Service Options
Weddings:
Tom has over 25 years experience videotaping weddings. He has done nearly 400 ceremonies during that time. He has worked successfully with many churches and photographers in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area. The result is a wedding captured and edited beautifully. Special effects, transitions, music and expert videography make for a delightful wedding DVD that a couple can enjoy for years.
Tom employs state-of-the-art digital equipment. A Canon XL2 records gorgeous video. A Shure wireless microphone gets the vows loud and clear. Tom will tap into church or dj systems and get audio from singing, music or readings. He will also have a third mic to pick up ambient sounds such as laughter and applause.
In the editing suite Tom uses many tools to make an interesting and entertaining video. He will add music you provide as well as pictures and video from the couple's early life and dating period. A custom music video depicting the bride and groom's growing up and finding each other makes for a great introduction to the wedding video or a great slideshow at the rehearsal dinner, during the ceremony or at the reception.
The wedding DVD is custom authored with a classy home page and usually three chapters: pre-ceremony, ceremony and reception. The average length of your DVD is 1.75 hrs. The DVD label is creatively designed with pictures taken from video frames of the wedding.
Home Movie Conversion:
For 25 years Tom Engdahl has been taking families' old home movies and converting them to a format that can be watched on big screen televisions. 16mm, 8mm and Super 8mm film can be transferred to DVD for enjoyment. And it's so much easier to view than battling reels of film! Music, titles and narration can spice up the old film.
Tom projects the film image onto a high resolution ccd chip similar to those found in high-end cameras. The film is converted to digital and captured directly onto the hard drive of his computer. Some other processes project the film onto screens or into mirrored telecine boxes and then records through a camera. Taking a picture of a picture loses quality, a pure digital capture is best. Once in the computer the film is edited; bad sections removed and music and titles added. Tom also uses "wetgate" technology to provide a clean and clear picture. Just before the film passes through the digital projector it wraps through three wet felt pads that both clean and clear the picture of dust and scratches.
Slideshows:
Pictures, both in jpeg or on photo paper, can be combined with music, titles and creative transitions to make a slideshow. Tom has mastered the slideshow, adding motion in the form of slow pans and zooms to a photograph (similar to any of Ken Burn's work on PBS). This motion adds powerful emotions and interest to a slideshow. Videotape and even narration can be added. Tom will also work with a client to help plan and organize large groups of photos into a terrific slideshow. These videos are perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, reunions and funeral services.
Videotape to DVD Conversion:
This has become a big deal. Unlike old home movie film, Beta,VHS, 8mm amd mini-dv videotape will eventually disintegrate. Priceless images of children growing up or loved ones who have passed will be lost. Videotape cassettes have been around since the early 1980s and now are reaching that age where the images they captured are disappearing. Digital archiving is critical to preserving family history. With current DVD technology these images can be archived for at least the next 50 years. Videotape can also be saved onto harddrives. Custom DVD authoring allows for beautiful home pages just like the ones you see on the movies you rent. Chapters can be created for easier access to past events.
Videotape to DVD Conversion Cost
Dupilcation:
Tom Engdahl offers next day service and great prices in reproducing DVDs in large quantities. He also can custom design labels with logos and pictures.
Photos from Film or Videotape:
Want to go back in time and take a photo of Mom from 1957? You can do that from old film or videotape that has been converted to a digital format. A single frame of video can be grabbed and taken into Photoshop. There the picture can be enhanced if needed and printed onto glossy high quality photo paper. Great for a surprise gift!
Photo from Film or Videotape Cost
Old Photo Restoration:
Thanks to extensive practice on many of his own old family photographs (many which you can see atop the homepage) Tom Engdahl can remove scratches, tears, stains and other blemishes. He can lighten or increase contrast to improve picture quality and then print them or archive them onto a cd or portable harddrive. An entertaining slideshow could be produced too!
Sports:
Sports videography has been a special passion for Tom Engdahl Video Productions. He was the official Greater Spokane League high school football videographer for 13 years. Tom has videotaped many different sports both indoors and outdoors. He has also edited highlight videos that have helped many area students obtain college scholarships. Another specialty video is season highlights shown at team banquets. For 10 years Tom was the videographer for the Seattle Mariners Fantasy Camps in Peoria, Arizona. He also could throw a nasty curve ball.
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs:
Tom Engdahl has videotaped over 70 Bar/Bat Mitzvahs over the past 23 years. This is a most significant time when the child becomes an adult in Jewish life. It is the culmination of many years of Hebrew study. Tom works closely with the Rabbi and family to ensure that traditions are respected and all the come-of-age moments are captured perfectly. The Shabbat coverage usually includes Friday night and Saturday's Sabbath services as well as the Saturday night celebration.Audio is recorded from the temple's microphone system to ensure clear readings of the torah and the haftorah. The weekend can be edited into an hour long DVD that is shared with family and friends. A slideshow can also be produced from pictures highlighting the bar/bat mitzvah's life and be shown at the Saturday night party. L 'Chaim!
Music:
Tom has recorded many different bands over the years. From Rock 'n Roll to Classical, musical groups had Tom produce music videos that can be placed on websites that help attract gigs. Multiple cameras can be edited into smooth visuals with a solid sound track from the band's own mixing board. B-roll (video that establishes a storyline) can be edited along with the live footage. Somebody's Hero (classic rock) and Heartbreak Pass (bluegrass) are two bands Tom has worked with recently.