artisan wedding videos by studio msv

This is Why I Love What I Do

In tomorrow's post on the Re:Frame Blog where I'm interviewed about my work and my business, I talk about how the liking the people you work is AT LEAST just as important as liking the work that you do.

Well, here is a photographic personification of why I love what I do.

Although I would have loved to be home with family on July 4th, American Independence Day, I was, instead, shooting a wedding in Sonoma wine country at the Chateau St. Jean winery. But I didn't feel sorry for myself at any point during the 12 hours that I worked that day because I loved my co-workers. Pictured above, left to right, Skog, Maria, me, Robbie, Alex, and Mauricio.

We had a great time laughing together, bantering with one another, colaborating and inspiring each other.

What's even crazier is that the bride, the lovely Tami, is good friends with my brother! They were in a production or Miss Saigon together. My brother was the one that made the connection a few months ago and it was really cool to see him as a guest at the wedding.

(What's even crazier than that is that my high school friends were also guests at the wedding. One of them was a bridesmaid. Crazy coincidences! )

Needless to say, for many reasons, I love working with my friends on wedding gigs and that makes me happy. (And happy vendors make for better products and services!)

What About Mom?

My friend, Kathy Goodman, of Well Rehearsed is hosting a one-of-a-kind event at the Neiman-Marcus in Palo Alto's Stanford Shopping Center.

If your mom wants to be part of your wedding planning, is wondering what she'll wear, (or if you want to keep her busy >wink wink<) bring her to this awesome event! Check out the details below.

Click on the image for a larger, more legible version. (Here is the printable PDF)

Email Kathy for more details!

Re:Frame Collective Blog Part I

Hey, friends!

Check it out! I'm featured on the Re:Frame Blog!

In this post I talk a little about the evolution of my brand some of the mistakes I made along the way. In a future post, I talk about the Canon MkII 5D and some other things. Be sure to check it out.

Being selected to be featured on a top industry blog like this is amazing! I can't believe my eyes! Someone pinch me. :-)

Take a look at part one of two: http://reframecollective.com/blog/?p=475

Please leave a comment here or there! Even if it's just to let me know I suck.

Gabrielle's Atelier and Nicole Lisanne Weddings and Events by Design

 My friends, Gabrielle and Nicole have teamed up; joined forces; shared the burden; and supported each other through the grand opening of their new storefronts in downtown Campbell. They hosted an amazing, two-day launch at their new location and I was priveleged to have been invited to the event.

I first worked with Nicole and Gabby on the inaugural episode of Vendor Chic, my "blow-off-steam" side project that is both fun and beneficial for those who participate. (Did you know that the first three epidodes all got picked up by magazines?)

I've never seen such generosity from a gown vendor and meticulous dedication from a coordinator before. Vendor Chic was a strictly pro-bono project so no one was getting paid to do anything. In fact, many people had to actually spend money to make it come together. Maybe it's because it was my first one ever, but Vendor Chic: Vintage Cowboy still is really special to me. I think a lot of its success has to do with Nicole and Gabby.

Thanks ladies! And congratulations on the start of a new chapter of your lives!

Here are some photos that I took. (You can see more on my Facebook album here.)

SF Wedding Giveaway Profile

I'm featured on the SF Wedding Giveaway Vendors page!

Check it out http://www.sfweddinggiveaway.com/meet-andrew-hsu-of-studio-msv/

And visit the other vendors who are donating to this incredible philanthropic project! (Sweet. I just got to use the word philanthropic in context.)

I Got Me Some *Style Me Pretty* Love

Check it out! The Beltane Ranch video that my friends at Thi Cosmetics invited me shoot is a hit! I'm so encouraged by what Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty said about my video. It just made my day!

"You are going to LOVE this next feature. And I mean seriously love.

The ridiculously talented Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV sent us this little clip that he put together during a photoshoot for Brides Northern California Magazine.

I mean…is that not the greatest thing you have ever seen?"

Thanks Abby and the SMP gang for the feature and the super nice words, (and for following me on Twitter!)

Behind the Scenes, Bently Reserve Wedding

Here's a photo of me working with my peeps this past Saturday. Pictured are my friends, photographer Augie Chang, hair/makeup expert Maria Chang (no relation!) and my clients, Mai-Anh and David. (Plus, Augie's second shooter and assistant, Jason and Veronica.)

Original photo can be found HERE.

Not pictured, MB Wedding Designs, Enhanced Lighting, Cards De Luxe, The Bently Reserve, Cake Coquette, and others :-)

See Augie's original (uncropped) photo and the rest of his post HERE

Introducing: Save the Date Movies

Introducing SAVE THE DATE MOVIES (aka SDM)

Why use MSV Save the Date Movies? The reasons are bountiful!

• Because movies are awesome - and starring in your own movie is doubley awesome!
• Because movies are the wave of the future! (You know YouTube but there's no such thing as YouCards.)
• Because it saves trees! I can post your video on your own special website and you can simply email your guests the URL without dowing a single tree!
• Because it saves on postage - which saves on fossil fuels. Do you hate the earth? >:-(
• Because it's different than the save the date cards your girlfriends got for their wedding last year (which makes your rad!)
• Because it saves money! At $550 per video, it can be cheaper than many Save the Date cards you'd get online (don't forget postage!)
• Because if you use Save the Date Cards instead of Save the Date Movies, you have to say "STD" instead of the less noxious "SDM" :-) hahaha! Just kidding!

So what does a Save the Date Movie look like? Here's one that I did for Thomas (of Thomas John Events) and his lovely fiancée, Melissa. (Yes, astute, readers! You're right - it's from my previous post here! Congratulations for remembering!)

Check it out:

Thomas and Melissa: Special Message from andrew msv or at the official "Save the Date Movie Page CLICK HERE

Contact me for more info!

San Francisco Wedding Giveaway

San Francisco Wedding Giveaway is essentially a "Make-a-Wish" type of contest that will allow a deserving couple the chance to have the ultimate platinum wedding experience from a collaboration of some of the top Bay Area wedding vendors!

Founded by Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, the 2010 SF Wedding Giveaway will be unlike any other contest I've been a part of or have heard of before. I'm proud to be a hand-picked participant in the event, representing the official wedding videographer of the amazing wedding that will take place next year.

I'm very excited!

For more info, please check out http://www.sfweddinggiveaway.com/

Posting Videos - an Introspective

Some of my blog readers have expressed to me - either in writing or in person - that they enjoy reading my blog because it's evocative; that it helps them to wax philosophical or reconnect with themes they've lost touch with. I find this very encouraging and exciting.

However, it's been a while since I've written something of import. This isn't because I've suddenly become shallow or even because I'm too busy (although my busyness is a factor) but mainly because I've felt the pressure of posting a lot more videos than I traditionally do.

If you look at my pattern of posts during or prior to my Hawaii trip, there was a lot more writing about my personal activities - events, opinions, family and friends, etc - and a lot fewer videos. I've always thought that the power of the blog - or, better, MY blog - was that it was a way my readers could get to know me and have a sense of my character and personality. In a world where people are increasingly looking at the price tag, I think your SELF is an absolutely crucial element in what differentiates you from the others. So, because of that philosophy, I was always more about sharing my thoughts and goings-on than I was about showcasing my work.

But when I started getting more and more exposed to the excellent work that is out there (see, for example, the Re:Frame Collective and its band of merry men and women. What incredible talent!) I started to feel like I had to "prove myself" to gain respect or find a place in that crowd. To be one of the "popular kids."

Well, where are we now? I've probably posted more videos in the past two months or so than I have in the previous 10 months! And to what end? Sure, I'm proud of the work I'm displaying and I certainly do think that there is merit to doing so, but I feel like I've lost some of the personality in my blog that made it different and personal to me.

So, in short; I will, of course, continue to post videos (afterall, I *AM* a videographer!); but I think I'm going to go back to my "roots" - so to speak - and post more personal articles as well. I wouldn't want the reason for my videos posts to be out of a sense of obligation or competition. I'd rather it be natural and meaningful to me. That is the stuff that really speaks to who I am as a shooter and editor anyway.

I hope the change isn't too jarring or unwelcomed! Please do feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Cheers!

Oh... and because blog posts are always better with photos, here's a photo of my son, Zach. Just for fun.