When I started the wedding video articles section on the site, I wanted to create something positive that went beyond New York weddings and really focused on the bigger picture. But the more I wrote, the more I realized how much the wedding video industry needed to grow. So, instead of focusing on the bigger picture, I found it much more interesting to go deeper into the little things. And the more I did so, the more I learned one thing. I like real moments. I like insight. When I see reality unfolding, raw and exposed - it moves me. It is the essence of documentary, and it should be the essence of wedding video, as far as I'm concerned. Pretty shots? Sure, they have a place. But I think they should have a supporting role, not the front seat.

This leads up to what I call "The Shot." It's the close-up of the bride who gazes gently down as the camera moves by in slow motion. She ponderously dreams of the day about to unfold, and we are compelled by the swell of the orchestral score - usually something from the movie Gladiator, and commonly with some vocal undertones that seems to have a hint of an African or Middle Eastern influence. A wash of light floods over the screen, a digital glow of warmth bursts forth, and we know that great things are about to happen. And it really bothers me every time I see it. Why? Because that shot never happens in real life. It is fabricated. This moment that purports to be a dramatic turning point is, in reality, a bride told to look at her shoulder for about 20 seconds.

Now, I don't mind if "the shot" is just used to show the flow of the day. Posing is part of the event. It happens, and seeing it can jog our memories back to what it was like. But I can't help but feel a little cheated when it's used to stand for deep emotion. It's just not usually that convincing. It doesn't show true feelings. There's a certain bite and a glimmer of thought that shows up when it's real, and most the time, that certain something isn't there. I feel like I'm watching theatrics instead of a real person. Like I am seeing the creation of an editor instead of a wedding day, almost if the real moments weren't good enough. So I'm going to make a plea to everyone with any interest in wedding videography, whether it be bride, a groom, or another videographer. I'm going to ask for trust. Trust the moment. Trust the truth. Trust that people being themselves is beautiful, in and of itself. And if wedding videos can find just a little bit of that, then I think the industry can take a huge step forward.