Why me?
First, because you will get me! I DO NOT outsource my shoots. How do people end up with amateurs? Simply, because their expectations for their videographer are not as high as they are for their photographer... and there are numerous video (and DJ) companies that are ready to exploit that error. Would you except the nephew of the photographer you booked? Well, shooting true broadcast quality video and audio are at least as hard as taking wedding stills.

Second, I don't shoot weddings because I'm incapable of doing anything else (see credits). In the past (80's), there were good production companies and bad production companies. Now there are good production companies and wedding videographers… I am an award winning documentarian and corporate video producer, as well as an Emmy nominated PBS cameraman. A balance of corporate, broadcast, and event filming keeps me sharp, fresh and up on the latest methods and equipment. I do weddings because I’ve always enjoyed doing them and its good money; it's that simple.

People that book me want the best camera/cameraman combo they can get, not the number of digital effects per minute. There are several people in town that have shot over 700 wedding videos as I have but for whatever reason they still can’t “shoot.” There are a couple with real skills and comparable credits but they out-source their work.... I am the only wedding videographer that I know of in San Diego, with my background and experience, that does not use my name to then out-source my shoots. That’s my niche market! That’s what you are paying for. If you find value in that, let’s make a movie!

Beware
In 16 years, I’ve seen trends come and go. Presently, we are witnessing the rise of the “All in one” enterprise that claims to be a Photo/Video/DJ company. First, the term "Package Deal" was coined in this industry to create "perceived value" around what is basically a collection of amateurs. In every case you're getting someone that isn't talented and/or professional enough to manage on their own.

These “vendor brokers” try and scare you by saying that certain types of vendors don't get along and/or are lazy about communicating with one another. That's just not true. Real Professionals enjoy and look forward to working together. Often these charlatans end-up on referral lists by paying "kickbacks" to hotel/wedding coordinators, which at 10% can add up to $500-$1000 an event! And who’s ultimately paying that money? You are.

Since 1989, I've worked with the "Good, Bad and the Ugly" so if you need referrals, give myself or any individual artist you trust a call… 90% of the people that see my demo, book me. But the trick is getting many to watch it after they’ve heard a horror story about another videographer. I resent the damage certain companies are doing to this industry, so if not us, please hire a TRUE professional.