“We’re happy people, we like happy films.” And with that, I knew I was going to really like Sunshine Weddings – Film & Photo. I eagerly dived in to learn more about this husband and wife dynamic duo who capture weddings all around Queenstown, New Zealand. They’ve got all the right info on where to get inspired and how to choose that wedding videographer that best tells your story. See it all below – and head over to their profile to see some of their best work!
It’s been many years now! Scott started way back in the day with large bulky video cameras and long (pretty dull) documentary edits. A wedding photographer friend of his suggested he should look at wedding videography as at that time there was no one local doing it. He had been a professional skydiver and was looking for a new direction after a bad crash. I have a background in publishing with a design degree and studied photography so it made sense that after we met and married I joined the team. It’s been evolving ever since.
Making people smile.
Individual: The biggest thing for us is that every film should reflect the couple’s individual personalities. We don’t work to formulas and never start with preconceived ideas about how it should be. Rather the filming, editing, audio, music and even colour grade will be informed by what we know of the couple and the wedding day itself.
Happy: We’re happy people, we like happy films. That doesn’t mean that’s all they’re about, wedding days are layered events with a huge range of emotion involved so there will possibly be parts in there that will bring a tear to the eye too. However every wedding we have been to is overwhelmingly a happy affair so we want people to simply feel good after watching one of our films.
Real: It can be a challenge to make films that remain about a couple and not about the filmmaker or editor. We film real people, not actors or models so it’s not always about the most beautiful shot or a tricky filming technique but simply capturing and telling the story in an authentic, honest way. Being able to do this really comes down to the relationship and trust we have with couples so this is an important part of the process.
1. Family: Our daughter is about to turn three and is getting more interesting and funnier every day (and louder).
2. Good wine and conversation at the end of a long day.
3. Laughter.
In wide open spaces and time to let the mind wander, think randomly and be open to whatever comes along.
We’re a bit late to it but are getting a little addicted to Instagram. Clients have been loving an extra 15sec Instagram teaser clip and we will be doing wedding photography as well as films for summer 2015-2016 so we are looking forward to putting some new work up.
Time. And by that I mean a couple allowing more time on the day to relax and experience the moment. As filmmakers it’s the spontaneous, candid moments we want to capture. And these don’t happen when a stressed couple is running from place to place following a ridiculously tight schedule! It’s your wedding day, stop and enjoy it and we’ll get those moments on film.
Who does your editing? Whether it’s an in-house editor with strong studio interaction and a consistent style or freelancers. Good post production takes a long time and especially for large, busy studios it’s often necessary to outsource editing from a business perspective. However it’s such an integral, creative part of the process. If the editor is a person you develop a relationship with before the day, who gets to know you, films on the day, so knows every moment captured, talks to your friends and family, experiences the atmosphere and emotion of the wedding and sees from first hand experience what you’re all about, it will make for a more personal film. Editing and post-production is where all the puzzle pieces come together and the story starts. Scott edits all our films and when working on a wedding film we both critique throughout the process and ask 1. Does this reflect the couple and 2. Is this a “Sunshine” film.
Spending up to 20 hours on a wedding day and travelling home with Scott knowing that we still like each other and respect each others work.
Going on family adventures, beach trips, mountain biking, making stuff, good wine and conversation, cooking… We’re incredibly lucky that we live in a peaceful, beautiful part of the world and have the freedom to do these things.
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Photography: Sunshine Wedding Films | Videography: Sunshine Wedding Films | Calligraphy: Lauren