Alive and Married!

Good morning.  
So it has been incredibly too long since we have updated our blog.. bad I know.  Bo and I have had a very busy year though!  We got married! (so now people can stop asking the question during consults, "so what if ya'll break up")  Nope, that won't happen!    

(Nicole Faby Photography)

That being said we decided to take the year to slow down and really figure out how we really wanted to focus our business explore other areas in the videography realm.   While we still will be doing weddings we have done other types of projects and explored our creativity!  


So a few things I haven't posted!
First - Luke & Anna's wedding last OCTOBER! (AHH!) Anna was my intern for the NCLCP and she was absolutely adorable.  Congrats Luke & Anna!




In the first half of the year we were able to work on a VERY cool project!  We were able to have some creative control, script writing, reading etc. Junie Michael is a local automobile dealer was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the NC Automobile Dealer's Association! Congrats Junie! It was a pleasure getting to know you through this project!



The latest project that we have been working on is with the National Lung Cancer Partnership.  We went to their Lung Cancer Advocacy Summit  in Denver in April and were able to tape Story of Strength Interviews with various lung cancer advocates and survivors.  This is still a work in progress as we did over a dozen interviews but we are very pleased how they have turned out so far!  Check out the first three on their NEW Website!  More to come soon!


We have a few more weddings (including ours) in the pipline so stay tuned for more! We may have been quiet on the blog front but we are ALIVE and MARRIED! :-)
Happy Sunday!

Jackie + Daniel - Charlotte Wedding Videographer

Jackie and Daniel's wedding was this summer in Charlotte! They make a great couple and  again, the flower girls were ADORABLE!  I had such a good time editing this one!  We also got to work with Nicole Faby - Who will be doing our wedding in May!  We had such a good time and please enjoy their wedding video!



Jackie & Daniel - Charlotte Wedding Videographer from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Jessica + Paul - Greenville Wedding Videography

We had the privilege of filming Jessica + Paul's wedding in July.  For me it was like a high school and college reunion! Jessica was a Chi Omega with me and I went to high school with Paul. Their special day was so beautiful! I hope you enjoy their video!



Jessica + Paul - Greenville Wedding Videographer from Focused Videography on Vimeo.


Photography: Joey + Jessica Photographs
Venue: Rock Springs Center & The Jockey Club 

Britney & Jake - Raleigh Wedding Videographer

What a beautiful couple! This wedding was nothing but classy and elegant, from the gorgeous dresses and flowers to the traditions incorporated into their special day!  Beyond that - this crowd knew how to have fun!  Here is Britney & Jake's Trailer!   
Britney & Jake - Cary Wedding Videographer from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Location: Prestonwood Country Club

Photographer: Evoke Photography

Officiant:  Rev. Barbara Lodge

Video Music: Only Fools Rush In - Elvis 

Kate & Ben - Chapel Hill Wedding Videographer

Kate & Ben got married on May 29, 2010 at the Carolina Inn. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL! - They got married in one of the courtyards and the reception was SO much fun!  From their choreographed first dance to Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel to the groomsmen's lovely rendition of Backstreet Boys "I never Want to Hear You Say"...this crowd knew how to have fun! Thank you Ben & Kate for letting Focused Videography be a part of your special day! 



Kate & Ben - Chapel Hill Wedding Videographer from Focused Videography on Vimeo.


Venue: Carolina Inn
Wedding Coordinator: Katie Cathey, La Fete 
Photography: Azul Photography 

Matt & Amy - Raleigh Wedding Videographer

What a beautiful, in love couple! Despite the rain and not being able to enjoy the rose garden in May - this wedding turned out to be a beautiful occasion! We enjoyed working with Cafe Luna, and Millie Holloman's team!  Enjoy this little sneak peak! 


 
Amy & Matt - Raleigh Wedding Videographer from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Christine & Bob's Fairytale Wedding

Bob & Christine - The Southerland from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Christine & Bob are such an amazing couple.  I was able to spend a lot of time with Christine and as you can tell from the video, she is full of personality!

It was truly an honor to be a part of their wedding.  Christine and Bob were this year's recipients of NACE's Fairytale Wedding.   Christine has stage 4 breast cancer which has metastasized to her liver and brain.  Her neurosurgeon has given her 6 months to live as one of the tumors in her brain is inoperable.  In March, NACE members stepped in to give this couple who have and continue to undergo tremendous hardships the wedding of a lifetime.  The gorgeous Sutherland set the stage for this dream come true.  Grace Beason planned a beautiful event with everything donated:

Going Greene Events, Mitchell's Catering, Alexia's Bridal, Sweet Memories Bakery, Ed and Becky Sansbury, Fleurtations Weddings, Cleveland Plant and Flowers, Katie Hamister Photography, Daniel J Pesta Photography, Focused Videography, DJ Joe Bunn, A Step to Gold, Raleigh Wedding Cars and the Washington Duke Inn--- to name a few!

Free to Breathe® Boone!

In my 'day job' I work for the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership.  My dad passed away 5 years ago from lung cancer and I have become passionate about making a difference for Lung Cancer. 

Did you know? 

Approximately 219,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the U.S. each year – over 103,000 women and nearly 116,000 men.<sup>1
Lung cancer kills more than 160,000 people annually – more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.1
Lung cancer is responsible for more than 28% of all cancer-related deaths every year.
Approximately 60% of lung cancer patients either never smoked or quit decades ago.
Lung Cancer is the most deadly yet LEAST funded of all the cancers.
For more information about lung cancer and how you can help - visit www.NationalLungCancerPartnership.org/NC 

All that being said - Focused Videography had the honor to film the Free to Breathe®Boone event.  Now I will preface this video by saying - it rained the ENTIRE day and was muddy...  It added a 'mood' to the video.  Enjoy!</sup>

Free to Breathe® Boone from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

N.A.C.E.'s Fairytale Wedding Giveaway

Yesterday  I had a meeting for my full time job at Bay 7 - BEAUTIFUL space by the way - for our Evening of Hope Gala.  Amy Greene with Going Greene Events is catering the event for the 3rd year and she always does a fantastic job!


Well she asked if Focused Videography wanted to be a part of the NACE's  Fairytale Wedding Giveaway - How could I say no? We are humbled and honored to be a part of this bride's very special day....


 See below about NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) and the wedding we get to be a part of on Tuesday! Stay tuned for a pretty awesome wedding video!

The March meeting content was inspired by the couple who will receive this year's Fairytale Wedding Giveaway.  The bride has stage 4 breast cancer which has metastasized to her liver and brain.  Her neurosurgeon has given her 6 months to live as one of the tumors in her brain is inoperable.  In addition to this tragic situation, the couple had previously selected an event site in the Garner area for a May wedding.  The venue went bankrupt, leaving this struggling mother with a substantially smaller wedding budget as half of it had been given to the owners of the venue.  NACE members have graciously stepped in to give this couple who have and continue to undergo tremendous hardships the wedding of a lifetime.  The gorgeous Sutherland will set the stage for this dream come true.  Our own, Grace Beason, is perfectly planning a beautiful event with Classic Party Rentals, Sea Sound Studio Entertainment, Alexia's Bridal Boutique, Savvi Formal Wear, Going Greene Events, Mitchell's Catering, Sweet Memories Bakery, Ed and Becky Sansbury, Fleurtations Weddings, Cleveland Plant and Flowers, Katie Hamister Photography, Daniel J Pesta Photography, Focused Videography, DJ Joe Bunn, A Step to Gold, Raleigh Wedding Cars and the Washington Duke Inn.  If you are able, please bring gas cards or gift cards to places such as Target, Food Lion or Wal-Mart to assist this couple with some of the everyday necessities that they will need to move on in their new adventure as man and wife.  We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and heartfelt event!

WOW! I am humbled by this client feedback!

We were honored to do Jennifer and Justin's wedding - and their review ... all I can says is wow. A special thank you to Jennifer (& Justin) for your kind words. 

I must admit I was unsure of the need of a videographer. I had seen several videographers and was not overly impressed with the product. I thought photographs would be enough, until Focused Videography was brought to my attention. My initial thoughts of videography could not have been more wrong. 

I could not imagine working with anyone else but Focused Videography. Their professionalism and style is unmatched. On the day of our wedding Heather and Bo silently captured every moment; allowing us, the clients, to be very natural. They are prompt and timely in their communication before and after the big day.

As soon as we received the product I was watching our highlights video 2 or 3 times a day. Focused Videography captured moments that my photographer could not because they are constantly streaming. For example, as we were walking back down the aisle after being pronounced as husband and wife I did a little skip/jump of happiness at the end. My photographer was unable to capture that moment and Focused Videography caught it in action. In the highlights video, I loved how you see clips of me on our wedding day and would hear my husband saying his vows and vise versa. The highlights of the ceremony also included clips from our first dance. It was a split screen of us saying our vows on one side and our dance on the other side. I thought this was sensational because it showed the personality of our relationship as we were tying the knot. 

The need for a videography does not stop at the ceremony! It was so much fun to watch our first dance again (we had an upbeat, faster paced song). Then comes the father - daughter, mother - son dances. Being able to watch my Dad wipe a tear away from my face is very precious. Our maids of honor and best man had wonderful speeches and now we can hear them whenever we want! When the party began they captured fun and funny moments that I was not able to witness the first time because I was going around greeting guests. I felt like Bo and Heather were everywhere. I don't believe their was a moment that they did not capture.

Before the wedding we also did a "love story" and I am so glad we did. It is so wonderful to hear yourself and your future husband talk about your story, the excitement you have for the future, and the love you have for each other. They did a fantastic job of meshing clips of us in action and our voices from our interview. They are very patient and want to get it done right!

I highly recommend Focused Videography for your wedding. I truly cannot sing their praises enough. They are very easy to work with and make the day all about you and your husband/wife! You will not be disappointed with your finished product.


- Jennifer & Justin - Married September 26, 2009

I want to win Nicole's contest!

Nicole is having a great give away contest for a REALLY cute headband, and honestly I want to win it!! You should also check out her photography because it rocks!

www.nicolefabyphotography.com/blog 


<3 you Nicole!
Heather (& Bo) 
Focused Videography

We are still available!

2010 Wedding Availability:

Booked Weddings:

May 23 - Raleigh, NC

May 28 & 29 - Chapel hill NC

June 16- Cary, NC

July 15 - Greensboro, NC

July 31 - Charlotte, NC 

August 21 - Unavailable 

For more information contact Heather Gill at hegill@gmail.com or visit us at www.focusedvideography.com 

Why Do I Need a Wedding Video?

Carolina Bride had a great article about the importance of wedding videos so I thought I would share with you!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/carolinabride/planning/v-results/story/639611.html

Memories in Motion

You will find that a wedding video can be the most sentimental way to relive your wedding day. It will give you the opportunity to experience parts of your wedding day that you might have forgotten or not even seen.

Imagine not only the sights of the day being captured forever, but the sounds and feelings as well. Your wedding video will take you back again and again to that special day. It will serve as a wonderful part of anniversary celebrations in years to come and delight future generations.

Today, couples are using their wedding videos not only as personal mementos, but also as gifts to their parents and out-of-town family and friends who were not able to attend the wedding.

Because wedding videos play such an important role in preserving your memories, it is important you take special care in selecting a professional videographer.

As is true for other wedding professionals, many videographers are booked a year or more in advance. It is important to begin your search early for a quality videographer. Allow as much time as you would for the selection of your photographer and no less than six months if possible.

The quality of videos varies greatly, as do costs. Prices generally range from $700 for a basic video to over $3000 for a high-end video. Just as you would not price shop for a selection of wedding gowns without seeing them first, it is wise not to price shop videographers without seeing the actual footage. It is important to see a videographer’s work so you can evaluate the quality you receive for the price.

Most videographers offer packages. Coverage time and feature options can be adjusted to fit your budget. To prevent misunderstandings, complete and sign a contract agreement with the videographer you select.

A wedding video can be one of the most exciting and moving ways to document the beginning of your life together as a married couple. It’s worth the time it takes to evaluate your selection of a professional videographer, and invest in the best.

Shawn's 1st Birthday Party

Last month we were able to film Shawn's 1st birthday! He is a doll and it was so much fun to be a part of his special day. If you are interested in having us come to your child's birthday party or doing a photo montage, give us a call for a custom quote!

Shawn's 1st Birthday from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

We still have availability!

Thanks to everyone who booked during our Grand Opening Promotion!! Be on the look out for other smaller promotions coming soon!! As we are just getting started, we still have availability for the 2010 wedding season!

Booked 2010 Weddings & Availability:

May 2010:

May 23: Raleigh Wedding

May 29: Chapel Hill Wedding

July 2010:

July 25: Greenville Wedding

Contact us today for your wedding!

Only 2 More Weeks of the Grand Opening Promotion!

We have a great Grand Opening Promotion going on for our wedding packages that will be ending November 1st! In order to take part in this great special all you have to do is book by November 1st. (You can get marreid whenever) To book, we would just need a deposit and signed contract! Let us know if you would like to take part in these GREAT prices because they will be going up soon and I know we all can save a little money, especially on weddings!

All packages Pearl and up will also include separate DVD chapters with your entire ceremony, first dances and toasts.

Ruby - $700 (Sale $550)

• Single Camera Coverage of Ceremony and Reception
• Up to 5 Hours of Coverage
• Raw Footage Only (minor edits)
• Your day delivered on multiple Mini DV Tapes or 2 DVD’s

Pearl – $900 (Sale $700)

• Single Camera Coverage of Ceremony and Reception
• Professional Digital Editing with Personalized Titles and Credits
• Professional Digitally Edited Highlights Video
• 3 DVD copies of your Wedding Video
• Up to 6 hours of coverage

Diamond - $1,200 (Sale $900)

• Single Camera of pre-ceremony, Ceremony & Reception coverage
• Professional Digital Edited Highlights Video
• Photo Montage of the Bride and Grooms’ Childhood & Couple Pictures
• 3 DVD copies of your Wedding Video
• Up to 8 hours of coverage

Platinum - $1,500 (Sale $1,200)

• Two Camera Ceremony Coverage
• Single pre-ceremony and Reception coverage
• Professional Digital Edited Highlights Video
• Photo Montage of the Bride and Grooms’ Childhood & Couple Pictures
• Love Story - Pre taped interviews of you and your loved one.
• Honeymoon Picture Montage for a Perfect Ending
• 4 DVD copies of Your Wedding Video
• Up to 8 hours of coverage

Extras for any Package

• DVD copies -$15
• Add Camera – $150
• Extra Hour – $150
• Ceremony Only – $450 (includes 2 hours of coverage, minor editing and 2 DVD’s)

Questions? Call Heather Gill at 919.614.4026 or email hegill@gmail.com

Gerber Wedding Highlight Video!

It's what we have all been waiting for... a wedding highlight video!! A very special thank you goes out to Jennifer and Justin Gerber! We literally could not have done this without you and your wedding! We also have a great promotion going on for any brides who book before November 1st! Check out the promotions on our Wedding Packages page of the website!

**Please note that the video is around 15 minutes long and keeps going after the ceremony part! For best results click play, then click pause for a few seconds to let the video load a head, then click play again and enjoy!


The music is Love Letters by Diana Krall- Buy it here!

Gerber Wedding Highlights from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Nicole Faby Photography Promo Video

It has finally arrived! Nicole is a great friend and wonderful photographer! From infants to brides her work is always beautiful! Check her website out at www.nicolefabyphotography.com and view her promotional video below! Enjoy!

Nicole Faby Photography Promotional Video from Focused Videography on Vimeo.

Congrats Jenn & Justin (almost Mr. & Mrs. Gerber)!!

Here is our toast to you!

Jenn & Justin,

Congrats on a beautiful marriage! From your first picture to the first day of the rest of your lives together, I know you two are truely meant for a lifetime of happyness! One night a few months ago, Jenn, Danielle and I were driving back from the Chi O Pancake dinner, and I asked Jenn what she was looking forward to most about being married. Her reply confirmed why this couple is so strong.. She said that while she is looking forward to the wedding day and celebration, she is more looking forward to the marriage and having Justin as a parter in life forever. She was looking forward to waking up with him, the vacations, the milestones, the kids and spending LIFE with her husband. Her answer was much more elequent but it definitly put tears in my eyes! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

Their first picture:

Coming soon.. Mr. & Mrs. Gerber Wedding Video!

Formally introducing our new baby!

No not really a new baby... our camera! A few weeks ago, our favorite photographer snaped a few action shots of Bo and our new baby (aka the camera)!

Bo filming an interview....