7 Reasons Why you Should Hire a Professional Wedding Videographer

The one thing I regret the most from my own wedding was not hiring a videographer. This was before I became a wedding filmmaker myself and realized the importance of having someone document our wedding day in video. My father-in-law tried to do some filming on a newly purchased camcorder but it was an epic fail with mostly shots of our guest’s shoes. My wife and I don’t remember our vows, or my father’s words as he married us. We don’t remember my brothers playing guitar and singing a song they wrote us during the ceremony and we don’t remember our guests speeches. My grandfather has since passed away and I wish more than anything that I had a recording of his voice and interaction with family at our wedding.

So why should you invest in a heirloom wedding film created by a professional wedding videographer?

I’ll give you my 7 reasons below:

1. Non Photographable Moments.

   Many moments of your wedding day can’t be captured in photographs like the recording of the words said during your first look or vows, the music played during your first dance, toasts and speeches given by family and friends.

2. Missed Moments.

   The wedding day passes by so quickly and in a flash it's over. There may have been things you missed seeing like your grandma and grandpa dancing together or your partner getting ready in another location. Wouldn’t it be extra special to see what each of you were doing separately the morning of your wedding?

3. Relive the Memories.

   Wedding films can be rewatched during anniversaries, on special occasions or anytime when you want to remember the love you and your partner exchanged that day and the people who were there supporting you.

   If you choose to elope, your wedding film will be treasured by family and friends who missed being part of the wedding day but can relive the day with you through video.

4. Remembering Loved Ones.

   How many times will all of your loved ones be in the same room at the same time? This is a celebration when your most important people are there in one room supporting you. Why not have a professional videographer who can document this experience for you, capturing the true experience in a visual and audible way? It is also a very special way to remember loved ones who may no longer be with you (like my grandfather).

5. It’s Easy to Share

   Most professional wedding videographers have online links so that you can easily share your video files through their private gallery or through Vimeo or YouTube. If a friend or family member was unable to attend, this is a great option to let them experience the day with a quality film.

6. Quality Product.

   A professional wedding videographer will have the correct gear and experience to film your wedding day unobtrusively, while creating a quality film and editing with skill and technique. Professional wedding videographers know what equipment is best for capturing certain details and they have special devices for recording beautiful audio. They also subscribe to licensed music software. If you are going to be sharing your wedding videos online you can’t use copyrighted songs, which many non-professionals do.

7. A Cherished Keepsake

   A professional wedding video will turn into a family heirloom that can be passed on through the generations and be enjoyed by your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren etc.

Hiring a wedding videographer may be an expense you hadn’t budgeted for but I can guarantee you that you will not regret having these memories preserved in film. - Oscar

Photo Credit: Twenty Twenty Photography

If you are still in need of a professional wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding or elopement, I’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch!

River Cafe Downtown Calgary Wedding

Matt and Nat were married on a gorgeous September day at River Cafe on Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, Alberta. Considering that their original venue flooded a week prior to their wedding date, these two were in the very best spirits and simply over the moon happy to be marrying each other! We couldn’t have asked for a kinder, more laid back couple to spend the day with!

The day started off with a first look on the roof top of Hotel Le Germain in the heart of downtown Calgary. You’ll want to watch the full video as Matt cries as soon as he turns around and sees Nat! It’s a really emotional first look and so special that we were able to capture it for them.

The wedding party photos took place at Prince’s Island Park and then the couple slipped away for a private lunch just the two of them at UNA Pizza + Wine. They chose this restaurant because it is where they had their first date- so romantic right?!

The ceremony took place on the outdoor patio at River Cafe with the reception following in their dining room. Matt’s dad announced the newlyweds arrival at the reception in full traditional Scottish dress and a bag pipe serenade which was definitely unforgettable.

Another highlight was the poem written and read by one of the groomsmen; one of the most hilarious poems/speeches we’ve ever heard at a wedding reception.

Watch the full video below and then scroll down to read about the creative editing process that we used to edit this film.

Here is the creative process behind the video for those wanting to know why I (Oscar) filmed and edited the wedding video the way I did.

I used the words ‘Romantic, fun, and casual’ that Matt + Nat had mentioned in the pre-wedding questionnaire that I sent them. These are the words they wanted to describe the ambiance and feel of their wedding day.

Since the wedding ceremony didn’t have personal vows, I had to approach the subject from ‘outside’ rather than from the subject's point of view. Thus, the groomsman’s poem in the reception worked perfectly to tell the story in a fun and casual way. I saw this approach visually like a circle with the couple (the subject) in the middle. The idea of the circle was reinforced later when Matt’s dad mentioned the Celtic circle in his speech and how “it has no beginning, it has no end, it just keeps going around and around… family is everything”.

This can also explain the structure of the video with music that goes from a more upbeat vibe to a slow and romantic song, and then back to the upbeat music. It also places the couple in the centre with the moment at UNA exactly in the middle of the video (where everything started). I took the liberty of finishing the part with the romantic and serious vibe with a groomsman’s joke since Matt + Nat mentioned that they like not taking each other too seriously. The groomsman’s poem was the main thread keeping all the parts together and ‘closing the circle’. I also used the windmill to consolidate the concept as it was the only circled object moving around and around that I could capture on the wedding day. The windmill is present in the beginning, middle and closer to end of the video. The video also has a 80’s vibe since Matt really likes ‘indie and 80’s’ music and because a Mad Max parade took place just outside of the venue before the reception (it was the Beakerhead Festival Weekend).

For the colour grading, I used a LUT with moody teals and tonal greens that enhanced not only the floral arch but the mood inside the venue.

I hope this explanation give you a little more insight into the creative process that goes into producing a wedding film!

A special thanks to all of the amazing Calgary wedding vendors that Mark + I had the pleasure of working with!

Florals: Flowers by Janie

Photography: Mint Photo

Bridal Gown: Pearl + Dot

Planning: Paper Doll

Officiant: Vows by Judy

Hair + Makeup: Something Borrowed Beauty

Bridal Jewelry: Joanna Bisley Designs

DJ: Local DJ

Photo Booth: Silly Booth

If you are still looking for a wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding. Please get in touch!

Wedding Inspiration at The Nash YYC

I want to start off this blog by saying that if you have never had the rotisserie chicken at The Nash YYC, you are missing out! I had never filmed at The Nash before and I enjoyed working with the creative team on this spring styled shoot. Christy and Alexis from Beyond the Proposal were amazing to work with and, with them in charge, the day ran smoothly even with very limited time. It was also a pleasure to work alongside Calgary wedding photographer Tara Whittaker and I’m really looking forward to our real wedding together this July in Banff!

This spring styled shoot had a heavy floral focus as much of my videos do. It’s a perk of being married to a florist (Flowers by Janie) and getting to film her creations. The venue was unique and I loved the natural light as well as the feature wall with the original town map of Calgary!

Enjoy the video below as well as some of my favorite images photographed by Tara.

Scroll to the end for a complete list of all the Calgary wedding vendors who participated in this styled shoot.

Planning + Design Beyond the Proposal | Photography Tara Whittaker Photography | Florals Flowers by Janie | Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | Videography Castaño Films | Hair + Make up Glamaway Beauty | Cake Pretty Sweet | Venue The Nash YYC | Dress Blush & Raven | Accessories Joanna Bisley Design | Stationary Bexley Design Co. | Model Victoria Lang from Mode Models

Year in Review Film for Flowers by Janie

Last year, 2018, marked the first full year of weddings for Castaño Media and we were thrilled to work with so many amazing couples as well as wedding vendors. We filmed weddings in Calgary, Canmore and Banff at some of the most beautiful venues and mountain locations such as The Lake House, Saskatoon Farm, Teatro, Silvertip Resort, Creekside Villa, Cornerstone Theatre and The Fairmont Banff Springs. We were also very fortunate that all of our couples invested in quality wedding flowers designed by our sister company Flowers by Janie. Since there were just so many beautiful florals to film last year, we created a 2018 year in review for Flowers by Janie to feature some of the fresh florals their team created! Even though we are in the midst of winter we hope this video fills you with warmth and wraps you in the fragrance of fresh summer blooms!

All photos and video below were created by Castaño

Heli Wedding in Canmore

On Thursday July 5th Mandy + Jason were married at Silvertip Resort surrounded by close family and friends. They wanted some epic mountain photos and video for their bridal portraits and so Oscar of Castaño Films and wedding photographer Darren Roberts joined the couple aboard Alpine Helicopters for a two hour flight. Their love was captured in photo and film along with incredible mountain vistas of the Rockies. View their highlight video below.

Video + photo by Castaño Films

If you are planning a heli-wedding or mountain wedding and need a wedding videographer get in touch with us here!