Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Struttmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I encountered my first camera in high school – you know, the ones that still used tapes? My friends and I were the first ones to be in what was called “Film Class” where we made mostly terrible music videos and short films – but it was SO much fun.

After College, I found myself at my than dream job working for a christian summer camp in the mountains of Colorado as a Program Director/Graphic Designer/Social Media Specialist/Story Capturing person – it was a small company – many hats – you get it.

My sweet spot became meeting new people and documenting stories of life change at camp. I was in charge of Social Media, which then expanded to any type of media – like recruitment videos. We hired a couple people to make them and each time I was unsatisfied thinking we need a better video, but we don’t have the budget to make it. I started buying my own camera equipment to try my hand at making them myself.

Ironically, the camp I worked for had purchased a “Full-Time Filmmaker” online course for me to learn how to successfully make recruiting videos. I will say I had ZERO intention of becoming a full-time filmmaker at that time. Once I acquired enough gear, I volunteered to film a friends wedding in 2020 thinking it would be really fun and I’d secretly always wanted to try ever since my high school film classes. Well, turns out I was right.

About a year later, I decided to leave that job. I’d always had a desire to be an entrepreneur in some capacity and honestly, my jobs at summer camp taught me how to be resourceful, adaptable, always learning, and to rely on Jesus for finances – as I fundraised two years of pay when I first started. Having that mindset made starting a business out on my own seem more like an adventure and less daunting. I’m so grateful for my experience at camp.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I feel like I walked into the Wedding and Event industry, knocked on the door with a camera in my hand, and was shocked when someone answered!

I create films that are authentic, made to make you feel. I stay as unscripted as possible and don’t try to make an imperfect moment perfect – the beauty is in what really is. I always tell clients that I love people more than the art of filmmaking. I wish I could say I carry a camera everywhere, that I’ve always been obsessed with capturing moments, but my phone camera is generally broken and I long for any time I have to simply be present. That’s the gift I want to give my clients, the gift of letting them be present. I will capture candid moments my client wants to keep, with an eye open what they might miss and string them together through a story, both genuine and nostalgic.

I provide wedding films that tell an authentic and deep story back to the couple of their commitment to each other. No cheese, no promotional video feel. I do the same thing for businesses – authentic and meaningful films.

I love working for couples and businesses that are passionate about Jesus, just like I am! I LOVE any chance I get to encapsulate a wedding film sharing a couples faith to generations – that’s what’s so neat about wedding films – you can share your story with your grandkid’s kids through a film. That’s CRAZY. I also love to be a like-minded vendor ready to execute a vision of bringing the news of Jesus forward in an attractive and accurate way through filmmaking!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The beginning of my business was a rocky one. You hear stories of people who leave their jobs to start a business and it’s immediately successful, but this is a reminder that some good things just take time.

The same week I left my full-time job to start my business, I contracted food poisoning which turned into SIBO (Small intestine Bacerial Overgrowth – very similar to IBS). All of a sudden my body couldn’t digest the foods I’d eaten my WHOLE life and I had no idea why. I took a job as a part-time barista, planning to be at it for 6 months while scheduling out the summer, but ended up staying for over two years. Than at the beginning of my first wedding season, my now husband proposed and we decided to plan our wedding in 3 quick months. Needless to say, I got distracted from my plans of marketing my new business in the excitement of planning my own wedding! On our honeymoon, my husband got incredibly sick. We almost got stranded in Mexico and 10 days into our marriage I was on my knees praying that he wouldn’t pass away. He didn’t! My husband is also an entrepreneur, a high-end Trim Carpenter. In all honesty, we struggled the first year of our marriage financially making both of our businesses work. I used most of my mental energy that year adjusting to all the changes that had happened in those 6 months since leaving my old job. It was hard to stick to what we had chosen to do, but we just kept working & praying at it and now we are SO glad we did.

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

Purpose is what I struggle with the most in this business. It’s what I think is most rewarding in life itself. Sometimes it feels like I’m making a film that might never be watched, what if that couple can’t keep their commitment and they get a divorce? What if they forget to download and save it? As many other creatives wonder the impact or lack-there-of of their art, I start with all of that to say, that there is meaning in doing simply anything as long as it is done in worship to God. So, I rest easy knowing that even if it’s just ONE wedding film that a couple watches on a hard day and is reminded of their vows and chooses to stay together – I call that worth it. It’s also worth it even if it’s just ONE film that gets passed down to the next generation. It’s worth it, for just ONE groom to watch his grandpa laugh with guests on film after he passes away – which just happened to one of my couples. Those are the things I hold onto.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahstruttmann.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahstruttmann/

Image Credits

All the images that are in a studio of the blond haired girl in bright colors – aka me, were taken by Meegan Dobson. All the images from weddings were taken by me, Sarah Struttmann.