Having a top-notch photographer and videographer for your special day is a no-brainer, but making sure they work well together? It’s the difference between regular results and those you’ll treasure forever. Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films often work as a team, capturing special moments, including these “I do’s” at this rustic summer celebration. See their special day as Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films share insight on choosing vendors who work and create together successfully.
From Jenny Moloney Photography and Paperweight Films… At Jenny Moloney Photography and Paperweight Films, we believe that documenting a wedding involves a lot of time and thought, not only with the bride and groom, but with each other. As individual businesses (both husband and wife teams), we both create images and films that are timeless, honest, candid, and romantic, yet we’ve worked hard to hone our skills and learn how to function efficiently as a team. It takes flexibility, awareness and lots of communication.
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WHAT SHOULD A BRIDE LOOK FOR WHEN PUTTING A PHOTO AND VIDEO TEAM TOGETHER?
A great team has a videographer and photographer that share a similar philosophy in documenting a wedding, including their approach to working with the couple in preparation for the big day. Finding a photographer and videographer who share similar philosophies and styles can make a wedding day seamless, and also results in photos and films that compliment each other. Things to look for include:
Timeline: Knowing what their needs are from you during your wedding day can really help to ensure a smooth flow.
Shooting Style: Both Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films take a candid, documentary approach to shooting weddings, making it an easy fit. Be sure to understand both the photographer and videographer approach to shooting a wedding day.
Lighting Style: Ask if they prefer more natural light, or if they bring additional lighting. For moments like a reception, this can have a real effect on the other.
Cost: A lot of couples tend to focus more budget on either photo or video. It can be very beneficial to do a lot of researching in finding a photographer and videographer with similar experience.
WHAT DO JENNY MOLONEY PHOTOGRAPHY AND PAPERWEIGHT FILMS DO TO MAKE IT SEAMLESS FOR EACH OTHER?
Communication: There are three main times we communicate about a wedding; before, during and after. Reaching out before the wedding day to chat about the couple’s special requests and each other’s plan of action helps for no surprises and no frustration on the wedding day. On the wedding day, we make sure to communicate all day with each other about where we plan to be to get a shot or special moment. Chatting after the wedding is a great way to debrief the experience, and make plans for submissions.
Awareness: By staying aware of each other’s position, we can stay out of each other’s shots, or communicate about how we can both make it work.
Flexibility: Keeping in mind that while we have a lot of the same needs, they are often executed in different ways. Setting up expectations and always being respectful of each others needs, makes all the difference.
Collaboration: One of the best parts about working together as a team is collaborating to create a beautiful creative product for our clients. When you are lucky and cultivate a trust between each other, the results can be magical!
Respect: We’re there for the same thing – to document all the moments a couple will want to remember. However, we have two very different needs for a lot of those moments. For example, during toasts, a videographer needs to be rolling the whole time, to capture the toast in it’s entirety. A photographer needs a collection of still images. On the other side, during formal portraits, it is important to remember that the photographer needs to get their shots done without a lot of interruption from the videographer.
MOMENTS WHERE WORKING AS A TEAM IS ESSENTIAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL INCLUDE:
Getting Ready with the Bride and Groom: We work together to make sure we all get the shots we need. If Jenny is shooting the bridal gown outside, she always lets Paperweight Films know. If bridal details are being shot, we take turns, or find different angles and shoot at the same time. Often in the groom’s suite, during moments like tying ties, we find the best light together and either shoot over each other’s shoulders or at complementary angles. We’re constantly communicating about moving, switching with each other, and making sure we’re not in each other’s shots.
Ceremony: The ceremony is always approached with a “game plan.” We look at the set up, let each other know where we will be standing, what our framing looks like, and get rolling. Special moments are discussed, such as the bride coming down the aisle, rings being exchanged, and first kiss so we’re aware of what the other is doing.
Sparkler Exits: We always discuss what lenses we are each using and come up with a game plan. Often Jenny and Dave from Paperweight Films shoot side by side following the bride and groom as they come through.
WHAT DO JENNY MOLONEY PHOTOGRAPHY AND PAPERWEIGHT FILMS DO TO MAKE IT THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THE COUPLE?
Both Jenny and Paperweight Films have styles that result in romantic, warm, and timeless images that work beautifully together. Because we take the easy but important steps of communicating with each other throughout the wedding process, we show up to the wedding ready to work well together. This adds an extra positive, relaxed vibe to the wedding day! By being good to each other, we create the best experience and products for our couples, which is the of course the most important thing!
From the beautiful Bride… I met Max about five years ago. The minute I met Max, I had butterflies… and I still have them today! Lucky for him, when Max proposed, I said YES, and our wedding plans soon began. Starting the wedding planning process was scary; I realized I had no idea where, when or what I wanted. But I did know a few things: I wanted a full weekend with our closest friends and family, I wanted a smaller wedding, and I definitely wanted nature. I saw a bunch of gorgeous farm weddings on SMP and accordingly Googled “farm wedding,” reaching out to all of the venues that came up. Riverside Farm was one of them, and our very first (and only) site visit. We visited in July, and I must say the visit was pretty magical. From the inn we were set up in, to the grounds viewing, we knew Riverside just felt right. We secured our date and never looked back.
With our venue locked, we started getting into the details. I wanted our wedding to be reflective of us, filled with personal touches, and tightly knit with friends and family. I loved that we picked our menu, our band, and our flowers together; wrote every place card; and even designed our wedding invitations. The whole weekend was us personified!
For our accents and colors, we were as neutral as possible. When you have a backdrop as beautiful as the rolling mountains of Vermont, you don’t want to distract anyone with anything grandiose. Pale pinks, ivories, greys, and pops of some bright colors were trickled into all of our details. My bridesmaids wore any shade of grey and ivory that they preferred. They all looked beautiful, and paired so nicely! The groomsmen wore navy and Max work a lighter blue hue. Our flowers for the reception and ceremony were a mix of soft pinks, ivory, silvery greys, and were accented with either birch branches, or vases. The birch was elegant, yet matched the campy nature of the venue.
We put a lot of work into making our wedding day special, but it was really our family, friends and vendors that made the weekend as incredible as it was. Our best and closest friends and family stayed on the grounds with us (and at Amee Farm down the road), so they were embedded throughout every aspect of the event. Our caterers crafted the most delicious menus for the rehearsal, wedding and brunch, using flavors indigent to Vermont. Our florist went above and beyond from just a few pictures I pinned on Pinterest. Our band kept the dance floor filled all night. And our photographers and videographers, well, they captured our whole weekend beautifully without even being noticed by our guests! The Riverside team kept all of the vendors connected and made the entire planning process seamless. We really lucked out; we ended up spending lots of time on the phone with these guys, and even making some great friends!
My advice for couples planning their big day: Keep it personal, personal touches will make your day a piece of you, and not a generic event. Choose the vendors you instantly like upon first meeting, you’ll be spending a lot of time with them on the phone and in person. And finally, make it fun! We had the best time planning our wedding, and couldn’t have been happier with the results!
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See a few more of our favorite Jenny Moloney and Paperweight Films weddings here: Elegant Newport Estate Wedding, a Popponessett Inn Wedding, and another Riverside Farm Wedding!
Photography: Jenny Moloney Photography | Cinematography: Paperweight Films | Floral Design: Bloom for Life | Wedding Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal | Stationery: Whoa Nellie Press | Ceremony Venue: Riverside Farm | Reception Venue: Riverside Farm | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Makeup Artist: Alexandra Dale Makeup Artistry | Band: Red Hook Orchestra | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Hair Stylists: Finishing Touch Vermont | Wedding Catering: The Linen Shop by Occasions Catering
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