Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Mcgrail. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Laura , appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Here’s a revised version of your story with a more polished and engaging tone:

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken? Starting this business—no surprise there! Back in 2017, I was traveling full-time, working as an English teacher in Thailand and later as a waitress in Australia. For an entire year, I carried nothing but some clothes, a camera, a drone, and a computer on my back as I explored new places. Along the way, I started creating and sharing short videos from each country I visited.

During that year abroad, a few friends reached out and asked if I’d film their weddings. At that point, I’d only ever done one wedding for free and had no real idea what I was doing—but I said yes. After I returned from traveling, I took a leap of faith and filmed those weddings.

That experience changed everything. I realized I could never go back to the monotony of office life. So, I made a bold decision: I posted a photo of myself with a heartfelt caption announcing I was starting a wedding videography business. To my surprise, I got a few inquiries right away, and I haven’t looked back since.

I feel incredibly fortunate that this path worked out. Taking that risk was one of the best decisions of my life.

Laura , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of filming so many weddings and engagement shoots. I think what truly sets me apart is my passion for capturing authentic, unscripted moments. When I first started in wedding videography, I quickly realized that overly posed shots did not feel genuine to me.

For me, wedding videography isn’t just about having the best gear or perfecting a set of pre-planned shots to replicate at every event. It’s about forging a connection with the couples, making them laugh, and blending seamlessly into their special day. That’s how I’m able to capture those candid, heartfelt moments—the ones that resonate deeply and remind us of what it means to be human. It’s also about discovering what makes each couple unique and finding a way to bring that to life on camera.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In March, I faced a near-death experience due to a brain infection that turned into a serious brain injury. I spent nine days in the hospital, coming alarmingly close to losing my life. Unfortunately, this meant missing many weddings during a peak season, and for the first time, I had to ask for help with my business. Each wedding I missed felt like a personal failure to my clients, and I was heartbroken to cancel so many celebrations.

The doctors warned me that my situation was grave, and the road to recovery has been incredibly challenging. However, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. As I think about all the clients I couldn’t be there for on their special days, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to return to work at full capacity. I’m thankful to be alive and more inspired than ever before.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ve been posting Instagram Reels every day for three years—and counting! Recently, I even started a TikTok account. Building a social media presence takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but the rewards make it all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lauramcgrail.com
• Instagram: @laurelweddingvideography
• Facebook: LAUREL Wedding Videography
• Other: VIMEO
  https://vimeo.com/user29969305

Image Credits

Myself