so you can share it with future generations to come!
Kris Malandruccolo, Master Wedding Vendor in ABC, to educate bridal consultants at the 2008 Business of Brides Conference in Newport Beach, California on November 9-11, 2008
You can find me at the WEVA Tradeshow booth again this year at the ABC Conference. As the WEVA Public Relations Chairperson, I attended the conference in 2006, 2007 (where I also presented the seminar, The Power of Video) and now in 2008.
I will also be a roundtable presenter on the topic of "Video2Go" where I discuss how wedding professionals can use mobile video devices (such as the video iPod, iPhone, etc.) to advertise their services "anytime, anywhere". Courtesy of WEVA International, I will be handing out CDs with video commercials (that were produced by local video associations) that wedding professionals can put on their iPod. The CD will also contain other educational information that they can print out and give to their brides. Educating bridal consultants and brides is the goal of WEVA and I am happy to continue to carry out that mission!
I'm also excited that Colin Cowie will be the featured speaker! Colin Cowie has been an association member since 1997 (the same year I joined) and has been the principal speaker speaker in 1997, 1999, 2002 and once again in 2008.
Read the Nov. 8, 2008 WEVA Industry News Story here (WEVA to showcase 'Power of Video' at ABC Convention next week)
EventDV magazine - September 2008
Written by Kris Malandruccolo - The Reel Deal: Worlds Apart?
As WEVA Public Relations Chairperson, I was invited to present "The Power of Video" in Tokyo and Osaka as the main speaker at the 7th annual ABC Japanese Bridal Conference. Over my next two columns, I'll talk about what I learned about the culture and market of Japanese wedding video.
Read my other July 2008 blog posts for more detailed reports on Japan and to see my pictures. It's a very fascinating culture! Read my column here.
Here I am with Yoshi Kohara on the day I presented The Power of Video in Tokyo.
(July 2008 Vol. 2 No. 4) Kris Malandruccolo is featured in the article "WEVA's PR Commitee Rolls on with The Power of Video Tour in 2008!"
On page 4 of the magazine, the article talks about the 2008 The Power of Video seminars I presented in Cleveland, Ft. Lauderdale and Houston to the local video associations and the local ABC chapters.
On a side note, I want to congratulate Jeff & Andee Wright of Blue Skies Cinema who won a 2008 WEVA Gold CE Award for their extreme bridal spotlight video (the magazine cover photo is from that shoot).
