1. Introduction: What's your story?
I'm Naomi Raiselle, half of GENERATIONS. My other (and better half!) is my husband, Jack Brotman. Jack has been a video producer for decades. I have been a couple's counselor, wedding celebrant and teacher. In 2004, Jack and I were excited that Equal Marriage was about to become law in Massachusetts. We believe that LOVE is LOVE and all adults should have the right to marry whomever they love. We were excited when we were invited to showcase at the first LGBTQ+ wedding show in Boston. A very sweet couple took our card, and several days later, when the Massachusetts SJC ruled that all couples had the right to marry, we were honored to be asked to film one of the 7 plaintiff couple's weddings - that happened on the very first day Equal Marriage became the law in Massachusetts.
Jack specialized in corporate video production, but had occasionally filmed a wedding of a friend or colleague. I had never picked up a video camera in my life. Over the weekend prior to the wedding, Jack gave me a crash course in filming and bright and early on a Monday morning, May 17, 2004, we showed up at the couple's home to film the back story to their wedding, followed by their historic wedding at the Arlington Street Church.
It took just one special wedding for me to be hooked. Together Jack and I developed a first- person narrative style that has informed all our work since. We knew that a good photographer would capture all the important and special moments. We wanted to capture the couple's story and all the sights and sounds and feelings and well-wishes that occur at weddings.
In 2008, GENERATIONS (then called, "GENERATIONS video stories") was honored to be the first wedding videography studio to be awarded the prestigious "Best of Boston" award. Since then we have filmed weddings from coast to coast and continue to be listed on many preferred vendor lists as well as being the first choice of many discerning couples.
We film just a dozen weddings a year, wanting to keep our work fresh and special to each of our couples.
When not filming or editing wedding films and love stories, we produce non-profit videos; corporate videos; family memoirs; and personal videos celebrating special people and occasions.
2. How long have you been filming weddings? How many weddings have you filmed?
We have been filming weddings together since May 17, 2004.
We have, at this point, filmed hundreds of weddings.
3. How would you describe your videography style?
Our style is intimate and candid. We have always focused on the first person narrative, telling the couple's love story, and the thoughts, feelings and moments that make each wedding special.
4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding videographer?
We recommend that our couples book their photographer and their videographer soon after they book their venue.
5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
We offer small, medium and large packages - ranging from our post-COVID rescheduling package - of 4 hours to a full weekend starting with the wedding rehearsal and ending with the post--wedding day brunch. Our Wedding Day package is our most popular one this year.
6. Are you the wedding videographer who will be filming on the wedding day? How many camera people and cameras will be operating on the day?
YES! All our weddings are filmed and edited by Jack and me. For large or complicated weddings, we may add one of our assistants.
7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
Anytime we have to travel for more than two hours, we ask that our couples provide us with room and board for 2 nights. That enables us to be close to the action, and well -rested before the wedding, as well as making sure that we are safe to drive the following day. If we need to fly to the wedding, our couples are asked to cover our airfare as well as 2 nights of food and lodging.
8. How do you back-up your footage to ensure no footage is lost and for how long do you keep the footage after the wedding?
All our media is copied with backup to professional hard drives immediately after the wedding. We keep all the media for 6 months.
9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the video? And how will the video be delivered?
We deliver online exclusively, with a private link. Depending on the length of the edit selected, it can take up to 6 months for delivery of the finished project. Recently we have added a one-minute, Instagram clip within a few days of the wedding so our couples can share with family, friends and social media.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
All bookings require a 50% non-refundable retainer to hold the date. If a wedding is postponed or cancelled, the retainer can be applied to any video project within the year.
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