What I’ve learned from capturing love, making mistakes, and building a business with heart.


When I first jumped into media production and videography, I was obsessed with the idea of shooting weddings. Growing up, my dad was a wedding photographer, and I think that early exposure played a huge role in sparking my passion for capturing these once-in-a-lifetime moments. I remember telling my mentor (now my boss) that I wanted to shoot weddings in addition to real estate. He made it happen by landing me some free or low-paid experiences through our established clients, and it was an incredible way to learn the ropes.

Filming weddings has been one of the most rewarding, yet challenging parts of my career. In my journey — which includes 10 lead weddings and assisting on 15 more — I’ve learned more about myself, the craft, and client relationships than I ever imagined. Here are 10 lessons I picked up along the way (some of them the hard way).

1. Clear Communication is Everything

A couple of my recent weddings ran into hiccups not because of bad footage or missed moments — but because I wasn’t clear enough about deliverables, deadlines, or how the editing process works. I assumed too much. I’ve learned to lay it all out in writing: what I’m delivering, when it’ll be done, how revisions work, and even how the music is chosen. Most problems can be prevented with a good convo up front.

2. Always Include a Vendor Meal Clause

The first time I didn’t eat at a wedding, I found myself filming the reception with shaky hands and a foggy brain. You’re running around for 8–12 hours straight — food isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Now, I make sure there’s a clause in my contract that includes a meal for me and my second shooter. No one wants to film the first dance while fantasizing about granola bars.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Say No

In the beginning, I said yes to everything. And honestly, that gave me experience. But it also led to burnout and a few awkward wedding days. Now I prioritize compatibility — a meeting before pricing or contracts is non-negotiable.

4. A Shot List Saves Your Sanity

I used to go into weddings with 200 cinematic ideas swirling in my brain — and came out with 500 clips and a panic attack. Now, I prep a custom shot list and trust my instincts to fill in the magic.

5. Not Every Trend Needs to Be Followed

I chased trends early on — whip pans, super slow motion, vintage overlays — but realized quickly that chasing what’s “in” often makes your work feel like someone else’s. One couple said they loved a classic, documentary feel, and that project helped me realize: timeless storytelling > trendy edits. Now I focus on emotion, not effects.

6. Gear Doesn’t Make the Artist

Yes, gear matters. But your creativity, your eye, your heart — that’s the real investment clients are making. You’re not “just” a videographer. You’re a memory architect.

7. Backup Everything. Twice.

After second lead on a wedding, I had a theft of my entire camera bag that had all of my equipment and hard drives. Thankfully I found it all of the footage thorugh Dropbox's auto-save feature, but now I never risk it. I back everything up the same night — on a hard drive and cloud — and always bring extras. This job carries people’s memories. You can’t afford to gamble with that responsibility.

8. Stay Present, Not Perfect

You’ll miss the moment if you’re too busy chasing the “perfect” shot. Some of my favorite clips are imperfect: a shaky laugh, a spontaneous kiss, a child running through the frame. Real trumps perfect.

9. Respect Every Vendor Like You’re On Their Team

One of my favorite weddings ran so smoothly because all the vendors communicated like pros. I’ve also seen the opposite — where egos clashed and timelines got messy. I’ve learned to treat every vendor like a teammate. Being friendly, flexible, and communicative makes everyone’s day better — and often leads to referrals down the road.

10. Know Your Limits. Know Your Value.

Your worth isn’t just in your camera bag. It’s in your storytelling, your people skills, your editing eye, and your intuition. Own it. Charge accordingly. And always advocate for your boundaries.