Meet Laurel Cohen: Wedding Videographer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laurel Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laurel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak and was drawn to the freedom that running my own business would afford me. From the ages of 16-23, I had various jobs and gigs, all of which required a decent amount of self-accountability. Whether it was SAT tutoring, directing music videos, or writing columns for my local paper, all these experiences helped steer my work goals towards a sense of self-reliance and day-to-day flexibility.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I never set out to be a wedding filmmaker, and I think that has actually evolved into one of my strengths within the wedding videography world. I have a background in music video and commercial direction, so music selection is big for me, as is my fast-paced editing style. I’ve been lucky enough to connect with couples who are seeking that ‘something different’ when it comes to their wedding films. During wedding off-season I dabble in various passion projects, including music video direction, short film crewing, and surreal costume design. The latter has grown into a multi-year costume/photo project of mine entitled, ‘Creature.’ My off-season projects differ year to year in medium/subject, and I find them vital in replenishing my creative cup. This allows me to return to my next wedding season refreshed and ready to give my couples the best experience possible. I am so thankful for this creativity cycle that I’ve crafted for myself, though it wasn’t always this balanced… The first couple years of establishing my business were difficult, as I’m sure most new entrepreneurs can attest. It takes a lot of work and discipline to build a strong portfolio, while also saving up money for more gear and lenses. My partner and I split a small studio apartment for a couple years (both working from home in said studio apartment) in order to keep our expenses low… it was ‘cozy’ to say the least haha. I did my first wedding for free off of an ad on Craigslist, then slowly worked my way up year by year to where I am today. There was a decent learning curve, however I was able to find everything I needed to know on a technical level just from watching Youtube videos (a LOT of Youtube videos haha). Looking back at my journey, it’s encouraging to see what’s possible if you set your mind to something and just go for it!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My go-tos are hiking trails and yummy food. Some restaurants with awesome options for the gluten-free diner (me): Jelly Cafe, Root Down, Aloy Thai, River and Woods. For hiking I frequent local Boulder trails or go to Nederland or RMNP for a higher alpine experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My partner, Erik, is an amazing support in my creative endeavors. The number of times I have taken over our main living space with a crafting ‘swamp’ are perhaps too many to count. He also has a hefty entrepreneurial streak himself and is invaluable as a sounding board for talking through branding ideas and business strategies.

Website: www.laurelweddingfilms.com
Instagram: @laurel.weddingfilms
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/laurel-wedding-films-boulder

Image Credits
Mackro Photography Laurel Wedding Films Laurel Cohen