Sweet Sixteens: Videography Tips and Trends

From YouTube to iPods, video is everywhere these days -- and when it comes to a big event like your daughter's Sweet Sixteen, what better way to remember the day and to share it with friends and family than with a video? We investigated and found out some of the latest and greatest trends in Sweet Sixteen videos.

Video Invites
One of the hottest trends in Sweet Sixteen videos starts long before the first "Happy Birthday!" Video invitations are rapidly becoming all the rage. In lieu of a traditional paper invitation, guests receive a DVD in the mail which features a preview of the party -- often a photo slideshow of the Sweet Sixteen girl as she grows from babyhood to age 16, of her with her friends, or a concept video (see more on those below) that hints at the theme of the party. The DVDs then give all the pertinent party information. In many cases, if you instruct guests to pop them in their computers, after the video plays, the DVD can actually display a link to a party website (great because you can update info on the site as needed!). Other options include a PDF document that guests can print out in case they want to hang on to the party info.

Concept Videos
In addition to using filmed footage for invitations, you can use videography to create a concept video for your daughter's Sweet Sixteen. After guests are seated for the party, a screen (or screens) will emerge, and a video plays that introduces the Sweet Sixteen girl into the room. Themes can be a red-carpet Academy Awards arrival or a spoof on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. Though sometimes these are video slideshows that end with a formal introduction, many times concept videos are produced and shot beforehand with the full participation of the Sweet Sixteen girl, family, and her best pals. Added benefits: Not only are these videos a great keepsake, but because your daughter and others will be working with the videographer before the party, they'll be more comfortable with him at the party (a big plus if you're worried your girl might be a little camera shy).

On the Dance Floor!
When it comes time for capturing the actual party, a huge trend is video screens on the dance floor that show a live feed of the action as it happens (and provide tons of raw footage for your videographer later!). Videographers can set up a camera jib, or crane, over the dance floor to get overhead shots and zoom in. Another popular option is to have a stationary camera for kids to mug in front of, and for the video screens to occasionally feature.

Way to Watch
When it comes to actually putting together the Sweet Sixteen video (which these days is much more likely to be a DVD than a traditional VHS tape), some savvy videographers are taking a less-is-more approach, creating well-edited videos that are 45-60 minutes in length. So while you might enjoy poring over hours and hours of raw footage on a lazy Sunday (a number of videographers do still provide you with everything -- be sure to ask about this), your daughter will have a movie that's fun and quick to share with her friends. Another thing to note: With the DVD format, you get the main "movie" of the Sweet Sixteen party, but you'll also get the "special features" (think comments from friends and family and other high points of the celebration like a special dance-off). Instead of having everything jumbled together, you get to click and choose exactly what you want to watch.

Feature Presentations
Some families choose to go even further when it comes to capturing the Sweet Sixteen, with videos that are edited together like an actual television show. Videographers will often film families talking about the party beforehand and then afterward, sharing their memories. The interviews are then edited together with the party footage, almost like an episode from A&E's Biography. Other frequently asked for extras: a super-short edit of the Sweet Sixteen video (such as a highlight reel, music video, or trailer-style movie edit) to be streamed online. When your child writes thank-you notes, they can include a web address in it so guests can go online and look at footage from the party. Even guests who weren't able to make it on the big day will still be able to see all the fun.