Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Hufstedler.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started taking an interest in camera work and video editing while in high school, although I didn’t have enough experience under my belt to consider doing that as a career yet. A few years after graduating high school, I took the plunge to study Digital Cinematography online at Full Sail University. The courses I took and all the great professors I had helped me find out where I wanted to take this talent and what I wanted to get out of it. I decided that event videography, especially weddings and special life moments that evoke genuine emotion, was the way I wanted to go after obtaining my degree. It was definitely a slow start and my first clients were people I knew personally. I was paid a little money but didn’t make a profit whatsoever. I invested a lot of time and money into these projects just because I knew once I had a few weddings in my portfolio, I could start building trust with future clients and get paid to capture their special day!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road to where I am today, and it’s still not completely smooth but I’d like to say I have the resources now to weather the rough terrain ahead. During my 3-year gap between high school and college, I struggled with severe anxiety and depression. I was hard on myself for not knowing what to do completely, and I had a rough senior year of high school so going back to school felt scary and a little triggering for me. I finally figured that the solution was to go to school online. I had no idea that was an option (this was way before covid normalized online school!) and it felt perfect for me. I got to study in the comfort of my home and work on projects within familiar places around me. I was also able to work part-time and spend time with my friends! School isn’t for everyone, but I knew I wanted at least a little bit of a higher education at some point. After getting my degree, I struggled to market myself to get clients. I was really shy and still didn’t have the confidence to tell people “Here is why you should choose me and pay me to film your wedding.” Luckily, family members started getting married and trusted me enough to hire me, and with every wedding, I’ve done I’ve gotten better and more confident with my work and routine. I started booking weddings at a faster rate and I am still gaining traction but I am so grateful for all the clients that have booked me for their special day this year and next year!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a videographer that specializes in wedding and event videography! I am so proud of my abilities to capture organic moments as they happen and be able to deliver it in a way that evokes emotion to an audience. Weddings are the best place to achieve that and it just so happens to be one the most important days of a client’s life! As a former bride, I know how fast the entire day seems to go and before you know it you feel like you missed some parts of the day! Being a wedding videographer, I am able to compile highlights from the day into a beautiful video presentation that the couple can watch, cherish, and share with their friends and family in the future. My wedding day is one that I revisit in my mind constantly and I know I’m grateful for my own video. As I edit footage from a client’s wedding, I find myself smiling ear to ear and sometimes getting a little teary-eyed! That’s a sure-fire sign that I’m doing what I love most. In a saturated market of wedding videographers, I like to think that my friendly approach to everyone involved in the wedding sets me apart from others. I want everyone to be comfortable to act “normal” around me and let their emotions organically flow without thinking that a camera is on them 24/7. That is how you get the best candid shots.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
As a videographer in a setting such as a wedding, YOU ARE THEIR FRIEND. Talk to them as though you are friends, laugh with them, you don’t have to stay silent behind the camera all the time! Make yourself feel like you’re part of the conversation, but not in the way or obstructing. You are there to enhance the scene, not necessarily direct and pose everyone. Getting your clients comfortable with you as a person and friend can go a long way in how your footage turns out!
Pricing:
- Wedding packages start at $900
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahaprilmedia/
- Facebook: facebook.com/sarahaprilmedia
Image Credits
Sarah Hufstedler
