But first let me tell you that:

1.  I don’t own a vest.
2.  My abs are more defined
3. and I do have a belt like that.

Major props to Mr. JP Cuison for the artwork below.

Fast Forward is the brainchild of Jayson and Joanne Arquiza, good friends of mine who happen to be great wedding photographers as well.

I shared the stage with commercial directors Avid Liongoren, Sid Maderazo & Lyle Sacris. Motion graphics experts Acid House, DOP JA Tadena and fellow wedding videographer Sheena from Mayad.

I honestly think they overshot all expectations. Kudos to them.

But that’s actually not the point.

The conference got me thinking. And this is always my schtick when giving lectures and talks. It’s a consistent thing I say because it’s something I firmly believe in. Something I lived through from the day I started doing what I do.

Wedding Videography has come a long way in the country. And I’m especially proud of that fact.

This is the first and only time I have committed this to writing. I don’t know why it took so long.

To be able to share the speaking stage with renowned commercial directors is in itself a statement. It means we are respected and recognized. Worthy of the attention and time of the participants. Twelve years (when I was starting out) ago we weren’t. Wedding videographers were at the bottom rung of film and video production, if ever they were considered at the ladder at all.

Twelve years ago, wedding video was an afterthought in this country, after the budget was spent on flowers and invites.
Now we are booked after the venue and often times before the photographer.

An “expensive videographer” was an oxymoron back then. You never spent for video. And a quality output was not expected. It was there for the sake of, not for any aesthetic or production value at all.

But because of hard work, dedication, talent and perseverance of the industry as a whole – the standards, output, respect, professionalism and creativity are all bars that have been raised.

It’s a great time to be a wedding videographer. I’m glad I do what I do.