Andy Hirsch associates blue moons with passion and compares them with rare, memorable events such as weddings and other milestone celebrations. I certainly can describe him as passionate when it comes to his work. He graduated from the University of California-Santa Barbara, where he studied the history of film and various styles of movie making. He learned how to analyze films and how to tell a story through effective camera work and editing. In applying the principles of varied camera shots, lean edits, and a moving soundtrack he creates a powerful video which presents all the different elements of the couple's special day.

A good example of how he moves efficiently from one scene to the next is when he shows the groom getting ready. He needed only a few seconds to show him straightening his tie, slipping one arm into the jacket, and leaving the room. In another video, Andy could shoot from a balcony, and he started the scene focusing on the graphic image of the empty chivari chairs at the ceremony site. Zooming in on a few selected arriving guests, he illustrated how the room filled. Thanks to powerful zoom lenses, he can show brides and their emotions on the the way to the altar, while he stays unobtrusively in the background.

To make sure each video is custom-designed Andy schedules a detailed meeting with the couple. "I want to get to know bride and groom, so I can capture the individual components that distinguish their wedding." In the video he will feature not only the specifics of the location, but also the personalities of bride and groom and the ambience of the day. For instance, the introduction of one video featured a couple on their bikes in front of their favorite bakery on the morning of their wedding.

Editing is the other important part of Andy's work. "As much as I enjoy sharing the excitement of the day when I film an event, I also take pleasure in the editing phase of each project. I look at it as a puzzle: only I put the pieces together in an artful way, intertwining them with music and voice recordings." The end result is a stunning video of the celebration in crisp, vivid colors.