How Our Students Are Using Birth Videography to Elevate Their Creative Business
(Real Stories of Transformation from Soulful Storytellers Students)
A growing community of soulful storytellers — birth photographers and filmmakers from around the world, each bringing their own voice, heart, and vision to the stories they tell. These are the faces of transformation, connection, and creative courage inside Soulful Storytellers for Birth Videographers.
You don’t need to be starting from scratch to benefit from learning film.
In fact, many students inside Soulful Storytelling for Birth Videographers already had thriving photography businesses when they joined us. What they were looking for wasn’t a total rebrand—they were looking to stretch, deepen, and refine their voice. They wanted to serve their clients more fully, and feel more creatively alive while doing it.
Joining the Soulful Storytellers community gave them that spark.
In this article, we’re sharing how real students have transformed their approach to birth videography—and the ripple effect that’s had on their confidence, creativity, and storytelling business.
1. From Music Video to Documentary Storytelling
Heidi Daniels, an experienced birth filmmaker from our 2023 SSBV cohort, discovered a whole new way of seeing story through the lens.
Heidi had been creating birth films for over six years, but she felt stuck in a familiar loop: beautiful visuals overlaid with music, pieced together after the fact. What she craved was true story—films that felt intentional, cohesive, and emotionally resonant.
“And I knew this was the year I wanted to take my films to the next level.”
That decision set everything in motion. Through the process of learning how to shape narrative arcs, capture meaningful audio, and edit with emotional pacing, Heidi began to see a profound shift—not just in her films, but in her confidence.
“I used to hope I’d captured enough to piece something together. Now I can see the story unfolding as I shoot.”
Her new approach hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“My husband watched something of mine recently and said, ‘Wow, this is so different than it used to be a year ago.’ And I feel that too. I’ve really done it. I’ve moved to that next level.”
The transformation also helped her manage a busy editing queue with more clarity and direction.
“The organisation and my editing process is much more streamlined now, which is great because I have like four films in my queue. And I feel like I can get through them and I know what I’m doing. It’s all really exciting.”
Heidi’s story is a powerful example of how learning documentary storytelling fundamentals can reignite creativity—even for experienced filmmakers.
➡️ Curious about creating emotional arcs in short films? Read: The 5 Emotional Storytelling Elements Every Birth Film Needs
2. Creating Birth Films That Capture Unique Client Stories
Windswept and intentional, Martha Kong brought her cinematic eye and quiet determination to SSBV in 2023 — transforming her edits into emotionally rich, story-driven films.
Martha, another student in the course, found herself falling into repetition—filming and editing every client’s story in the same way.
“Doing the Soulful Storytelling for Birth Videographers course has helped me to think outside the box—tell stories in a unique way. I feel like I'm better able to tell clients their stories in their own ways and not just go through the same motions every time.”
This shift didn’t just change her films. It reinvigorated her creativity and helped her discover new tools for connection.
“Even with editing reels, you've unlocked this creative side. I didn't even know where to start with reels and it's all kind of clicked for me.”
Martha’s experience reflects what many creative entrepreneurs discover: the more personal your storytelling, the more powerful—and effective—your marketing becomes.
➡️ Want to market your films with more emotion and clarity? Read: How to Market Your Birth Films to Reach the Right Clients
3. Getting Booked Before You're “Ready”
Christin Ortiz, a Soulful Storytelling student, photographed in golden light atop a mountain—grounded, radiant, and on the rise. Since joining the course, Christin has begun booking birth film clients regularly, proving that you don’t need to wait until you're "ready" to start.
When Christin Ortiz joined Soulful Storytelling for Birth Videographers, she wasn’t starting with a full calendar. In fact, she had zero bookings.
But what she did have was a heart for storytelling and the determination to grow. She just needed the right structure, support, and storytelling mindset to build momentum.
Now? She’s fielding consistent bookings—and it’s the film portion of her packages that’s doing the heavy lifting.
“All of my birth packages automatically include film… and I get a lot of moms saying the film is what they're actually booking for.”
Christin attributes her rapid growth to taking action on what she learned in the course, and staying consistent with social media and local networking. It’s a powerful reminder that even early in your filmmaking journey, clients are looking for video.
“When I started the course, I hadn’t really had any bookings. And since starting and changing some things around... I’ve had a fairly good-looking fall. Fully booked for me is four births a month—and I’ve almost hit that already in August.”
Even with only 60% of the course completed, Christin has already seen a ripple effect: more inquiries, more confidence, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to capture both visual and emotional moments in the birth space.
She’s still learning how to juggle photo and video in the moment—but now she has a clearer roadmap and the editing skills to match.
“I’ve messed with DaVinci before, but I can already tell I’m going to be way more confident using it properly now… I know I’ll come back to these lessons again and again. The information is just so layered.”
For Christin, this is just the beginning. And for others watching from the sidelines?
“The more photographers start taking video seriously, I think the Soulful Storytellers course is only going to become more valuable.”
Christin’s story is proof that you don’t need a polished reel or a perfect workflow to start booking video clients. You just need to begin—with intention, support, and a willingness to grow.
4. Building Confidence to Charge More and Work Smarter
Many of our students are talented photographers who had already been dabbling in video—but still felt hesitant to charge for it. Sound familiar?
What helped them shift?
A clear, step-by-step system
Constructive feedback on real client work
Mentorship that met them where they were
By investing in their craft, students like Heidi, Martha and Christin unlocked a new level of confidence—not just in their ability to tell stories, but in how they price and position their services.
They now attract higher-value clients who are seeking meaningful storytelling, not just visual highlights.
➡️ Wondering how to price your first video packages? Read: How to Start Offering Videography When You’re Known for Photos—coming soon!
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Starting Over—It’s About Stepping In
When your process is rooted in clarity and creativity, everything flows more intentionally. Whether you’re offering birth films as an add-on or as part of your signature package, the skills you build inside Soulful Storytellers will elevate your entire brand.
You don’t need to wait until everything’s perfect.
You don’t need to start over.
You just need to take the next aligned step.
The Soulful Storytellers community was built for photographers and filmmakers who want to grow without losing their heart. And if you're reading this? That might just be you.
🎥 Want to explore what this could look like for your business? Join the Soulful Storytellers VIP list for behind-the-scenes tips, course sneak peeks, and an invitation to our July intake.
Join the Soulful Storytellers VIP List for filmmaking tips, early access to our birth videography course intake and exclusive discounts.
A welcoming space for photographers ready to deepen their storytelling craft.
Written by Dania Lauren, award-winning birth filmmaker, storytelling educator, and co-creator of Soulful Storytellers, a creative community for photographers and filmmakers looking to elevate their storytelling craft. Through her studio, Lauren + Douglas, Dania creates emotive, documentary-style films for families and brands who value stories that feel as meaningful as they look.
