Will my television stop working next February?

No.

By law, television stations must start broadcasting exclusively in digital next February and stop broadcasting in the analog format that most of us grew up watching. But just because they will broadcasting in digital does not mean that your TV won't work anymore. Even if you don't have a digital television, you should be fine.

If you get your TV from satellite and cable and have a set-top receiver/box, you are probably already OK. The provider is already providing your content digitally and/or is converting the signal on their end so you can view your favorite shows without interruption. If you don't have a receiver yet, call them to get one.

If you are currently using an off-air antenna attached to your television, you an get a converter box that will receive HDTV and other digital TV signals and send them to your TV in a format it can display. To help pay for the box, our federal government is offering each household up to $40 coupons. You can apply for a coupon up to March 31, 2000.

For more information about converter boxes and to apply for a coupon, navigate to http://www.dtv2009.gov/ .

Blessings,

Chris.

Teresa & Brent Tie the Knot

Teresa and Brent were married in a backyard, albeit a huge backyard, ceremony in August. Lynette and I had a blast covering their wedding, even though we had to dodge a few rain showers and gusts of wind (the wind got hold of one of my umbrellas and is probably somewhere in Kansas by now). All their friends and family were present and were very easy to work with.

Thanks, Teresa and Brent, for choosing us to capture your special day. We wish you all our best for many happy years together.

Chris

McKenna Video / MVS Wedding Production one of Western Washington's Top 5 Wedding Videographers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(October 28, 2008)

(Puyallup, WA) McKenna Video Services announced today that they received a 2008 “Best of Western Washington Wedding Videographer” nomination from King5 Television’s Evening Magazine Program and earned a place in the top 5 of Western Washington Wedding Videographers.

“It is an honor to be nominated,” says owner Chris McKenna, “especially since we are not one of the big Seattle production houses and we have only been producing wedding videos for about 3 years.” This nomination follows a 2007 award McKenna earned from the Association of Video Professionals and two 2006 Hanley Awards.

“Producing a wedding video and helping a couple preserve the memory of their most romantic day is very rewarding for us and one of the reasons that we got into this business,’ continues McKenna. “And for MVS to be among the top 5 in all of Western Washington is truly humbling.”

For more information on McKenna Video Services, visit their websites at http://www.mckennavideo.com/ or http://www.mvsweddings.com/ .or call 253-539-3438.

Joseph's Sophomore Portraits

Sophomore portraits? Yes, we're serious about keeping up with the trend. Who says that you have to be a senior to have a portfolio of portraits?

Anyway, these are Joseph's portraits that we took a few weeks back. Doesn't he look so handsome? Of course, we can say that because he also happens to be our son. He was such a good subject as evidenced by the great photos we got of him.

So lets start a trend: portraits at every age!!!

God's bessings,

Chris.

Kelle & Jim Got Married!

Congratulations to Kelle and Jim, who were married on September 13, 2008. Their wedding was at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Renton, WA, and their reception was help at the Spirit of Washington Event Center.

We met Kelle and Jim a year ago when we were filming the wedding of friends of theirs. We immediately fell in love with their energy and enthusiam for life and each other and we were very honored to be asked to help document the memory of their day.

Congratulations, Kelle & Jim, and enjoy the preview.

Chris.

Video for the Use of Corporate / Business Sales and Marketing

Most businesses don’t understand how powerful and cost-effective the use of video can be in their marketing, sales and training efforts.

Here are 10 powerful tips you can use today to help you understand the value of video as a sales and marketing tool.

1. Direct mail campaigns generate average response rates of 0.5 - 2.0%. In comparison, direct video campaigns generate average response rates of 30 – 40%.


2. Effectively using video footage can help a small company present itself professionally as a much larger national or international organization.


3. The same video footage can be used in multiple contexts – web site, trade show, sales calls, group settings, investor presentations, press releases and advertisements.


4. Video is the best way to present product demonstrations and boost sales.


5. Video can tell a powerful story of how a non-profit organization helps people and communities.


6. Video captures viewers’ emotions, and buying decisions are typically made on an emotional level.


7. Video presents a consistent message every time for every viewer. This guarantees the same level of professionalism and enthusiasm for each presentation.


8. Video shows products and services in action. The best print brochure can’t do that.


9. Before-and-after video footage is an effective sales tool.


10. Use of sound and special effects can make an ordinary product demonstration exciting and memorable.

Combine this information with other benefits unique to your business and create a flyer, brochure, e-mail marketing piece or DVD! Video is a fantastic way for businesses to market their products and services. We know it, and now you know it!

Blessings to you,

Chris

McKenna Video/MVS Wedding Productions - "Best of Western Washington" Nominated

Good morning,

Yesterday, we received notification that we had been nomimated as Evening Magazine's "Best of Western Washington Wedding Videographer." It is an honor to be nominated.

Unfortunately, voting ends tomorrow, October 13, so there is certainly not much time left. So we are asking all our friends and supporters to visit the following website and cast their vote for McKenna Video/MVS Wedding Productions.

http://best.king5.com/contests/best-of-western-washington/2336/weddings/videographer

Thank you for your support.

Chris & Lynette

Transferring Photographs to Digital Images

If you are like most people, you probably have boxes and boxes, albums upon albums, or drawer upon drawer of old photographs that are doing nothing but collecting dust and fading with time. What did you ever do before the advent of the digital camera and image? Did you know that you can turn those photos into digital images to store and protect, share with friends and family, or use for creative gifts? You can!

There are two basic methods you can use to digitize your old photos and documents.

The first is the desktop scanner. Just like every electronic device on the market, there are many makes and models of scanners (you will generally want to get a flatbed scanner) and you will need to decide for yourself what features are most important to you. Generally speaking, you will want to scan at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) and use any image correcting software to adjust for color, fix smudges, dots, dirt, dust, etc. Some scanners employ a technology called Digital Ice to help in that process, but be prepared to spend some time waiting for it to do its thing-especially when scanning at higher resolutions.

Another method is digitizing photos is simply to take a picture of it (using a digital camera, of course). This may sound a little unconventional, but place the original photo on a black board or other surface beneath the photo (place a piece of glass over the photo to keep it absolutely flat), place your camera on a tripod and aim it straight down. Zoom it on the subject as much as you can and then use Photoshop to clean up the trim. When using this method with a piece of glass over the photograph watch for reflections and adjust appropriately to minimize the glare. Also, read your camera manual and learn to adjust the white balance of your camera to compensate for the different color temperature of various lighting.

Now that you have digitized your photos, to ensure the greatest protection against damage or loss, make multiple copies of those images and store them in different places: a safe deposit box, a fireproof safe, other family members houses (in a climate controlled closet). You will also be able to upload those images to various retail establishments to create some truly unique gifts.

God's blessings on you this day.

Chris

Memorable Wedding, Under $10,000?

Last Tuesday, one of our local newspapers ran an article entitled “Memorable Wedding, Under $10,000.” While most advice columns usually are trying to push some sort of agenda, I found that this particular article had some very good advice to those that are trying to plan a full wedding in today’s uncertain economic environment.

The article was copyrighted so I cannot quote any of the content to this blog-entry, but I can offer that most of what they were saying was common sense. Some of which included getting married on odd days (Friday and Sunday), asking for discounts from vendors, borrowing certain items like a cake-knife or toast goblets, and sharing expenses as much as possible with another wedding party using the same facilities that same weekend. For the most part, the advice was sensible in as much as it is possible to do so.

There was one item that I did take issue with, however, and that was the advice of asking friends to photograph and videotape the wedding.

Have you heard the radio commercial that says “friends don’t ask friends to __________ (you fill-in-the-blank)” or seen the television commercial that says essentially the same? Well the same goes here. Friends do not ask friends to photograph their wedding and they certainly shouldn’t ask them to videotape it either.

Why? A number of reasons come to mind.

First, if your friend is following you with a camera how can they possibly be expected to fully engage and enjoy in your special day. They can’t! Take it from someone who has done this for friends-it is impossible to videotape or photograph a wedding and enjoy watching your friends tie the knot. While one would be very happy for their friends, they cannot take in the moment and be happy for them if they are concerned with camera angles, film speed, flash, lighting, etc.

Second, friends may not have professional experience. Seasoned professionals know what they are doing and will get you the best images possible. Non-professional friends don’t. And professional friends, when distracted, may not get the best either. However, this is a judgment call on your part. Just make sure that if you use professional friends, they understand that you expect their best!

And what about money? If a professional photographer normally charges $1,000 for a wedding, and you ask them to photograph you for free, you are essentially asking for a $1,000 wedding gift. And remember that this is their job. Don’t take away their right to make a living and discount the profession by not paying. And, let’s face, any time money is involved between friends and family, it is uncomfortable to talk about, to say the least.

Equipment is not the least of concerns either. Most professionals have tens of thousands of dollars invested in equipment and training for that equipment. Do you think that your friends’ $300 camera is going to provide an image just as sharp as one that cost $2000?

A final issue that I’ll mention is that of boundaries. Where is it appropriate to stand and photograph or videotape during a ceremony and where is it not? Who do you ask? Where can you move to and when? As a professional, there is nothing worse than my industry having a bad reputation for something an amateur did during a ceremony. Non-professionals generally don’t respect boundaries.

Over the course of the last few years, we have had many discussions with wedding professionals including other photographers and videographers, clergy and church staff, wedding planners and coordinators and many of them share the same opinion: it is better to sacrifice on the flowers, the party favors, the horse-drawn carriage, the full sit-down meal complete with alcoholic beverages and the like, than to scrimp on professional photography and videography.

And let’s face it, the only thing that really survives the day are those professional photographs and video.

God’s blessings as you continue with your planning.

Chris.