+ I really want a film but how do I convince my partner?

The dress is essential. The photographer is essential. Even the flowers seem to be non-negotiable at most weddings...then why isn't the videographer a 'must have' like the others? I don't know the answer to that sorry. What I do know is that not getting a videographer is ALWAYS the No.1 regret for couples. One quick squiz at any one of the many wedding forums will provide evidence of this. Groom's especially are very hard to convince. I find that most Groom's I film don't 'get it' until 1) they've watched a few of my films or 2) receive their film and go 'f*ck this is awesome!' So, to help you out, I've curated a playlist called 'For the Boys' which showcases my top 10 'boy friendly' films. I hope it helps 👊

+ What is Premiere n' Share?

Receive a 10% discount for having your film premiered on the Weka Films social media! I’ll write a blog for your film, embed the YouTube film and post this to the Weka Films Facebook page. All you have to do is share this post and tag Weka Films. You will still receive an exclusive premiere of your film before any of this happens, of course! If you're on Instagram, I will 'collab' with you when the film is posted. This just means you'll be tagged so reactions and comments will be shared across both accounts.

The YouTube video will become public and your film may also be uploaded to the Weka Films Facebook video gallery and showcased on the Weka Films website. 

This is a win:win agreement. You get some dosh off (which could mean the difference between stocking your beers with Monteiths versus Waikato Draught) and Weka Films gets the privilege of sharing your film first - which is like Tinder to us wedding vendors!

+ Can I keep my film private?

A lot of blood, sweat and tears will be poured into your film. I'm REALLY proud of my work and would be heartbroken if it couldn't, in the very least, be included as a portfolio piece on my website for other perspective couples to view. There are two options available. Option 1 - PUBLIC (see the Premiere n' Share promotion listed above) & Option 2 - WAY LESS PUBLIC. Weka Films will not share your film on any of its social media platforms. Your film will remain 'unlisted' on YouTube (not searchable). The only place it will be public is on the Weka Films website. You will be delivered a copy of your film digitally regardless of what option you take.

+ How can I get the $250 Airbnb voucher?

Word of mouth in this business is everything. One of the sad parts of my job is the sense of 'finality' when couples' films are finally delivered. There's always that feeling of "can we just be friends now?" One way to ensure our relationship continues to flourish is to refer us to any friends getting married! My record of connected weddings is currently at 9! I love seeing old faces from previous weddings. It feels like one big whānau. If you've booked a wedding film with us, or already have one and successfully refer a friend...and by successfully I mean they actually have to sign the contract...we'll send you a $250 Airbnb voucher! How good!

+ Can we choose our music?

In short, no. It is not legal for me to use unlicensed music. As much as I like Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin & Christina Perri - using any old mainstream track is in breach of copyright. Not to mention the fact that I’m just not really up for ripping artists off. I pay a huge amount of $ to license legal music for my films. Most importantly, choosing music is the most critical part of the creative process. I spend literally hours on this. So while I respect that you may have great taste in music, I ask that you trust me to take care of this. Don’t worry, throughout the day I’m listening to your music choices (including your isle songs, signing, first dance etc) and I will find something that’s just perfect for you. Just not ‘Ed Sheeran’ perfect ;)

+ Can I have the RAW footage?

Ew, no. Yuck man. Firstly, I don't shoot in raw as I'd need a Levin-sized supercomputer to safely store the footage. But if you mean ‘all the footage that wasn’t in your film’ then no way. That stuff is just plain disgusting and I would never put you through that. We’re talking bad angles and blurry, over/under exposed, shakey shots. Nowadays I film 'for the edit' (whether that be a highlight or feature), meaning my cinematography is very intentional. The only 'extra footage' is me getting my exposure, focus & composition right for that perfect shot. I know exactly how much I need during any given moment to tell your story. That comes with experience. Take comfort in the fact that you’re not missing out on anything. All the very best stuff will be in your film. That’s the beauty of modern wedding films - you can watch them over and over again and there’s no moment you want to skip or ‘fast forward’.

+ Can I have full footage from the ceremony & speeches?

Totally! If you opt for a Feature film, this footage is included in the package! Although I solo shoot, I will have 2 - 3 additional cameras set up so I’ve got extra angles to cut to in post. One of those angles is wide - capturing the event from a guests point of view. This is usually the angle I use for your ceremony/speech footage. I edit and sync this footage with the audio recordings and also colour grade it. If you’re doing a first dance and I happen to capture good angles, I’ll throw this in too :)

+ Do you use a drone?

Yes, but sparingly. If I have time, I will buzz the drone up to get ‘establishing shots’ of your venue reception or local landscape. This gives viewers some context. I say sparingly, because if I focus too much energy into drone footage, I risk missing key moments with people. At the end of the day, people are way more interesting than buildings/landscapes. I generally don’t use my drone on photo shoots as often there is just not enough time and can be distracting for photographers. Often, I’m simply not allowed to fly my drone in any given area. I have to abide by CAA rules. I cannot fly in national parks or most public spaces and private land (without permits/permission). When I have more information about your wedding, I can let you know what I can and can’t do and will contact the relevant authorities too.

+ Do you travel?

Heck yes. During the Xmas/Jan period, I often bring the family with me in our retro caravan! Once you’ve been in touch we can work out the logistics and if there are any costs involved with this.

+ Will I get to preview my film?

**Absolutely! **You'll be the first to see it (not entirely accurate...my family would've watched it a few times!) I will send you an unlisted link via YouTube. Have a bottle at the ready!

+ How & when is the film delivered?

Digitally within 4 - 6 months. There are various options so when you get in touch, I will share these details with you.

+ Why does it take so long? What's your editing process?

Each film, on average, will take me 50 hours to produce. It's a HUGE process and sometimes a little underestimated when compared to photo. Photo & video shouldn't be compared - they're completely different beasts! I typically film 25 - 30 weddings a season, so I'm filming and editing all year round. My editing process is typically in 4 parts. I start by trawling through the audio - picking out key soundbytes that 'tell your story' as a couple. I'm also looking for humour and more lighthearted soundbytes that reflect the 'personalities' at your wedding. I then spend hours and sometimes days choosing the perfect licensed music. From there the storyboarding begins - I do this by cutting the soundbytes into a narrative that is driven by the music. I then spend 2 days 'scrubbing' through all the footage, looking for visuals that'll compliment the story and reflect all the very best moments from your day. This footage is then inserted into the edit in a sequence which embelishes the narrative being told. Once I have a 'skeleton cut', I then begin mixing audio and colour grading which always promotes a lot of re-editing and tweaking....I won't bore you with the technical stuff, but that's a basic rundown of my typical workflow!

+ Can I have any input into editing?

**If you hire me, that means you love my work. **I LOVE the post-production creative process and when I'm in the zone, I'm in deep man. You just have to be patient, let me do my thang and above all, trust me. I've produced over 200 wedding films and have never had a couple who haven't completely fallen in love with their film 🤞

+ Do you film details?

Nah. Sorry, it just isn't my jam. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. My films are all about the people, the people, the people. If you're looking for buttery shots of your cute couple cookies, your fancy tabletop wooden initials, that mirror-backed seating list or Auntie Janice's specitalty scented candles...you're going to need to hire someone else.

+ Do you do film trailers/teasers?

I used to, but not any more. It takes crucial time away from core edits and just adds to the wait time. It's also not an enjoyable process from my perspective, as it's rushed and forced. Just be patient, your film is going to outlast you and be viewed by generations to come - so what's a few months?

+ We’re not very posy people, is that a problem?

Nope. I prefer to film non-posy people! We are experts in making you feel relaxed. My style of film is not suited to couples that want to be posed anyway so we’re already on the same team man.

+ Can you pencil in our date?

No sorry. During the peak season I can get up to 5 enquiries for any given date so it just wouldn’t be fair to other couples. It’s first in, first served.

+ What happens if it rains?

I get a bit excited. Rain = overcast. Overcast = optimal colours. Bad weather often brings wind. Wind is good for film. Don’t worry, we’re equipped to shoot in all weather. I may have less cameras set-up to protect them for reception but don’t worry, I have you covered...literally, I have an infantry of umbrellas.

+ Do you mind if guests bring their cameras to the wedding ceremony?

It’s your wedding man. You do you. However, I do not take responsibility for any iPad Aunties being in the middle of your aisle shot or Uncle Kenny for obscuring my unmanned camera angle during the vows. I work around them as best I can but just keep in mind how much you're paying us to do this job for you and how little attention those guests are paying to that moment.

+ Do you need to be fed?

Yes please! I will work my butt off for you on your wedding day. When it comes to weddings, I’m all in. However, often I’m my own worst enemy though and don’t put aside time to eat or properly hydrate. The only time I’m not filming during the day is when people are eating. No one wants footage of Uncle Jeff devouring that greasy pork rib anyway. So, if you feed me then that’s a real investment. Please don’t set aside a place though - I’m used to eating in hallways and the darkest regions of wedding venues. It’s a great chance to sit down (usually with the photographer), breathe and refocus in preparation for Round 3 of your day. One really important factor though is to aim to feed us at the same time as the head table. This ensures our timings match and we don't miss sunset shoots/the next round of speeches etc...plus it means I won't be stuffing my face in the 3 mins I have left to eat before the next thing happens! Most caterers are amazing and will do this without thinking. However, some caterers will take issue with this (usually because they don't understand our schedule). When booking a caterer, gently remind them that you're paying for our meal too and we'll need to be fed at the same time as the head table - thanks!

+ Do I need an MC?

Having an on-to-it MC is absolutely crucial to your overall experience, enjoyment and how you'll reflect back on your day. They are also our (vendors) go-to person on the day. Choose someone that either a) won't drink or b) can handle the drink. I've found that teachers or people with experience in managing people and time, are always a pragmatic choice. I always reach out to your MC before your wedding to discuss what is required in terms of making your film a success - especially with regards to the speeches. Cool, have fun with your choice (no pressure).

+ Do you live stream?

Live streaming...that ol' chestnut. The reason I say that is that I've explored every option under the sun for this and have trialled different ways to do this. I'll spare you the details! At the end of the day, it's just too much to manage for a solo shooter and brings in way too many variables (cell data/Wifi to name a few). Filming solo is difficult enough without having the huge responsibility of managing a live stream camera/audio set-up. For your film, I will be operating 3-4 cameras, in addition to audio and lighting. It's a lot to manage, so throwing in a livestream/audio set-up (that needs to be monitored) would literally make my head explode (like in Peter Jackson's early stuff). There are some companies that do this (happy to refer) but it's my understanding that they have an extra person just monitoring the livestream set-up alone. Because you're connected to professional grade cameras and audio, the set-up itself is quite bulky and in my opinion, is a bit of an eye-sore during a ceremony.

However, Zoom/Facetime/Whatsapp live video streaming is actually a really reliable way of going about it. Heck, why not get Aunty Janice to do this (it'll keep her off the sherry) - she'll be slinging that 32" iPad to capture award winning photos anyway! Obviously, it depends on having cellular range and you won't get clear audio but from what I've seen, it can work really well. Often a family member/friend is nominated to hold an iPad/phone at lap level or set-up a small tripod in the front row (out of our line of site though!). You can also record too. It was becoming quite common prior to Covid but will be even more so now. If you opt for a full feature, your ceremony & speech footage is included. I usually deliver these a couple of weeks after your feature film.

+ Why do you cost so much?

I LOVE my job but it ain’t easy. If you opt for a full day package, I will be up at 7am preparing and then will be with you typically from 10/12 - 8/10ish. That’s a 16 hour day (which I LOVE by the way). Not to mention travel to and from your wedding. A wedding film on average takes me approximately 50 hours to edit. This is from start to finish (incl audio mixing/colour grading). Remember, approximately half of my fee is tax/GST/insurance/travel. As they say, you do the math....or don't...but if you do, please don't share the result with my accountant. Although it pays the bills and keeps my family fed, I clearly don’t do this job for the money. I get the thrill and honour of being responsible for capturing the most important day of your lives and have the privilege of being creative for a living - this makes up the shortfall.

+ We’re keen but what’s next? What’s the process? How does payment work?

Let’s meet man! I live on the West Coast so it’ll be via Zoom. I’d love to hear about your vision for your day. From there - provided I don’t scare you away with my extreme exciteness, I’ll flick you a digital quote and contract to review and hopefully accept. A 20% booking fee is payable 7 days after signing the contract. Signing of the contract and payment secures your date. Easy as. The balance is due 1 month out from your wedding.