Tacoma Television Commercials

We've been busy editing video the last few weeks, and over the last couple of months have produced 2 television commercials. Maybe you've seen them.

Want to share them here.

Let us know what you think and be sure to support these businesses.

Blessings,

Chris.

Where have you been?

October 1. WOW. Where has the last couple of months gone?

I received a note from a follower the other day asking me "what's up...haven't heard from you in a while. Are you still alive?" Well, yes, I'm still alive and kicking, well more like hobbling. Yes, I'm still here and still producing video. And despite the slowdown in production and transfers, I have been busy with work and well, life, putting the blog and newsletters on the bottom of the "to do" list.

So my last post to this blog was on July 6, I believe. Since then, we have had 6 weddings (and we're now done for the year) mixed into our normal workload. I have decided to take back some of my life and spend less time at the office and more time with the kids and on the soccer field (I am now on 2 soccer teams-one in Seattle and the other in Tacoma-as well as helping out my daughters team), I have donated some time to a few political candidates, playing guitar in church and well, watching more and more soccer (Lynette thinks that we've become obsessed with soccer since the World Cup earlier this summer). On the business side, we launched High Note Video with our friend, Jan Decker of Crisis Management Consulting, and have been working on making changes to our MVS Weddings and Chris McKenna Photography sites. (If you are or know a good flash web programmer please have them give me a call).

So, today I thought that it was time to resurrect posting to the blogs. So, later on I will post a few videos that have been completed in the last couple of months.

And by the way, in regards to this blog, I am contemplating a move to embedding this blog into our McKenna Video website. So if you have any feelings, one way or another, please let me know. And stay tuned for more information regarding the move if we decide to do so.

Blessings,

Chris

The Eley Love Story

In honor of their first year as husband wife, we are posting an excerpt from a love story video that we put together last year for Jessica and Mark's wedding.

This video was shot on location at Pt. Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA in May of 2009 (what a different in weather we had this year-nothing like last year) and along the waterfront of Ruston, WA. We managed to complete it without too much interference from others, along a stray bird did "fowl" the scene a couple of times (no pun intended).

There entire video was approximately 20 minutes in length, about two times as long as this version. That their full-length video, we incorporated a lot of photographs from their growing up years and their years together as a couple.

We thought that we'd post the shorten version here with our congratulations on making it through year one.

Best wishes for many more happy years together.

Happy Fathers Day

This video is a collection of photos that we put together to honor the Fathers in our church. Do you know anyone here?

Enjoy and blessings,

Chris.

Old film, old cars.

This video is a collection of "old car" footage collected from 16mm film that we transferred. We added the soundtrack and some of the "extras" contained here.

I love the shots where the passengers are holding cakes and drinks while driving over the "bumps" but can anyone tell me what they are doing with the teter-totter? I have an idea, but want to confirm it.

Enjoy.

Chris

Memorial Day Thank You!

Today,
we pause to reflect
on the sacrifices that
our brothers, our fathers,
our fellow countrymen
made to keep us safe,
to keep us secure,
to give us freedom,
to give us liberty,
to give us a place to live,
to study as we choose,
free to worship as we choose,
free to pursue happiness as we choose.

We can't thank you enough
for the sacrifices that you made.

Today we honor you.

Chris

Video Tip #1: Buy a Good Camera

While I am always well intentioned to keep my blog full of great tips and techniques for great looking video, reality is that we don't always have time, motivation, and of course we don't want to give away any secrets as to what makes a McKenna Video a McKenna Video. There are some days, er weeks, where I want to write blog after blog, maybe even composing a book of secrets for the home user, but you know when you are running a business that has paying customers sometimes those customers take priority. Imagine that!

Having said that, I will tell you this: the first thing to consider before ever shooting a single frame of video is to the camera. So tip #1 goes something like this: BUY A GOOD CAMERA!

In these days and in this economy more and more people are looking for more bang for their buck. Ok, fine. I do the same. But realize that there is a difference between getting good value for your money and just throwing it away on junk that you won't be happy with.

Such is the case with cheap video cameras. While most home videographers will never win an Academy Award for cinematography, they can do whatever is in their control for obtaining the best images. Sorry to say folks, but sub-$300 cameras will not get you a great image. In fact, any camera that does not include 3-ccd chips will not get you a great image. Adequate? Possibly. But you will need to make sure that if you want superior images that you get a 3-CCD or CMOS device with as big as chips as you can afford. The last home device that I purchased had 1/3-inch CCD chip, only 1 vs. the 3 chips that I recommend and it did an ok job for my home needs. But I also paid $500 for it too.

Ok, and now about the sub $100 camera market. Unless you are looking for the novelty or are just wanting to post the quick and easy to YouTube, my recommendation is stay away from them. You can always post high-quality video to YouTube, but you can't take low quality YT video and make it great. Just like you can't make gold from lead or turn trash into treasure (if you ever figure that out let me know).

Anyway, hope this article helps as you shop around. Please see previous post about types of cameras at

http://mckennavideo.blogspot.com/2008/06/quick-take-what-to-look-for-in-video.html


For all your video needs, visit us at www.mckennavideo.com and for photography at www.chrismckennaphotography.com . Our specialized wedding site is www.mvsweddings.com .

Blessings,

Chris.