 |
|
Search EventDV
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2004 -
Information Today, Inc.
|
|
 |
 |
Articles By Alan Naumann
|
 |
Alan Naumann | Goodbyes are never easy-especially when you're having a good time and don't want to leave. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Goodbyes are a part of life and, as such, need to be given with grace and meaning. Being closely associated with the funeral industry, I often hear about people giving their last words--words that usually express great meaning. That is what I want to accomplish in this final article.
Alan Naumann | Recently, I've been contacted by several videographers who are discouraged and ready to call it quits. As videographers, we face many challenges, from the fragile economy to the plethora of inexpensive video cameras that allow anyone to become an amateur videographer. Our greatest asset is not our equipment but our knowledge and experience, which we need to apply to the new opportunities that are before us.
Alan Naumann | QR codes make it possible for us to deliver videos (or any other type of media) almost instantly without depending on traditional means of delivery. Just as a QR code in a cemetery can tell us something about the lives of the deceased, a QR code on printed material will make our videos instantly available.
Alan Naumann | Someone once said, "Death and taxes may be certain, but we don't have to die every year!" That may be true. But it's also true that we need to be wise in how we run our businesses, or our businesses may be run into the ground. And that wisdom starts when we educate ourselves so that we can pay what we owe in taxes and not a penny more.
Alan Naumann | All around the world video is being used to help people who are aware that, because of a terminal illness, their lives are almost over. Fortunately, these people do not have to face the challenges of dying alone. Today, there are literally thousands of hospice organizations all around the world that offer palliative care, which improves the quality of life for those dying from a terminal illness by relieving pain and providing emotional and spiritual support.
Alan Naumann | There are professional videographers all around the world who have committed themselves to producing high-quality memorial videos in a short turnaround time and at a reasonable cost. And it's up to us to educate the funeral homes about the differences in the types of videos available.
Alan Naumann | As a small business owner, I've found that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers many benefits, from arbitration over complaints to continuing education. But perhaps the biggest benefit of being a BBB member is that it gives people a good reason to trust us. Because trust is so important for a business to succeed, getting the seal of approval from the BBB is as good as it gets.
Alan Naumann | Even though we sometimes live in denial about the aging process, it's still wise to prepare for that day when we can no longer work. It's also wise to plan for the future of our video business. Will we sell it? Pass it on to a family member? Close it down? And what can we do to create value for our video business so that it will be an asset and not a liability when it comes time to retire?
Alan Naumann | an. 10, 2010, brought the long-awaited announcement that NewTek was shipping SpeedEDIT 2. This was the major upgrade that SpeedEDIT needed to be competitive. It was no longer hyped as "world's fastest," though I personally don't care as long as it helps me complete projects quickly and allows my business to be profitable. In this review I'll give an overview of many of the key features offered in SpeedEDIT and the significant improvements found in SpeedEDIT 2.
Alan Naumann | Video not only captures the facts of the story but the person telling the story as well, enabling us to see and hear a firsthand account, complete with emotions, laughter, expressions, and all those other ingredients that make us unique individuals.
Alan Naumann | One expression I grew up with was "big things often come in small packages." Cameras such as the Flip and the Kodak Zi8 also demonstrate that, because of today's technology, great video can be captured in very small (and inexpensive) cameras.
Alan Naumann | In today's tight job market, it's important for a job seeker to stand out from the many other applicants who are applying for the same position. Welcome to video resumes—or "visumes," as they are sometimes referred to. Creating a video resume means more than just standing in front of the camera and saying the first thing that comes to mind.
Alan Naumann | Just because we no longer use VHS tapes doesn't mean we can't profit from the millions of tapes sitting on people's shelves. We have an obligation to communicate to our clients that their precious VHS tapes have a limited shelf life and are in the process of deterioration. We also need to communicate to them that we have a service to offer: converting their VHS tapes to DVD.
Alan Naumann | Whereas many dads connect with their sons through sports, my son Jason and I connected through video. We spent many hours together making music videos and short films, as well as shooting various events. Partly as a result of that, he's now living out my dream of becoming an independent filmmaker.
Alan Naumann | Today we have something more powerful than any communication technology in history: video. Video technology is still new enough, though, that we are only now beginning to understand its real power and potential.
Alan Naumann | As videographers we have a few choices when it comes to protecting the DVDs we deliver against piracy. The one I recommend is to apply the protection ourselves with PTProtect, a new technology developed and marketed by Primera Technology, the company that brought us the popular Bravo line of automated DVD duplication and printing systems.
Alan Naumann | Over the years I have gone through several scanners, and I have learned how to use photos effectively in my business. I do hundreds of memorial videos each year (each having anywhere from 30 to 1,500 photos), and I also do other types of montages using photos. For this to be profitable, I rely on speed and quality, which means I need the right scanner.
Alan Naumann | Recently, I had the opportunity to videotape a memorial service for a group called the U.S. Marine Raiders. This is a yearly event held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis to honor those Raiders who have died during the past year. It was a privilege to videotape the service, record the names of the deceased Raiders that were read during the service, and to take photos of the battalions represented.
December 2008 EventDV Table of Contents
Posted 01 Dec 2008
By
Alan Naumann
,
Anthony Burokas
,
Chris Randall
,
Ed Wardyga
,
Jan Ozer
,
Joe McManus
,
Kris Malandruccolo
,
Lance Gray
,
Laura Moses
,
Lee Rickwood
,
Marc Franklin
,
Peter Chung
,
Philip Hinkle
,
Shawn Lam
,
Stephen Nathans-Kelly
,
Steve Yankee
,
Stu Sweetow
Alan Naumann | I was recently asked to shoot a 50-year class reunion at a local high school. There are 150,000 high school reunions each year, with an annual total attendance of 27 million, or 180 per reunion. That's a lot of potential business for event videographers.
Posted 01 Jul 2008
By
Alan Naumann
,
Ben Balser
,
Chris Randall
,
Ed Wardyga
,
Jan Ozer
,
Joe McManus
,
Kris Malandruccolo
,
Lance Gray
,
Laura Moses
,
Lee Rickwood
,
Marc Franklin
,
Mark Von Lanken
,
Michael Y. Wong
,
Stephen Nathans-Kelly
,
Steve Yankee
,
Tim Siglin
Alan Naumann | This past year I had the privilege of introducing event videography to a young man and watching his excitement as he discovered the wonderful world of video. Scott Leake (www.makingmagicmemories.com) is a talented young man who has been working with me since Aug. 1, 2007. Recently, I asked him to share his thoughts about his first year as a professional videographer.
Alan Naumann | As media consultants, we can do much more than videotape funerals and produce memorial tributes; we can help funeral homes evaluate their audio/video needs, give them choices, and offer training and support. We can also produce promotional videos for their websites and even commercials for TV.
Alan Naumann | It is important to have the right equipment in order to do a professional job, but that doesn't mean you have to purchase the equipment. Welcome to the world of renting.
Alan Naumann | Sometimes it is more important for us, as videographers, to do the right thing than to be right and, in the process, preserve something money can't buy: our integrity.
Alan Naumann | By regarding ourselves as more than wedding/event videographers, we invite a whole world of possibilities. It makes our work more challenging and exciting as we attempt things that are outside of our comfort zone.
Alan Naumann | Working with nonprofit groups is a wonderful way to expose people to our work.
Alan Naumann | As we think of different life events, perhaps one of the most anticipated and memorable is high school graduation. Unfortunately, as time passes, so do the memories—unless there is a committed videographer on hand to capture them. Welcome to the world of video yearbooks.
Alan Naumann | Personal event video is all about capturing moments in time. In this column we will explore opportunities for videographers to capture all these important moments in life for their clients—from the cradle to the grave. Weddings are only one of the many life events that demand our services.
|
|
|