Creative Video & Event Videography

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. It's a pretty even blend between event videography and creative video work. Having said that, I'm hoping to branch out into more creative video this year. I specifically would love to produce a few artistic, thought provoking ads or commercials for either online or television.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Know your concept. You need to have a clear idea of what you're looking to accomplish. The fastest, cleanest and least expensive jobs come to clients who do their homework ahead of time. And if a client doesn't know their concept completely, I also provide conceptual development services. I am quite good at bringing specificity to a general idea; it's what I do for my day job!

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. See my answer underneath the 'advice' question. To put it simply: know your concept.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I'm actually a bit obsessed about my work. I obsess about the quality, obsess about meeting my deadlines, and most of all obsess about satisfying my client's needs.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. My day job's title is 'Director of Media Production' at my church, the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Boise. It's a joy to be able to weekly bring my storytelling and videography talents to the table with video illustrations, service videography and online web videos. With individual side-projects from clients, I have that same joy and passion, not to simply complete a video and get a check, but to communicate through emotion and visuals, whether it be for a product, a wedding, or a short film.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. I don't know about the most common question I get, but I do know that often clients new to video need a bit of a walkthrough to understand all that media creation entails. I do my best to be as transparent and open with my quotes. Beyond that, I do my best to keep constant communication going during the project's creation, and after its completion.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Video work is not easy. While many programs today offer a large amount of functionality and amazing features that even five years ago were unimaginable, the creative process is a mentally labor intensive one. So again, the more the client can do their homework ahead of time, the more I can focus my time and energy on the areas the project really needs. (The client also saves money this way.) Know your concept!

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I recently worked with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation in videoing and putting to DVD a presentation by Dr. James L. Applegate with the Lumina Foundation on the importance of higher education in the coming economy. It was a captivating project, as the subject matter intrigued me. Furthermore, my work in this will be going before Idaho state legislators in determining their 2011 agendas. I'm very happy with that.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Video technology developments are constantly coming and going. I try to keep my finger on the pulse of where the digital media realm is going, specifically in terms of content creation. We've seen the transition from tape to disk; now, the race is on to provide the highest quality video compression and processing. But despite all the tech changes, the basic principles of video and film work remain: solid concepts, good framing and lighting, and sharp sound.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. As I mention elsewhere, I recently worked with the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation in videoing and putting to DVD a presentation by Dr. James L. Applegate with the Lumina Foundation on the importance of higher education in the coming economy. I met with the team on January 11th, filmed the presentation on January 13th, and worked with them to produce a finished DVD as well as spliced YouTube clips of the event. The final product was delivered on January 27th, with about 15 hours of total work.