Creating A Difference

Taltos Video Production

monopolize, monopolise [məˈnɒpəˌlaɪz]vb (tr)

15 Years ago I started my business “Taltos Productions” In Grand Rapids Michigan. It didn’t take long before I quit my job in radio to run the business full time. Word of mouth and local support is the reason I did so well with the business. After nine years of running a successful business in Michigan I ended up befriending this guy that ran a DJ company. He had the idea to have me move my company into his store front and I would pay him so much money for the space. In return he would refer the work (videos) to me and I of course would refer him. He wanted to bring in 2 vendors for each category for weddings. Like 2 photographers, 2 cake people, 2 florist..oh wait he didn’t bring in a florist because his wife did flowers. Everything pointed back to him and we could only refer the people in the store. I had always run my business out of my house and that worked out great, but at this point I was leaving a bad relationship and I had no place to live so I felt this would be a good idea for a couple months. Things didn’t work out too well.

I should share that I have been in the Wedding business on many levels for many years. I worked in a bridal store as a bridal consultant. I ran my own DJ business while working in radio and television so needless to say I knew a ton of people in this profession and we all worked together to help each other out. So, when I was told I couldn’t refer anyone else but who was in the store, I decided it was time to go. I left and put my business back into my home and well, things really got interesting. That is when I pulled up my business and moved to Sedona. I don’t want to go on and on about what took place in Michigan with this guy that tried to manipulate and monopolize the wedding business but I will say he pissed a lot of people off. The ones that didn’t get it were the clients, they had no clue about all this drama but many very good, very professional and reputable companies went under because of this greed and need to have it all.

Sedona was a different world for weddings and the first 5 years went very well. It didn’t take us long with our experience and expertise to get the work. We worked hard at “showing” that we were good at what we do and  built some great relationships which led to repeated work. Most weddings here are destination weddings, so word of mouth is tough with the brides but the word of mouth did come from the wedding planners which is where 90% of our work comes from. When we first moved here it was a great community of people that lived here who wanted to support locally. All the talent came from here but in the past year and a half, things have changed. Back to certain people who want to control and manipulate the market for themselves. My intention of this post is not to be negative and by no means to bring up some not so pleasant experiences with certain “wedding professionals”, it is to bring some kind of understanding, if not to the reader but also to myself on how I feel about what is happening.

Business is tough enough as it is right now and when we don’t support one another locally then that is just a shame! There are plenty of great wedding professionals in Sedona and there is no need for bringing in talent from other areas (mainly Phoenix). There is a part of me that does take this personal! Being in business this long, struggling to make ends meet and find out someone brought in a Phoenix videographer! Videography isn’t as competitive as photography so I can only imagine how tough it is to get photo work locally, let alone have to compete with Phoenix photographers! In truth the wedding business is competitive in general, but I feel there is enough work for all of us if we work together and not try to horde everything for ourselves.

The same kind of monopolization is happening here that happened it Michigan. It is a result of certain people that want it all for themselves and for the “select few” that follow along like sheep. I feel so helpless with this, all I know is that I love what I do and I’m not going to give up. I will continue to support locally and do all I can to bring this monopolization to an end! We all deserve to work, to make a living and no one has the right to interfere with that! I would love to get a conversation going with this topic. Feel free to post comments, I would love to hear from others.

Rain or Shine you will have your wedding! A back up plan when planning an outdoor wedding is a great idea. Jamie and Dean were married at the Verde Valley Train Station and they did not have a back up plan. With over 140 guests the ceremony ended up taking place in a cramped area with cover. It rained like crazy up until the ceremony ended (of course) Everything went fine, but it did limit my abilities for video and it was really cramped and cold.

The rest of the wedding day went off without a hitch! I loved the cowboy style wedding, it was fun and loose, no one got to upset about anything, they just let loose and had a great time!

The reception was held at the Cliff Castle Casino. Bobby Russell of Sedona Sounds did the music. I just find that having a back up plan when planning a wedding in Arizona is a great idea. You may not need it but it’s there just in case it does rain.

Jennifer and Brian were married by Laura Lane of Sacred Unions at the Sedona Golf Resort. The flowers were designed by Bliss Floral. Sedona Sweet Arts did the gorgeous cake and Mike of Taltos Productions did photography. Mike and I met Brian and Jennifer and had a great connection from the moment we met. I think it is vital to good productions that you click with the people you meet with.

It shows..the love..and I can only capture what is really present! I can only produce a piece that works when there is a connection! This couple makes me smile, makes me love what I do and that weddings are not just a business, but a real true feeling of what makes us real! 

Kim and Jeff were married by Laura Lane of Sacred Unions at Rancho Los Lagos. Kim hired Bliss to do all her floral arrangements, Sedona Sweet Arts for the yummy cake and Mike from Taltos to shoot photos and me to shoot video. Kim and Jeff had the ceremony at Rancho which was a beautiful setting for the ceremony. She then trollied her guests back to Los Abrigados for the reception. Kim and Jeff rode in the Bentley over to the knoll for some intimate shots, then we headed to Tlaquepaque for more great shots. The reception started outside with their first dance then was moved inside so they could party the night away.

Most big productions are around 40 minutes long, so I like to take all that footage and condense it for the blog and youtube. I find most people enjoy watching a production that is not theirs if it is shortened, most people don’t care to watch a full ceremony (unless it’s their ceremony) So I edited a fun piece to show a bit of what Kim and Jeff had going on for their Wedding day.

A while back Steve Douglas from artists in rhythm asked Taltos Production to shoot and edit some clips for his website (www.artistsinrhythm.com) It was a great pleasure to do this since we love his music! Recently I ran into Steve at a wedding where he gave me this CD! I was thrilled to see that he gave  Taltos Productions a plug on his CD even though we had  nothing to do with the CD production! This to me is “professional courtesy” and I was really happy to see and feel that is does still exist!

Since my video editor has been down for a few weeks I have been doing more photo work to help out Mike. This beautiful bride is from Japan and I had such a great time doing photography with this couple. We do a fair amount of work for couples in Japan and what I have found is they are always very proper, polite and very appreciative! It sure makes the work much more enjoyable when you have people that are relaxed and enjoying every moment of their experience:) Although I have been enjoying the photo work, I truly miss editing right now and can’t wait to get back into editing my work!

A Taltos Production. Enjoy

Trash the dress