Wedding Diaries interviewed one of the most experienced and a highly sought-after wedding videographer from New South Wales, James Raue of HoneyBear Films. Sydney based James is the founder and owner of HoneyBear Films.
HoneyBear Films
Videographers - James Raue
Business: HoneyBear Films
Location: Sydney and Southern Highlands, New South Wales
Hi! I'm James, the HoneyBear our company is named after. A big bear of a man who may appear scary at first (damn bitchy resting face), but on the inside I’m a big old softy who loves a good giggle. I'm the proud owner of an adhd brain that can’t focus on one thing, but has no trouble focusing on five. A skill that sees me thrive in the high paced environment of a wedding day where so many others panic. I’ve shot over 500 weddings and have expertise across cinematography, photography, video and photo editing, lighting, colour grading and whatever else I’ve decided to hyperfocus on this week.
After studying screenwriting at film school I developed a love for finding stories in documentary style projects and soon found myself in the world of wedding films. I have a Masters in Screenwriting and have written and directed features which went on to win awards at festivals around the world (and streamed on Amazon and Stan).
In my spare time I collect and rehouse vintage lenses, which I love to bring out during the photoshoot for that soft, dreamy look.
2. How long have you been filming weddings? How many weddings have you filmed?
I have been filming weddings for about ten years now. I long ago lost count of the amount that I've filmed, but it's somewhere between 500 and 1000. Before this I was editing wedding films and honing my skills at building a story through an edit. And before that I was working in the film industry as a writer and director.
3. How would you describe your videography style?
Candid. Actually candid. Not the type of candid where we say it's candid and then on the day I'm directing you with a heavy hand so I can craft the perfect "candid" shot. You'll find me hiding in plants, sneaking behind walls and grabbing real moments before anyone knows I was there. For me, the magic of a moment in any documentary style shoot is lost as soon as the subject knows they're being filmed. I use high end cameras, vintage lenses and cinematic lighting techniques to capture authentic moments in the most beautiful way possible. Then I get to the real work, editing. Finding your unique story in the edit. My specialty is in crafting an audio story that helps convey your story and exactly what it was like to be there on the day. I don't just copy and paste your vows over the top of some beautiful images. I choose lines from all the different speakers throughout the day to build the story of who you are, get people laughing and even shedding a tear by the end.
4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding videographer?
About a year. Especially for some of the more popular dates in September, October and November. But for some of my favourite months that are overlooked way too much (May, June, July, August) you can sometimes find dates available within six months.
5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
I offer a large variety of packages. The most popular being the PandaBear Package featuring a 3-5 minute highlight film and a full length film of the ceremony and reception. Also the GoldenBear Package for those who want all the bells and whistles.
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?
It depends on which package you select. The GoldenBear Package guarantees me as the shooter. For that there are two static cameras on tripods filming all formalities as well as two handheld cameras I'm using to get more artistic shots from various angles. I edit all the films and shoot about 80% of them. For the others I have a team of shooters who have been working with me for years. We're a collective, not a studio. There's never a random person showing up to shoot your wedding. You can find our team members on our website. They all share the same shooting style as me and are highly experienced.
7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
No travel fees for any weddings in Sydney, the Southern Highlands, Wollongong and the lower Blue Mountains. The deeper South Coast, higher up the Blue Mountains and the Hunter region do have small travel fees.
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?
I backup immediately to three hard drives and online in the cloud. I keep all footage until your final films have been approved and delivered to you. Then I keep copies of the final films for several years.
9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the video? And how will the video be delivered?
We say 8-12 weeks to give us a safety net during really busy times, but it's very rare it ever takes that long. The turnaround time is much closer to 4-6 weeks. Keep in mind we spend a lot more time and energy on the edits than most companies. This is one of the reasons we don't do same day edits. They're simply not possible with the level of detail we put into our edits.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
Deposits are non refundable as we use that to book out the date. However, we'll happily refund it if you need to cancel within a few weeks of booking. Anything beyond the deposit is refundable up until four weeks before the wedding.
