From YouTube to iPods, video is everywhere these days — and when it comes to a big event like your daughter’s Quinceanera, 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 Quinceanera videos. traditional paper invitation, guests receive a DVD in the mail which features a preview of the party — often a photo slideshow of the Quince girl as she grows from babyhood to age 15, 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. produced and shot beforehand with the full participation of the Quinceanera girl, family, and her court. Added benefits: Not only are these videos a great keepsake, but also 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).

Video Invites
One of the hottest trends in Quinceanera videos starts long before the first “felicitaciones!” Video invitations are rapidly becoming all the rage. In lieu of a

Concept Videos
In addition to using filmed footage for invitations, you can use videography to create a concept video for your daughter’s Quinceanera. After guests are seated for the party, a screen (or screens) can emerge with a video that introduces the Quinceanera girl (and often her court) 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

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 Quinceanera 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 his friends. Another thing to note: With the DVD format, you get the main “movie” of your Quince, but you’ll also get the “special features” (think, comments from friends and family or the entire Mass). 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 Quinceanera, with videos that are edited together like an actual television program. Videographers will often film families talking about the party beforehand and then afterward, talking about their memories. The interviews are then edited together with the party footage, almost like an episode of A&E’s Biography. Other frequently asked for extras: a super-short edit of the Quinceanera 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.