JACQUELINE AND JONATHAN'S LONGSHORE WEDDING

For the people that check out my blog who are not in the wedding industry one thing you may not know is the relationship between client and vendor really does vary from couple to couple. Sometimes you know everything about them, sometimes you barely know anything other than the formal interactions over the phone and the rest unfolds on the wedding day. While Jacqueline and I conversed over e-mails and had a couple phone conversations I had no idea that her and Jonathan have a beautiful story of rekindled love over the course of many years. Best friends that lost touch for a moment and then found each other as their partner in love.

Aside from their beautiful story the wedding itself was gorgeous. Stunning flowers everywhere, subtle nautical details, including the "Jacs and Jonathan" glass as a gift. Also, Jacqueline was the star of the show but a very close second was a good boy named "Tank" who let everyone know when the bride was coming! 

Another great wedding in the books at one of my favorite venues in Connecticut. We were honored to be there and wish Jacs and Jonathan a lifetime of good memories. Cheers!

- Will 

BAG IT UP FOR GOODWILL CHALLENGE FEATURING AMERICAN IDOL WINNER NICK FRADIANI

I am grateful for all the wonderful people and companies I get to call clients but I am particularly proud of the relationship I have with Goodwill. Not because of the scale or the size of the jobs but because of the impact they have on people. I don't think I am in the minority when I say that before I started working with Goodwill I had no idea what went on at the company outside of the stores and donation centers. This video of the "Bag it up for Goodwill" challenge is a perfect example of how much larger Goodwill is beyond their donation centers. 

The "Bag it Up Challenge" objective is simple, first sign up for free, then donate as many items as possible. If you donate the most items the school is rewarded with a free concert and cupcakes from Nora's cupcakes. So with that objective in mind the parents, teachers and students of Hop Brook Elementary school in Naugatuck, CT collectively donated 35,000 items! You read that correctly, your vision is fine, thirty-five-thousand items! As shown in the video there are pictures around the school of students and their parents filling their cars to max capacity with items to donate. The community really all gathered together to win a concert for the kids and it paid off with a concert from Connecticut native and American Idol winner Nick Fradiani. I would like to take a moment to mention how awesome Nick was. He put on a great show, was humble, gracious, a total gentleman and gave attention to every kid that wanted a photo or just a high five - simply put, he's a good dude. 

Documentation wise we used a three camera set up with one being on a gimbal system to really get in on the action with the kids, one mobile but stable on a monopod and another stationary in the back of the room. The only real technique used on the day of filming was proper communication between myself and my second shooter. Properly articulating what you are looking to achieve with your video to your production crew is essential if you want those desired results; never leave it up to chance. 

To wrap this up, a big congratulations to the parents, students and staff of Hop Brook Elementary School and thank you to Goodwill for the opportunity to capture such a great event!

-Will