We were lucky to catch up with Maleka Ellis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maleka thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

Funny enough, ever since 2020 I’ve felt like I started from the beginning. I’ve been in the wedding business for seven years and counting. And if I could turn back time and start at year one, I would have treated my business as a business from the start, instead of just a hobby.

I would have invested in my companies SEO with a solid website. I would have used Social media to my benefit and used stories to my advantage. I would have invested in learning my equipment instead of just learning on the job. And the biggest lesson of all I would have raised my prices sooner. I feel like in my first 5 years of learning I did a lot of things wrong, but in the last 3 I’m making up for it. I would also listen to podcasts to keep myself updated and to just be constantly learning.

I feel like when I was starting out there was no place to ask questions. Now it’s every where and I’m just happy to be apart of it.

Maleka, 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?

For anyone who has filmed a wedding or just been to a wedding, a speech starts off at “For those who do not know me”…. My name is Maleka Ellis and I am the owner and creator of the Siren & Co. A luxury and destination wedding videographer. I started my business 7 years ago on a whim. I had been with another company for 3 years that closed, and in that time I fell in love with filming weddings.

I soon learned that starting my own business was not easy. It’s a lot different from being an employee. No one tells you there are so many hats you have to wear and that there is paperwork. So much paperwork!!

When starting my business in 2016 I was juggling 2 jobs as I was trying to get my bearings on how to become a business owner. I had to quickly learn how to drum up more clients, how to be different from every new videographer and how to still have a life.

The strangest part is that I had no equipment when I started my business. I was constantly borrowing or renting in order to film. (Note to future videographers: just buy one lens, one camera, a monopod, and a small audio setup. You’ll thank me later) I rented so much equipment starting out, and I wasn’t charging that much in the beginning. Rentals were just eating into all of my profit. It took a few years, but I figured it out in the end.

My 7 year journey has been a long one, and is still continuing. I have battled with failure, depression, burnout and imposture syndrome. But each setback has been a learning experience, pushing me forward. I probably wouldn’t still be in this industry if my clients weren’t amazing people!!

I started with very little business knowledge and slowly gained it as years progressed. I started off charging experience for my services before I had an actual pricing guide. But I’m proud that I never gave up. I honed my craft and kept pushing. Finding my niche was difficult as I didn’t know how to answer that question for a very long time. But for any couple looking for a modern twist on a timeless classic, the Siren and Co is the company for you. “This is not your parent’s wedding video.” I promise you will watch this video every year.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that I couldn’t do it all myself. As I started expanding I needed to hire a team. And being a black, female videographer we are a rare bunch in a sea of male videographers trying to take control. It was hard for me to trust other people not to steam roll me. But after a few trial and errors I was able to form a rag-tag team of people to help support me in my business. And hopefully as the years progress I’ll be able to expand my team even further.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the fact that I get to create!! Plain and simple.

Every time I’m out in the field filming a new love story I, think, “how can I make this unique? How can I take this home and put this puzzle together and bring it to life?” Being a wedding filmmaker is such a fun adventure for me in flexing my creative muscle and I’m excited to see how far this journey will take me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thesirenandco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesirenandco/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9WZ5dQN3pS2QX2fQntlfg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-siren-and-co-los-angeles?hrid=9u4RcTJ83YpZGqkVDouI9A&osq=the+siren+and+co

Image Credits
Photos by @peterson.design.photo