The goal for the Triple Scoop Music education area is to share tips and advice from a wide range of top videographers and photographers to help you grow your income by utilizing the best music available. There's a reason our motto is "Sound As Good As You Look" - and we're committed to your success!
We'll be launching our expanded education area officially in the near future. Until then, here's a great interview on "Mixing Music and Images" by world-renowned photographer Mark Ridout. You can also click here for an inspired article by Pulitzer Prize Winner Barry Staver.
Mixing Music and Images
An interview with Mark Ridout
www.ridoutphotography.com
“Creating photographic digital slideshows is a must to stay competitive in today's wedding industry. Selecting the right music for that slideshow is tremendously important," says International Wedding and Portrait Photographer Mark Ridout.
Triple Scoop Music tracked down Mark to ask his opinion on a number of subjects.
TSM: So Mark, how do you choose your music?
MR: In my younger days, I was a part-time DJ at a local watering hole. I learned how to work the crowd into a frenzy and then give them a break with a slow romantic song. With my slideshows, I apply the same techniques I did as a disc jockey, only in reverse order.
I start off all of my slideshows with a soft, slow romantic song and build the tempo to a climatic ending. I’ve used this same, highly effective format since creating my first digital slideshow over 6 years ago. The majority of the slideshows I create for my current wedding clients require four songs.
Instead of ending the slideshow with images from the reception, the last dance or a standard cake shot, I prefer to have the last song upbeat and playing alongside the strongest images shot throughout the day, ending, of course, with the "money shot." I want my strongest images to be the last images that the clients, friends and family see as the show ends. Those last remaining photos, combined with the right music, will surely leave a lasting impression on the viewer.
TSM: Can you give us some details on the different ways you use music to promote your business?
MR: Currently, I’m using four tracks from Triple Scoop Music for my website -- www.ridoutphotography.com – I selected each song for its unique sound. The viewers have the option of letting the songs play through or choosing one that fits their fancy.
I also use a TSM track for a small flash trailer that I send to all of my wedding clients. It is a great marketing tool that promotes my business with very little effort. Basically, it’s a 45-second commercial I created using images from their wedding day, announcing the soon-to-be-released "Our Wedding Story" DVD.
By using a template, I can easily switch out the images while keeping the same music and timing.
TSM: In your experience, how does using the right music along with your slideshows impact your business?
MR: Unquestionably, the success of your shows will be based on your shooting skills mixed with strong creative music. The importance of good solid tunes to give your slideshows a professional touch can’t be overstated.
As far as slideshow creation goes, I recently surpassed10,000 views on a wedding slideshow. Never have I had, received, or could even track that kind of exposure from a wedding before creating slideshows for online sharing. Has creating slideshows impacted my business? You bet it has! And know that with the introduction of high definition output combined with cutting edge tracks I'll be another large step ahead of my competition.
Years ago it was difficult and expensive to stay within the legal confines of the music industry in regards to copyrighted music. With the ever-expanding titles and quality tracks offered by Triple Scoop Music it has made creating slideshows easier and more affordable then ever before.
Quite often I’ll have couples e-mail me after receiving their slideshow asking where they can purchase the artist’s CD. That's a compliment that I'm heading in the right direction!
TSM: What are the songs playing on your website right now?
MR: They are:
- "Disappear" (instrumental ) Artist: a girl named jaen
- "Voodoo" Artist: Dj Sonic
- "You Touch Me" (vocal) Artist: India Dupre'
- "Watercolors" (instrumental) Artist: Daniel Ho (2 time Grammy winner!)
Visit Mark’s website for future workshops: "Creating Dynamic Slideshows 101" - www.ridoutphotography.com