I don’t consider myself a wedding videographer by any means but there’s something truly special and magical about Super 8 film that made me reconsider doing wedding films a few years ago. Kelti & Crispin didn’t want a large production for their intimate wedding, they wanted something that exuded nostalgia and emotion, so they approached me to document their wedding on Super 8 film in the hopes to confine and encapsulate the feeling and memory of their wedding.
Look, without a doubt the elements of this wedding can stand alone, and quite frankly, the interactions between Kelti & Crispin, and with their immediate family, displayed the importance of paying attention to the beauty in the subtleties. I got goosebumps watching their sincere display of affection towards one another, not just in the moment, but every single time I revisited the Super 8 footage I felt it. Add to the equation a beautiful backyard ceremony beneath a landmark tree and you’re un-ironically in the middle of a moment where you truly believe that life is a movie.
Growing up my dad showed our family numerous Super 8 videos of his adventures through California, key moments in my older sister’s youth and other random moments where our family was together for an occasion. I was always captivated by the beauty and hypnotizing sense that you’re viewing the world through imperfect memories, an enhanced version of ourselves viewed through an almost endearing light and quality. This was a feeling that always stuck with me and one I’ve strived to recreate for other people. Ultimately, once I grew up enough, I inherited my father’s Super 8 camera, he finally trusted me enough to let me use it and I immediately started documenting the people in my life and special occasions. Every time I got the film back I was deeply moved at how the most simple of moments were captured, a seemingly inexorable wave of emotions choked me up as I listened to simple music while watching the brief glimpses of my past lives flash on the screen. I told myself, THIS feeling is something I need to pass on to others, I need to create something that will impact people on this level and penetrating a deeper layer of sentiment and state of mind.
Naturally, the only way to do this was to create Super 8 films for weddings. A natural transition as a mainly analog film shooter, I decided to approach the creative direction with carefulness and intention, wanting to simply create moving pictures that enhanced the sense of living through the experience of being there. I guess it’s called Motion Picture Film for a reason.
I’m thrilled I’ll be creating dozens of Super 8 videos for couples throughout 2022 and I’m genuinely excited at the opportunity to apply my experience as a director and photographer to create a seamless narrative to tell people’s stories with earnest creativity.
