27th Jun 2019
Here at Birdsall, we like nothing better than a good ol’ love story. After all, love is a big part of our history. So we were thrilled to work with Pinecone Productions shooting a film to promote the location and other partners. After 10 years of experience within the film and music industry working freelance, Alex from Pinecone Productions decided it was time to set up his very own company alongside production assistant and more importantly fiancé, Jodie, earlier this year.
Prior to the shoot, Pinecone came to the House to do some research. We gave them a guided tour of the house and grounds. Pinecone’s entire brand is inspired by their local setting and love for nature and the outdoors. So, we knew it would be a great fit to work with them as our gardens, grounds and views overlooking The Wolds are such a huge part of our identity.
Alex had a clear idea in his head of what he wanted to shoot and which rooms he wanted to use. This was great as it meant filming was so efficient. Of course, there were some spontaneous shots – unfortunately we can’t control the peacocks and other wildlife. Luckily, it turned out lots were keen to be featured on the day!
An amazing behind the scenes production team provided laughs and high energy throughout the day. This ensured the shots were both relaxed and natural. Before each shot, Alex would engage the models, which included a member of the Willoughby family, to brief them on what he was looking for. Everyone felt so relaxed. We needed a banquet of food to keep the energy high and focused, plus lots of laughter, which was in abundance!
We were so surprised at how unimposing the equipment was. When talking to brides and grooms about filming their day, both they and us are a bit put off by the thought of all these massive cameras and microphones getting in the way. Pinecone just used a single Canon 70D DSLR camera with an on-camera Rode Mic and three different lenses. Sometimes he used a slider but most of the time everything was shot completely handheld. This gave the film a more natural look, which we loved!
The only challenge we faced on the day was the glaring sun. Alex had lots of tricks up his sleeve to overcome this using filters, which again were very discreet.
Of course, the film wouldn’t be what it is without the involvement of the other businesses.
Production assistant, Jodie, was the brains behind the scenes, pulling together some of the regions most talented individuals. Jade Heaney from The Makeup Works was a dream to work with. She was such an asset as she kept energy levels high behind the scenes. Scouting our brides was the most challenging aspect, to find the right look and have models who would work with us professionally.
Jodie did an amazing job of finding both our brides, Sabine Verenko and Lucy Ledgeway. They were true professionals and looked amazing in the wedding dresses. Birdsall’s very own Flora also did an amazing job of showcasing her home and taking all the filming in her stride. As always, Birdsall’s manager, Cara, flipped into action when we were offered the opportunity to work with Pinecone. She found our dresses for the day by partnering with Little Pearl Bridal Boutique once again. They also supplied our dresses for our wedding showcase back in April. They were very professional and just had the most stunning selection.
We owe a great deal of thanks to all the companies involved! Without them, the film would not have been possible. See the full film here.
“Couples who book with Pinecone can expect a bespoke film tailored to their own individual story and day. We aim to capture the energy of all our weddings to truly bring your day to life over and over again in a timeless film. Our style is very relaxed. We try to engage our couples creatively and with an element of fun, after all it is the happiest day of your life! We stage our couple shots and set up to film the dress but other than that our films are completely spontaneous. Our team blend in with your day and for the most part you won’t even notice us filming. Capture your day with our cinematic, creative and bespoke wedding films.”
