We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Oleg Kholodov a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Oleg, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

One of the biggest challenges to profitability in the wedding videography industry is the common misconception about what goes into creating a wedding film – and why it costs what it does. Many people outside the industry see a price tag of $4,000, $5,000, or even $10,000 for a wedding video and immediately assume it’s overpriced. Some even compare it to what a doctor might earn in a day. But what they don’t see is the enormous amount of work that happens behind the scenes – before, during, and long after the wedding day.

Securing just one client can take dozens of hours: building and maintaining a professional website, creating a compelling portfolio, running paid advertising, responding to countless emails and inquiries, hopping on discovery calls – many of which end in no response or a polite “Sorry, we’ve decided to go in a different direction.” It’s a constant hustle, and each booking often comes after a long chain of invisible labor.

The wedding day itself is physically demanding. We’re on our feet for 8 to 10 hours, carrying heavy gear – tripods, lights, stabilizers – rushing between prep locations, ceremony sites, and receptions, which are often in different buildings or on different floors. There’s no margin for error; we’re capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments in real-time. After the shoot, there are dozens more hours of post-production: syncing footage, color grading, audio mixing, storytelling.

On top of that, we reinvest heavily into gear, software, backup drives, insurance, and often hire second shooters and editors. After taxes, business expenses, and paying collaborators, many videographers are left with just 20% of the amount a couple paid for their wedding video.

Another challenge is how videography is often undervalued compared to photography. Couples typically book photographers a year or more in advance because they see them as essential. Videography is either an afterthought – or skipped entirely. And yet, many couples later express regret. Scrolling through hundreds of photos takes time and attention, while a 10- to 15-minute highlight film can bring them right back into the moment, evoking emotion in a completely different way. I’m not saying one is more important than the other – both are essential and offer different ways to relive the day. But video captures movement, voice, laughter, and tears – elements that photos alone can’t convey.

In short, I wish more people understood the depth of effort behind wedding videography and valued it for the emotional, technical, and creative craft it truly is. Recognition and appreciation go a long way, not just for profitability, but for the sustainability of the art form itself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Oleg, and I’m a wedding and documentary-style filmmaker based in New York. I run A-Roll Films, a boutique videography brand focused on capturing genuine, cinematic love stories through both digital and Super 8mm film. My path into this industry wasn’t linear – I originally worked in tech and data science, but my passion for visual storytelling gradually took over. What started as a creative hobby quickly became my profession, driven by the realization that real human moments – when captured with care, carry timeless emotional weight.

At A-Roll Films, we specialize in wedding videography with a classic, intimate aesthetic. We offer full-day wedding coverage, highlight films, and a unique blend of digital and Super 8mm film video. Super 8 is something that really sets us apart – it adds a nostalgic, raw, and dreamy quality to wedding memories, and it’s a format not many videographers offer today.

Our goal is to tell stories in a way that feels real – not overly posed or scripted. We blend into the background, letting moments unfold naturally, while still directing just enough to ensure couples look and feel their best. Many of our clients tell us that our films make them feel something – that they laugh, cry, and rewatch them again and again. That emotional impact is exactly what we aim for.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience on social media by consistently sharing authentic, cinematic work that reflects my style and the emotional core of each wedding. I focused on quality over quantity – posting meaningful clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and engaging with couples directly through DMs and stories. Over time, referrals and word-of-mouth helped amplify my reach.

My advice: Focus on your niche, stay consistent, show your face sometimes (people connect with people), and don’t be afraid to start small. Value genuine engagement over vanity metrics – it’s better to have 100 true fans than 10,000 silent followers.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What helped me build my reputation was a mix of consistency, genuine connection with couples, and delivering high-quality work that speaks for itself. I take the time to really understand each couple’s story and vision, and I treat every wedding like it’s the most important one – because to that couple, it is. I also pride myself on being reliable, communicative, and calm under pressure, which couples really appreciate on such an emotional day.

Word-of-mouth has been key – happy clients refer others. And over time, that trust and personal approach have built a reputation I’m proud of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arollfilms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arollfilms/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arollfilms/videos