
Shoot to Story
THE COMPLETE WEDDING FILMMAKING SYSTEM for Creating Cinematic, Story-Focused Wedding Films (FROM PREP TO DELIVERY)
Shoot to Story Masterclass
A full storytelling system designed to help you film with clarity and confidence, edit faster and with purpose, and create emotional, story-driven films your couples will love — on repeat.
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Module 1: Foundations of a Story-Driven Film
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Introduction
In this course, I’ll be guiding you through my complete, A-Z system for creating cinematic, story-focused wedding films, from prep to delivery. We’ll be learning both the technical aspects of filmmaking, as well as concrete strategies and guidelines for editing and delivering with confidence.
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Lesson 1.1: Why Story-Driven Wedding Films Stand Out in a Saturated Market
Understand why documentary-style storytelling is in high demand and how it allows you to craft films that feel emotionally rich and custom-made for each couple.
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Lesson 1.2: Course Overview
Get a big-picture look at the course structure, including what you'll learn in each module—from shooting strategies to editing workflows to business tips.
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Lesson 1.3: Understanding the Difference Between Good and Great Wedding Films
Learn what elevates a film from good to great by combining beautiful visuals with authentic storytelling, intentional editing, and a documentary-style approach.
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Module 2: Confident Filming - Shooting with the Edit in Mind
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Lesson 2.1: Shoot to Edit - The Technical Side
Discover how thorough planning allows you to be present, intentional, and creative during the wedding day. Understand the technical side of filming, including settings, proxies, and strategies to save time later.
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Lesson 2.2: Mixed Frame Rates
Learn how to properly film and edit with mixed frame rates for a gorgeous mix of slow and normal motion.
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Lesson 2.3: Shoot to Edit - The Creative Side
Learn what to watch for, how to think creatively, and techniques to film confidently.
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Lesson 2.4: Shoot to Edit - Audio
Learn the role of audio in storytelling, what to capture, and how to use it as the backbone of your films.
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Lesson 2.5: Confidence While Shooting
Learn exactly what to film to know that you’ve captured enough to make a compelling edit — without having to sift through hours of unnecessary footage later.
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Module 3: Cinematic Practices: Movement, Composition, Prompts, & Light
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Lesson 3.1: Introduction
THIS is what no one teaches — that there are actual, concrete methods and strategies to elevate your films and make them feel more cinematic.
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Lesson 3.2: Prompting for Authentic Interaction & Emotion
Help your couple feel at ease with gentle prompts to elicit authentic interactions and emotions. These prompts will do more than stiff poses ever could!
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Lesson 3.3: Composition and Movement
Learn how to use composition and movement to add depth and variety to your shots and elevate your footage.
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Lesson 3.4: Cinematic Lighting
My simple lighting tips and setup to make your footage shine.
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Lesson 3.5: Wrapping Up
Keep in mind the most important things.
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Module 4: Overcoming Editing Paralysis
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Lesson 4.1: Overcoming Editing Paralysis
Learn how to get started without feeling overwhelmed with hours of footage to sort through.
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Lesson 4.2: Understanding a Storyline
What makes a story different than a string of clips?
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Lesson 4.3: Building Your Edit - Where to Start
The starting point is often the hardest part. Learn exactly how I build my edits with clear guidance on storytelling.
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Lesson 4.4: What to Do When You Get Stuck
Writer’s block is a real thing — so is editing block. If you’re wondering what to do or where to go next, try these tricks. Don’t forget to download the Timeline Examples and Stuck in the Edit Cheat Sheet for more ideas!
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Module 5: The Art of Pacing
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Lesson 5.1: The Art of Pacing
You may not know it, but pacing absolutely makes or breaks a wedding film. Films can’t stay at one level for the entire duration - there have to be ebbs and flows to create dynamics. Learn how to implement pacing and give your films depth.
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Lesson 5.2: Mixing Slow Motion and Normal Motion
Slow motion quickly loses impact if everything is filmed in it. Learn how to mix a range of motion to elevate your films for maximum emotional impact.
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Module 6: Sound & Audio Mastery
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Lesson 6.1: Capturing High-Quality Audio
Take the guessing out of audio with reliable recorders and backups to ensure you always have clean audio to work with.
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Lesson 6.2: Integrating Audio Seamlessly into Your Wedding Film
Learn how to integrate audio into your films (spoiler: the visuals don’t have to match the original moment the audio came from!)
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Lesson 6.3: Music
Finding the right music is critical for storytelling and connecting pieces of your film.
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Module 7: Streamlining Your Post-Production Process
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Lesson 7.1: Streamlining Your Post-Production Process
Even when every wedding day (and film) is unique, you can streamline the process with this repeatable framework, tips, and tricks.
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Lesson 7.2: Finalizing Your Edit With Confidence
As creatives, we could easily edit, re-edit, and over-edit forever. Save valuable time by knowing (with confidence) when your edit is finished.
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Module 8: BONUS Business Module
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Lesson 8.1: Business
Grow your business with marketing strategies, great client communication, and strategic pricing.
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Lesson 8.2: Marketing to Ideal Clients
Learn about the foundations of your brand and how to market your films to attract your dream clients!
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Lesson 8.3: Client Communication
Simple tips to elevate your client experience and leave them raving.
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Lesson 8.4: Pricing Guidance
Guidance on understanding your worth, how and when to raise prices, and what types of collections clients are looking for.
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Lesson 8.5: Where to Start With Pricing
Even if you’re just beginning, you need to charge an amount that’s sustainable and will help your business grow. But how much is that?
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Final Words + Bonuses
MEET THE STORYTELLER, Tess
I’ve been filming for over 10 years, and I used to shoot everything and hope I could “find the story” in post. I’d spend hours editing, second-guessing every cut, and wondering why my films felt like a series of clips—not a cohesive, beautiful story.
But then I found a repeatable framework that changed everything. It helped me film with clarity, edit with purpose, and deliver work that actually connects. That’s why I created Shoot to Story - it’s what I wish I had when I was starting out!
Got Some Questions?
WE’LL WE HAVE ANSWERS
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A: Shoot to Story is perfect for beginner to intermediate filmmakers — whether you're just starting out, transitioning from photography, or you've filmed a few weddings but still feel like you're guessing. This course will give you a clear framework to follow every time.
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A: Not at all. I teach you how to use the gear you already have intentionally — it's not about the most expensive setup, it's about knowing how to use it to tell the story. (Plus, you’ll get plenty of Guides and Cheat Sheets as a Bonus).
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A: That’s actually the best time to learn — so you can walk into your first or next wedding with confidence. You'll avoid the “trial and error” trap and start building your portfolio with intention from the beginning.
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A: The course is made up of 7 focused, fluff-free modules you can binge in a weekend. You’ll be able to apply the strategies immediately and revisit the lessons anytime.
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A: Yes! Storytelling doesn’t stop with filming. You'll learn how to edit with purpose, create emotionally compelling sequences, and stop getting stuck halfway through an edit. You’ll also get real editing timeline examples and cheat sheets to help when you’re stuck.
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A: This isn’t another gear tutorial or a reel template. Shoot to Story gives you a repeatable framework to create emotional, story-driven wedding films that feel personal every time — while also making your process faster, easier, and more enjoyable.