So now that you've read my post about adding some visual entertainment to your reception, and you're all inspired to create your own video presentation, let's talk about how Platinum Mix can help you make this happen.
To keep things as simple as possible, let's assume that you want to create a growing up photo slide-show and you want it to be played back at some point during your reception.
The easiest way to do this:
1) Reserve our 5x7 screen and projector package along with your DJ services.
2) Start getting together all the photos you would like included in your slideshow.
Platinum Mix will scan/digitize up to 50 photos for free (additional photos are $1.00 each). If your photos are already in a digital form, you can use an unlimited number of photos in your slideshow.
3) Decide on 3 songs you would like included in the slide show. One for the photos of the bride, one for the photos of the groom and one for photos of the two of you together. Also think about any special text you would like included along with the photos (title screens and/or captions).
4) Put your photos in the order you want them to show. If your photos are digital, please rename them all to be 001.jpg, 002.jpg, 003.jpeg, etc. If we will need to scan your photos, please either write on the back (in a light pencil maybe) - 1, 2, 3, etc. You can also use post it notes to add a number to your photos that need scanning. Captions can be indicated in the file name too. For example: 016 my first car.jpeg or 018 going to prom!.jpeg. With photos that needed to be scanned, use those same post-it notes you wrote the numbers on to include the captions.
5) You can mail a CD with all your photos, or stop by and drop everything off to Platinum Mix.
6) Platinum Mix will create your slideshow and then upload it to the internet where you can preview it. If any changes need to be made, let us know ASAP so we can make the changes in time for your wedding.
7) Your Platinum Mix DJ will play back your finished slide show at your reception.
If you would like to create your slideshow yourself, then we ask (and strongly recommend), that you make arrangements with Platinum Mix to turn in your completed video file prior to your wedding day so we can test it on our systems and give it to the DJ along with whatever equipment is required to play it back. Please note: If you create your own video file, Platinum Mix is NOT responsible (and no, you do not get a refund) if you did not turn in your finished slide-show at least 2 weeks in advance and then we can't play it (because the file format is not compatible, or your DVD skips). This is why we strongly recommend that you either let us help you create it (included as part of the package price), or mail in your finished video 2 weeks before your reception date.
That's the basics, but we get so many questions about this, here is a quick FAQ that might help you out::
How long will my slide show be?
That depends on how many pictures you give us. We recommend no more than a 6 minute long slideshow. Too much longer and your guests will start to get bored.
How many pictures should we provide?
Based on having 5-6 minute slideshow (as recommended above), each picture will show for about 4 seconds, so that means you should provide about 60-90 photos.
How will 3 songs fit in 5-6 minutes? Do we have to find 2 minute songs?
We will fit the music to your photos. We will most likely have to fade each song out early.
My father/uncle/brother/cousin/sister created a slideshow for us. How do we turn that in to Platinum Mix?
You can burn the video on to a DVD and mail that in to us or if you want to put a video file onto a flash drive, you can mail that or make an appointment to drop it off.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Please do not use PowerPoint to create your slideshows. If you do use PowerPoint, then you will need to provide a laptop to play it back on. (Our DJs do not come with extra laptops loaded with PowerPoint so we will not be able to play those).
Please do not store your completed video on the internet (i.e. youtube, myspace, facebook, etc). Most reception venues DO NOT have wi-fi available and you will be unable to access your video on the internet. If they do have wi-fi, it tends to be slow and un-reliable for video streaming. Overall, this is a very bad idea.
How long does it take for Platinum Mix to create our slideshow?
Please allow 1-4 weeks from the time we receive all of your photos.
What is the deadline for us to turn in our photos?
2 weeks, or 14 days prior to your wedding. If your photos are not received at least 2 weeks in advance, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete your slideshow and you will receive a refund of the package price ($199).
More questions? Feel free to email or call, or leave your questions in the comments.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Wedding Reception Ideas | Got Video?
Add a little visual entertainment to your wedding reception with some creative use of multimedia content.
Let's start with some examples of what exactly "multimedia content" means and how you can incorporate it into your reception. The most popular idea, is a "growing up" photo slide show (also sometimes referred to as a "montage"). This would be a collection of photos of the bride and groom as babies, children, teenagers, college, etc and then finished with photos of the bride and groom while dating. These can be just simply played direct from digital files on a laptop computer setup in a corner of your reception room (or maybe by the guest sign-in book?), or shown as an actual presentation complete with music and moving video at some point during your reception. Here is an example of a growing up photo slideshow Platinum Mix created for a recent client:
Platinum Mix clients have come up with plenty of other content to play back at their reception, here are some examples:
// We had a bride who was a 1st grade teacher. The groom went to her school with a video camera and asked her students for advice on how to be a good wife. The groom knew his way around video editing software, so he edited all the footage he recorded into a very hilarious video of the 1st graders responses. Platinum Mix played back the video at the reception, right after the toasts/speeches. All of this was a total surprise for the bride (which of course she LOVED!).
// Another couple we worked for, was really big into sky-diving. They had plenty of video of the two of them sky-diving, and so we played it while all of their guests arrived to their reception and during dinner. This went along very well with the "sky" theme of their reception.
// Music Videos! For all clients who reserve our dj package #3, your DJ will not just be mixing the music, but the original music videos are also played back on a large projection screen setup near the dance floor. Here's a photo of how this looks setup at a wedding reception held recently at the Inn at St. John's Grande Ballroom in Plymouth, Michigan:
// A very talented bride and groom (both played guitar and sang), hired Platinum Mix to create a music video of them actually singing, playing, and acting out the song they selected for their first dance. Our videographers went out and recorded all the footage, we edited up their music video, and then I played it back at the reception during the first dance. Totally awesome!
// Having a destination wedding and a local party? How about video-taping your wedding ceremony and then having us play it back at the reception?
// Same-day edit videos produced by several local professional videographers (or "Instant Replay" as Platinum Mix calls it) are also huge hits at receptions. The Platinum Mix Instant Replay works like this: Our videographers record the ceremony, photo sessions, and other wedding day activities and then we do a very quick edit of that footage and play back a 3-5 minute segment on our video screens at your reception (usually toward the end).
Of course there are so many more great ideas....
If you incorporated photo, audio, or video content into your reception, feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear what other people have come up with! :)
Let's start with some examples of what exactly "multimedia content" means and how you can incorporate it into your reception. The most popular idea, is a "growing up" photo slide show (also sometimes referred to as a "montage"). This would be a collection of photos of the bride and groom as babies, children, teenagers, college, etc and then finished with photos of the bride and groom while dating. These can be just simply played direct from digital files on a laptop computer setup in a corner of your reception room (or maybe by the guest sign-in book?), or shown as an actual presentation complete with music and moving video at some point during your reception. Here is an example of a growing up photo slideshow Platinum Mix created for a recent client:
Alex and Stephanie's Growing Up Photo Slideshow from Sara G. on Vimeo.
Platinum Mix clients have come up with plenty of other content to play back at their reception, here are some examples:
// We had a bride who was a 1st grade teacher. The groom went to her school with a video camera and asked her students for advice on how to be a good wife. The groom knew his way around video editing software, so he edited all the footage he recorded into a very hilarious video of the 1st graders responses. Platinum Mix played back the video at the reception, right after the toasts/speeches. All of this was a total surprise for the bride (which of course she LOVED!).
// Another couple we worked for, was really big into sky-diving. They had plenty of video of the two of them sky-diving, and so we played it while all of their guests arrived to their reception and during dinner. This went along very well with the "sky" theme of their reception.
// Music Videos! For all clients who reserve our dj package #3, your DJ will not just be mixing the music, but the original music videos are also played back on a large projection screen setup near the dance floor. Here's a photo of how this looks setup at a wedding reception held recently at the Inn at St. John's Grande Ballroom in Plymouth, Michigan:
// A very talented bride and groom (both played guitar and sang), hired Platinum Mix to create a music video of them actually singing, playing, and acting out the song they selected for their first dance. Our videographers went out and recorded all the footage, we edited up their music video, and then I played it back at the reception during the first dance. Totally awesome!
// Having a destination wedding and a local party? How about video-taping your wedding ceremony and then having us play it back at the reception?
// Same-day edit videos produced by several local professional videographers (or "Instant Replay" as Platinum Mix calls it) are also huge hits at receptions. The Platinum Mix Instant Replay works like this: Our videographers record the ceremony, photo sessions, and other wedding day activities and then we do a very quick edit of that footage and play back a 3-5 minute segment on our video screens at your reception (usually toward the end).
Of course there are so many more great ideas....
If you incorporated photo, audio, or video content into your reception, feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear what other people have come up with! :)
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