Video: A Wedding in Jeddah
I attended the wedding of my cousin Dr AlBara Mujaddidi on the 26th of December 2009, the weather was good (for Jeddah) and we had a good time.
Me being an amature photographer and videographer (I did video his older brother’s engagement many years ago) could not resist using my Canon DSLR 500D to video the whole thing, or as much as I could. I took around an hour of video and some photos which did not fill up my 16GB card, but it almost drained my battery, and this was the first time I wished I had an extra battery with me.
I also wished I had brought my monopod, and I wished I had something like the zacuto finder and shoulder support… And when I watched the video I wished I had more manual control over the video, something the owners of 500D’s have been begging Canon to do for months, but overall, I think I did a good job 
but the wish list keeps growing as any photography enthusiast knows.
There was music, there was traditional dancing, and there was good food.
I wish the newly weds, both fresh out of medical school, the best personally and professionally.
Here is the video, I hope you enjoy it. I recommend watching it in high definition.
Comments
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Jan 03, 2010 @ 11:00:11
Great video! you did well in capturing the happy moments and the dramatic faces….I like the way you edit the video as well!
wish for the newly wed a life of happiness and contentment!
Jan 03, 2010 @ 11:04:36
The nicest thing is when everyone was surprised to know I was shooting video and not stills
Thanks Thamer
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Jan 03, 2010 @ 11:16:47
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Adil Al.Ramadan, Qusay. Qusay said: New on the blog: A #video I shot last week #Jeddah #Wedding, http://qusaytoday.com/en/2010/01/jeddahwedding/ [...]
Jan 03, 2010 @ 14:00:44
Great video! Thank you and your family for sharing this with us. I thought you covered the festivities and captured the guests well; and, I appreciated seeing the dances, and especially the transformation on the little boys faces when they were handed a sword.
I couldn’t help noticing the great lane pool in the background–hmmmm post Christmas laps would seem to be in order on this side of the world.
A long happy marriage and flourishing careers to the bride and groom! This was an auspicious start to their life together.
Jan 03, 2010 @ 14:39:25
Thanks for your wonderful comment Chiara,
U know, I haven’t really looked at the kids faces
I was more concerned that everything was in focus and the camera shake was minimal and the composition was good and the transitions were shooth and that the music was suitable 
the list never ends.
But the most important thing was, to make sure people will enjoy watching it, and I am glad u and most everyone who saw it did
Jan 03, 2010 @ 21:06:10
You are welcome, and take a look at 4:24 – 4:49–>happy little boys to delighted little boys. It is so nice to see them learning and enjoying their own traditions and how the men are happy for them.
Thanks again, and I liked the music, which sounds familiar from Moroccan weddings (mixed, no swords, no canes, traditional dances including berber ones)
Jan 04, 2010 @ 16:18:52
I did, thanks for that, u r an expert on facial recognition
Jan 03, 2010 @ 23:33:14
Nice video! And yeah, I can imagine how long that equipment list is getting!
It’s nice to see what happens on the other side of the wedding (the men’s section). Very interesting, and very different from our side! LOL.
Jan 04, 2010 @ 16:20:36
I am sure it is less colourful and much more quieter than your side… about the list, I am sure you know what I’m talking about being a photographer yourself
and for a little (or much) longer than I’ve been.
Jan 08, 2010 @ 14:07:56
Awesome video! I love weddings. Thanks for sharing it, it sure is interesting to see what the groom’s side of the wedding looks like. It was cute how you added the clip of the cat and I especially liked the twirling dancers towards the end of the video.
I was in KSA recently and I had a great time in Makkah and Madinah, Jeddah too although I wasn’t there for very long.
Jan 09, 2010 @ 05:00:33
I am happy you liked it Shahirah
The dancers are trained in different traditional dances from around Saudi Arabia, each has its own name (I cannot tell one from the other)… there were a couple of cats, but this was the closest one, which came while we were eating, hoping someone would give it some food. Street cats, as you must have seen, are everywhere.
Thanks for commenting
Jan 23, 2010 @ 13:09:32
Well it’s a small world indeed
I see myself in the video. Doing the whole sticks then swords.
Baraá is one of my best friends. A very good man indeed. And his wife is a friend of my wife as well.
We’re all fresh medical graduates!
A very well-made video. I think you’ve captured the essence of the night beautifully. Do the lucky couple have it?
Jan 23, 2010 @ 20:06:32
Thanks Bassem, the lucky couple have the video and all the unedited clips
and congrats on getting married and graduating, best wishes to you and your lady 
Feb 03, 2010 @ 21:59:41
Hi Qusay,
I saw your video of your cousin’s weedding, and was very impressed.
I work with a TV company in London. We are thinking of doing a series of programmes about weddings in Saudi Arabia. It would be great if you could e-mail me, and we could talk about some of the traditions, and also the cultural sensitivites of filming them.
Please get in touch.
Thanks,
Fergus
Feb 06, 2010 @ 03:49:34
Wow, that was an amazing post. It is inspirational to me!
Markus Knoll
Photo Video Chicago LLC
246 North Pulaski Road
Chicago Cook, IL 60641
Apr 14, 2010 @ 17:47:07
great vedio n qusay ur vry handsome
Mar 22, 2011 @ 15:32:28
My comment is simple: I DON’T BELIEVE YOU’RE AMATEUR…. LOL.
Your video is awesome a great. I have already 4 years live in Jeddah, but never come to any Arabic Wedding. That’s why I really appreciated your video. You did it greatly. Too good to be an amateur…
Mar 24, 2011 @ 14:58:09
Thank you very much