We were lucky to catch up with Chloe Rouse Armstrong recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I know that as a videographer, my placement and purpose in any room is to document a moment. In the last 12 years, I’ve been lucky enough to capture some of the most meaningful moments in others’ lives, celebratory moments that become cherished time capsules. I’ve also had to be brave enough to capture moments that no one wants to experience, but they deserve to be documented. One of the most challenging and rewarding days in my career was filming a wedding at a hospice center. I had all but wrapped up my time filming weddings – it was a wonderful season that I was looking to put a bow on to enjoy more time with my family as a new mom. I received a call from a friend that the bride-to-be had a beautiful wedding planned, but that she couldn’t get married without her Dad present, and there wasn’t much time left. I had just lost my Dad, and I was all too familiar with hospice care. I wasn’t sure that I would be strong enough to remain professional or that it was a good decision for my mental health. I’m not sure what made me say yes, but I did, or I guess I really can’t imagine ever saying no.
It was the most beautiful wedding, I did not “remain professional” and I’m so thankful for it. The bride’s father passed away hours after the ceremony ended. I have filmed in many situations where I got there just in time, but this moment transcends my naive notion of time. I’m so incredibly grateful I said yes.
Chloe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got my start as a videographer filming weddings. I filmed my first wedding for $200 and immediately caught the bug of the magic that is gifting people with moments. Though my price went up as I increased my skillset and understood my worth, my focus from that $200 wedding never shifted. I felt immense pride in being the person who could capture the tears, hugs, and laughter of families and loved ones on one of the most joyous occasions. Though I no longer film weddings, my focus remains the same. I primarily film the work of nonprofit agencies to promote the services they offer and the needs within their community. It’s crazy to think how much the two very different industries overlap. I’m capturing a lot of the same moments, I’m just more honed in on my purpose.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Referrals, referrals, referrals! I’ve tried out ads, but even when the ads worked, it wasn’t necessarily a match. When I’ve received referrals from people and businesses that I truly enjoyed working for, I then had double the clientele plus their circle of influence.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
I have always felt like an underdog, and maybe that’s not a good thing – imposter syndrome is alive and well! But oftentimes it’s something that fuels my drive to work harder, because there will always be someone doing something better than me. When I was approached to pitch myself for a videography gig to work with talented people I’ve dreamed of working with, I went into it with the idea that someone else would get the job but that at least putting together a presentation of my work would be good for me – a learning experience if nothing else. Plus it was nice that they thought of me. I stayed up past midnight every night for weeks (I’m a 9 pm bedtime gal) working on my presentation, defining my ethos as a videographer, and finessing past projects with more updated and improved work. I was proud of the portfolio I built, and even prouder that I knew who I was, what I could offer, and how it would benefit the client – and I honestly didn’t care if anyone else was impressed once I hit submit. THAT feeling was new for me, the ability to separate what I was proud of and the need for others’ approval. So I already felt like I accomplished what I set out to do, and then I got the gig! The lesson it taught me is to never be too much of an underdog that you don’t try. I asked why they chose me because I knew who some of the other creatives and agencies were, and I continue to be impressed and inspired by their work. They responded with this line in an email that I have since printed out and leave taped to the inside of the top drawer in my desk…
“There was heart in every story you shared, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crmultimedia.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-rouse/
