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General Business FAQ's            Technical FAQ's          Packages and Pricing FAQ's
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General Business FAQ's

What is your approach?  How does Canvas Video "do business"?
Canvas Video is a turnkey production company that offers professional in-house videotaping, editing and duplication services to our clients.  Our approach is simple - we provide you, our client, with a high-quality, professionally videotaped and edited project that best reflects your goals and requests at an affordable price.  Because we do not outsource our services, as many other videographers do, we are able to keep the cost of your project highly competitive. In addition to our professionalism, we offer you exemplary customer service throughout every step of your project.  By doing so, we ensure your satisfaction from start to finish.

We have videotaped hundreds of weddings throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia along with many theatrical productions at Greenville, SC's prestigious The Peace Center, Furman University's elite McAlister Auditorium and Anderson University's gorgeous The Rainey Fine Arts Center and Merritt Theater.

We respect the atmosphere of your project by performing all videotaping in a non-obtrusive, professional manner so you and your guests or attendees enjoy your event without distractions.  We only book one event per day so we can provide you the flexibility and attention detail to you deserve to receive for your investment in our services.

We believe this approach offers both you and us a winning combination - you, our client, receive a high-quality production you will enjoy for years to come, and we, in turn, enjoy growing success of our business through your referrals.

We invite you to trust our services for your upcoming event so you can receive a high-quality, professionally produced project you will enjoy for years to come.  Call us today at 864.962.6864 or email us with your questions or to book your event with Canvas Video.

What is your style?  Are you obtrusive?
Absolutely NOT!  We have many clients who are amazed at how extensive our coverage is because "we never saw you or even realized you were there!"  This is one of the highest compliments we can receive because we work very hard to be respectful of your event while doing everything we can to minimize or eliminate any distractions to your guests or attendees.

Although technological advances provide us newer ways to capture people's most cherished memories, Canvas Video still upholds and honors the reverence of your event.  All of our cameras provide us excellent zoom features which allow us to be in balconies, sound booths and other locations without compromising the quality of your final production.  We do not use obtrusive lighting or audio systems nor request lighting plans be altered to "benefit our cameras".  Our job is to capture the memories of your event without being obnoxious, demanding and obtrusive.  We will always be respectful of your location's rules and regulations along with being respectful and courteous to any staff, guests and/or attendees of your event to provide the best experience possible for everyone.  Doing so is just good business -- and good business benefits everyone.

What type of events do you produce?
Canvas Video produces a full spectrum of high-quality, customized productions affordably.  Whether it is a cherished family event, theatrical show, dance recital, beauty pageant, school or church event or other specialty or corporate event, we will ensure your final production is one you will cherish forever.  Because each production is unique and customized, we offer a free consultation to understand the elements of your production so we can provide you a complete proposal detailing the cost and expectations of the project. 

Examples of the different types of events we produce include, but are not limited to, the following:

Regardless of your event, Canvas Video can handle your needs.  Call us today at 864.962.6864 or email us with your questions or to book your event with Canvas Video.

What attire can I expect?
Canvas Video and its staff ensures our appearance and demeanor will always be "5-star".  We will dress appropriately for the event - i.e. for formal events - including weddings, theatrical events, etc. - we will wear suits; for outdoor events or less formal events - we will wear dress slacks and oxford or golf-type shirts.

Additionally, we will wear our corporate badges to benefit and assist any support staff you are working with (including church staff, theater production teams, corporate event leaders, etc.)  We are happy to confirm our attire for your event, as to put your mind at ease, so please do not hesitate to ask. 

How many bookings do you accept per day?
Only one.  Many years ago, we attempted taping two events in the same day but did not feel this was fair to us or our clients.  By booking only one event per day, you are assured of having our senior expertise  and attention to detail for your entire event.  Also, by booking only one event per day, our schedule is flexible for your needs if you require more time at the beginning or end of your event.

Will you travel?  What are the fees?
Yes.  We do not charge additional hourly fees to travel between locations, unless the distance is between locations is extensive (i.e. 30+ minutes) which would be negotiated on a case by case basis.

Our package prices include a 60 mile round trip (30 miles up/30 miles back) to your location.  For travel above this, we charge $0.45/mile with no additional hourly fees.  By not charging additional hourly charges, we again, keep your final production affordable.

For extensive travel, we do not charge surcharges or additional percentages.  We simply ask our clients to cover the cost of airfare, room costs at the hotel chosen for your guests and reasonable expenses for meals. Events bookings requiring this extent of travel expenses will be negotiated on a per case basis in order to ensure fair and reasonable costs for our clients.

How do I book an appointment?  Are demos or sample clips available?
We would love to talk with you about your upcoming event!  We accept appointments 7 days a week at a time most convenient for you.  Our appointment with you will include your free consultation of your event along with viewing samples of events that are most similar to your event.

As part of your consultation, we will discuss in detail your expectations, requirements along with answer all of your technical and non-technical questions. If we have previously videotaped your location, we will show you samples of our work at this location if possible.

The goal of our appointment with you is to provide you with all the information, criteria and personality evaluation you need to feel comfortable booking your event with Canvas Video.

Booking a videographer, just a booking your photographer, is a very personal and important decision because these are the individuals that are capturing the memories of your event.  You want to be sure they are people who want to capture all aspects of your event, not just the ones they choose.  We believe the best way to assess and choose this person is by investing time into learning how these people work and how they conduct themselves.  Although a demo copy can show you the "technical" expertise of a videography, it does not show you their demeanor, professionalism and personality.

Although we will send demos, we have provided sample clips on our website to help you with your initial 'technical' evaluation of us so you can determine if you would like to talk with us further.  Because your event is so personal, we want to give it the respect it deserves by having the chance to talk with you personally to learn your requests and expectations while thoroughly answering all of your questions and concerns.

Many questions and determinations, such as technical questions (why a certain camera angle was used, how would you set camera up at my location or if different camera angles or zooms can be performed) or assessments  ( i.e. do I 'like' them - do they 'click with me'), can only be assessed during a personal appointment.  It is for these reasons, we strongly encourage you to book an appointment with us.  Naturally, exceptions to this recommendation are for those who are contacting us out-of-state where setting up an appointment is not feasible.  For these situations, we are pleased to send a sample disk.

Our appointments generally last about an hour but will continue for as long as needed to ensure you receive the information you need to make your best videography decision.  We invite any and all that wish to be part of your evaluation to join to you.  We believe this investment of time by us both is worth its 'weight in gold'.  This way when you choose Canvas Video, you will have complete confidence that you have booked a professional company with knowledgeable staff - one that respects you and the aspects of your event who will provide you a completed project you are sure to enjoy forever.

What are your booking requirements?
Canvas Video requires a deposit and signed contract to book your event.  For our family events, we require a $200 non-refundable deposit.  For theatrical and dance productions, corporate and other specialty productions, we require a non-refundable deposit equal to 25% of the total investment of the project, or complete up-front payment of incurred expenses, to help cover any specialty equipment or additional staff requirements.  These deposits are then applied to your total cost to provide you your remaining balance due to Canvas Video.

Please note, our deposits are non-refundable since we only book one event per day.  These non-refundable deposits help our company offset costs or lost revenues if your event is canceled, along with revenues from other possible events that could not be booked while your event was confirmed.

Once Canvas Video has received your deposit and signed contract, your date is confirmed.  Because we only book one event per day, our schedule is flexible for your needs in the event you require more time at the beginning or end of your event.

What payment types do you accept?
We accept cash, check and money orders along with electronic checks, debit cards and credit cards online through our website via our partnership with Paypal.

Our goal is to offer you the most professional production affordably.  By minimizing the additional fees associated with credit cards and outsourcing services, Canvas Video is able to pass these savings onto you, our client in order to provide you a super project at a fair, affordable price.

When is our final payment for our remaining balance due expected?
Because the clients who book us demand quality, professional services, we request payment for final balances due once you have viewed your final copy.  We are proud of our services and know you will enjoy your final product, so there is no need for us to request full payment until you've seen your final copy.

Additionally, because our services include post-videography services (such as editing, DVD compilation, etc.), we prefer you to view your final copy before rendering payment for services not yet performed.  This way, we have ensured your complete satisfaction before completing the transaction.  Over the years, we have found conducting business this way continues to support your confidence in your decision to choose Canvas Video and ensures we have and maintain happy customers throughout all aspects of your project from booking us to completing the final payment transaction.
 

Technical FAQ's

What is your experience?  How can I be confident of your expertise?
Canvas Video is a turnkey production company that offers professional in-house videotaping, editing and duplication services to our clients.  Over the past ten years, we have been chosen by hundreds of brides and grooms throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to capture their most cherished memories.  Additionally, we have videotaped many theatrical productions at Greenville, SC's prestigious The Peace Center, Furman University's elite McAlister Auditorium, and Anderson University's beautiful Rainey Fine Arts Center and Merritt Theater.

Michael Painter is our Director, Senior Videographer and Premiere Editor.  His media career is extensive and includes scripting, storyboarding, shooting and editing hundreds of television commercials and voice-over work for cable television.

Nicole Painter is our Marketing and Bookings Contact, Continuity and Graphics Editor.  Her customer service and sales career is equally impressive by having worked for premiere customer service organizations such as Walt Disney World, Marriott and IKON.

For a more in-depth description of our expertise, please see our bios under Meet Us.

What equipment do you use?
We use a combination of prosumer grade equipment and state-of-the-art non-linear digital editing for our video productions.  We primarily use (2) high-end, 3-chip, broadcast quality cameras (Canon GL series cameras). For shoots requiring more than (2) camera angles, we additionally have two prosumer digital Mini-DV camcorders, Cannon Opturas.

Additional equipment we use includes a PRO88W wireless lapel microphone and any additional sound and light systems (if required for the production) to capture the initial footage.  To ensure the best audio, we prefer to directly connect to your facilities' sound system, when possible, to maximize the production's captured sound. 

All productions are digitally edited using Adobe Premiere.  Corporate logos, performer photos and family photos are incorporated into our final productions using digital or scanned originals via Adobe Photoshop. Our final DVD productions include full-scale custom menus and chapter point advances.

We additionally provide in-house DVD duplication services for our completed projects that give our clients a single vendor turnkey solution for their productions.  This allows our clients to receive as many copies as needed that can be ordered at any time.

How many camera angles do you use?
Most of our productions include two camera angles.  This includes weddings and other family events, dance recitals and many school, church and corporate events.  Typically, one camera angle provides a wide, all encompassing shot of the event while the second camera is used to capture close-ups of the most important or intimate parts of your event.  By combining these two angles, your final production beautifully captures all of the elements of your event.

For productions that entail a wide variance of motion or span over larger coverage areas, we can include up to four camera angles.  Three camera angles are primarily used for theatrical productions, beauty pageants and the like so we can provide a more thorough coverage of the production.  One camera angle provides a wide, all-encompassing shot of the stage while our second and third camera angles captures movement on center to stage-right and center to stage-left respectfully.  These three angles are then blended together to ensure all performers, contestants, etc. are captured and represented in a professionally completed production.

Do you use special lighting or audio?
Only if necessary.  It depends on the requirements of your event.  Most of our productions do not require special boom lights or microphones.  For weddings and other family events, dance recitals and school, church, or corporate events, no additional lighting is used with the exception of a small light mounted on top of our camera.  This small, unobtrusive light is only used in lower light situations to help capture the memory at the time and is not used throughout the entire event.  For theatrical events and beauty pageants, typically no additional lighting is required because higher-scale, professional lighting is often already provided at the location; however, additional lighting may be required for backstage or off-stage interviews, etc.

Our audio consists of a PRO88W wireless lapel microphone and free-standing corded microphones.  For weddings and other family events, dance recitals and school, church, or corporate events, our wireless lapel microphone is used to capture more intimate sound (i.e. bride and groom's vows, speaker's presentation, etc.).  It does not amplify your voice; it merely provides the means for us to clearly capture your voice to video.  Whenever possible, we prefer to connect directly to facility's sound system to ensure the best sound quality can be captured.

What coverage can I expect?  Do you only capture highlights of the event?
We provide complete coverage of your event.  We do not solely video segments of your event and call them 'highlights' as other videographers do.

As an example, with weddings, we are there to capture anything we see happen.  Obviously, this includes the key memories you expect us to capture, in addition to special candid moments that you aren't expecting that are precious to your day.  Examples can be guests signing your guestbook or your flower girl tugging on your dress, etc.  Although these may not be the key memories of your wedding, they are still precious memories that are special to your day. Hence, we consistently look and tape these moments to include in your final copy.

For our theatrical productions and beauty pageants, we ensure our multiple camera angles capture all of the performers and contestants so your final production tells the full story of your production and ensures that all contestants are included.  Too many times we hear individuals tell us camera angles did not follow the primary action of the theatrical event or did not include all contestants in a pageant.  The end result is a production that does not explain or reflect the story being told or allowing all contestants to be represented.  Per our standards, this is completely unacceptable.

To better learn how we would tape your next event, please call us today at 864.962.6864 or email us so we can discuss your requirements.

Are DVD and VHS formats available?
No.  Due to the advancement of technology, Canvas Video only offers the DVD format.

Our DVD format standard is DVD+R, which is currently the most acceptable, industry-wide format next to the dual-layer process used by large commercial duplication companies.  We have found the DVD+R standard has been the most compatible format across most DVD player manufacturers.  We can also provide DVD-R formats if needed.

All of our DVDs include customized fast-forward chapter points, main menus, chapter selection menus and any other specialty bonus menus as applicable to the production (i.e. performer or corporate bios, playbill act summaries, etc.)  Each of our menus incorporates beautiful still image background shots taken directly from your production's video.

Can others use cameras at our event?
It is dependent on the event.  For example, we know for special events such as weddings, others will want to capture these precious memories for themselves.  We know that the reason you have booked us is to receive the professional services of capturing all aspects of your events combined with the beauty that professional editing brings to your final copy.  It's that simple.  All we ask is that your guests or attendees are respectful of us and allow us to capture these moments for you - after all, you are paying us to provide a professional service to you and we don't want to disappoint you because a guest or other service vendor did not provide us the chance to capture your memories as we should.

In regards to professional photographers, we at Canvas Video are always respectful of them and consider them your primary service provider in capturing your memories.  After all, your pictures are what will be passed down from generation to generation, as where your video will be more special to those who attended or wanted to attend.  Therefore, we will always work with your photographer to ensure he/she can capture the best photographs possible for you.  Our cameras and their zoom functions often allow us to work behind your photographer without compromising your final video (or pictures).

Additionally, please note and assure your photographer we are not in the business of capturing still images - and hence, do not pose any type of competition to him/her.  Our expertise is in capturing action and motion, not stills.  Just as professional photography cameras best capture still images, our cameras are designed to best capture action.  Yes, they can capture  still images, but this is not what they are designed to do and therefore, we do not offer this service.  Hence, we want to work in perfect harmony with your photographer to ensure you receive the best pictures and video of your memories possible.  Feel free to have your photographer call us if there are any questions or concerns.

Can we purchase our raw footage?
No.  Many people ask for their raw footage because they are concerned that many precious moments didn't make it into the final video. We do not edit our productions in this manner.  Our job is to capture all of your memories and hence, include all your memories into your final copy.  The only footage that does not make it into the final copy is footage that is unusable and extraneous.  Examples of such are camera bumps, shots that include no relevant motion, etc.

Additionally, please understand your raw footage is what allows us to create your final production and its master copy.  In the event there is damage to the master disk and final digital files, we will need to return to your original raw footage in order to re-edit your production from scratch.

What is your standard turnaround time?
Our typical turnaround time on two-camera productions is approximately 6-8 weeks while our typical turnaround time on three-camera productions is 8-12 weeks.  These turnaround times are required in order for us to analyze all the footage from each camera so the footage can be editing into the best production possible while custom creating DVD menu screens and chapter points to create a final video you will be proud to own.

Naturally, in the event your production is completed sooner than these typical turnaround times, we will look forward to you reviewing your final production ahead of schedule.

Are copies available?  Will they be the same as the original?
Yes, absolutely! All duplications are made from our master copy to ensure all copies are the same as your copy. Additional copies are $40/DVD copy.


Packages and Pricing FAQ's

What type of packages do you offer?
Unlike other videographers, Canvas Video does not offer pre-arranged packages that force our clients to pay for additional services they may not want to have.  Instead, we take the approach of offering our services a la carte so you can build your own customized package that captures the memories you choose along with meeting your budgetary needs.  Please visit our Services page and choose from your event type to learn more about the services we offer.

What are your fees for your services?
Our fees vary based on your production and the amount of coverage you require.  For family events, such as a wedding, our services begin at $595 for two hours of ceremony coverage and go up to $1095 for full ceremony and reception coverage (up to five hours total).  Please visit our Services page and choose from your event type to learn more about pricing for the services we offer.

For theatrical events, dance recitals and other specialty events, each are priced according to length of time required for videotaping and editing.  Please contact us to discuss your needs so we can provide you a comprehensive and competitive proposal.

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Confirm your date today!
Call us 864.962.6864 or email us  info@canvasvideo.com for availability.

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