Love Walk Wedding Video Tips

June 9th, 2009

hans-film-festival-to-national-crop-picture4Hans Ayala from TOshots.com :

What is a Love Walk?

Love walk is a romantic walk with your fiance in a park, street, or a place where you have a moment to yourselves. Think back, the day when you first met. You were thinking, ‘what should I wear, should I do my make up and nails, do the earrings match my outfit, and so forth.’ Dress to impress! If you have been dating for a while, it’s a re-candling moment!

Tip, always do your nails, the videographer will do a close up on your engagement ring. You don’t want your undone nails to obstruct your diamond ring. ;) Also do your toe nails. It always looks nice when videographer does a close up on your feet as you are walking. Videographers will also do a close up on your eyes. It is very important to cover every detail, from nails to make up. The point here is not to make your wedding video a modeling shoot video. Unless of course you are looking for this style of video. Think of it as reliving or living the moment when you first met.

Another tip, act naturally. What I mean is, live the moment with your fiance. Do not think about your surroundings, specifically the videographer. Think of it as the day when you first fell in love with your fiance, where nothing around you matter. If you are an outgoing and spontaneous couple, let loose, let your personality show in this video. If you are the opposite, be yourself. The video should capture your personality. So that when you look back at your video, you can say, ‘that’s us’ when we first met.

Love walks are usually done in a park, street, lake, ocean, etc. Make sure the place you choose have variety of settings. For example, a bench, bridge, waterfall, fountains, flowers, trees, and all different types of settings. Settings in nature are always nice because you have all these natural colours and sounds around you.

The more setting variety you have in your shoot, the better it will look in your wedding video. Different settings add energy,  excitement and variety to your wedding video, that makes people want to see it, again and again. More importantly, you will see special details in each setting. You will be saying, ‘remember when we were lying down next to the flowers and trees … ‘ and ‘you were … ‘

I recommend that if you have a place that is special to both of you, park, lake, university or a place where you first experience ‘that moment.’ I suggest you use it. It will be an everlasting moment that will be special to you and anyone you share your wedding video with.

P.S. ;) ~ take a look at one of our ‘Love Walk’ videos at www.TOshots.com

Toronto Wedding Video Tips – Park Permits

June 8th, 2009

dsc06125Hans Ayala from TOshots.com :

I’ve been asked, where are Toronto and GTA (Greater Toronto Area) nice parks and places for a ‘love walk’ and ‘park’ wedding video. I found this information on the Internet (redflagdeals.com) that’s very comprehensive and useful, see below:

  • Guildwood Park Versace style architecture, pillars, molded arches, stairs, amphitheater, fountain, lakeshore, flowers. Highly recommended. 416 392 8188
  • Alexander Muir Park Architecture, iron gates, trees, stairs, flowers. Recommended. 416 392 8188
  • Newmarket Tannery Indoor. Fountain, granite, roman architecture, balconies, pillars, iron gates, bright. Only for last minute booking in case of rain. 905 895 6833
  • University of Toronto Architecture, antique, castles, iron gates, trees, stairs. Highly recommended. 416 978 2187
  • Knox College Part of the UofT. Has indoor and outdoor areas for shooting. Architecture, antique, castles, iron gates, trees, stairs. Highly recommended. 416 978 0168
  • The Distillery District s One of the coolest places in town. Architecture, art, brick, iron and wooden gates, cafes. Highly recommended. Pay at the gate, Front and Mill
  • James Gardens Traditional park, lots of trees, flowers, bridges, some water. Busy. 416 392 8188
  • Garloch Gardens Park, trees, flowers, bridge, lakeshore, pond, gazebo, rose garden, benches, stairs, rocks, hills. FREE, Oakville Lakeshore
  • Centennial Garden Indoor greenhouse and small outdoor park, trees, flowers, rocks. 416 392 8188
  • Casa Loma Indoor and outdoor architecture, balconies, rod iron gates, gardens, stairs. Highly recommended. 416 923 1172
  • Edwards Gardens Same as James Gardens, but larger and has a fountains and a staircase. Very busy. 416 392 8188
  • Kensington Market s Really edgy and fun. Graffiti and locals. FREE
  • Adamson Estate Lakeshore, trees, flowers, stairs, amphitheater, barn, bridge, benches. Not as busy as other parks. Recommended. 905 896 5384
  • Osgoode Hall Architecture, stairs, fence, flowers, trees. Nice in combination with urban wedding shots on University, Queen, and Nathan Philips Square. FREE, Queen and University
  • Mel Lastman Square Gazebo, stairs, stage, flowers, fountain, balconies, alleys, trees, flowers. Urban shots for couples who do not want to go downtown. FREE, Yonge North of Sheppard
  • Harbourfront s Lakeshore, bridges, stairs, balconies, boats, outdoor cafes, trees, pool, brick walls. Recommended. Free, Lakeshore and York
  • Chinguacousy Park Indoor greenhouse, small outdoor park, fountain, trees, flowers, benches, bridge. 905 458 6555
  • Sunny Side Pavilion Roman architecture, stucco, rod iron, gates, fountain, beach, park. 416 392 8188
  • Richmond Green Waterfall, trees, train station, alleys. Not too much shade in the middle of the day but one of the few options North of Toronto. 905 737 1236
  • Allan Gardens Indoor, plants, benches. 416 392 7288
  • Downtown Kleinburg s Doctor’s House, shops, cafes, train station, flowers. FREE
  • Downtown Unionville Old quaint houses, gazebo, shops, cafes, train station, flowers. FREE
  • McMichael Gallery Trees, rocks, barn, rustic feeling. 905 893 1121
  • Yorkville Benches, shop windows, sculptures, restaurants, fancy people. FREE