Meet Your Filmmaker: Q & A with Laura Palmer
Q: What made you decide to become a Wedding Videographer?
A: My sister got married. It was 1986; I was fourteen years old and active
in my high school theater department. My mother's boss volunteered to
videotape the wedding, and I thought how awesome that could actually be!
To actually be able to capture this special moment in time for families,
who have come through any kind of circumstance, to see their children
create a new family and enter into a new phase of their lives, with their
friends, and with all the resources & effort put into planning for this
event; it just seemed special to me that we could hold on to a moment
in time. After all, doesn't every fairytale story end with this moment,
where they come together and live happily ever after? Now, we all know
in real life that things happen, and time marches on, and sometimes we're
left feeling let down. Memories fade, and how often do we lose touch with
how we used to feel? I just thought, if people could really stay connected
to their motivations and frame of mind at that time, that maybe it could
bring them closer together.
So this very nice man was kind enough to set up a tripod with his video
camera and tape the wedding, which was simply boring. For one thing, the
camera was far enough back to give the overall view, but not really close
enough to give a lot of detail, and you couldn't really hear anything.
The pace moved slowly and it felt very empty and detached. Now, I don't
hold this against my mother's boss because he was a lawyer doing a favor
for a friend when personal video was still a fairly new thing. But certainly,
with today's computer editing capabilities, I find it much more possible
to come close to my original vision of what a person's wedding video could
be. And that's exciting and meaningful to me!
Q: What do you think is unique about your service?
A: Me!
Q: What is your training and professional experience?
A: I began Calico
Wedding Videos in 2007. Prior to that, I worked in the operations and
engineering department of a local television station for eight years.
I have been shooting and editing video for my own production banner, Calico
Digital Media Productions, since 1997. DVD releases include a number of
instructional videos, experimental short films, and PSAs. I began editing
video in college, working at the student operated television station on
campus. In high school and college, I pursued an avid interest in theatre
production. I am a member of WEVA, and I pursue continuing education at
every opportunity.