OUR STORY
the story behind soulful storytellers
A filmmaking practice, education platform, and creative community dedicated to the art of SOULFUL Birth documentary storytelling
Founded by documentary filmmakers at Lauren + Douglas
meet the filmmakers behind soulful storytellers
Soulful Storytellers was founded by husband and wife filmmaking team Dania and Andrew, whose work spans more than three decades of combined experience in documentary storytelling, filmmaking, and creative education.
Through their studio Lauren + Douglas, the pair have spent years crafting thoughtful visual stories for brands, families, and organisations. But it was their work documenting birth stories that sparked the vision for something larger.
Birth filmmaking demands a unique approach to storytelling — one rooted in trust, presence, and emotional sensitivity.
Over time their work in this space led to a growing number of photographers and filmmakers seeking guidance on how to approach birth stories with the same level of care and artistry.
Soulful Storytellers grew naturally from those conversations.
[dania] lauren
filmmaker • EDUCATOR • FOUNDER
I'm Canadian born with Pines and Cedars and icy cold rivers running deep in my veins. However, Australia has been my home now for over half my life. I also love Mexican food, Coffee and Anne of Green Gables.
I fell in love with photography after I received my first DSLR at 17 yrs old, but my love for storytelling goes back even further to creating stories with anything I could get my hands on: Pen and paper, cassette tapes, in camera hi-8 edits, the list goes on! I was always creating stories.
After I finished high school I joined a documentary filmmaking team where I was exposed to all the aspects of run & gun videography, but I would say my storytelling strength and passion is editing. I enjoy the challenge of creating innovative films for my clients that draws viewers into an immersive audio visual experience.
Birth Videographer of The Year Awards 2022
The Birth of Finn, 90's vibes & a surprise proposal
The Birth of Finn
Experience Dania's signature immersive audio-visual editing and emotive storytelling in 'The Birth of Finn'—an engaging award winning film with all the feels!
Gold Award—BVOTY 2022
[andrew] douglas
Creative Director • EDUCATOR • FouNDER
I have formal training in Graphic Design, but it was during a 15 year stint working with a documentary filmmaking team that I gained experience in the art of storytelling, and perhaps more importantly met my wife!
My role now is House Dad (aka Kid Wrangler) but I can’t help getting involved in the odd side project i.e., Soulful Storytellers! I’m a conflicted creative—torn between the convenience of technology and a yearning for a simpler life. I’m a wanna-be adventurer, but for now—mental health breaks—running our local river circuit is my go-to happy place.
My strengths in storytelling are filming live action and critiquing / problem solving in editing. I'm excited to join forces with Dania and support birth storytellers making the transition into videography, whether that be learning the basics, or taking their films to the next level!
experience that shapes our teaching
A buried dream brought to life
Before Soulful Storytellers existed as an education platform, it was simply the natural extension of decades spent working in storytelling and documentary filmmaking.
Between them, Dania and Andrew have worked across documentary production, visual storytelling, creative direction, and filmmaking education.
Their work in the birth space has helped contribute to the growing recognition of birth videography as a distinct and meaningful storytelling genre.
Through Soulful Storytellers they now share that experience with filmmakers around the world who are exploring how to approach birth stories with greater care, craft, and artistic intention.
the birth of soulful storytellers
A quiet idea that grew into a creative community
Soulful Storytellers began not as a business plan, but as a quiet idea.
For years we had talked about creating training for filmmakers interested in documenting birth stories. The idea surfaced again and again in conversations and notebooks, but family life and the demands of running a busy filmmaking practice meant it remained something we hoped to pursue “someday.”
That moment arrived in 2022 when we were invited to judge the inaugural Birth Videography of the Year Awards.
Watching films from storytellers around the world revealed something important — birth videography was still a developing genre, and many talented creatives were navigating the craft largely on their own.
Around the same time a number of birth photographers began reaching out asking how they could transition into filmmaking.
Those early conversations turned into mentorship sessions, which eventually became the first pilot program that evolved into the Soulful Storytelling for Birth Videographers course.
What began as a small mentorship circle grew into something much larger — a global community of filmmakers exploring how to document birth stories with greater depth, care, and artistry.
our approach to storytelling
Birth stories deserve more than simple documentation.
They deserve intentional filmmaking.
At Soulful Storytellers we approach storytelling as both a creative craft and a responsibility. Birth is an intimate and transformative moment in people’s lives, and documenting it requires sensitivity, presence, and respect.
Our approach blends documentary filmmaking principles with emotional storytelling, helping filmmakers create films that honour the people and stories entrusted to them.
The goal is never simply to teach techniques.
It is to help storytellers develop the awareness, confidence, and creative voice needed to tell meaningful stories.
the journey continues
Today Soulful Storytellers supports a growing international community of filmmakers exploring the art of birth storytelling.
Through courses, mentorship, and community, creatives from around the world are learning how to document birth stories with greater intention and artistry.
And in many ways, this story is still just beginning.