There are a lot of extremely talented wedding filmmakers out there, and I should know, because I host a monthly wedding film review live stream and I probably watch more wedding videos than most people on the planet. That said though, every few months I discover a few filmmakers who are making incredible work, trying new things, really pushing the creativity of wedding filmmaking forward, and at the start of a new year those are the people I want you looking at.
So here are three wedding filmmakers who have been inspiring me lately, in no particular order, please keep that in mind. It’s my hope that by the end of this they’ll be inspiring you too.
Sara Canducci
The first one is one of the most talented wedding filmmakers I’ve seen come out of Italy, and I really hope I’m pronouncing that name right, because my Texas accent does not work well with Italian.
Sara has submitted a few of her films to my monthly wedding film review live streams, and every single time I sit down to watch one it’s a real treat. Her composition and her lens choices are out of this world. But the thing that has always stood out to me is the vibrant color palette she picks for her films. They’re always high contrast and popping, and somehow they still keep a filmic look that’s very unique.
Here’s the part that surprised me. Sara is one of only a few wedding filmmakers I’ve seen who shoots at 30 frames per second, and while I am a strong defender of 24fps, her films have a look that really makes them stand out. It feels so real and lifelike.
Which is worth a warning, because I recorded my video at 24 frames per second, so the clips of her work in it are not playing back the way she made them. Go watch her films on her own channel. They’ll play back much smoother there.
Sara Canducci on YouTube, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
Hello Tomorrow Films
Now let’s head to Canada, and one of my favorite couples shooting weddings anywhere. The two of them behind Hello Tomorrow have been filming weddings for 15 years, which I’ll admit is a little longer than me.
They caught my eye on Instagram a few months ago whenever they posted a reel of their wedding films. A reel, man? Like a compilation of their footage? Hear me out for a second, because this was more than just a reel. It was this intensely personal film showing aspects of them, their family, and how all of that ties into their work as wedding filmmakers. There is so much emotional depth in it.
And it carries over into their other films too. You need to take some time and watch them. They’re so great.
What I especially love is that we’re starting to see wedding filmmakers like Hello Tomorrow put more of themselves and their own personalities into their films, and I really hope that inspires other wedding filmmakers to do the same.
Hello Tomorrow Films on their website, on YouTube, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
Shawn Yang Films
Wrapping up the list, this filmmaker has actually been filming weddings for the least amount of time of the three, and his films are also some of the most impressive. His name is Shawn Yang, and I first met him whenever he came to a workshop I hosted back in October 2020.
During that workshop I ran a live wedding film review session where another filmmaker and I sat down and went through films from the attendees. Shawn asked us to review one of his weddings and we were completely blown away by the quality, the creativity, and the shots this guy was getting.
Then he really blew our minds whenever he told us he’d only been filming weddings for a year and a half. Seriously? I remember whenever he said that, I actually got up and walked out of the room. I’m like, “I’m good. I’m done. Don’t need to film weddings anymore.” It’s crazy. It also helps that he lives in Texas, and whenever I found that out I immediately added him to my list of BTS shooters in the event that I ever need one.
Anyways, here’s my point. If you’re new to the world of wedding filmmaking and you’re wondering what’s possible, go watch Shawn’s films. I want you to see what’s possible in a year and a half and be inspired. Because honestly, if he keeps up this quality and this creativity, you’re going to be hearing the name Shawn Yang a lot more often in the filmmaking world.
Shawn Yang Films on his website, on Vimeo, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
Who Else Should I Be Watching?
That’s my list of three wedding filmmakers who have recently been inspiring me, and I hope they’ll be inspiring you as well. I’d also love to hear who you think I should be watching. Who else is making killer work and pushing this art form forward? Leave me a comment on the video and let me know.
And if you’re a wedding filmmaker yourself, two things. Have you joined my Learn Wedding Filmmaking Facebook group yet? That’s where a lot of this conversation actually happens.
Second, you probably want to book more couples and film more weddings, and to help you out with that I put together a free guide that walks you through some practical steps you can take right now in your business to do exactly that. It’s a completely free gift to you, and you can download it right here.
If you want more on the business side of things, I’ve also written about booking more weddings from Facebook, and if you’re looking to sharpen up the work itself, start with how to film a wedding reception. All three of the filmmakers above are worth studying for their color too, and if you want a shortcut on that front, my LUTs are here.
This list was put together at the end of 2020 for the year ahead, so treat it as a snapshot of who was inspiring me then. All three are still worth your time.