It's not only the older clients that want this. It spans every age group.
The skill in making long segments interesting is in creative camera work that is pulled into the edit in the 1st place.
If fixed cameras are used, yes it can be dull.

For me personally the idea of watching a 2+ hour wedding video fills me with dread, no matter how skillful the camera work. It's never been a question of whether you or anyone else should or should not be creating extended videos, more that from a personal point of view this is not what I would enjoy.

I would like to stress the point that I'm sure your videos are well recieved and you attract a large client base. But you clearly offer a product which I would not like to offer. I have no doubt that you can make a fabulous 2 hour video and I'm positive you are skilled in the art of making long segments interesting. But, it's not something I would enjoy as a client or an editor.

And I have also noted a correlation between the requested length of a wedding video and the clients appreciation of percieved quality.

__________________
digital director - video editing guides, forums and reviews
digital-director.tv - watch and upload inspirational videos
bride-and-groom - contemporary wedding videos
digital spice - my personal blog

Thanks to all, for those varied and interesting opinions. I always thought I was warding off the boredom factor by keeping the movie to under one hour, that is until my last customer said she had put a full day to one-side to watch her DVD. She actually thought she was going watch the whole day 12-30pm to 9pm in full, nothing at all taken out.
The mind boggles. I need to improve my communication skills.
Thanks again.

Is it not wonderfull that we are all different

Lol - no - I think everyone should be like me !

__________________
I have one prejudice - I am anti HDV for consumer camcorders.

www.zaskarfilms.com You tube channel 'zaskarfilms'
JVC DV5001e (big cam), Sony PC6E (tiny cam), Vinten pro5, PAG light, SM58, Sony ECM50, Sony C-76, 0.5x convertors for sony, Rode video mic, Vegas 7.

My wedding videos are twelve hours long, with intervals when I need to go to the loo.

I then slow it all down in the edit to make it 18 hrs long to give them added value for money.

So far no complaints. I told them to get back to me only after they have finished viewing it. Maybe they are still watching.

It's more likely the subject matter that's uninspiring for those that like the shorter edits. Personally, I'd feel exactly the same about editing football matches or F1 racing videos - 3 minutes would sum the game/race up too. Unfortunately weddings don't have the luxury of a live edit, so the editing can be laborous for some. For others it's a passion.
One extreme to the other! Hitched Forums - What can I do if I don't like our video?

One things for sure - In all the years of producing or reading wedding and video forums.
No-one who has commisioned one has ever said "My wedding video is too long"

Shout it loud and clear if anyone does hear it.

Hi Zero, would love to know who the company was if you do!

Either way this will no doubt put a few more brides off choosing a videographer for their wedding, and the hitched site is quite popular with brides to be!

Cheers.
GDR

Zero, I think you're missing my intended point somewhat. I'm not suggesting that 3 minites would be reasonable length and I'm not suggesting that editing is tedious. I'm certainly not suggesting that the market is begging for shorter wedding vidos. Quite the contrary. If you read my posts with a less empassioned view, I would hope you see that I am trying to convey a message that there's an important distinction between including everything that happens and including everything that, perhaps, should be included. I am quite the fan of law of succinctness. Everything I include is included for a reason. That's generally my ethos and video editing is no exception.

I also note that the poster in the thread you linked complains about the quality, not the length. They want more in terms of quality. This is about matching a clients expectation with what one delivers.

I feel like I am repeating myself somewhat, but I feel I must also try and elaborate my point. My point is that, in my opinion, there is a correlation between required length and the expected quality. As a video tends twoards 2+ hours, there tends to be a reduction in the expected 'wow' factor. I therefore suggets that the length of video is directly proportional to the 'wow' factor.

But these are my opinions. I'm not suggesting, and never have done, that a client is wrong to ask for it - nor that an editor is wrong to provide it. More importantly, and whilst I take on boards your comments concerning making a long edit interesting, I feel that the an editor's skill is shown more in the shorter edits than the long. To include all of the 'salient facts' and match expectations to delivery in 30 mins is an artform and a skill.

__________________
digital director - video editing guides, forums and reviews
digital-director.tv - watch and upload inspirational videos
bride-and-groom - contemporary wedding videos
digital spice - my personal blog

Hi - The clue is in the posts the bride made if you read them.
I can't see anyone being put off having a wedding video, I see exactly the opposite. Those wishing to have one will ask more questions and look that much harder and longer at the content.

Marc - I haven't missed your point at all, in fact I acknowledge the desire for shorter wedding DVDs from some clients.
The whole wedding market is full of different companies offering different products.
Some may include absolutely everything( now that woud be tedious) Ours include all the important scenes the client wants, creatively filmed and edited.
This is our market and these are our clients and it's what keeps our year in advance booked.
I too feel like I'm repeating myself, so it's better left as "one man's meat".

Regards,
Ian