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simply cinema is simplified cinematography for the budget minded couple

Being a wedding videographer, we get to meet the most amazing couples. Each couple has their own story, their own unique personalities, and fun personal touches they add to their wedding day. We honestly have the best job ever! And capturing a first look has to be one of our favorite parts of our job!

One of our favorite moments in a wedding day though, is the first look. What is a first look you ask? Well it is a time prior to the ceremony where the couple gets to see each other for the first time. I know what you may be thinking, wait.. aren’t we supposed to wait to see each other for the first time under the alter? Waiting till the alter is a very traditional approach, and still very much respected and can be done. A first look though, definitely has it’s own perks. Lets talk about them!

1. You are free to have sincere authentic emotions and thoughts:
When you do a first look prior to ceremony, it is just you and your significant other. (And your paparazzi of course) But ultimately it is just the two of you. Both free of judgement and free to openly express how you feel about one another in that moment, your thoughts about marrying each other, and your love. When you wait for the alter it’s hard to express those emotions fully while your officiant is holding your ceremony. So it truly gives you time to just soak in that moment together intimately and privately.

2. You are able to get the bulk of your photos out of the way: Ever wonder how couples are able to enjoy their cocktail hour with their friends and family? First look! By having a first look it gives your videographer and photographer time to capture couple portraits, bridal party photos, and family photos before the ceremony even begins! Giving you some time to capture a few couple portraits at sunset after the ceremony, and then enjoy cocktail hour with friends and family.

3. The feelings don’t go away: If you’re worried that having a first look will make the feelings and emotions go away during the ceremony, it’s not true. If the feelings and emotions are there, then they will be there regardless. I have seen so many amazing ceremony reactions, moments after a first look. If you don’t want to give your whole look away prior to ceremony, but want to have a first look, consider saving your veil for the ceremony. It is something different for your groom to be looking for. Either way, nothing can take away from the moment you walk down the isle toward your significant other to commit your life to them forever.

Either way, whatever you two decide on, it will be perfect for your wedding day. We are ultimately just so grateful to be there to capture it. Let us know if you have any other questions on First Look’s! (If you’re interested in seeing another, check out this Private Estate Dairy Farm Wedding! There first look was so sweet!)

Vendors: Photographer: Leslie Ann Photography // Videographer: Simply Cinema // Venue: Villa Siena // Florist: Blume Events // Entertaiment: SKM

Most couples have never hired Wedding Videographer before, so they are not sure what they are looking for or what questions to ask to make sure that it will be everything they are dreaming it will be. Here is a little guide on how to select the right Wedding Videographer for you as a couple:

style:

The first thing you need to identify with is the style of the videographer. Take a look at their website samples and review their blog. Ask to see films from the venue that you are getting married at, but don’t bypass that videographer if they haven’t filmed at your venue. That is often times a good thing because they see it as a blank canvas and it can stimulate creativity to be able to film at a new location. If you are finding yourself sending who you want to hire samples of other videographers work, then hire the videographer that you are sending samples of. If you are asking to change that videographers style then they aren’t the videographer for you.

experience:

It is really important to look at the experience of the company you are hiring. How many years have they been in business? How many wedding seasons have they gone through? Do they specialize in weddings or all video production? You want to work with a company who specializes in wedding films. Weddings are a very different production than commercial video production because they are live events. You can rewind the first kiss as a couple because your videographer wasn’t ready. We get one chance to get the shot, so live event experience is a must!

videographers:

Who will be filming your wedding? Do they have a staff of videographers that are trained to film weddings or do they just hire freelancers to shoot the weddings booked? Be very aware of this. Freelancers can operate cameras just fine, but they may not be trained in filming weddings. Again weddings are live events and require a specific level of expertise and experience. It is important that your team of videographers is in sync that day and has experience with one another. You don’t want a couple of random hires to film your once in a life time event.

a one camera package, its never a good thing:

The offering of packages with one camera and one videographer is never a good thing. Do not purchase this despite the temptation of the low price. It is very dangerous for your wedding film for so many reasons. When you do this you truly are selling you, and your wedding film short.

  1. What if something happens to the one camera they are filming on? Then what? All filming stops while they figure out a solution?
  2.  What if something happens to the one card they are recording on? If your wedding is filmed with one camera and one data card and the card fails… then what? Your whole day that was filmed is lost and can never be recovered.
  3. So much is missed when filmed by one person because they can’t be in two places at once. Getting ready of the couple, cocktail hour and reception detail coverage, both reactions during the first look, and so much more.
  4. You only get one angle of everything..

service:

Who will you be working with throughout the process? Are you working with a sales person who just sells you on the service and passes you off? Will you be working with the owner or have access to the owner should the sales person leave? Your wedding film is a very important investment. Who is servicing you and how they are servicing you is of utmost priority.

investment:

You truly get what you pay for with wedding videography. There are a lot of low cost providers flooding the marketplace with some very cheap packages. A quality wedding film is definitely something worth investing in. If a company is significantly less than others in the marketplace, there is a reason why. You need to look long and hard at their product and what your experience will be like with them. Quality wedding videography is not cheap and owning a wedding videography company is not cheap. There is a reason the pricing is the way it is for a legitimate company that may cost more. You need to be concerned about the low cost providers, and their ability to still be in business by the time your wedding comes if the price point is so low.

watch out for fluff:

You need to look at the meat and potatoes of the collection or package you are purchasing. There are many things that videographers offer to make a collection or package look like you are getting so much, that is truly of no value to you. For example the raw footage; everything that is usable is going to be in your film, trust us, you do not want the raw footage. When you get the raw footage there isn’t a mountain of memories that was missed because if it was good, it would have made it into the film. Almost all of the raw footage that didn’t make the film is generally because it was a practice shot and then also out of focus stuff. There is no value to that, plus are you ever going to really look at hours of footage? What would you do with it? What matters most is what is going to be delivered and these are what you need to be asking for:

  1. How many hours of videography am I getting?
  2. How long is the Feature Film going to be?
  3. Am I going to receive a Wedding Movie Trailer?
  4. How many videographers will be at my wedding?
  5. How many cameras will the videographers be filming with?

delivery:

How the company delivers a finished wedding film is important. Are they delivering on old outdated technology like DVD’s and Blu Ray’s? Those are both dying technologies that in a few years won’t be around. Asking for a DVD is like asking for music on a cassette tape or CD. Everything is going towards streaming, downloadable films, or URL based delivery methods. These are how you should be delivered your film at this point.

Overall we want your wedding videography experience to be all that it should be! Check out our blog and feel free to email us if you’re looking for a wedding we filmed at your venue, to see our style. We would love to capture your special day and we are looking forward to hearing from you!
Happy wedding planning!

Vendors: Photographer: Rachel Solomon // Videographer: Simply Cinema // Planning + Design: Regan with Imoni Events // Venue: Paradise Valley Country Club // Floral’s: Sarah’s Garden // Entertainment: Neon Band // Stationary: Paper Joy // Makeup: Lillian Fogel // Hair: Pin & Primp // Rentals: Event Rents + Glamour & Woods // Beer Burro: Haul N Ass Productions

Classic El Chorro Fall Wedding

Conner and Tegan are such an adorable couple with such class. Their wedding was a dream from the catholic ceremony in the gorgeous St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, to the stunning dinner space set up and designed by Sam with Revel and adorned with florals from Carte Blanche, to the after party space which was so fun you couldn’t help but want to have a good time! Conner and Tegan, we wish you a lifetime full of love, happiness, and adventure!

Feature Film:

Vendors: Photographer: Elyse Hall Photography // Videographer: Simply Cinema // Planning + Design: Revel Wedding Co. // Venue + Catering: El Chorro // Hair: Chelsea Sprinkle // Makeup: Created Beauty Co. // Floral: Carte Blanche // Rentals: Event Rents + Prim Rentals // Lighting: AZ Uplighting // Linen: La Tavola // Entertainment: The JJ’s Band // Getaway Car: Roscoe & Louie // Cake: aBake Shop

Serendipity in Life and Film with Taryn Pollock

Taryn, Owner of Serendipity & Simply Cinema, had the opportunity to be featured on Your Jubilee’s Podcast. They started up their podcast in June of this year! Your Jubilee started this podcast, The Celebrated Life, because as they shared; they wanted a way to live their purpose of a celebrated life. They wanted to connect with more people and share how life is more than the big moments. They’re passionate about “celebrating the journey and not just the destination.”

On this episode Taryn opens up about how she started Serendipity and Simply Cinema. Two very successful Wedding Videography companies based in Arizona.

She also shares out her top pieces of advice for starting up a new successful business and about her and her son’s struggle with PANDAS. If you have not educated yourself about PANDAS, and want to know more head to: www.pandasnetwork.org.

Taryn is now at a point where she advocates for PANDAS and wants to help others with PANDAS and their family recognize the symptoms. She understands all the people that could be currently dealing with misdiagnosis, so she tries to share her story and open other’s eyes about it.

To Hear Taryn’s Episode:

Click Here and play the link!

Taryn is so honored to be featured on this boss babe podcast and we can’t wait to listen to even more episodes! Make sure to subscribe if you’re interested in listening to amazing stories from local rock stars!

Photographer: Leslie Ann Photography

Bright Modern Arizona Biltmore Wedding

As I am sure you can tell by our social media, this was easily one of our favorite weddings to shoot! Also Jenn Wagner‘s photos she captures are unreal. I love when we are able to shoot a wedding alongside a photographer and capture the same emotion, moments, and feelings throughout the day. So when the two are looked at together, they are seamless, and that’s how I feel about this wedding.

Kristin and Jamie are absolutely made for each other. Both so sweet and thoughtful in their own ways. I learned from Jenn Wagner that the two planned a surprise each for one another. Jamie planned a flower wall for Kristin after a small little comment about it months prior. Kristin planned a firework show for Jamie. Both were able to keep the surprises totally secret until the day of the wedding when they were revealed.

Their wedding was full of bright colors, lots of flowers, and many happy tears. The two shared very sentimental vows with one another during the ceremony and had so much fun during their couple’s session.  We wish we could shoot their wedding over and over! Congrats Jamie and Kristin, we wish you two a lifetime of love and happiness, and lot’s of surprises!

How They Met:

Jamie and Kristin met online! She was new to Arizona and Jamie sent her a message, which actually impressed her, but she didn’t respond. Can you imagine?! Thankfully he is persistent, because he saw that she read his message and sent her another message, this one asking her to dinner. The two met the next night and have been together ever since!

The Proposal:

Jamie and Kristin had looked at rings together while on vacations and what not, so he had an idea of what she liked. Something big and shiny…who doesn’t?! But still, Krisitn had no idea when, or even if, he was actually going to propose. They were in Hawaii in November over her birthday so she thought if he was going to do it, he’d do it there. But what do you know, it didn’t happen. He, very cleverly as Kristin said, waited until the following week when they were hosting a 30 person Thanksgiving with all of their family and friends. With everyone present at the dinner Jamie asked Kristin to marry him! Kristin said it was amazing because then they got to have an impromptu engagement party afterwards!

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vendors: Photographer: Jenn Wagner Studio// Videography: Simply Cinema // Venue: Arizona Biltmore // Planner: Jessica with Shine Events // Florist: Sarah’s Wedding Garden // Entertainment: Got You Covered // Shoes: Badgley Mischka // Dress: Bella Lily Bridal + Hayley Paige // Cake: Ruze Cake House // Rentals: Prim Rentals + Party People

Modern Clayton on the Park Wedding

Adam and Sarah your wedding last season was such a joy to capture! Sarah and Adam were married at Clayton in the Park which is located in the heart of old town Scottsdale. The venue is so unique to Arizona as it’s not your typical desert scenery. Inside it is modern and chic and we absolutely love it there! You photo session has so many backdrop opportunity’s throughout old town!

Sarah and Adam decided to do a first look at it was absolutely precious and so emotional. Sarah couldn’t help but tear up with joy seeing her groom. Later during the ceremony, the emotions poured out again as Adam and Sarah committed their lives to one another.

They ended the night with the most epic dance party! I mean that floor did not empty for even a minute. We had the absolute best time capturing their day! Congrats Adam and Sarah! We wish you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and lots of dancing!

 

Vendors: Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photographer: Mary Claire Photography // Venue: Clayton on the Park // Florist: Lux Florist // Tux: Celebrity Tux and Tails // Hair: Hair by Emily Hughes // Makeup: Ashley Doran Makeup // Planner: Andrea Leslie Weddings

Hindu Wedding at the Desert Botanical Gardens

How They Met, The Proposal, and Wedding:

How They Met:

Franck and Arthi sat next to each other on the first day of medical school. Arthi said it was truly love at first sight.

 

The Proposal:

Franck proposed to Arthi on April 30, 2015 at Nice Beach in Nice, France. They were on vacation after finishing medical school. The two of them had previously gone on a trek earlier the day before to a hilltop to look for a castle. This was going to be Franck’s original proposal site, but it was thwarted because the castle was a huge tourist spot.

So, Franck waited until the next day, where they sat at their favorite bench after getting crepes that morning. They got crepes from the same crepe stand they had been going to every morning while they were there. With a mouthful of Nutella crepe, Arthi looked to her right and saw Franck on one knee. He gave a beautiful speech and proposed right there! Arthi doesn’t remember any of this…Franck doesn’t really either. It was a perfect moment just for the two of them.

 

The Wedding/ Weddings:

Franck and Arthi jam packed their wedding weekend with three, yes you read that right, three weddings! We were so honored to be there to capture them all. Their wedding weekend started Friday afternoon at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Parish with a traditional catholic ceremony. From there they headed to a private Scottsdale estate where they were greeted by many friends and their family to celebrate the two of them! There was lots of food, henna tattoos, and the best speeches that evening!

Saturday we headed to the Desert Botanical Gardens for an early morning Baraat and Hindu Ceremony. It was full of gorgeous colors and decor. Later that evening Arthi and Franck ended their wedding weekend extravaganza with a very personal Civil Ceremony were they shared the best promises and vows to one another and had the cutest first dance! The whole weekend was packed with fun, laughter, and lots of jokes. We absolutely loved being apart of it!

Hannallah Feature Film:

 

Vendors: Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photographer: Kelly & Sergio // Venues: St Paul’s Roman Catholic Parish + Desert Botanical Gardens // Planner: Meant2Be Events // Entertainment: Fusion RoadShow // Stationary: Idieh Design

Tubac Golf Resort Wedding

Clint & Brooke’s wedding day was filled with emotion as they were surrounded by two hundred and seventy-five of their closest friends and family. Brooke’s clear vision of lush greenery, gold accents, and classic black and white was perfectly executed by Sassy Soirees. Everything was absolutely stunning and the love shared between these two on their wedding day was so powerful. We absolutely loved capturing their day and are so excited to share their story and feature film with you now!

the couple, proposal, and wedding:

 

How They Met:

In July of 2013 Brooke was invited to the Luke Bryan concert with her brothers. She decided last minute that she would go. Clint happened to be invited to the same concert by some friends of his. The two ended up at the same pre-party, and Brooke was introduced to everyone, including Clint. She says she doesn’t really remember meeting him. Clint on the other hand had his eyes on Brooke the minute she walked through the door. They all loaded onto a party bus and Clint tried really hard to get Brooke’s attention, but she was not interested. By the end of the evening Clint had followed Brooke on every social media platform, and Brooke again was not interested. Ignoring Clint’s messages via Facebook.

Fast forward to March of 2014, Brooke starts stalking Clint on Facebook and realizes how cute he actually is. She shows him to her best friend, and Maid of Honor. Her friend says to Brooke, “What is wrong with you!? Message him!” and so Brooke did and the rest is history!

The Proposal:

Clint knew he wanted to propose for some time, and the two of them had talked about marriage and the future plenty. He had considered doing it on a trip to Costa Rica that they planned that summer, but the timing on the ring didn’t work out. He really wanted it to be a surprise to Brooke. Clint thought one of his only chances of doing that was in Tubac, where they had their first date.

Brooke’s parents were building a house at the time and had bought some stuff for it in Tubac. He had just been down in Tubac the weekend before picking some things up for them. Clint asked Brooke’s mom, Jacque, if she could help him with the proposal. He asked her to tell Brooke they were just going down to pick up more stuff. There were a few times Clint had thought Brooke knew something was up, but whether she knew or not, he was only concerned with the answer. Clint asked his cousin Delaney to come take pictures, and also drive him because he was a nervous wreck! He had a two and a half hour drive to Tucson by himself and he hadn’t heard from Jacque yet. He kept thinking, this drive back is really going to suck if Brooke doesn’t show.

Delaney and Clint finally arrived and were standing out on the golf course under a huge cottonwood, hoping Brooke didn’t find out he was proposing and stay home! Finally, Clint gets a text, “We’re here!” Clint says his prayers had been answered and it was the moment of truth. As Jacque and Brooke walked towards Clint on the path, he came out from behind the tree. Clint grabbed Brooke’s hand and wasn’t letting go. He got down on one knee in front of her family and asked if she would continue being the best part of him for the rest of their lives. There was lots of crying, but he did get a yes, confirmed twice and inked!

The Wedding:

Clint and Brooke got married at the Tubac Golf Resort. Brooke had her eye on this venue since she was seventeen. She visited often and would say, “I’m going to get married here one day.” Well her day came and let’s just say that I am sure it was everything Brooke had ever dreamed of and more. The girls rocked high neck floor length white dresses. While the guys were all suited up in classic black suits, white button ups, and a black bow tie. Such a classic look!

The ceremony took our breath away and then move into reception and the space was jaw dropping. Check out these stunning photos and our feature film, it truly speaks for itself. Because were speechless.

Gladden’s Feature Film:

 

Vendors: Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photographer: Rachel Solomon Photography // Venue: Tubac Golf Resort // Planning + Design: Sassy Soirees // Floral: Buckeye Faith + Flowers // Cake: Sweet Creations // Entertainment: Event Centrale // Hair: Christian Roberts // Makeup: Created Beauty // Beer Burro: Haul N Ass Productions // Gown: Vera Wang // Shoes: Jimmy Choo // Groom: The Black Tux // Bridesmaids Dresses: Joanna August

Private Estate Dairy Farm Wedding

Well hello there! It’s been a minute since we’ve seen each other. We have been so busy capturing some real beauty this season. We are so excited to be featuring this gorgeous wedding right now! If you ever questioned if a dairy farm is a good place for a wedding, you’re going to be convinced today that it’s perfect. Especially when Wild One Events puts on the show! Wow.. to be honest when we arrived we were speechless. Posies Florals also just rocked it at the floral game and created the most stunning bouquet we’ve ever seen! Read some more about the couple and wedding day below!

the couple, proposal, and wedding:

How They Met:

While Josh and Amy worked at the same facility it allowed them to see each other on a regular basis. But is was not until they were introduced to each other two years ago by mutual friends did they begin their friendship.

The Proposal:

Josh had a little surprise up his sleeve when Amy’s immediate family was invited to a “birthday dinner”. Between the main course and dessert Josh dropped down on one knee and proposed to Amy. She was thrilled and they spent the rest of the night celebrating! (And eating desert of course!!)

The Wedding:

Josh and Amy’s wedding was so special from start to finish. The two tied the knot on Amy’s family dairy farm in Mesa, Arizona. It was such an intimate and special place as that is where Amy grew up. Amy and the girls all got ready in the main house, while the boys were in the back guest house prepping for the day. The first look was so sweet, as Josh’s eyes filled with tears seeing his gorgeous bride. Their closest friends and family celebrated with an outdoor ceremony where the bride arrived in a horse drawn carriage and ended the evening in a tented reception with fun personal details.

We felt so honored capturing this stunning wedding and wish Mr. & Mrs. Baxley a lifetime full of happiness and love.







Baxley Feature Film:

Vendors: Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photographer: Melissa Jill Photography // Venue: Private Estate // Planning + Design: Wild One Events // Florals: Posie’s Florals // Catering: Roberts Catering // Entertainment: Welter Entertainment // Stationary: Roots & Rain // Rentals & Tenting: Event Rents  // Specialty Rentals: Prim Rentals + Glamour & Woods // Linens: La Tavola Linens // Hair + Makeup: Amanda Victoria Beauty

Blush and Floral Classic Wedding | Arizona Videographer

How They Met:

Meghan was moving in with two roommates and Erik was a friend, of one of her roommates, boyfriend. (Did you follow?) Well the girls needed some help moving so Meghan’s friend Hannah recruited her boyfriend and two of his friends which happened to be Erik and another guy. As soon as Erik arrived at the house to help with the moving, Meghan said she honestly didn’t look twice at him because of some other reasons going on in her life at the moment, but Meghan caught Erik’s eye pretty quickly. Before Erik left that evening, they became friends on Facebook.

Over the next year every time Erik would see Hannah, he would always say, “Tell Meghan I said Hi.” At first Meghan thought Erik was just joking around and wasn’t serious. Meghan was consistently dropping hints to Erik that he could ask her out; commenting on his Facebook posts and photos, so he would have to respond to her, but still nothing. Finally in the Fall of 2015 something changed. Hannah said to Erik, “Why don’t you just call her and ask her!?” Erik’s excuse was that he didn’t have her number. Well minutes later Erik had her number and he was texting her to set up a dinner date.

Their first date was to Sauce, they connected right away and neither of them wanted the date to end. They ended up going to Dick’s Sporting Goods to shop around where Meghan bought a sparkly ASU hat and smiles every time she see’s it because it reminds her of their first date.

 

The Proposal:

Erik wanted the moment to be right. He planned a dinner date at the resturant they went to on their first date, Sauce. Before leaving Erik ran back inside telling Meghan he left something in the house. As he ran back in, Meghan looked over and noticed his phone and wallet. The only two things he would need, so she had a feeling something might be coming. He was acting super nervous and a little off Meghan told us. But by the time they left dinner, no proposal. They arrived home, and started getting ready for bed when Erick got down on not one, but two knees and asked Meghan to marry him. He just felt in that moment, it was the perfect time.

 

The Wedding:

Erik and Meghan got married at The Landmark in Mesa, Arizona. It was the perfect backdrop for their blush and floral classic wedding. All of Meghan’s bridesmaids were in these floor length mixed blush and floral dresses. Meghan’s strapless ballgown was to die for with a beaded top and lace scalloped sweetheart neckline. Also, her blush velvet heals were the cutest ever! Erik and his guys were in grey tuxes with a white button down and blush ties. The florals really tied everything together, from the bouquet, to the green garland, and the round mixed flower centerpieces. We loved it all! You know we are a sucker for anything sequined, so when we saw her sweetheart and cake table with full blush sequined linens we were swooning. The guests tables had a blush linen with a blush sequin table runner and mercury silver votive’s. Everything came together so beautifully and the wedding was so perfect for Meghan and Erik. We absolutely loved capturing their day!


 

 

 

 


Erik & Meghan Feature Film:

Vendors: Videographer: Simply Cinema // Photographer: Karlee K Photography // Venue: The Landmark // Coordinator: Alex // Florist: The Wildflower AZ // DJ: Push Play Entertainment // Invitations: Paper Peach Shop // Ring Box: The Mrs Box // Hair & Makeup: Amanda Victoria Beauty // Dress: Watters