BUSINESS STRATEGY
Proven Marketing Strategies For Wedding Filmmakers

Hey Runaways,

With 2024 winding down, I recently asked our community a simple question: “What’s been your most valuable marketing strategy to book clients this past year?”

The answers were incredible, and I wanted to share the top strategies with you.

In this newsletter we’ll explore the first three strategies in depth, and next week we will discuss the following three.

These are proven tactics that are helping wedding videographers thrive right now—and they might just spark some ideas for your business!

1. Networking Is King

When it comes to marketing, networking is the backbone of success.

And this is a tough pill to swallow, because we tend to be people that like our dark editing caves, and keep our friends close.

But here’s the reality: success in this industry doesn’t just come from stunning films alone—it comes from being seen, known, and trusted by the right people

Yes. Beautiful work is important, but what if nobody knows about you?

It’s kinda like the “If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?” question.

Sharing beautiful work while simultaneously knowing people who are in positions in the industry to book you more events is key.

Videographers in our community shared how attending both local and high-profile events has opened up doors to planners, venues, and other vendors. From intimate venue fairs to luxury events like Engage, the key takeaway is simple: putting yourself out there works.

👉🏼 Why It Works

• Vendors and planners can be your biggest advocates—when they know you, they’ll recommend you. People want to hire their friends

• In-person connections foster trust and make your brand memorable.

👉🏼 Actionable Steps

• Start Local: Attend venue-specific fairs or local industry meetups. Look into groups like WIPA, which cater to planners, venues, and vendors.

• Go Big: If your goal is breaking into the luxury market, look into events like Engage, Kindred, Kinetic or RSVP to connect with industry leaders.

• Build Relationships: Maybe the most important one. Don’t just show up and talk to people you already know—connect with NEW people. Get uncomfortable. Follow up after the event with a thoughtful message or coffee invite.

2. Build a Reputation That Sells Itself

Several videographers emphasized that referrals from photographers, planners, and even past clients made up the majority of their leads.

Why?

Because a professional reputation speaks louder than ads.

A good reputation isn’t just about delivering a quality product—it’s about creating a LUXURY experience that people want to talk about.

It’s the kind of word-of-mouth that spreads organically, turning your past clients, vendors, and industry peers into your best marketers.

Building a reputation isn’t limited to the wedding day. It’s also the reason we started diving into education.

Sharing your knowledge, experiences, and even your personal journey with others creates a level of trust and familiarity that’s hard to replicate.

For example, having a YouTube channel allows you to connect with people on a personal level. When viewers see your face, hear your story, and watch you share valuable insights, they feel like they know you—and they start cheering you on.

This connection extends beyond just those who might book you; it positions you as a leader in your field.

Planners, photographers, and even other videographers begin to see you as someone who’s approachable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. And that trust? It’s priceless in turning casual connections into genuine referrals.

So whether it’s in person, on social media, or through education, think about the ways you can not only build a reputation for great work but also create opportunities for people to truly connect with you as a person. That’s where the magic happens.

👉🏼 Why It Works

• Clients trust referrals because they come from people they already value.

• The wedding industry is built on relationships—word-of-mouth marketing thrives here.

👉🏼 Actionable Steps

• Go Above and Beyond: Deliver an exceptional experience for every client. From initial inquiries to final edits to goodie bags delivered to them, make every interaction memorable.

• Be Personable on Wedding Days: Collaborate seamlessly with other vendors. A kind, professional attitude can turn a fellow vendor into your biggest fan. Remember that the wedding isn’t your day.

• Stay in Touch: After the wedding, thank vendors you worked with or share highlight clips they can use for their portfolios. Send them a DM, send them a card, do something, gosh dang it.

3. Social Media & Paid Ads: Still Going Strong

Instagram remains a favorite for connecting with couples, but this year, we’ve seen some videographers get big results big results from paid advertising.

Some have used Instagram Ads to target their ideal audience

Instagram Ads allow you to do more than just post and hope the right people see it. By using targeted ads, you can reach your ideal audience—couples who align with your style, location, and budget.

These ads can be customized to speak directly to the needs and emotions of engaged couples, whether it’s showcasing a recent highlight reel, promoting a special offer, or sharing a behind-the-scenes look at your process.

We have even seen others utilize Pinterest to tap into couples planning their dream weddings and catch them in their early stages.

👉🏼 Why It Works

• Social media lets you showcase your style to a global audience.

• Paid ads allow you to reach specific demographics that align with your ideal client.

👉🏼 Actionable Steps

• Leverage Instagram: Post regularly to showcase your work. Use Stories and Reels to engage your audience authentically. Something we have learned from 87 and Smith: don’t be afraid to post still frames from your shoots as well.

• Experiment with Ads: Start small with Instagram Ads, targeting engaged couples or your ideal locations. While we haven’t worked with him (yet), we have heard great things about Peyton Helm’s ad coaching program.

• Track and Refine: Pay attention to metrics to see which ads perform best, and adjust accordingly.

Here’s to ending 2024 strong and setting the stage for an incredible 2025!

Best,

Nate

“The magic you’re searching for is in the work you are avoiding” - Dipen Parmar

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BLACK FRIDAY
Upcoming Sales

In terms of our Digital Assets, EVERYTHING will be 50-60% off.

This includes our light leaks, sound effects pack, fonts, La Vida LUT, and our entire store.

And we will have a big announcement about our online course: Year One…

When it comes to our Prestige LUT pack, as you know, we developed our Prestige LUT pack with Gamut.io, and they are the ones who run the sales on their site or not.

But seeing that they already ran a 1-day 50% off sale, we are confident that we can partner with them for the same discount for Black Friday 🎉

More information will come next week, but save your monies for now, because you’ll be able to snag them all at a discount here soon.

If you just can’t wait any longer, reply back to this email and I might be able to hook you up 😉👀