WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER WITH SOUL
Get to know a little about Rachel, wedding videographer with soul, and owner of Soulhaven Productions
WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH WEDDINGS? I admit I didn't set out to be a wedding videographer - nor film maker. I started first as a musician and composer, then as a humanitarian documentary film-maker working for an NGO. Having zero training in film and only really feeling confident about writing the scores after many years of heavy academic music training, I ended up winning a Best Documentary award in the US for the first film that I completed. That gave me some confidence! A few years later that organisation moved to Thailand, so I gradually shifted into freelance videography and set up Soulhaven Creative Productions to make both personal and business videos. I feel that shorter, lyrical and emotionally 'dense' pieces work best to my strengths. My first wedding came about because a friend of a friend needed a videographer last minute, they remembered that I had made some docos, and thought maybe I could bring my camera down and give it a go. Lucky for me they were very trusting and I was able to create a beautiful wedding film that they absolutely raved about. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed the process and now embrace my role as a wedding videographer!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? I love being able to use my intuitive capabilities as a musician and film maker to capture the deeper essence and energy of the subject, and then marry that with the practical and technical aspects of filming and editing to craft a finished piece. It is an art to me, and I love seeing all those little skills and creative abilities that I have honed and gathered, come together to make magic.
DESCRIBE THE MOST UNUSUAL JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD? The humanitarian doco gig has provided some pretty unusual situations; filming gumboot dancing in the slums of Johannesburg, on the back of a jet-ski following plastic kayaks in the Abel Tasman, on a ride-along with an ex cop in Manhattan and VIP cocktails with celebs in L.A. That was an unusual few years, and I'm still working with the same crew in Thailand/ Cambodia on a freelance basis, so I can expect for some more unusual situations to come!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE? I'm probably supposed to have a really amazing inspirational quote here...but I don't. My favourite quote is a movie quote from the wonderful sci-fi comedy, Galaxy Quest. It is completely random and non-inspirational and I have no idea why this line has stuck with me for so many years. Here it is...
"Look around you. Can you form some sort of rudimentary lathe?' In context...it's quite hilarious.
WHAT DO YOU WISH EVERY COUPLE WOULD ALREADY KNOW? Love is a journey. Each pairing is unique and to be discovered and developed together. As such...it's not my place to say what anyone should know. I'm on my own journey after all :)
IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? My husband, James.
IF YOU WERE GOING TO GET MARRIED OR MARRY AGAIN, NAME THREE THINGS YOU’D HAVE OR DO AT YOUR WEDDING The truth is I wouldn't change a thing :)
See below one of her recent highlight wedding videos...
Michelle and Carly Wedding Film from Soulhaven on Vimeo.
Thanks so much to Rachel for taking the time to give us a little more insight. You can find out a little more about her services here: Soulhaven