Darius and Malachi's Birthdays

Every year I create videos for my nephews' and niece's birthdays. I have been doing so since my first nephew was born 6 years ago.  It just so happens that both my nephews have birthdays that are 2 weeks apart, so it makes for a busy October of editing.  It is always challenging to find a way to make their videos a bit different each year and to choose a song that will catch their attention. I have learned from previous conversations with them that they don't like "girl songs" so I try to stay away from anything that is either sung by a woman or too slow.  since they often will choose to dance while they watch instead of sitting still.

This year I chose for my older nephew, Darius, "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson and for Malachi, the younger of the two, "Steal My Kisses" By Ben Harper.  Both videos were 3 1/2 to 4 minutes long which I have learned is a good length.  Since they get one every year, as a family we watch all of the videos from every birthday. In some of the previous years I have made quite lengthy videos, so it makes for a long night of watching themselves on TV. They do ask for them and now I'm sure expect them on their birthday every year and I love making them for each of my favorite boys.

Scott & Jill Nagel

It has been a little while since I've done a video for someone over the age of 5, and while I love doing kids videos it is refreshing to work with a bride, or in this case, the bride's mother.  The bride's mother contacted me a while back about her daughter's upcoming September 26th wedding and I was thrilled to get started.  It is always to fun to edit together pictures from when the bride and groom are babies throughout the years to the beginning of their happily ever after!

I structure "Throughout The Years" montages one of two ways, either flipping back and forth between the bride and groom's pictures growing up or giving each of them their own section, which divides the montage into 3 parts.  Jill and her fiancé Scott opted to structure the video giving each of them a section with songs that reflected their personalities.  Jill chose the song, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper and Scott chose for his section John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High," which worked out perfectly being that he is indeed from Colorado.  For the section of the couple together they chose "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. Altogether the video was about 7 minutes and I was thrilled with the way it turned out.  Their childhood pictures combined with the songs of their choice really made me feel like I was sharing a intimate moment with this couple, and I know that is exactly how their guests will feel also while watching this when they say "I do!"

To view "Throughout The Years" videos, please visit www.videosbystephanie.synthasite.com, and for information on what I can do for your video, please contact Stephanie at videosbystephanie@yahoo.com.