I think there is a HUGE difference between someone who is editting as a full-time job on good equipment, and someone like myself who is VERY part-time (as was the original poster, I think) and is working with what they have.

Editing 10 hours of footage in five days is, of course, very possible and should be expected. But whenever I hear someone say that they knocked out a video, even a short one, in a matter of a few hours, I become skeptical. Then, to think that they're including custom art work, animated dvd menus, etc? Sorry, but I've seen that work before, and it's not up to my standards (albeit unrealistic and perfectionist as they may be).

I'm sure I'll receive some flack for this: The last wedding video I made used only one hour of original amatuer footage. I spent over 100 hours on the final product, over the course of nearly three months while working more than full time at my regular job. This included over 50 hours of After Effects work using still photos and various 3d montages, extensive sound and music editing (yes, really), fully animated custom dvd menus with matching cover art and copy text, etc etc etc. and the duplication of the 50 dvd copies. Certainly it was overkill and certainly I spent far too much time on it. HOWEVER: I would rather tell my client that their video is going to take 6 weeks and deliver something that absolutely exceeds their expectations and mine.

Having said that, and in all fairness to the folks posting in this thread (whose opinions I value greatly): I would really like to see examples of the films that are made and delivered to the client within a week - I'm imagining straight editing with little else.

I think you may be taking off what I said earlier!

That is exactly how long it took me!

Sorry it may not be up to your standards though!
Here is an example of a clip I made of the same wedding in under a week.

http://www.derienzo-videoproductions...ontagefast.wmv

If you've got Discovery Channel, there's a documentary, regularly repeated called "Destination Venus" about the last unmanned probe to the planet. It was shot in a week (monday to friday) with an initial edit over the weekend (admittedly long days) with the final sequence shot live on the monday. The final edit then completed for broadcast on BBC2 the next day. It included chromakey, graphics and special effects and was probably up to your exacting standard.

It is possible.

If you're a professional... that's what you're bloody paid for!

Excuses and whingeing aren't acceptable. If your "proper" job is getting in the way of you delivering your video to the clients in a reasonable time then either give up your full-time job, take time-off to do the video work, using holiday time or unpaid leave if necessary, or stop playing at being a "pro" videographer and keep it as a hobby.

Edit: BTW, Some really nice stuff there GDR. I'm sure that any client would find that it's well up to their "exacting" standards. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this shows the point we're trying to make. If you shoot top-rate images, with the edit in mind, correctly exposed and composed, the edit goes smoothly. If you're taking too long in the edit, it's because your original footage wasn't up to scratch. As the saying goes "you can't polish a turd!"

I don't know why, but that just put the biggest grin on my face and made my day.

I could almost visualise you telling your work colleagues that!

Cheers
GDR

GDR: Absolutely fantastic work man. The level of production that you pulled off in a week gives me something to aspire towards, sincerely. What is your workflow like when you actually sit down to edit? What software and cameras are you using? I must admit, your work is of a higher quality than anything I've seen produced in a short period of time; I hope you believe me when I say that my earlier comments were not trying to be critical of those who work quickly!

Guru: Excellent feedback as always - I'll keep my eyes peeled for the Discovery channel show.

And to both: I hope I haven't come off as cocky or critical. I obviously have a TON to learn, and my experiences (and the productions I've seen that have certainly NOT lived up to a standard of professionalism) are obviously only a small slice of the whole. As always, I appreciate the replies on this forum, and look forward to learning more. Thanks again guys

[quote=guitarfaces;91265] But whenever I hear someone say that they knocked out a video, even a short one, in a matter of a few hours, I become skeptical.

This http://www.cravenimagestudios.co.uk/EMMACHRIS-1.wmv was edited in one and a half hours on the day of the wedding. A S.D.E.
I suppose you could class it as a wedding video and yes they have taken them away on the honeymoon. But for the edit of the full day including intros it can take time, especially if continuity is important and not just dissolving between similar scenes.
Weddings can't be voiced over, though it would help speed the edit no end, so continuity for us means a smooth story of the day, nicely condensed with no jump cuts.
Having said all that wedding videos can be as simple as the S.D.E and if that's what they're happy with, I could film and edit 5 per week and still lie in bed in the mornings

Guitarfaces - you cant edit fast cos you cant edit yet and casting aspertions against those who have spent years learning makes you look silly. Personally I take exception to your implication that people on this board who edit fast cos thay are good have learned the art are liars.

To be blunt, it is you who are the charlatan by pimping yourself about as a 'pro' when it is clear you are barely in the ' keen hobbiest' box. Sounds to me like you are still elarning to use the s ware and technology. That is the easy bit. You then need to learn the ART of editing and filming.

Sorry to be blunt but I ma getting a right cob on with a recent rash of people who clearly are just have a go heros telling happy couples they are pros - it just aint right and is arguably FRAUD!

Most of the daft funny films I have posted recently in user vids were all concieved, written, shot and edited in a day.

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I have two prejudices - I am anti HDV for consumer camcorders, and I eat mooks who claim to be pro wedding vidders and ask dumb questions.

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Yes. You came across as cocky and critical. You basically said that you needed a long time to edit a video, therefore everybody needs a long time to edit a video. You "challenged" the resident professionals to demonstrate otherwise. In reply, GDR made you look very silly with his excellent video which shows what can be done in a short period of time.

This is the PROFESSIONAL section, not the "part-time-wannabee" section. As such, in this part of the forum, you are expected to be professional in your standards and abilities. As for your...

The standard of your work is far below professional standard. So you have absolutely no right to be cocky. If you want to be a professional or even a semi-pro you have to be better than an amateur, much better. This isn't easy because the standard of "enthusiasts" is very high. There are amateurs out there who do superb work. These are the people wedding videographers are competing against, the Uncle Peter and Uncle Jim brigade with top notch equipment and top-rate technique.

When you get up to "Enthusiast" standard, you can start thinking about charging for your work, until then, keep practicing.

My dad is photographer(he use Nikon D300) and he deliver final product in 7-10 days. His camerman delivers final product in 2-3 weeks. I'm planing to took over photo camera from my dad and he will switch to video camera.

We edit 20+ weddings per year and are given 6 weeks from the date of the wedding to deliver the finished DVDs.

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