do you bring spare batteries?

do you bring spare cameras?

are you able to light a large room?

are you certified by the Professional Photographers of America?

what are you doing to keep up with new trends and techniques?

is your equipment up to date?

do you bring an assistant to help you?

are your assistants trained?

will you edit the photographs taken so ALL the pictures will look good?

will you include some modern special effects with the previews?

can any photograph be turned into black and white or sepia?

are you trained in group posing?

can you arrange groups quickly and have them look good?

do you know how to read light and use it effectively?

is professional photography your full-time job?

can I count on your service after the event is over?

are you skilled in retouching and image enhancement?

do you help with the time table of the day?

do you help implement the time table of the day?

can I have the images posted on a website for viewing and ordering?

do you offer different album and display options?

is my finished album custom and one of a kind?

do you record the feeling and emotions of the event?

can you give me references of completed assignments?

can you help me to relax and have fun on my big day?

will any consultations on location or at the studio be free of charge?

Heidemarie at Photographic Images CAN SAY “YES” TO ALL THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. Phone her at : (941) 475-5148

Since 1987, award-winning Heidemarie J. Burke, CPP, and her team.

Heidemarie J. Burke and Leslie Harris-Senac have shot several amazing weddings & reception on Gasparilla Island at the Boca Grande Club and at The Boca Bay Pass Club. Heidemarie and Leslie make a great team!

Many of the above questions can be used when shopping for a Wedding Videographer too!

~ Article by Leslie Harris-Senac, with checklist by Heidimarie J. Burke.

Church Wedding Ceremony in Bradenton, Florida

Over $10,000 in prizes – Visions Unlimited / Beautiful Videos is donated  several $100 gift certificates for the gift baskets which were given away at a “Mock Wedding” at the Sandbar during sunset (where I shot a real wedding video Saturday night). I hope we saw you there and that you won one of my gift certificates!

Click here to view: Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival promo video by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited

Siesta Key Island Trolley

Transportation was be provided, and brides & grooms enjoyed free trolley rides from the AMI Chamber of Commerce parking lot to The Man Cave at the Community Center, the Sun House Restaurant, The Loft, Body and Sol Spa & Wellness,  Haley’s Hotel and many other great wedding vendors. Check in was at the AMI Chamber parking lot  (you saw 2 big white tents), and  could leave your car behind. You could bring your bikes & enjoy the day while getting fit!  Couples enjoyed touring the island with other brides and grooms, visiting venues and wedding vendors there. Thank you for visiting me at Aqua Aveda Salon & Spa!  It was great to meet so many wonderful brides-to-be and their handsome fiances. I enjoyed showing you my sample wedding videos and getting your feedback. If you’d like to know more about videography, I’m only a phone call away: 941/315-3456. Call any time. I’m here for you.

~ article by Leslie Harris Senac, Film maker/ Owner of Visions Unlimited Beautiful Videos

DO plan an outdoor wedding if…

- You want to host a Dove Release. (The represent peace, love, unity, prosperity and new beginnings).

- You have a special attachment to a particular type of outdoor setting.

- You enjoy spontaneity and natural beauty.

- You want to set your celebration apart from other weddings, perhaps even your own previous weddings if one or both of you have been married previously.

- You want to blend religious traditions in a flexible, non-denominational setting. Non-religious weddings are perfect for outdoor settings.

- Your wedding ceremony will be part of a multi-day wedding event. (Plan on a brunch the day after your wedding for more time with family and friends.)

- You’re organized and able to plan for a variety of scenarios. (Make sure to have a tent or covered area to retreat to in case of rain. Plan B needs to be considered.)

- You want to increase the amount of time available to share with loved ones by holding both your ceremony and reception at a single location. (You will save money and time when you eliminate traveling long distances to your reception.)

- You’d like to include dogs or other pets in your wedding service. (Be careful; pets can steel the show if you aren’t careful. If your pet is not VERY WELL TRAINED, I would not recommend including them. I’ll add another post to my blog about PETS & WEDDINGS – coming soon.)

- You want to create a wedding celebration that is unique, personal, distinctive and memorable. (Your wedding should reflect the bride and groom’s  personalities.)

- You can be a Zen Bride. Don’t keep a constant eye on the time. Remember that many tropical islands run on “island time” — things happen when they happen — and keep an open mind. Minor mishaps can sometimes make for the best memories ~ honestly!

DON’T choose an outdoor wedding if…

- You hate surprises. (This is one of the charming things about outdoor wedding locations, you DO NOT have control over everything. Often charming and spontaneous things happen. You need to have a sense-of-humor & be open minded.)

- You will be horribly disappointed if the weather is uncooperative and everything does not go according to your plan. (Some of my most favorite sunset portraits were shot as storms threatened… and later arrived. These are also some of the most memorable weddings. The bride who takes it all in stride will accept whatever comes & ENJOY IT!)

- You’re seeking to simply be different or to upstage your friends. (Sometimes the simple weddings can be the most profound and heartfelt.)

- You don’t like the outdoors. (This is a no-brainer, and I’ve seen brides who just aren’t comfortable with an occasional insect or windy breeze. This made them uncomfortable in their garden settings.)

- You need controlled and staged surroundings.

~Written by Leslie Harris-Senac with excerpts by Kim Knox.

Outdoor Garden Wedding

Capturing sound, movement, and all the emotion of the day, videography keeps the memories of your wedding vivid for years. Here’s everything you need to know.

Do I Need a Professional Videographer?

It’s not essential, but couples who hire a professional videographer are usually glad they did. Still photography captures important moments, but only videography will show your walk down the aisle and the smiles you shared during your first dance. “The only way to really relive the day is through video,” says Robert Allen, of Robert Allen Videojournalist. “You can hear the way people speak, see the way they move.”

How important is such a detailed recording? “The whole day was a whirlwind,” says Marissa Coyne of her December 2001 wedding in Cold Spring Hills, New York. “You can forget so much of what is going on.” Videography allowed her and her husband, Christopher, to once again experience the moments they remembered, and it also revealed things they had missed, including their parents’ teary smiles as the couple exchanged their vows. Couples also often find that, years later, their children love watching the video of their wedding.

Are There Different Styles of Videography to Consider?
The current trend for wedding videography is toward documentary-style work. These videos piece together the events of the day, often blending color with black-and-white footage for a natural and timeless approach. This seemingly straightforward style requires considerable artistic skill from the videographer, who must be able to capture the mood without special effects while keeping the focus on you. The more stylized wedding video utilizes some technical tricks like layering & editing to the beat to summon a mood. Many professional videographers use fade-outs and insert still shots, such as baby or family photos or first-date mementos. These approaches may incorporate music, interviews, special effects and titles.

The best way to end up with a film that you will view again and again is to communicate with your professional in advance. Let the videographer know what attracted you to her work, such as the blend of candid moments and still photography. How the elements are combined during the editing is as important as the way the video is shot, says Jeremy Faryar Mansuri, owner of New York City’s LifeStories Films. Editing, he explains, “really sets the pace” of a video. Also discuss sound, including your choice of songs for background or theme and the mix of music with live, happy chatter that will accompany the final product. As for length, most videographers will offer a range from a thirty-minute summary of your day to an hour long documentary.

A professional will know to include key moments and footage of the entire wedding party, but if there are special guests or events that you want on film, tell him so. “A couple should be as involved in the process as they’re comfortable with being,” says Allen. But at a certain point, remember: You’ve hired a professional because you admire that person’s skills. On the day, let her work. The best moments, as Lara Laitala, who was married in New York City in April 2000, discovered, will not be the ones you planned: “I was dancing with my brother, and all of a sudden my veil began to fall off,” she says. “I threw it out into the crowd. I didn’t really realize I did it, but on the video we have this great shot of me throwing it and my brother and me laughing.”

Leslie Harris-Senac, Filmmaker in Sarasota, FL

From Martha Stewart Weddings, Summer 2004 with updates by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL

Call Leslie today at: 941/315-3456

or Email her: Les@BeautifulVideos.com

The wedding vows are verbal articulations of the bride and groom’s feelings for one another, ‘for better or for worse.” Physically making the vow can be as simple as “Will you marry me?” & “I will”. Traditional rituals can be traced back so far that the actual meaning becomes marred, even within research. An example of a traditional Pagan wedding ritual vow is as follows:

As Long as Love Shall Last
“Do you now commit to each other to love, honour, respect each other, to communicate with each other, to look to your own emotional health so that you can relate in a healthy way, and provide a healthy home for children if you choose to have them; to be a support and comfort for your partner in times of sickness and health, as long as love shall last?”
Mary A. Axford – Pagan Wedding Ritual

Couples often go into great detail when making their wedding vows before the actual ceremony. This can take many forms, and depends on the individual couple. Sometimes the couple use traditional vows that have been written by another person. And sometimes the happy couple decides to write their own personal vows for one another.

It’s a wonderfully romantic idea for you to write your own wedding vows. In fact, this is becoming an increasing popular phenomenon. However, it is not as easy as it may seem.  Even the most expressive and creative person can find it hard to express exactly what they are trying to communicate to their lover. Remember, these words will not only mean more to your lover than any before, but they will also be articulated in the most public of scenarios.  The pressure is on!  But never fear, as help is at hand.

Rev. Georgeann Butler, and her husband Rich, create customized ceremonies for weddings, vow renewals, baby blessings, commitment ceremonies and other celebrations. They love working with couples to make their wedding dreams come true. Rich is also a Minister. They love working with couples to make sure their ceremony reflects their love, commitment and personalities. This makes your wedding ceremony heartfelt, unique and fun.

If you find that you are struggling to get the wording absolutely perfect there are many specialists readily available to guide you.  It is a good idea to make sure your notary or clergy understand your wishes before committing yourself to them – and when you do, the chances are that you will be guaranteed word perfect result that will express all of your hearts desire, and more.
Happy writing!

~ by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL with excerpt from allweddingideas.com.

Gasparilal Inn Wedding Ceremony

For the Best Man & Maid of Honor, I will be posting more great toasts to give you some ideas. I have tapes full of great wedding reception toasts. So keep checking back for my new toast posts soon!

Brides and grooms; as your wedding day draws near, get prepared well in advance and plan your wedding speech. A cloud of nerves and potential foe-pas traditionally shrouds this part of the wedding. But don’t worry; so long as you follow a few basic rules, it will not actually be as hard as you think …

* Don’t over-think your wedding speech. It is actually easier than other forms of public speaking, as people will expect you to be nervous.* If you don’t feel confident memorizing your speech, use small cards as prompts. Cards are better than paper because it is less obvious if your hands are shaking!

* Look up around the company and try to involve the whole room through your body language.

* Be brief rather than long-winded. Even the most interesting of speeches can sometimes seem to drag on and on. The last thing that you’ll want to do is bore your wedding guests to death!

* Try to keep the content of your speech neutral and upbeat, (i.e. avoid being lewd). This is particularly important if there are older, or very much younger, guests at your wedding. Through the miracle of video your toast may be viewed by the bride and grooms grandkids one day!

* Use an icebreaker as your first line to take the ‘pressure’ off yourself and guarantee a laugh.

* Make sure that you don’t forget proper etiquette, and thank the right people for their help. (A huge cardinal sin is to give the credit to the incorrect person; a wedding buffet brawl may well ensue!)

* And remember… don’t panic if the worst happens and you forget your words. Just speak from the heart. After all, you know how happy you feel!

~ by Leslie Harris Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions of Sarasota, Florida with excerpts by By Joanne Elliott.



Wedding Cake Cutting is a good time to give a toast

At Visions Unlimited, we produce more than Wedding Videos. We also produce Engagement Announcement Videos that you can Email to friends and family, post to your facebook page, and mail as a “Save The Date” DVD.

This type of Love Story Tribute Video can be shown at your Rehearsal Dinner Party, during cocktail hour on a loop so that it will play over an over again, or on a large Projection Screen during your reception between salad and the main course. We can incorporate engagement photos taken by your photographer too.

The possibilities are endless. Please reply with some ideas of your own. Some of my best creative ideas come from people like YOU!

~by Leslie Harris Senac, Filmmaker/Owner of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota, FL

Leslie Harris-Senac with Camera on Siesta Key BeachLongboat Key coupleBride and Groom

Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same color tones, but of different sizes.  This gives the reception tables a more interesting look and a less “coordinated” feel. Keep in mind that huge center pieces can be hard for guests to talk around, when sitting at the table. (It also can be a challenge for your wedding videographer to get shots of your guests when they are behind large flower arrangements.) Unique vase fillers include glass marbles, sea glass, acrylic ice, colored water, flowers and leaves, beads, and fresh fruits such as lemons and limes.

Rose Petals remain the most popular confetti. Also, flowering vines or individually cut flowers are placed directly onto table linens.  Reception chairs are decorated with either tulle, fabric overlays, floral swags and/or ribbons.  Other popular decorating items include Chinese lanterns, garlands and balloons.

An increasingly popular trend is the candy buffet or confection bar.  This consists of a variety of candies or treats placed in varied sizes of glass containers and grouped on a table.  Pretty silver spoons or scoops in each container allows guests to fill small boxes or bags as take-home favors.

Bolts of economical tulle fabric are typically combined with lots of white lights and/or floral garlands for draping between pews and decorating banisters and reception table tops.

Candles always a popular choice for your wedding reception centerpieces, lend a romantic feel to any room, and provide more light for your photographer and videographers.  Choices include pillars, tea lights, tapers and floaters.  Since some facilities do not allow candles, alternatives include faux tea light candles, LED lights, and fiber optic lights. The more light the better!

Head tables are replaced with a small table for just the bride and groom.  Many couples plan weekend weddings that start on Friday and go for the entire weekend.  Dove releases and add drama and excitement to the event.

Today’s couples most often pay for their own weddings and make their own decisions about what they want for their wedding day.  Using a budget calculator allows them to allocate their money and prioritize wants and needs.  You want to enjoy a wedding that is uniquely yours, and one that displays your own sense of style and personal taste. Personal touches appear throughout the entire wedding & reception. They can be found in attire, favors, decorations, stationary, photography, themes, flowers, gifts, and wedding locations.

Wedding Favors

Although completely optional, couples now opt for more unusual, useful, and personalized favors to thank their guests for coming.  In many cases, the favors do double-duty as place-card holders, table decorations, and even centerpiece arrangements where larger favors are grouped together in the center of the reception tables.

Favors can be ready-made items, although currently less popular, or hand-made and embellished with ribbon and accents that coordinate with the wedding theme or color scheme.  This is definitely an area of weddings that has gone DIY in recent months.

Wedding Cakes

Cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, sugar shells/starfish and delicate dots and scrollwork remain popular.  Couples are choosing wedding cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding.  Four to five layers is the average size for a wedding of 150-200 people.

Buttercream or smooth fondant frostings are most common. Popular cake flavors include Key Lime Cheese Cake, chocolate, carrot, spice and “white” although some couples are choosing non-traditional flavors such as gingerbread, espresso and hazelnut.  Flowers, sculptures, and large monogrammed letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top.

~ by Leslie Harris-Senac of Visions Unlimited Video Productions in Sarasota with excerpt from: Your Wedding Company