Earlier this week we brought you our new series, Bygone Bride and Bespoke Bride, and today our last to share is one where we will help our brides learn a little more about some of our Preferred Vendors or as we like to refer to them, Partners in Wedded Bliss! One of our favorite people to work with is Skip Erdman of Skip Erdman Events. Skip is not only a talented videographer but an all around, salt of the earth, good guy! He has a heart of gold and puts so much of that heart into his work. We recently quizzed Skip on how he got his start in the wedding industry and why he chose it.
How did you get into wedding videography?
All my adult life, since college, I've had the privilege of traveling with many well-known recording artists. This situation allowed for me to work side-by-side with companies producing music videos for artists you would recognize today. My last professional music video shoot took place with country music artists Brooks & Dunn in Dallas, TX for their song "Put A Girl In It". Once I found the love of my life, who is now my wife - Stephanie, I had to make a choice. Live the life of a Gypsy soul like I was or stop touring and move closer to Stephanie. I chose love over life on the road! After living that kind of life, what work can you find outside of that world? I tried insurance sales with two companies and found myself not meeting the goals set for me by those over me. Leaving those jobs by forced resignation, I was searching for something more. While being home with my fiancé at the time was nice, it wasn't paying the bills. Then a kind of strange and perfectly timed thing happened; I met NASCAR driver Robby Gordon at Concord Regional Airport as I was there watching planes take off and land pondering what life would bring me next. We had been introduced years earlier while traveling with a band and he remembered me. After asking me what I was doing currently, he basically hired me on the spot just before taking off for a test in Nashville. So then I was on the road again and set to marry Stephanie a short time after starting with this new endeavor. This lasted a couple years and to save my marriage to Stephanie, I had to stop traveling again! I left racing and went to work in sales again but, in a different industry...HVAC. Being let go after 3 months, left me and Stephanie to really search out our next move. We believe in prayer and prayed that The Lord would provide for us. Through other friends in the wedding industry encouraging me to get into Wedding Videography, a lot of prayer, a ton of research as to what I felt I would need to start, and about 3 months later.....Skip Erdman Events was born.
Why weddings?
I think I have some sort of issue with loving stressful situations...LOL...JK!!! In all seriousness, a wedding to me is such a sacred event. It carries with it problems and solutions with commitment and encouragement. The problem is there are two imperfect people coming together as one with a solution to lean on each other and The Lord (hopefully) to see them through the daily grind of life. Committing their life to encourage one another and put the other above themselves is a selfless and honorable act of commitment. I love learning about each couple and many become good friends of ours afterwards. To film a wedding is to provide a way for the couple, their friends and family to relive this amazing clash of nature. It's a happy time! Film can do what pictures can't! In a time of forgetfulness, routine, and the same ole stuff...if you have your wedding filmed, you can always look back in time to see and hear what you and your significant other committed to each other on that day before the witness of your friends and family. A film brings emotions and thoughts back to you unlike any other aspect of a wedding investment. I like to give that kind of awesomeness to others!!!
What is your favorite part about shooting Arbor's brides?
Knowing that the backdrop of filming there will be as amazing as the bride herself. There is nothing worse than having an ugly place to ruin your footage of a bride at her best. I don't worry about that at The Arbors! Everywhere you look is a beautiful landscape waiting for a camera and bride to take advantage of. The opportunities of creating an epic video are endless!!!
What type of videography style would you consider your work to be?
More movie-like or cinematic! However, each couple presents their own uniqueness and I like to match their style more than pushing mine. This is why it's so important to work with a videographer that really takes the time to get to know their couples.
What price range do your packages fall into?
This is always tough to disclose, because people invest in things they want, like, and trust. I'd rather meet with the couple and get to understand each other a little before proceeding into any financial obligations. This allows us both to get to know one another and decide if we're a fit for each other or not. My pricing is based upon an "a la carte" system allowing any couple to purchase only what they want or need. Pricing starts at $1,050.
Skip recently helped us out with a new commercial for our property that will begin to air next week. We are excited to reach more potential brides this way and are so grateful to Skip for his amazing work! You can be one of the first to see it by clicking here!
If you are on the fence about hiring a videographer check out Skip before ruling it out. You won't regret it!
