Design Aglow Cinema: Meet LoveSpun

Our Cinema Line Launch is bringing talented filmmakers from all over the world together on our blog to share their knowledge, expertise and inspiration with our audience. Today we're getting to know Jessica, of LoveSpun Films~ 

Hi Jessica, we love your wedding films, and this is something really different for you. What was the purpose of this little film….for a client, promotional, or just for fun?

Thank you so much! This fun project was a styled shoot and for me, it really was a great way to showcase that we love to travel all over the world and film.

It was on a trip to film a wedding in Europe, in the winter of 2011, that I first met Audrey of Le Secret D'Audrey, a french photographer living in Paris. I had admired her work from afar, as anyone who loves Paris would. As the years passed, we stayed in touch and I dreamed that someday we would work together. In the fall of 2014, as we planned to head to Europe again to film another wedding, I reached to her out knowing this would be a great opportunity to collaborate with her on a styled shoot. Styled shoots for us, really give a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with amazing, talented people that inspire us. We like to do one or two styled shoots a year because they allow us the freedom to create designs that we haven't seen in weddings yet and gives us time to try new filming techniques or approaches since you are not held by the time constraints of a wedding.

What’s in your gear bag? Did this change when traveling abroad?

That's a great question. I'd like to say that our gear has a lot to with our signature look and our ability to stand out in the crowd. Unlike most of our peers, we specifically shoot on Panasonic Lumix cameras, and you will always find a mix of modern and vintage glass in our gear bags. There is something about the age of our lenses that have a very distinct look, there is a softness in the glass that is romantic, bright and airy and it's a LoveSpun trademark. You will always find my two favorite lenses, a vintage 50mm, f1.4, and modern 25mm f1.4.  We film with a very small footprint, often on just a Manfrotto Monopod, with a tripod nearby for the ceremony and toasts, two segments I like to be rock solid for.

Tell us a little bit about your editing process.

The editing is where our weddings really come to life again. After sorting and organizing all of our footage after each wedding, we really try to hone in what stood out to us most from the wedding day. Did we notice any special relationships with parents or friends, themes that reoccurred during the day, and what personality traits of the couple made this wedding unique. Considering these types of things help us make a film that they will really love.  One thing I have heard a lot from potential clients is that they feel like they know our couples after watching the films. Even though they are complete strangers, that the essence of the couple really comes through to the viewer and makes each film unique and moving rather than a series of beautiful shots cut together.

You have a lot of experience. What are your 3 top tips for cinematographers who are just starting out?

1. Don't be afraid to reach out to other cinematographers for help and mentoring.  When I first started out, I struggled with not having anyone to bounce ideas off or face business challenges with. I thought asking questions to others in my own field would mean admitting weakness and word would travel on the streets that I had no clue what I was doing.  Nothing could be further from the truth though! Once I started attending workshops, conferences, user groups, etc. and began sharing ideas with other wedding filmmakers, the fears went away and I quickly grew my company with confidence.
2. Don't be afraid to be different. You do not need the same gear as everyone else and you certainly don't need your work to look the same as anyone else in order to be successful.  If you can create a signature look and style that is unique to your own company that is the key.  The customers out there who are trying to navigate all the options want something to stand out to them.  Tailor your company around your personality. It's a win win because you will have a brand and body of work that feels deeply personal and it will attract clients that share your same tastes and style.
3. Learn to say NO.  Yikes! That's a hard one, I know!  This can be in the form of saying NO to too many projects. Projects that you will have a hard time keeping up with or struggle to meet the deadlines, this has been a personal struggle for me over the years and I'm putting my foot down :). This can also be in the form of saying no to projects that don't reinforce your brand or don't align with where you are trying to take your company.

Jessica Ringor has been able to harness a unique combination of technical skill, feminine storytelling, and creative branding to elevate her company, LoveSpun Films, to the top of the wedding industry. With her distinct “LoveSpun” style, she has been able to carve out a niche market attracting the attention of top celebrity event designers and high profile couples alike. Her handmade wedding films have become the choice of some of the most distinguished clients, from Hollywood celebrities and film producers, to Olympic athletes and fashion magazine editors. LoveSpun’s work has been extensively featured in some of the wedding industry’s hottest publications. To quote a fellow filmmaker, “Not only is she one heck of a talented filmmaker but she is the branding & marketing goddess. Putting a little “Spun” in everything she does, she makes her clients & other vendors fall in love with her as a must have and must watch filmmaker.