photo courtesy of Ilona Lee from Foto Expression

If you are into wedding cinematography but you haven’t heard Mayad studios, you must be out of this world. They were one of the best 25 cinematographers based on Event DV in 2011. I was fortunate to attend their first overseas academy in Singapore while I was on my work trip in South East Asia last July.

I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of their works prior to the workshop, but I am now. But as an educator myself, if I could go home from a workshop and able to shorten one or two steps in my workflow, I would reckon the workshop was worth to go to. Obviously, I didn’t expect to change my style completely from the workshop. But I think it did. I learned a great deal about teamwork and many other things that helped to shape my new style of shooting.

I had a big and long thought from the workshop to digest what I saw and heard. My style of motion pictures had been similar to my still pictures philosophy, It’s more about real moment and storytelling. But from the workshop, I learned for the first time the word “Entertaining” in the wedding film-making. I never thought about it before, I only focused to create a story to remember for the couple. I felt it’s OK to hand-held the camera as long as I could get the feeling from the movie. But from this workshop, I learned the use of glidecam and many other tools could also create a story with the feeling, not only just to create something looking so cool. Thanks to them for opening my eyes in the workshop.

It could be it’s my real first time to use glidecam ever at the workshop. I had no clue of how to use it, but I remember just to try during the practical challenge. Yeah, it’s still no good. I could conclude that before the workshop I had no idea of being the real cinematographer. Pardon me, I am from photography world that inspires to be a cinematographer.

Not only that, I also learn teamwork is the key to succeed in wedding cinematography. Coming from the background of photography that always relies on myself all the time, I watched how their team’s work together, it was a mind blowing experience. I could imagine if I have three Wiki Lee on the team, it’ll be a super awesome. That’s how I realise I should stop thinking it’s always about me to perform when shooting. It’s always about the team to make the difference. That’s how I decided that there is no more Wiki Lee motion pictures anymore, we created a new revolution team under the BIG films.

the BIG films has been running fully since Mid August 2011. The reception we received from the same day edit presentation was phenomenal. Some of them dubbed our works to be the best wedding video ever. I wouldn’t dare to accept that. But we are definitely trying to be one someday. That’s our BIG dream to start with. But I think for sure, what I learn from the workshop and formulate into the team, it definitely worked for us. Even for us it’s difficult to believe that we’re able to produce something like that. I am turning to a big fan of our own team’s works. Fun, creative, entertaining and yet storytelling, it’s something that we aim for in every wedding.

On top of that, I met huge number of new friends internationally during the workshop. It’s definitely a big plus. I also got the chance to hang out with cool dudes from Wedding Cinematographers Guild. Not only just meeting up with fellow cinematographers, but I also got the chance to hear from someone like Oly Ruiz of Metro Photo learning about the other side of marketing

So thank you my friends from Mayad studio. I am sure you never expect that you change someone’s life but you have. Well done, I hope the best endeavor for the Mayad Academy to have more blessed people like me.

Here is our debut work. You are more than welcome to visit our official website to see all of our recent works as we will blog each individual separately. Join the facebook page if you like what you see