in full swing…
Wow. It’s been a bit since my last post. Wedding season has been in full swing for the last couple of months, and we have been extra busy! Tonight we had a blast at Amanda & Sergey’s wedding at Garvan Woodland Gardens. I always enjoy shooting in Anthony Chapel – just wonderful light coming through the glass. I’m sure we’ll have some new video ready for you all in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile – no end in sight for us for upcoming weddings! Just the way I like it 
Be sure to visit the website and check out our packages and other video. Shoot us an email and let us know what you think.
Happy Planning!
Tish – Kemp Video
Video from Alda’s Magnolia Hill
Highlights from Alda’s Magnolia Hill.
Check out our website at kempvideoproductions.com!
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – Video Not to Miss!
A few months back, I told you about an upcoming Greek wedding we were filming. George and Michelle Khamis were SO fun during their wedding day. I wanted to take a moment to share with you some video from their reception. Michelle’s sister performed a belly dance for the couple. Really, I’ve never had so much fun watching people’s reactions. It was fun, and definitely entertaining Everyone there really got into the celebration. And I have to give a big thank you to her planner for keeping everything smooth. I can’t begin to tell you what a difference a good planner makes in the enjoyment of the day for the bride and groom.
I hope you enjoy the video! Happy Planning -
Tish – be sure to check out Kemp Video’s Website
Magnolia Hill…
I spent some time this week shooting at Magnolia Hill. The owners, Alda and Buddy Ellis, have been friends of mine for many years. I met Alda while she owned Alda’s Forever – this great company with a TON of great gifts. She was a regular guest on one of the tv shows I produce. But now, she’s started a new phase in her life… She and Buddy sold the business a couple of years ago, and Alda had a fresh start in her life. She has opened her home to brides for spectacular wedding ceremonies.
Their home is a wonderful historic house. Right in the heart of Little Rock, the Dr. Morgan Smith Estate sits on 31 acres of secluded countryside that includes a private three acre lake, rolling lawns, hundred year old oak trees, magnolia trees, fountains, ducks, geese and the most modern conveniences. The estate was built in 1918, and is on the National Landmark of Historic Places. Two age-old Magnolia trees sit atop the hill that Dr. Smith planted. The estate has grown to be called Magnolia Hill.
Every time I step foot on the property, it just breathes tranquility. As you drive up the way, the house rises above you on top of Magnolia Hill. On the right, her two horses stick their heads up to see who’s come to their home. Maggie, Alda’s beautiful dog, barks a greeting – then comes to lean on your legs for a scratch when you get out of the car. I really love Maggie!
But best of all, it never fails that Alda has a glass of something cold and sweet ready for you as she comes to say hi. So last Wednesday, I arrived with the camera crew to get some footage of the property to showcase for an upcoming show. And there’s just so much to shoot, I almost didn’t know where to begin.
We started in the pasture where the carriage waited to be hooked up to Delilah – Alda’s oldest horse. Delilah wasn’t too sure about the cameras! She kept an eye on us while getting geared up, but I’ve met Delilah before . I know she likes her forehead and nose rubbed, and will lean up beside you to get a scratch on her shoulders just like Maggie does. Anyway – as I look around, I see that Alda has her lovely red settee set up in the field with little yellow flowers surrounding it. I can totally see a bride in her gown sprawled on the couch in the middle of the field for bridal portraits. Just gorgeous.
So we get set up to film the carriage coming around the lake. A few scratches and bug bites were well worth it! The day was perfect – blue cloudless skies, no breeze – and a perfectly still lake made the perfect reflecting pool as the carriage came around the beds. The mirror image it created really can’t be described with words. And then you hear the cackle of the resident ducks as they jump in for a swim! There’s three of them – and they waddle around together in perfect sync. It’s too cute!!
But the highlight for me was filming the doves. Alda and Buddy have invested in doves that are released during the ceremony. They of course are trained to fly back to the “coop” … and they’re just gorgeous as they fly around the sky in wide sweeping circles. I got up close and personal when they released a couple of the birds from a heart shaped basket. I’m hoping to make some great slo-motion video … those suckers are FAST!
If you’re looking for a wonderful outdoor venue with great charm and hospitality, then you really should check out Alda’s Magnolia Hill. Alda is a true southern hostess, and will make sure you wedding goes off without a hitch .
Happy Planning!
Tish
Kemp Video
What does a wedding videographer actually do?
Okay – so I spent a bit of time yesterday explaining to a potential bridal client exactly exactly what it is that we do as wedding videographers. And so I thought perhaps I should blog about it in case you had questions, too. The thing is, while many people assume videography is like photography, it actually isn’t. Never in a million years would I ever claim to be a photographer. You put a still camera in my hands and I’ll be able to point and shoot, but who knows how the pictures will turn out. But I can tell you about broadcast safe, audio levels, frame rate, etc. Here’s the truth – a photographer has to be a master at capturing a single moment in time with perfect clarity and composition. A videographer has to be a master at capturing not a single moment – but a moving memory that has a clear beginning, middle and end in each video clip. Those are two very different jobs.
Example: You have a picture of you in your beautiful gown giving your niece a kiss on the cheek. Compare that to seeing a video clip of your niece’s eyes lighting up as she sees you enter the room in your beautiful white gown, running with joy to greet you, you swing her off her feet and land a big fat kiss on her cheek as she hugs your neck. A clear beginning, middle, and end that is a constant stream of movement – creating a story in motion.
Okay – so how does that translate into what we do? As we film your wedding day, we make sure every detail of the day is documented. And while we are constantly checking our angles and visual clarity – we also are making sure that you can hear what’s going on. You see, video isn’t just about what you see. It’s also about what you hear. Remember the example above? Now think about hearing your niece laugh and saying “I love you” or “You’re so pretty!”. That adds an extra layer of poignancy to your memory. Or how about when you pledge your life to your husband? And he to you… What is more precious than hearing and seeing that miraculous union of hearts?
Now, keep in mind that we are accumulating hours of video footage. The longer we are filming, the more footage there is (duh!). So you can assume that the work for us doesn’t end once we turn off the cameras. It’s only just begun. Now we go back to the edit room and log all of that video. That means we sit down and watch every single thing we filmed to organize all of those precious moments. Then I sit down and decide how to tell your wedding story. That means I literally produce a wedding movie – of you! How do I put it all together in a cohesive and moving way? Well, it’s a lot of experience and a lot of being a bride myself. I immerse myself in your video and get inside your personality and style – then use that knowledge to create a video that tells your unique story. Your colors, your centerpieces, your dress, your flowers… All of that is reflected from the graphics I custom make for your video – to the music – to the ending shot. You can figure that however long we’re at your wedding, it takes 3-4 times as long for us to produce the video. That’s why when you consider how much a videographer charges – don’t think about just how long they’ll be videoing on your wedding day. Think about how much extra edit time is added for every extra hour of video shot.
There seems to be a misconception that the wedding video should be significantly less money than the pictures. The reality is our equipment – broadcast grade camcorders, wireless microphones, non-linear edit systems, etc. – is just as expensive as your photographers. Our training is just as extensive as your photographers. The work involved … well, you get the idea. Photographers and videographers work hand in hand with each other. Each has a very important job to do – and one is no less intensive as the other.
So! I hope that explains a bit about how videography works. Please feel free to ask questions 
Last Day for 10% Off!!!
I hope you are having a wonderful time planning your wedding and enjoying the fabulous weather Just want to remind you that today is the last day to take advantage of the 10% April Fool’s discount. This offer applies to all wedding videography services, and expires at 10 p.m. TONIGHT!! Be sure to call me today at 501-650-5684 to reserve your spot on our wedding calendar. Just mention the April Fool’s offer. Be sure to check out our wedding and video gallery pages on our website. Happy Planning!
Tish
New video – Kate & Michael
Check out the new video of Kate & Michael Snodgrass.
Tish -
check out the website!
April Fool’s Promotion – One Week Only
Call me a sap – but I had a fabulous time at Amanda & Troy’s wedding. We’ve done a LOT of weddings, but this was a first for me. First – I was honored to be able to film the wedding of a childhood friend. And my second first – a butterfly release. Oh man! I’ve never seen anything like it! Did you know if you refrigerate butterflies for 15 minutes, they become very docile and you can basically put them anywhere you want? I didn’t. It was great. The photographer had Amanda sit with her veil over her face – in the middle of a bunch of tulips at Garvan Woodland Gardens. Then we placed about six butterflies on her veil. Absolutely gorgeous effect! And the guests held their butterflies while they warmed up their wings – then circled around the bride and release them all at the same time. Just amazing video. Cannot wait to get this one put together.
Anyways – it was the first spring wedding of the year and it was a perfect sunny day. So, in honor of the first days of April – and while I’m still riding my high from this weekend’s wedding – I’m offering a 10% discount on all wedding videography services for one week only. It’s first come first served – we still have a few open dates May through August. Not many – but a few. Be sure to check our availability calendar on our home page. This offer is valid for one week only. You must book and have your deposit and contract into me by this Friday, April 2nd. I am willing to meet up with you to get it to me
Happy Planning!! Oh – and be sure to check out our wedding and video gallery pages
Tish
