We were lucky to catch up with Gracie Dorr recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gracie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

If I told you I didn’t have this thought every. single. week…. I’d be lying. I crave the stability of a salary 9-5 and getting weekends off the enjoy friends and family, maybe even benefits! I also crave owning my own time and working to better myself and something I can be really proud of. I can assure you I’m much happier as a creative, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes wish I was working salary! LOL When it boils down to the traditional savings and paying bills without a steady income, it’s super hard not to get down or critical of yourself. I think doing my job, I have learned to be so so forgiving and understanding of myself and my relationship with life responsibilities. If you’re always criticizing yourself and putting yourself down for not having the money or not saving like you’re supposed to or not having those days off, you’re basically stepping on yourself and crushing your self esteem and ego. You know what happens after that? You fail. If no one else believes in you, but you believe in yourself, you’re already doing better than 50% of business owners/creatives.
Long story short, I am much happier as a creative, even if I’m stressed 90% of the time!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a 25 yr old female who got into videography around 17. I got my first video and editing job at 19, and then made my own business at 22! When I first got into video, I definitely did not think I would be filming weddings. I wanted to travel the world and film people and culture and exciting new things and beautiful destinations! One day my boss told me to edit a wedding that they had filmed in Bali, and when I tell you I cried. I cried and edited and cried. I NEVER thought a video could make me feel so many feelings! That’s when I realized I didn’t want to just travel to all these beautiful places and film something, I wanted to make people FEEL things!
That’s when I got into weddings. I filmed my first wedding by myself for a family friend, and to my surprise, it was not bad at all! I can confidently look back and say that my first video is still timeless and still makes me cry.
That is the goal. To make timeless, authentic and emotional wedding films. I think that’s a lot of people’s goal in this industry, but it takes a true creative to see new things in the same activity. That’s where I shine! If it’s weird or maybe kind of out there, I’ll try it!
The best thing is, I’m still learning and growing so much! The more creative my couples are, the more it allows me to be creative and really evolve my style.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best thing society can do for an artist is support their pages! In this day and age, social media has become a great tool, but it can be a great downfall. I’ve had people tell me they thought my work would be mediocre because I have under 1,000 followers… Then they get on my instagram and they love my videos and want to book with me! The best thing you can do is FOLLOW or like people’s work! A lot of people have underestimated me because I have such a small following, which is insane! But moral of the story: here we are in the age of social media and people are judging you before ever looking at your work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hands down, seeing people fall in love with (1) my work and (2) me as a person. Loving someone’s work is easy when you aren’t spending all day with that person (like on a wedding day) but hanging out with me ALL DAY and then telling me that you loved spending the day with me and I was so fun and calmed your nerves is the best compliment ever!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gracefilmsatl.com
• Instagram: gracefilmsatl
• Facebook: Grace Films
• Youtube: Grace Films

Image Credits
Fitzography Photography Ginger snap Photos Sabrina K Thomas Photography