by Thad Barnette

As a video guy, I get questions like these asked all the time: "Is video effective? Will it really help my type of business?" The answer, of course, is yes. Without a doubt. It's a medium that shows who you are as a company, promotes trust with your consumers, increases brand prestige and loads the viewer with important information without losing their attention. The trick is to have the right kind of video content created, and the right kind of distribution plan in place. That's why we do what we do here at Tailgate Studios.

The next question is usually along the lines of, " Why can't I produce the video myself?" A poor quality video can actually hurt your marketing efforts. That's why giving an employee an iPhone and having them quickly shoot a clip of your latest product is not going to be able to compete in today's market.

Cloudwaves.com released an awesome infographic outlining exactly why video is an essential part to any marketing toolkit. I think the numbers speak for themselves: 

 Mid-May, we were at Whitehall Columbia for a two day commercial shoot. Whitehall is a beautiful banquet hall that was converted from an old schoolhouse, giving this venue incredible charm. We were going for an elegant look with rich, warm tones. The minute-and-a-half video highlights the details of each room, as well as the exceptional service the staff at Whitehall provides. It was shot entirely on a Canon C300, with the exception of the time lapse, which was shot with a Canon 7d mark ii. 

Check out the finished product here:

And you can check out the spot for couples here:

About a week ago, I had the privilege of attending WPPI, one of the largest and most prestigious photography conferences and trade shows in the world. With over 200 exhibitors ranging from Canon to B&H, and presentations from world-class photographers like Jerry Ghionis and David Edmonson, WPPI is the experience of a lifetime. Held in Las Vegas, every year it brings out some of the most innovative minds in the industry. I attended as an exhibitor at Jesse Boone's Wedding as Art booth. 

One of Tailgate's animated commercials was featured as well.  
You can check out the spot for photographers here: 

A gift registry for photography items: It's a simple idea, but a profound one. I have the honor of being a part of the Wedding as Art team, and I can tell you from experience, if you are a photographer, you need to check out the site. 

You can do that right here: WeddingasArt.com

Once you go through the easy sign up process, you can create your custom product catalog and book events. After a couple has hired you to photograph their wedding, they choose items they want out of your product list. Then, they help market your products for you by inviting friends and family to purchase your photography items, or contribute towards the final price. When a transaction is made, you can choose any lab you want to fulfill the order! Now, right at your fingertips, you have a powerful sales tool to help you shoot less and make more. 


If you have any thoughts about WPPI or Wedding as Art, I'd love to hear them! Type them in the comments or visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TailgateStudios.


-Thad