We recently connected with Holly Sluiter and have shared our conversation below.

Holly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Fedora Media At our full-service wedding company, we redefine industry standards by offering more than just exceptional photography and videography. We pride ourselves on being a comprehensive partner throughout your wedding journey, providing not only stunning visuals but also invaluable planning support. Our commitment to crafting one-of-a-kind creative photography and video ensures that your moments are captured with a unique and artistic flair. What truly distinguishes us is our diverse range of services, from boudoir and trash the dress sessions to adventurous packages featuring helicopter rides and wedding day content creators setting your wedding experience apart. Additionally, our emphasis on top-tier backup systems and the creation of high-quality prints, wall art, and photobooks reflects our dedication to preserving your memories in tangible, lasting ways. With in-house graphic design expertise and a steadfast focus on exceptional customer service and experience, we ensure that each couple receives personalized, unparalleled service throughout their wedding journey.

S2 Drones
At S2 Drones, we pride ourselves on disrupting the drone industry in Ontario by offering a comprehensive suite of services that goes beyond conventional aerial photography and videography. What sets us apart is our specialization in commercial projects, providing aerial surveys, mapping services, and the creation of precise 2D and 3D models. Moreover, we excel in volume and stockpile measurements, blueprint overlays, and meticulous monitoring and project assessments tailored specifically for construction projects. Our commitment lies not just in capturing stunning aerial footage but in delivering detailed, actionable data that empowers our clients in their construction endeavours quicker than ever before.. By focusing on these advanced and specialized services, we’re redefining industry standards and providing invaluable support for businesses looking to leverage drone technology for precise project management and assessments.

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?

Fedora Media has been a family business for well over a decade. It started when my husband bought me a camera as an anniversary gift, only to fall in love with photography. We started with anything from events to family photos, but it was when he began shooting weddings that he really found what he was passionate about. We continued with Fedora Media on a very part-time basis until, like many things, the pandemic changed everything.

During the pandemic, I experienced some medical issues that made returning to my job no longer an option for me. It was time to step into Fedora Media full-time and grow the business to be a sustainable job for myself. We faced every challenge head-on and had a great time doing it. We assembled the most wonderful team of incredibly talented and creative photographers, videographers, graphic designers and even a wedding day content creator.

As Fedora Media grew, so did the services we offered. We now offer
Engagement shoots (we even have packages with helicopter rides)
Boudoir shoots
Wedding Photography & Videography
Wedding Day Content Creation
Elopements
Commercial and branding shoots
Headshots
Prints, wall art and albums
Graphic Design
And really, anything else anyone needs.

In 2020, we started doing more work with drones. We love learning about new technology, especially when it comes to advancements in drone technology and software. When we were not shooting weddings, we were doing more work that didn’t necessarily fit in with the services Fedora Media offers, so in 2022, S2 Drones was born.

S2 Drones focuses on commercial drone productions, aerial surveys, 2D and 3D modelling, volume and stockpile measurements, construction assessment, blueprint overlay and so much more. Having two very diverse businesses has felt like a natural evolution to the services we offer and has been a wonderful opportunity to continue to innovate and grow.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In 2020, it was time to step up and grow Fedora Media like never before. I needed to make the business sustainable enough to create a full-time job for myself. I wanted to book every single thing I could with anyone who wanted to work with us. That was a mistake.

A few months into this journey, I received a priceless piece of advice. I was told that not everyone will be a good fit for my business and that’s okay. I wish I listened sooner! We offer a one-of-a-kind customer experience we are proud of, and we aren’t the perfect fit for everyone. We took a step back and defined who Fedora Media was. We had to focus on what services we wanted to offer, how we wanted to do things and what those services were worth.

Once we defined who Fedora Media was, all the pieces seemed to just seemed to come together. We knew who we were and how we wanted to express ourselves, and it changed everything. We are not for everyone and that’s really okay, because the clients we have had the opportunity to work with have been amazing. It has made all of us so much happier!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

We believe that if you take care of your team, they will care for your customers, so we try to do just that. We have some incredibly talented people who work with us, and it’s my job to provide them with all the tools they need so they can focus on being creative and having the best time possible with attending weddings. It’s important that I understand their preferences and anticipate any needs they may have. I need to make things as easy and stress-free as possible. We want our team really enjoy their job, and we are so proud of the supportive, creative and fun culture we have developed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fedoramedia.com/ and https://s2drones.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fedoramedia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fedoramedia/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FedoraMedia
• Other: Wedding Wire Storefront https://www.weddingwire.ca/wedding-photography/fedora-media–e29773

Image Credits
All photos take by Fedora Media