We were lucky to catch up with Kristen Gardner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kristen, thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
Being a business owner is something that I think a lot of people think is easier than it looks. You wear many hats as a business owner, especially a small business such as myself. With that being said, I wouldn’t trade owning my own business for the world. I began my business as a wedding videographer in 2015 and quickly realized that I was opening up a whole new world of possibilities for myself and my growing family.
One of the things that makes me incredibly happy I chose to run my own business is that I answer to myself. I am very self-motivated so being a business owner is a natural role for me. I can take initiative and hustle through busy seasons and then work on other passion projects during a slower wedding season. I recently branched out a began offering family and newborn films as a result of a slower season with weddings.
Another reason I am thankful and happy to be a business owner is the flexibility I have. I have two daughters ages 6 and 9. Being a business owner allows me the freedom and flexibility to be there for all of the big and small moments of my daughters’ education and childhood. I volunteer at their school regularly and never have to worry about telling a boss I can’t come into work because my child is sick. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself how difficult it would be to be tied down to a 9 to 5 job in this season of life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am one of those people who takes an idea and runs with it full speed. That was the case with my wedding videography business as well. Before becoming a wedding videographer, I taught Kindergarten for five years. I quickly realized that I could not see myself doing the career I chose long-term. I started to brainstorm what I could do that fueled my creativity, my love for relationships and people, and gave me the freedom of flexibility.
I am extremely sentimental and love preserving fleeting moments through photographs and videos. I like to think of myself as our family historian because I am constantly taking pictures and videos of my family and making photo albums as well as short films. Although I do not have formal training or a degree in filming, I started learning a lot through various online platforms and hands-on filming and took a leap of faith in 2015 and launched my wedding videography business. During that first year of business, I learned a lot. Between having a newborn baby, continuing to teach Kindergarten and launching a business, I was extremely busy. I continued to teach for 2 more years after starting my business. In 2017, I took another huge leap of faith and left my teaching job to pursue my passion for my wedding videography business full-time. A few short months later, I found out I was expecting my second daughter.
When I think about what I am most proud of regarding my wedding videography business, I would have to say I’m most proud of the fact that I created a thriving business from the ground up. I took what started as an idea and created a business that has filmed over 150 weddings and is going on 10 years of being in business. I’ve kept it small over the years intentionally and I do not outsource filming or editing because I really love the relationships I get to build with my clients. One of my favorite parts of being a wedding videographer is knowing that these films I create will live on forever through generations.
Last but not least, my husband has been my number one cheerleader and business partner from day one. He films alongside me at every wedding and has an amazing gift of putting our couples at ease on wedding days.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A big lesson I have had to overcome and unlearn throughout the years is regarding equipment. Sometimes I would find myself getting excited about the latest and greatest camera gear & tools when in reality, it’s the skill set as a videographer that matters most. Embracing the “less is more” philosophy allows me to focus on what truly matters: my skills and creativity. By resisting the temptation to rely on the latest and greatest gimmicky equipment, I open myself up to genuine growth and satisfaction.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I truly believe having a good work ethic, morals, and dependability is what sets me apart in my market and has contributed to building my reputation over the years. Being consistent and dependable in a big market such as the wedding industry is vital to success. I make it a point to get to know my wedding couples: they aren’t just a number to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovecapturedproductions.com
- Instagram: @lovecapturedproductions
- Facebook: @lovecapturedproductions
- Other: https://vimeo.com/showcase/11420062?share=copy
Image Credits
Kati Hewitt Photography https://katihewittphotoraphy.com/
JW Baugh https://www.jwbaugh.com/
Kasey Lynn Photography https://kaseylynn.com/