Paul F. Gero Films

Congratulations on your engagement!

I hope the planning is going well because I know how exciting (and at times overwhelming) it can be. There are so many things to consider and I am so glad that you are considering having your own Wedding Film! On this page I go over the approach to your wedding film, the process and hopefully answer the questions you might have.

I’m Paul

You will usually find me behind a camera, whether I’m at a wedding or an event such as a local sporting event in our town of Lake Mills, WI and often of my two kids playing. I started photographing as a 12 year old boy (working on a Boy Scout merit badge) and I have been truly fortunate to continue to see the world through my lens for over 30 years as a full-time working professional photographer and filmmaker.

Films and weddings have been dear to my heart and I love documenting weddings. My wife Nicki and I were married in 2001 (we actually met at a wedding in 2000 where she was the maid of honor and I was the photographer) and the little Handycam video that my groomsmen John and his wife captured for us really drove home the importance of the concept of a wedding film.

You see it is as much the voices of the people you love (hearing Nicki’s Dad’s voice reading his speech was so powerful, especially since he passed away in 2012), our matron of honor and best man’s speeches and the sounds of the music from our ceremony (I had forgotten the song!) and the day that truly convinced me that wedding films are what I want to pursue.

My Approach

I spent the first 20 years of my career as a photojournalist for newspapers and magazines and bring that same approach and sensibility to the telling of your day. In newspapers you had to capture the moments as they happened (except for posed portraits) and it defines the way I approach your wedding.

I try to blend in and stay back to witness, capture and record as moments happen as if I were an invited guest with a camera. Natural moments and sounds really are what it is about and I let the story unfold with minimal interference. The day is yours and I want my film to be a heartfelt representation of your wedding and the moments that happened rather than a scripted or directed version of what a wedding film should be.

When you look at your wedding film in years down the road, my goal is for you to be transported instantly back to that day with all the sights and sounds as you watch that film with children or grandchildren. Imagine how much that will tell them about who you are and who the people are that surround you both.

The Process

About 2 or 3 weeks before the wedding, we will chat on the phone or a Zoom call about the plans for the day. We can review the timeline and I can answer any questions about your wedding film that might arise.

Up to 10 hours of coverage on your wedding day. I arrive 2 to 3 hours before the ceremony and will start with the bride and capturing her preparations for the wedding. I will also cover the guys getting ready if they are not too far away.

I will be with you throughout the day into the evening. I capture your first dance and speeches and will stay and hour or so after in order to make sure that I have covered the events for your film. I will then find you to say our good byes for the evening.

I have photographed and filmed so many weddings that I know that timelines can often change and I don’t want you to feel limited by hourly time constraints in my main collections.

Within the first week after your wedding, I will send you a 1 minute teaser trailer that you are welcome to enjoy and share on social media as you wish while memories of the day are fresh in mind!

The Film

Your wedding film is a true time capsule that captures your day in a way that photographs alone simply cannot. From the sounds of the music, the movement of your friends and family, and especially to the voices of your loved ones, a wedding film works on the senses and makes you feel the emotions of your day in such a beautiful and powerful way.

The lengths of the films in each of the collections are chosen to give you the “director’s cut” from your day so that it’s an enjoyable amount and won’t drive your friends crazy with a film that is simply too long.

I offer three formats for your films that I feel make the best types of presentations for you:

5-6 minute film encapsulates all the best highlights of the day’s events including highlights from the ceremony and speeches.

10-12 minute film gives you a bit longer version of the day’s events and allows you to linger on the film.

15-18 minute film is perfect for the couple that simply wants to have a very relaxing and complete coverage of the wedding day and events.

All my coverages include a 1 minute teaser trailer delivered within the first week after the wedding. This gives you a video that you are able to share with family and friends on your social sites and allows you to relive the moments while still basking in the glow from the day.

Some of my collections include full ceremony and full speeches and they are delivered as separate films and are typically filmed with multiple cameras.

(No matter which package you select, by virtue of being there for the full day, I will have plenty of coverage including the ceremony and the speeches in case you would like to upgrade to a larger collection after the wedding.)

Collections:

Platinum $4200

• 1 minute teaser trailer

• 15-18 minute wedding film

• full ceremony film

• full speeches film

Gold $3300

• 1 minute teaser trailer

• 10-12 minute wedding film

• full ceremony film

• full speeches film

Silver $2500

• 1 minute teaser trailer

• 5-6 minute wedding film

  
  
  
  
  

Bronze $2200 (available Monday-Thurs.)

• 1 minute teaser trailer

• 5-6 minute wedding film

• 8 hour filming coverage

The Next Steps

If all this sounds good to you, then let’s work together!

In order to book your day, a retainer of $1000 is required and a signed contract. The final balance of your collection is due 30 days before the wedding. Travel is included in southern Wisconsin. Out of state and further travel within Wisconsin will require a travel fee which will be quoted upon booking. That fee is due at the time of booking.

Extras

Extended Coverage $250/hour

4K shooting + $750

NDA + $350

Ceremony + $500

Speeches + $350

Quick Turnaround + $750

Second videographer + $1000

Raw Footage + $750

Please check out our work!

Jessica and Lucas’s Wedding at The Edgewater in Madison, WI

This is one of our more recent events and it was a wonderful day that ran the gamut of emotions. I was also commissioned to do the photography so I brought in a team to do the videography and a second photographer. I also shot some video along the way, though I was not the primary videographer.

I did edit the video though and this is the highlight film from their June 2024 wedding.

Shane and Abby’s Wedding at Barnwood Events in Madison, WI

These two Madison area teachers were married on a lovely summer day at one of the sweetest venues in the Madison area — Barnwood Events.

Their vows were especially personal and poignant and it was a pleasure to be a witness to their day as we did both the still photographs and the videography (bringing in a second videographer and second photographer).

Veronica & Matt’s Madison, WI Wedding at Barnwood Events.

Veronica and Matt held their wedding in mid September at the lovely Barnwood Events space and the day was wonderful. The story of their wedding was revealed throughout the day and this video really shows what is so amazing about a wedding video — hearing the voices tell the stories of the day.

Morgan and Thomas’ Wedding at Harvest Moon Pond in Poynette, WI

Morgan and Thomas were married in June 2022 at the lovely Harvest Moon Pond in Poynette, WI. Their wedding had a warm country feeling and even though the outdoor ceremony had to be moved inside, Morgan and Thomas did not let that dampen their joy.

In fact, after the ceremony, the weather broke allowing for some outdoor portraits and an incredible sunset to top it all off!

Ashley and Ryan were married on a chilly February day in Madison at The Concourse and despite the cold, had a wonderfully warm and lovely ceremony and celebration!

This video was a BTS for Madison, WI Event Planner HUE by Sarah Davidson and I followed Sarah through the day, recorded an extensive interview with her back in our studio and then edited and produced the video for her new website launch in early 2020.

This one minute silent “teaser” video from that event, is on Sarah’s website landing page and we are thrilled with how this turned out. I shot and edited this video from the footage captured behind the scenes on the wedding day.