That’s Focal Point Digital Media’s tagline and such a true statement.  Awww, the world of wedding video…if only every couple realized before their big day how very important hiring a professional videographer is to their overall wedding experience.  As a seasoned coordinator I’ve had the unfortunate experience of hearing many couples tell me after their wedding that they truly regret not taking the time to even consider video or simply eliminating it from their budget.  This always makes me incredibly sad since those memorable moments cannot be recaptured in any other way.  This of course is not meant to discount photography in the least, and I have yet to meet a couple who hasn’t had photography at the top of their list of priorities, but video adds a completely different element of emotion.  How else are the vows captured, and what about those wild and crazy toasts, or those very special father-daughter dances, the late night partying, and so much more.  The truth is that a great video is not a replacement, but rather the perfect supplement to even the most amazing photographs.  The two together fully capture a couple’s wedding day.  There are a number of talented videographers in the Portland area but very few specialize exclusively in weddings, and one of them is Focal Point Digital Media.  Ryan Chaney, who founded the business in 2004 and has been running it successfully ever since,  is not only a talented and creative artist, but an equally professional and just all-around nice guy.  Since opening his Salem-based business, Ryan and his team have filmed more than 170 weddings in and around Portland as well as other parts of Oregon, WA and CA, and already have several more on the books for 2010.  They are a full-time professional studio located in West Salem where they welcome and encourage couples to come in and view their work, and chat about the details of their big day!  Ryan is relaxed, friendly, easy-going and always open to fresh ideas and excited to create a masterpiece that is as unique as the couple themselves.  He is one of those vendors who really listens to what couples want and makes it his goal to provide just that.  Focal Point has an editing niche  known as cinematic short-form wedding video whereby Ryan sifts through hours and hours of raw footage and creates a tightly-edited movie-like main feature complete with custom soundtrack, tasteful effects and polished storyline.  There is a reason it takes a professional videographer several months for an outstanding video to be produced…literally hundreds of hours go into the editing process to ensure the final product is nothing short of perfect.  Over the years the Blush team has worked on numerous weddings with Ryan and his team and we are always thrilled to recommend them to our clients knowing that they are in the best of hands and will love watching their wedding day unfold time and again.  Here is a sample trailer from Kate & Mike’s wedding that we worked on with Focal Point in July of 2008…what a fun and memorable day it was!  As coordinators, we always recommend that couples take the time to meet with two to three professional videographers and see what they have to offer, even if they are adamant that they do not want a video or simply cannot afford it.  In reality, if a couple sees a video they love, they can usually find a way to squeeze it into the budget, even if it means paying for it over time, or postponing when it will be edited and complete.  The most important part is capturing the day!  Here is another sample from Kate & Mike’s big day as they made their get away from the Armory at Portland Center Stage to the Portland Art Museum.  I often hear couples say that they will never watch their wedding video but more than likely this view is a result of a friend or family member’s poor quality video they were forced to watch.  Unfortunately many times professional videographers fall into this category when in fact their level of quality is the opposite.  As a bride myself in 2008, I hired Ryan and his associate, Gary, to film my big day, and it was one of the best decisions I made surrounding my wedding.  My husband and I have watched our trailer, love story, and video numerous times and it always brings tears to our eyes…it’s nothing short of priceless.  Here is a small sample of my own wedding day that will surely bring a smile to your face…just one more testament to why video is an absolute necessity at any wedding.  Not surprisingly, Focal Point has won a number of awards over the years including the Creative Excellence Award from their industry trade group, WEVA, Oregon Bride Magazine’s Best Videographer for 2009, and most recently the 2010 Bride’s Choice Award Winner through Wedding Wire Network.  For more information about the services Ryan and the Focal Point team can offer you, check out their website at www.focalpointvideo.biz