Film & Flourish

05/22/2024

This is why I'm such a big advocate of mic'ing the bride.

This was a STUNNING and yet delicate dress to mic up. But, Alyssa trusted me and said, "We weren't just paying you for your work...we were paying you to use your brain." 😂 Gotta love when clients trust you to do what's best. No sticky rycote used. No thigh sleeve used. Just a nice mic clip pinch onto the inside the of V of the dress, cord wrapped around/tucked under the armpit, excess cord wrapped around the recorder and tucked into the back of the dress.

06/06/2022

🌱 I could go down a rabbit hole with this statement, so let me condense my thoughts on these words.
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Every wedding is different. Every timeline is different. Each location is different. And with each of these variables comes different challenges. So, how can we as videographers be be proactive in providing a consistently positive experience for our couples and the vendors we work with, despite the pros or cons of the day? I would argue that your view of your couple and your view of the person you're working with (the photographer) greatly impacts HOW you shoot every moment of the day.
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The first look
Walking down the aisle
Portraits
The first dance
The toasts
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As creatives, I think we often get a vision in our head as to what the wedding film should look like, sound like, feel like...and this can result in looking past the experiences of the actual moments of everyone involved. I get it, I want the most beautiful, pristine, perfectly framed shots and lighting for a lot of moments throughout the day. But, that's not always possible. And as much as it may kill you or me on the inside, my challenge is to still capture those moments well without ruining the experience for those who are around you. Letting a moment play out and not getting the perfect shot might be what's best for a certain moment. One of my philosophies is that I might have to "sacrifice my art" in order to provide the best experience. How you view and treat others, despite your desire to create your best work, leaves a much greater and lasting impact in this line of work 🌱
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03/23/2022

😍😍

01/20/2022

🌿 E + K were one of so many 2021 couples who booked their venue way in advance only to have to postpone their 2020 celebration. So, like many couples, they got married and gathered their friends and family a year later to celebrate and party in epic fashion. Such a fitting, deserving and perfect way to remember these moments 🌿
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11/12/2021

🌿 I’ve recently started reading a book called, “Built To Belong.” This book has been a beautiful resource in understanding the importance of not isolating ourselves in an industry that wants to have 100% of our time. What does that even mean? It’s important to be in community, but we often look at community through the lens of comparison and competition instead of seeing others as image bearers. Human beings. Beings with a purposeful design. Online communities can be utilized to build a strong group of creatives but they can also be used to kickstart deeper conversations and richer relationships outside of social media. Technology should be stewarded well but it’s not the end all be all for building healthy relationships. It’s just the beginning. The surface. And as we seek to build community I think we should start from a place that’s fixated on KNOWING others, not being known. I’d rather have 5 people know who I am and know my heart than grow an immense following on IG, gain a ton of subscribers on YouTube, or be recognized as one of the best in the industry 🌿
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11/03/2021

2020 reschedules have only strengthened relationships and further instilled a desire for relationships. Elopements, micro weddings, large weddings…they’ve all embodied elegance, beauty, and grace.
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10/29/2021

10/26/2021

🌿 C + D’s day possessed a unique culmination of Disney fairytale and, “Love at first sight,” with a selfless decoration of love for one another. What a joyful, beautiful display 🌿
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10/11/2021

🌿 One of the reasons I’m shifting to take less weddings is so I can serve my couples better, devote more care and time to them, and have faster turnarounds. But, another reason for this shift is so I can start teaching others on a larger scale. This move will require more structure and efficiency in the way I teach and walk with people in their own businesses. I am introducing an updated, refurbished look at my heart for educating others in the industry! If you are interested or have any questions, please message me directly or email me at [email protected] 🌿
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10/06/2021

🌿 New look, same mission. The business aspect of things is genuinely as fulfilling, if not more fulfilling, than the filming and editing. Those two things are creatively fulfilling but the heartbeat of a marriage and the long game is what I’m about and it’s why, despite a huge overhaul for the brand, I’ll be keeping the business name. My heart and desire is to serve my couples well and to see their marriages flourish 🌿
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Much more to come as continues to reshape the look and feel F&F
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09/23/2021

This wedding season has been EXHAUSTING. The double bookings, double headers, extended weekends, and mountains of editing are as a result of 2020. And yet, C + D’s wedding reminds me of why I love filming people’s first day so much. This busy season has worn on my body but it has enriched my soul
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09/10/2021

Running a business isn’t about balance. Balance suggests that we can dip into two areas of life, equally, giving our full devotion, time, thoughts, and efforts to two totally separate things. Running a business is more like rhythms and motions. There’s a time for rest and a time for work. Some seasons mean way more work than rest. Some seasons mean recuperating and aren’t necessary to be making that next big business move for the future 🌿
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Speaking of work, creativity isn’t the same as creating. Some of us may be more gifted than others in the realm of creativity, but that doesn’t negate our calling and need to create. To create means to make things. When we make things, we have the opportunity to cultivate and help that thing to development, mature, and flourish. And the most beautiful and precious work that can be done, far beyond our occupation, is in the hearts of other people. And (hopefully) even when we hit our seasons of rest within our jobs, there will always be work to be done in the relationships with your co workers, your closest friends, and your spouse 🌿
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09/08/2021

I experienced burnout very early on in this career. Eighteen short months into filming weddings and I was ready to move onto something else. Filming was my passion all through high school and college. Telling stories, being behind a camera. I loved every aspect of it. But, I was taking on way more work than I could keep up and something was missing from this line of work: relationships.
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I definitely put my best foot forward with getting to know vendors, meeting up for coffee or lunch, and working well with photographers at weddings. So much of my early “success” was due to referrals from people I worked with. And yet, I didn’t feel “full.” It wasn’t until the late wedding season of 2018 that I stumbled into getting to know a couple before the wedding day. The wedding day arrived and the couple was ecstatic to see me. “Why can’t more weddings be like this?” I thought. And then it hit me. Why HAVEN’T I been getting to know who my couples are before the wedding?! 🤯
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Since that wedding in the Fall of 2018, I have constantly been changing how to best communicate, pursue, and engage in relationships with my couples. Am I friends with all of them? No. Am I close to all of them, an even bigger no. But, I have gained some lifelong friends during the last 3 years of figuring out what it looks like to genuinely want to know who I’m filming, whose story I’m telling, whose legacy is being shared with me on the day of it’s inception, and wanting to see that marriage flourish. It wasn’t until I started building relationships with my couples that I figured out why I love filming weddings so much 🌿
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09/07/2021

This was one heck of a way to kick off September and an incredible celebration after 366 days of patiently awaiting their new date 🌿

Venue: Crystal Point Yacht Club
Photography: Bianca Tang Photography & Brooke Blasiak Photography
Hair: Lindsey Holup
Makeup: Slay Makeup
Video: Film & Flourish
Music: Musicbed

08/25/2021

🌿 After 4.5 years of being in the wedding industry, I can confidently say that the wedding industry focuses on the bride 99% of the time. This is not a bad thing! After all, the vast majority of my bookings, contract signings, and communication has been through the bride (it’s okay fellas, I didn’t plan much of my wedding either 😬). But, I also confidently believe that the wedding is a foreshadowing visual and representation of our best foot forward, the literal vows that we pledge, and the hope that life can be that much sweeter with our best friend doing life beside us
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I had a long term vision that was cast when I rebranded almost 2 years ago. I didn’t just want to celebrate with two people getting married, but wanted to celebrate in their life’s journey over the next 10, 25, 50+ years. As a married man of almost 4 years, I say this…time FLIES. And while the wedding planning and day itself comes and goes in an instant, the ground work and foundation (hopefully even before the wedding) begins. So, this is my call to the men reading this…be involved in the hearts of the people under your care. The people you may lead at work, the people you may teach and mentor. But most especially, be involved in the heart, mind, and soul of your wife 🌿
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08/19/2021

🌿 It’s all in the details 🌿
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03/12/2021

Every time we get to work at we know it’s going to be a magical day with this stunning view of the mountains!

Lately, I’ve been sightly (okay, majorly) obsessed with mountaintop elopements/weddings and inspired to do more (I’ve been watching too much Yellowstone, I think).

You can either do an arbor to add to the dramatic view, or do up the aisle with field blooms that lead you to where you get married.

Anyone else have starry eyes for mountain weddings? Speaking order stars... the sky view at night here is magical! The Seclusion Julie Rupert Events Lia Everette Photography Film & Flourish