Keith Malone has rapidly built an unrivalled reputation and is one of Ireland’s most popular wedding videographers. Keith won an Institute of Videography award in October 2006 for Best Wedding Video. It was the first time an Irish entrant was even shortlised in these prestigious awards which cover both Ireland and the UK.

Keith films weddings all over Ireland from a base in County Wicklow.

Visit Keith’s website at – http://www.keithmalone.ie

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1. Congratulations for your award in October 2006 for Best Wedding Video from the Institute of Videography. Do you feel extra pressure now to win another award?

No! I’m not in the video production business to win awards, but it can be a nice side effect! I have been kept very busy with wedding, corporate and documentary DVDs ever since winning the award.

2. A brief history of Keith Malone Video Productions…..

Established in 2004 to bring a fresh new look to wedding DVDs. Being a Qualified Accountant was and still is a big advantage in running my own business. It has allowed me to focus on the creative side and gives me the opportunity to provide clients with a high quality video production service.

3. How has video technology changed over the years and what impact has it had on your business?

Video technology is constantly changing. The current major change is the move to high definition or HD for short. This means constant reinvestment in the latest digital technology to ensure that my clients are receiving a product which is of a very high quality.

4. Do you have to do a lot of marketing for your business, or does word of mouth do the job for you?

When I first started out, I advertised my business through newspapers, Golden Pages, magazines, radio and the Internet. Thankfully, my business has experienced rapid growth over the last couple of years and I am happy to say that a lot of new business comes from referrals and word of mouth.

5. What advice would you give a wedding couple when choosing a videographer?

The best advice I can give to couples when choosing a videographer is to start the search early. As soon as the church and hotel have been booked is a good time to start. The decision should not be made on price alone. There are a number of other important factors to take into account. It is a good idea to meet the videographer first and get a feel for what he or she will be like on the day. Most Irish couples would prefer not to see the videographer during the day. They usually prefer if the videographer can blend into the background unnoticed and still manage to produce a high quality Wedding DVD. This leads onto viewing a sample of previous work. Wedding Videography can be an art form in skilled hands. I don’t think it is possible for any two videographers to capture the essence of a wedding in the exact same way. Therefore it is important to watch a sample of previous work and this makes it easier to make an informed decision.

6. Name two things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t got around to yet

- Visit Australia (will cross this off the list next Summer as I will be there on honeymoon)

- Fly a Helicopter (not in the foreseeable future!)

7. Are you familiar with the term “Bridezilla” and have you encountered any? Care to share a story or two?

I’m very familiar with the term and have met one or two in my time! I think that all brides are entitled to be particular about their wedding day. In fact, it makes my job a little bit easier if I have received a wish-list from a bride for particular shots that she would like. Then when I capture them, I know that she will be happy with the result.

8. You recently completed production of a DVD on the History of Glendalough Mines (http://www.glendaloughmines.com). Tell us a little about that

Over half a million tourists visit Glendalough each year and it is my understanding that only a tiny minority are aware that the area boasts of a rich mining history. The Glendalough Mining Heritage Project Committee was established in 2005 to increase awareness of the Glendalough and Glendassan mines. Having achieved their first objective of producing a DVD on the mines, they are now setting their sights on creating looped walks around the mining area and also to open a mining heritage centre at Glendasan, I was delighted to be involved in the production of their DVD and very much enjoyed working closely with a number of the Committee members including Robert Carter (Committee President and Former Miner), Cllr. Pat Casey, (Chairman), Ms. Anne Savage, (Secretary) and Ms. Joan Kavanagh (Local Historian). We were very fortunate that many of the former miners were willing to share their experiences from a bygone era on camera. We also interviewed a geologist and local historian who helped present a very balanced DVD which covered the main aspects of what life was like for those working in the mines. With the production of the DVD, I believe that we have created a wonderful time capsule that captures the very essence of the life and times of the Glendalough Mines.

9. The phrase I use far too often is….

Far too many to mention here!

10. The best piece of advice I ever received was…

Always be nice to people on your way UP. You may have to deal with them again on your way back DOWN!