McKnight Video Services, LLC

Future brides, here’s a good article on how to have no regrets from your wedding day:

Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD!

Check out the full details on our Facebook page.

While shooting footage for Rick Springfield Friday at the Arena Theater, management asked us to shoot a quick promo for an upcoming gig in Lansing, MI. All footage and audio from the Arena show. Check it out:

The Royal Wedding went off without a hitch earlier this morning in England.

Did you watch it on TV – or did you look at photographs? (Trick question. Of course you watched it on TV, just like you’ll watch your wedding video on TV)

Notice how you could actually hear the vows? This is one of the many, many reasons why you hire a professional. Don’t expect to have anything watchable if your Uncle Charlie sets up a video camera for your wedding.

Hire a pro.

Order your DVD of the 165th Galveston Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting today. The leading businesses of Galveston work hard, but they also play hard as you know if you were there that night. If you were there, order this DVD to remember the fun; if you weren’t there, order the DVD to see what you missed!

You can view a sample of the DVD below. Click the Buy Now button to order by debit / credit card for only $30.

This DVD includes:

• Excerpts of Award Presentations
• The complete performance by “The Jackson Five”*
• The complete Spirit of Galveston video honoring Betty Massey
• Excerpts of divas & dudes dancing the night away

Approximate running time is 60 minutes. The DVDs will be available to pick up at the chamber no later than March 7th.

Choose your delivery and click Buy Now to order the Galveston Chamber of Commerce 165th Annual Meeting DVD

Delivery Options

Pick Up at the Chamber $30.00 Ship It To Me $35.00

Click on the image below to see a preview. If you have any questions, contact Christie McKnight at info@mcknightvideo.com.

*Not the Jackson Five, but an incredible simulation…

Coming Soon!

While we’re working on Natalie and Ricky’s video we wanted to share a Coming Attractions trailer with them. Their reception at Hotel Zaza was outstanding!

Some recent posts on The Knot website, and our comments:

Speaking as a bride who did not get a videographer, I regret it. Even though I’m sure I wouldn’t watch it hundreds of times, knowing I can never see my ceremony again even once is painful.

Over the years the thing we hear the most is from people who did not get a video. It never fails, every year at least one of our clients will tell us about their sister or friend who did not get video and now regrets it.

I’m not going to get a videographer because I could not find a place for it in my budget. Instead, we are going to set a video camera up to tape the ceremony because it’s just not that important to me, but I don’t want to regret not having it.

Ha! You’ll never hear anything being said on the altar, just the sounds of the cute baby crying in the last pew.

If you can afford it, definitely do it!! Videos these days are not like the ones our parents had…they’re not boring or cheesy. We got a 3 minute highlights clip that looks like a professional commercial and makes me cry every time I watch it. We’ll also get a an edited 25-30 minute film and I can’t WAIT to see it. We hired our videographer 3 weeks before the wedding and it was one of the best decisions we made.

Exactly.

My parents watch their wedding video on every anniversary. It’s a different sensation to see yourself in moving pictures and to be able to hear your voice. Think of how much you’ll appreciate that 20 years from now. As children, we always got a kick out of watching our parents wedding video.

The secret that most people don’t realize until after they have their video is that the SOUND is half the experience. Being able to hear the vows, the family members, the close friends, is valuable now and priceless in the future. It’s an experience that still photos cannot provide. Both are important of course, and we recommend you spend as much on video as you do on photography if you want the same quality.

We recently produced three 30-second campaign spots for Phil Roberts, running for Galveston County Probate Judge. These are currently airing on several Comcast stations. I’ve posted our favorite one here.

What type of video can we produce for you today?

David here; most of the time Christie and I work in the pro versions of the Sony Creative Software Suite. For years Sony Vegas Pro has been our go-to editor of choice. But SCS also produces a cheaper, less-capable line of software for the consumer market. Is it good enough for you? In this article for EventDV magazine I get input from a couple of other editors and put it to the test.

We belong to a great local association of video and imaging professionals, the Houston Professional Videographers Association. At our meeting last week we determined there were a few local companies and individuals that we had come in contact with (not in HPVA) that were less than honest in some of their dealings. For instance, in one case a rather large video company in Houston actually hired an ad agency to produce the eye-popping demo that you will see at Houston Bridal shows. The work done for you by this company will not look nearly as good. No, we’re not going to tell you who it is.

So how can you be sure the company you hire will do a great job for you? There are a few things to look for:

1. Ask to see a complete finished product. This can be on a DVD, on the web, or some other delivery device. It’s relatively “easy” to produce a 3 minute highlight that is entertaining and emotional. Highlights are important, but don’t base your purchasing decision off of just that. Ask to see a complete product.

2. Are they members of HPVA? I am not suggesting that videographers who are not members don’t do good work. I am reinforcing the fact that, as members of the association we are involved in learning and perfecting our craft. We are well-respected in the Houston video community.

3. Be sure to meet with the people who will actually be attending and filming your event. You don’t want to meet with and be sold by the owner of the company only to find out that two newbies will be filming your wedding, because they’ve scheduled 2-4 events on the same day. There’s nothing wrong with running multiple crews of shooters, but you should know this up front and you should be able to meet with the videographers who will actually be spending the day with you.

Can you think of any more? Add them to the comments below. Have a question about this? Email or call us today and we’ll be happy to discuss.

Click here for the latest article we wrote about shooting, editing, and delivering the DVD set for the 2009 Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise. It’s a little on the technical side but hey, that’s what we deal with sometimes. There are links to sample videos at the end of the article.

Christie McKnight interviews Rick Springfield and Richard Marx on the 2009 Rick Springfield and Friends Cruise

We’re proud to announce that in December, McKnight Video was awarded the People’s Choice award for the year, and that we tied for First Place for the year for all the annual Houston Professional Videographers Association competitions.

The winning video for Tricia and Ryan is an example of our cinematic ceremonies. This wedding was coordinated by Summer at For Your Memories and the event was featured in Houston Brides magazine.

My father, Clifford McKnight, passed away in the early morning hours of November 19th. Christie and I had returned from filming the second Rick Springfield cruise just 2 days before.

This is the memorial video we created for Dad and the speech I gave at his service:

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My sister Diana said the other day, “I would give anything to have Mom and Dad back. But of course, then I would have to live with them because I wouldn’t have anything, and nobody wants that.” Always good to open on a humorous note.

We are sad today. We are sad because Dad is no longer with us. An unspoken sentiment is that a loved one’s passing at this time must be really difficult because it is so close to “The Holidays”. Thanksgiving is two days away and we have so, so much to be thankful for. I wanted to take a few minutes and share some of these things with you.

I’m thankful for the kind of father Dad was. I had a very normal childhood, and after growing up and living some and seeing what kind of meanness there is in the world I’m very thankful for that. Little League baseball, Cub Scouts, simple things like fishing and flying kites. I got my share of spankings, back when it was more acceptable than it is now, and I deserved every single one. My wife maintains that he didn’t spank me often enough.

He and mom indulged our hobbies; for many years I practiced magic and their “annual vacation” was to drive me to some destination in Texas to attend a magic convention.

As a high school graduate they attempted to provide a college education, but I thought I knew better. I resisted; I wanted to play music instead, and they were disappointed but they supported that as best they could. Dad was proud that I ultimately did graduate, just three years ago.

In my thirties I don’t know what happened, but he got smarter. The older I got, the wiser he became. He had been this wise all along of course, I just finally started to notice. I’m thankful for that.

I’m thankful for the home and the life he and Mom provided. When I met my wife Christie, she was so accepting of them, and they of her. You better believe I’m thankful for that. After mom died and Dad’s health was worsening, he moved in with us. Christie took care of Dad daily for 3 years, and I am so thankful for that.

Dad enjoyed himself, along with his cats, and he was happy. I speak for Christie when I say it was a joy and a privilege to take care of Dad and provide a loving, warm home for him in much the same way he and Mom provided for me.

But here’s what I’m most thankful for, in this week of Thanksgiving: I was able to tell Dad everything I’ve told you. When he was here on Earth, when it mattered.

I got to tell him every single day how much I loved him. How thankful I am that he was my father.

We left nothing unsaid. We left nothing undone. And above everything else, I am so, so thankful for having been given the opportunity to tell him that while he lived with us.

All of the kids were able to visit anytime and as often as they wanted. He enjoyed being at the lake with Dennis and Traci many times. Those out of town called him once a week or so, always knowing his time here was limited. And he loved all of his kids. I think he talked to all of us at one time or another, letting us know how much he loved us, but also how much he missed Mom and that when his time would come, he was ready to go be with her. And now he is. They are “Waltzing Across Heaven”, in each other’s arms.

So we are sad today, but we know Dad is happy. And I am thankful for that.

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Well, WE weren’t on Oprah, but our work was. Rick Springfield was a surprise guest serenading two audience members on Monday’s show (“Jessie’s Girl”, of course). He talked about this year’s cruise and showed a short clip from the video we produced of last year’s cruise.

We got word that Rick will be on the Ellen DeGeneres show on October 30th; I wonder if they will show the clip on her show too?

Stay tuned…

We occasionally get calls for small corporate and training videos as well as web video advertisements. Do we do that type of work? Of course we do!

Here are two examples of work we did for YellowBook.com; the first is Ernie Smith & Sons Roofing in Santa Fe:

This is Brown AC & Heating in Pasadena:

Working with both companies, Ernie Smith & Sons and Brown AC & Heating was very smooth. These types of shoots usually take no more than an hour or two depending on your needs.

Give us a call and let us know how we can help you get YOUR message out.

We are sometimes asked “what are StoryTeller Highlights?” when discussing video services. Sometimes it’s easier to show an example than to try to explain it.

This video is a special example wherein the Father of the bride already had a note written out and knew exactly what he wanted to say. It turned into a very emotional piece that tied for Second Place from a panel of judges in the Houston wedding and broadcast industries. We hope you like it.

We got a very, very nice call out of the blue the other day. Our friend Kyle called to tell us about his success with making videos. A few years ago we helped Kyle with some of the ins and outs of a software program he was using called Vegas Movie Studio Platinum. We are certified in Vegas Pro, and VMSP is it’s little brother.

He used this software to make a college football recruitment video for his son. We found out that he’s also made some team videos highlighting several Clear Lake athletes. Some of these talented youngsters have gone on to receive partial or full athletic scholarships. Kyle attributes this in a large part to their recruitment videos. He said by us teaching him some of the concepts of Vegas Movie Studio, he’s been able to create more effective videos and change the lives of about a dozen local students who have received scholarships.

We appreciate the kind words, even though Kyle certainly did all the hard work. Congrats to you Kyle, and to your two sons (both of whom have received scholarships), and the students and families who have benefitted from the work you’ve done.

We haven’t done one of these in a long time; an edgy trailer that leaves you wanting more.

The ceremony was at the Trinity Episcopal church and the reception was at the newly revamped Omni Hotel in Houston.

Here’s a clip from a wedding video we’re finishing up. As the guests arrived at the Petroleum Club of Houston, they witnessed the bride & groom sharing their first dance as husband and wife to the song “Spend My Life With You”.

Stay Tuned! More to come soon….

A beautiful couple, a beautiful location in the Spring area. Here’s an example of a documentary short form ceremony, where we take the highlights from the ceremony and layer them and composite them in such a way that you never feel like you need to “fast forward to the good parts”. In this wedding, Carter and Laura had a wonderful string quartet which we recorded in stereo.