creative video blog

new blog site

2009-06-29T12:16:00.003-05:00

Hi friends - I have combined my video and family photography blogs on a new site -
please visit mauracolemanmurray.com to keep up on some great weddings and adorable kids and families!

see you there!
Maura

Amy & John

2009-02-28T21:51:00.003-06:00

This was a fun one! Amy, you were right, I was a little surprised by your music choices and wondered how it would go, but I LOVE IT!!!! Red Hot Chili Peppers wasn't on my list of wedding music, but I think I might add it! I spent A LOT of time listening to them in college and I "think" I went to a show here in KC years ago (can't remember - it was a long time ago) it was a BLAST to edit with and went with your footage so very well.

What we have here is the opening to Amy and John's short film. We had SO much great audio and toasts that I was able to include quite a bit of audio to tell the story of their wedding day. These are the best ways to edit and remember such special moments. Even the one when the fire alarm went off at the top of the Intercontinental. Your Dad handled that so well!

amy and john from creative video on Vimeo.

details:
Church: Country Club Christian
Reception: Intercontinental Hotel - Plaza
Photographer: Paul Versluis
Florist: Fiddley Fig
Coordinator: Patti Gehring

Shootsac for me!

2009-02-25T21:38:00.003-06:00

This is kind of cool. I have been wanting one of these shootsacs for really long time now. I have been carrying around this mountainsmith bag for my batteries and various video "stuff" and although it is functional, its not quite the right bag for the job. My photo friends have such cool stuff - video folks can benefit from this stuff too!

so, here I am with some of my cameras, and my sad little bag, hoping to win a shootsac from MPC actions and Jessica Claire. :-) Thanks to Sam for taking my photo this morning!

here is the link in case you want to enter too!
http://mcpactions.com/blog/2009/02/10/shootsac

Stacey and Gabi

2009-02-20T13:18:00.004-06:00

This was a beautiful wedding at Club 1000. I think it makes so much sense to have the ceremony and the reception in the same place when you can! We have done a lot of weddings at Club 1000, but this was the first in the round - pretty cool! Congratulations guys!

gabi and stacey from creative video on Vimeo.
The details:
Ceremony & Reception: Club 1000
Photographer: Adrienne Maples
Florist: Dan Meiners
Band: Kokomo

Alicia and John

2009-02-03T21:52:00.005-06:00

WOW! What a fun fun fun wedding! You guys were so great and relaxed and in love, you made my job so so easy! You had a fabulous team at your wedding and the most fun bridal party and family. It was just a beautiful day!

I may have to put up your outtakes - I think they were the most favorite I have made to date!

Below is the "highlight" from your wedding day!

Details:
Ceremony: Corpus Christi Catholic Church (Lawrence, KS)
Reception: The Sheridan Hotel (Kansas City)
Florist: Bittersweet Floral
Photographer: Adrienne Maples
Band: Michael Beers Band

new website design

2009-01-27T08:42:00.005-06:00

It's working! I am so excited that I have a new website design! Sam and I created the old one 7 years ago - and it was really really time to start new! I can't really believe it has been 7 years, but whenever I would look at my website, it was very clear. :-)

So, thanks to my friends over at mokaDesign, I have a new presence on the internet! Take a minute to check it out - I would love to know what you all think!

Longview Mansion

2009-01-26T12:45:00.002-06:00

It is fun to get to go back to venues and see how they grow and change. This is one I seem to get to visit often. I even had my engagement photos taken here 13 years ago! It is my kids' favorite photo of us. Probably because there are a couple dogs in it with us. :-)

Anyway, this is a little peek into a reception at Longview. Nice job guys!

LUXE - Best Video!

2009-01-24T14:01:00.002-06:00

It's always great to be complimented on the films we make and weddings we work on so hard! Creative Video was awarded the LUXE award for best video of 2008! The wedding has been posted here - Amanda and Zach, but I am going to work on posting a little bit more of it to share.

Sam and I had a great time at the awards last night, and are getting ready for the LUXE bridal show tomorrow at the Intercontental from 1-4pm. It is a great show with wonderful top Kansas City vendors and we are proud to be a part of it. Some come on out to the Intercontental tomorow afternoon for a great show and some yummy treats! Hope to see you tomorrow at LUXE 09!

Whitney & Tyler

2009-01-21T23:54:00.003-06:00

What a beautiful wedding day Whitney and Tyler had! It was so amazing to see what Patti Gehring and Dan Meiner created at Whitney's parents home. It was a stunning tent, and beautiful home. This wedding is featured in the latest KC Weddings as well, so check out those beautiful photographs by Paul Versluis!

Thanks for letting me help you preserve your wedding memory guys - it was my pleasure! AND fun to come to Topeka!

Whitney and Tyler from creative video on Vimeo.
Details:
Ceremony: Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Topeka, Kansas
Reception: Family residence
Photographer: Paul Versluis
Florist: Dan Meiner
Coordinator: Patti Gehring

Kristin & Kevin

2009-01-14T09:24:00.006-06:00

Congratulations Kristin and Kevin! What a beautiful wedding!!! This was my first ceremony at Unity Village and it was really lovely. Longview Mansion did a great job at the reception as well! I really enjoyed getting to document the rehearsal dinner at this wedding too - such great toasts, I felt like I was part of the family by the end of the weekend! Not to mention I think I got to visit with at least 5 former clients at your reception! How fun is that? Pretty cool.

Thanks Kristin and Kevin for letting me help you remember your wedding day!
This is your short film!

Kristin & Kevin from creative video on Vimeo.

Note from the Mother of the Bride:

Hi Maura,
Kristin, Kevin, Mike and I had the best time ever watching the wedding and reception videos! We felt like we were experiencing the big event all over again. (But it was more relaxing this time.) The videography is gorgeous and the sound is perfect. We certainly put the wedding in good hands with your beautiful filming.

Thank you for your incredible DVD's. We will enjoy them forever!
Laurie

Note from the Bride:

Hi Maura,

I just wanted to echo the praise my mom sent. Your work was
phenomenal, and I can't believe how well you captured the emotion of
the events. The angles of the camera, the footage of the
details, and the voice overs made the video extremely special and
unlike anything I've seen. I will be sure to spread your name around
to anyone I can. We're thrilled with the outcome of your work and you
were so pleasant to work with from the beginning.

Thanks again!!
Kristin

details:
Ceremony: Unity Village
Reception: Longview Mansion
Photographer: David Riffel
Florist: Sidelines
Musicians: Atlantic Express

KC Bridal Spectacular - 1.10.09

2009-01-09T09:40:00.004-06:00

We will be at the Bridal Spectacular this Saturday, Jan 10! This is our 7th year at this show - hard to believe it has been that long! It a great opportunity to see LOTS of vendors for some great ideas and inspiration. I look forward to meeting lots of great couples, and do one of my favorite things, visit with so many of my friends in the business! So if you are looking for something to do tomorrow, come on out to The Overland Park Convention Center and visit us at Booth 337! Sam and I would love to visit with you!

Jennifer and Matthew

2009-01-07T14:49:00.006-06:00

I am always so flattered to be asked to create a wedding video for a family that I have worked with in the past. Jen and Matt were wonderful, and it was such an honor to create your video. I shot Jennifer's sisters video several years ago, as well as her cousin's wedding too! Jen and Matt chose some great music that I haven't edited to before and it was a treat! Thanks guys and I look forward to seeing you at the next family wedding!

jen and matt from creative video on Vimeo.
Details:
Ceremony & Reception: B'nai Jehudah
Florist: Fiddly Fig
Photographer: David Riffel

Bridget and Bryan

2008-12-11T14:47:00.004-06:00

WOW! I have to say that I think Starlight is my latest favorite location! Just getting to shoot video under professional lighting and in this space is amazing! Bridget and Bryan are the best couple and you can just feel the love and friendship when you watch this long highlight. This is close to a short film in many ways - lots of great audio is used throughout - it is just lovely! Thanks Bridget and Bryan for your patience with the HD editing - it turned out great!

darby highlights HD from creative video on Vimeo.

Details:
Ceremony: Our Lady of Sorrows
Reception: Starlight Theater
Photographer: David Riffel
Caterer: Brancato's
Musicians: Atlantic Express
Flowers: Clara's

Amanda and Zach - short film

2008-12-05T08:37:00.005-06:00

It is a blog marathon here this week! This was a beautiful wedding and I was honored to be a part of it! Thank you for letting me help you preserve your wedding day memory!

This clip is the beginning of Amanda and Zach's short film - it is also a good peek at what can be done with a little bit extra preceremony time!

Amanda & Zach from creative video on Vimeo.
details:
Ceremony - Union Station
Reception - Union Station
Flowers - Craig Sole
Photography - Paul Versluis
Wedding Coordinator - Patty Gehring

melinda and jason

2008-12-02T22:10:00.003-06:00

What a pleasure to get to help create your wedding video Melinda and Jason! It was a beautiful day and fun for me to get to shoot your wedding in the church I grew up attending!

here are your highlights!

melinda and jason highlights from creative video on Vimeo.
details:
Church: Holy Trinity Chapel
Reception: VFW
Florist: Branches and Twigs
Photographer: Attig Photos

melissa & Todd - sneak peek

2008-11-10T10:27:00.007-06:00

How fun to have a sneak peek into the wedding video! This was a beautiful wedding that I shot just this Saturday! We had a wonderful time with this couple - it was such a special day. I had a great time putting this short video together right after too! This is an option for my 09 brides and will be part of the new packages.

Enjoy the sneak peek Melissa and Todd!

sneek peek - 11.8.08 from creative video on Vimeo.

details:
Church: Redemptorist Catholic Church
Reception: Intercontental Rooftop
Florist: Beco
Band: Michael Beers Band
Photographer: Heather Cole Photography
Wedding Coordinator: Kindra Browne - Simple Elegance

New Studio News

2008-11-04T14:26:00.002-06:00

I am very excited to announce that our new studio is ready to go! Sort of. I met with my first client up there last night and it was wonderful! The viewing/proofing room is done, and the photo studio is about finished. Cole and I were up there this morning painting one more room, and then we just have that floor to put down. It is so exciting to see this growth - I am equally excited about the new technology of HD and editing/shooting techniques that will be part of the new 09 packages for next year!!!

My computer has been compressing like mad to get these two HD projects completed - the quality of HD is really amazing, even when put to DVD. The first blu-ray discs should be finished in the next week or so, and it will be exciting to see how that looks in the new studio space!

Hope everyone has a great election day!

Great workshop

2008-10-09T12:10:00.006-05:00

I just got back from New Orleans and perhaps the most groundbreaking educational experience out there in filmmaking and videography for wedding video! I have returned with some very exciting ideas and new techniques not to mention just being inspired by the top filmmakers in the industry! Here is a little peek of a little bit of the fun that was had when we weren't in session.

This was a parade that they set up for us called a Second Line. It is often used during weddings in this amazing city to get the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception site. It was extremely fun and kind of hilarious to see all these photographers and videographers with every camera you could imagine!

I'm off to go do some work on the new studio - it should be ready for clients in a couple weeks! Exciting stuff!

The "A" list - best of KC

2008-09-28T22:30:00.004-05:00

I almost forgot! Creative Video has been nominated for the Best Videographer in KC - The "A" List. It is kind of a neat thing, and I would love your vote!

it only takes a minute and it would be pretty cool to win! Click here to vote!

Thanks so much!
Maura

Busy September

2008-09-28T21:49:00.008-05:00

I just keep waiting to see if things calm down. They don't. It has been a VERY busy month! It has been a GREAT month for us on a variety of levels and I am very excited about some great things coming up!

I will be getting the keys to my very own studio in a few days!!! As many of you know, I was sharing a space with a fellow photographer in the Crossroads for some time, and it was wonderful! It was just the push that I needed to realize that I couldn't continue doing all my work out of my home. I will miss the Crossroads and that vibrant art scene, but the benefits of having my own space to meet my clients in and will reflect my own work and style outweigh the cool-factor of the Crossroads. The new space is in Waldo, and I really think this part of town has its own special feel and organicness (is that a word?) that is exciting. Not to mention Waldo Pizza and 75th St. Brewery right around each corner. Oh, and McClane's Bakery! Those cupcakes! yummy. The place needs a little painting and some lovin, but we are ready to get messy, so bring it on! I will be meeting video clients there, there will be a photography studio for my growing baby/child photography work and we will proof those clients as well in the space. I will still office out of my home studio, but I think for now this is going to be good.

Another exciting thing this month is all the workshops I have gotten to attend and will be going to in a week! I had the opportunity to attend the One Light Workshop in KC last week and it was WONDERFUL!!! It was geared for photography, and I learned some great things for the portrait side, but light is very important in video as well and I can transfer so much of what we did to video. It was refreshing. I have a week at home and then off to another workshop in New Orleans the first week of October for some really intense video stuff. I hope to come back with some great new ideas and insight - more super8 stuff to come! 2009 will be a great year for Creative Video.

Now for some fun stuff - Sam and I recently got home from the best week IN THE BAHAMAS! Now, I am not a beachgoing kind of girl, WAY to white skinned for that! But turns out I loved it. We had a great time and I would highly recommend Atlantis to all honeymooners. This was a business trip for Sam, I sort of tagged along, but it WAS spectacular! Here are a few little pics.

I just had to include this one - we spent one day on a snorkeling trip/shark feeding extravaganza. That is a good sized shark he is wrestling with - many MANY more right behind it. After this wrestling match we geared up and went snorkeling. Yes, in the same area! Mabye not the most brilliant choice in the world, but I was somehow comforted that none of the guys/guides had any "shark scars" on them. :-) It was an amazing trip! Sorry, no video on this trip - I can ONLY imagine what the salt and sand would do to one of my cameras! YIKES.

More videos to come soon - I have been working HARD on my first HD edit - there are a few tricks to this HD thing, but I think we've gotten it figured out.

Carolyn & Gerard Short Film

2008-09-11T08:46:00.008-05:00

Thanks Carolyn and Gerard for a beautiful day! This was a very fun wedding with some wonderfully personal details! Gerard's brother married them and they had two fellow family members who are priests officate as well. One of them I recognized from St. Gregory's in Oklahoma where my Dad attended high school and junior college. I grew up listening to WONDERFUL stories of St. Gregory's!

Gerard currently is an Offensive Lineman for Kansas State University, and Carolyn played on the Women's Basketball team for KSU and lead them to be the Big XII champions in 2008!

They had a beautiful ceremony in Bucyrus, KS and reception on the Basketball Court! It was perfect!!! As a KSU alumni, I enjoyed the all the purple and LOVED Carolyn's hightops!

This is a clip of their short film, something I will be offering with my new 09 packages. Let the video load for a minute before you watch it, it is a little longer and will play better if you give it time to load.
Untitled from creative video on Vimeo.

details:
ceremony - Holy Rosary Chruch, Wea, KS
reception - Holy Rosary
photographer - Paul Versluis
florist - Craig Sole
coordinator - Patti Gehring

super8 superman birthday boy!

2008-09-08T19:33:00.005-05:00

Just a little fun with my kids! Cole's birthday party happened to be the same week that I got my new (old) super8 camera. So I had to play. Sad it took me 4 months to edit it. I would love to tell the story of Superman, next time I see you and don't have any kids around, remind me to tell you. It is very funny!

Happy birthday Superman Cole!

coles birthday 4 super8 from creative video on Vimeo.

something exciting

2008-09-07T11:02:00.003-05:00

I can't disclose too much here - just excited!!!! More news to come - for those of you who haven't met my office partner, this is Ned on the door.

Central Presbyterian Church

2008-08-18T10:15:00.004-05:00

This is a project that we have been working on for some time - again, this work gives me the opportunity to get to know some fantastic people all over Kansas City. This is a promotional video introducing and sharing the work and worship of Central Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. I had the chance to spend some time down there at several events and really enjoyed the people and seeing the work they are doing. Thanks for inviting me into your family!

busy august

2008-08-13T10:01:00.002-05:00

This is a crazy month for me! We just got back from a week in Cool Colorado enjoying some wonderful hikes with the kids and horseback riding - just a wonderful relaxing week in the mountains! I am working hard on catching up on phone calls and photo montages and getting ready for all the big weddings this month. This is one of the busiest Augusts for weddings I have had in several years! Lily starts 2nd grade tomorrow, and I will miss my "summer sidekick". Many of you met her these past few weeks, and Cole has a couple weeks of hanging out with me before his preschool starts back up. So, needless to say, my editing schedule is a little harried. Cole is not quite as agreeable to sit at the little table here in my office and paint, or work on a "school book" as Miss Lily was. He is more of an on my lap, "lets play Noggin" kind of guy.

So please hang in there with me - I am working hard to keep things going! Believe me, I have sacrificed my poor house this summer for video editing - any of you who have come in to drop off or pick up can attest to that too! :-)

See you at a wedding soon!
Maura