How To Film Weddings

Last year, I made a major move: I added photography to my wedding business after years of specializing in video. In this episode, I'm sharing why I made that transition, what it's done for my creativity, and how it's reshaped the way I think about my business. I'll walk you through how I shot 25+ sessions for free, turned a couple of those into high-paying clients, and built a photography portfolio that's already booked over $10,000 in my first season. I'm also opening up about the challenges — like building timelines, learning flash, and what it really takes to step into a new lane. If you've been feeling the pull to evolve or expand, this one's for you. This journey has opened my eyes to what's possible when you're willing to make a change.

Want more word-of-mouth bookings without having to beg for referrals? In this episode, John breaks down how to build a referral engine that runs on trust, relationships, and being the kind of creative people want to talk about. Whether you're just getting started or trying to book higher-quality work, this framework will help you grow your business behind the scenes — without relying on ads or awkward asks.

The things that AI can do in this world is incredible, and it was only a matter of time before an incredible product came along and revolutionized the wedding video industry. Well, Maclean Carlson from Hello Tomorrow Films has been working on something truly mind blowing! Plotline is an AI tool that takes all of the audio from your wedding and creates a story script with an emphasis on story. Learn more about Plotline: https://www.plotline.pro/?via=nick Follow plotline on instagram: https://instagram.com/plotline.pro  

In February of 2025 Nick only had 10k of bookings for the year. So he put his head down and got to work. By taking advantage of the weddings he did have, the relationships he has built over the years, and making himself more known on social media he was able to get some weddings on the books. In this episode Nick shares what he did and how he did it.

Are you lost with what you are supposed to do after someone inquires? Should you just send over your brochure with pricing? Should you set up a call? In today's episode, John breaks down the process he uses between getting an inquiry, and booking clients. He shows us his exact strategy for taking an inquiry to a paying customer.  Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnbunnfilms/  Get on the waitlist for John's next workshop: https://johnbunn.myflodesk.com/workshops

Are you tired of getting the ‘what are your prices' email from inquiries? We are too. In today's episode John is breaking down how he has completely transformed his business, and is attracting even more of his ideal buyers. If you struggle with getting solid inquiries, you don't want to miss this episode.  Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/johnbunnfilms/  Get on the waitlist for John's next workshop: https://johnbunn.myflodesk.com/workshops   

If you've been in this business for more than a couple years you can relate to the massive stresser of a big backlog and not a lot of money coming in. But what happens when you get a mentor, and lean into what makes you unique? That's exactly what Nick and Mason of Panovision Films chatted about this week on the podcast. Mason has blown up on instagram over the past year netting almost 30k followers. The main thing he's been doing? Being himself and learning into what he likes. Enjoy this conversation. Mason's IG: https://instagram.com/pano_vision  

In today's episode, John sits down with Jason and Danny from That Wedding Videographer Podcast to talk through their journey, and how they have been blowing up in the UK with their new podcast. They just hosted TWVP Summit with over 120 wedding filmmakers and we wanted to talk to them about how they are changing their industry. This episode will surely inspire you to JUST TAKE THE STEP See more here: https://twvp.co.uk/

This week John interviews Romavera Films. Based in Europe, these two have become some of the most sought after filmmakers in the world. Running multiple teams across the globe, as well as keeping their films creative, they have figured out how to build a business that is thriving. John sits down with Roma and Vera, to discuss their journey and hear more about what they are doing to stay true to who they are as artists. Romavera Films on Instagram: https://instagram.com/romavera_films  

Most of us are getting it WAY wrong on Instagram. We think the goal is to grow a “big following.” But what if I told you that it wasn't just about a big number next to your name? What if I said I had booked over $200k in weddings in the last 6 months from focusing on my Instagram Strategy? In this week's episode, I show you where I see so many wedding professionals get it WRONG with their Instagram accounts. Mentorship Calls: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mentorship John's Free Instagram Guide: https://johnbunnfilms.com/instagram  

Wild and Roam Co has built a MASSIVE following on Instagram and TikTok, and it has led to them becoming one of the top wedding filmmaking brands in the world. In this week's episode, John digs deep into their story, and how they have transformed their business with social media. We also dig into the Art of Luxury Mediterranean Tour Part 2 - their luxury cruise heading to Spain, Italy and Greece. This episode is full of helpful info that will leave you feeling inspired. Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildandroam.co/ Check out the cruise here: https://artofluxury.wildandroam.co/mediterranean-tour-part-2  

Websites are a topic that we come back to regularly. Why? Because they matter... a lot. In a world where Instagram seems to be 'king' your website is what is going to make you look like a legitimate business. Nick is currently going through and making changes to his website, and in this week's episode he wanted to share a few tips that he has top of mind while going through an making improvements to his site.

Are you wanting to charge 5k for your weddings? 10k? In this week's episode John breaks it down for you on his 4 key ingredients for booking 10k weddings. This might be some of the best free content we have ever put out there before. When it comes down to it, you have to be working on these 4 things if you want your business to be pushing into the top markets in your area. Grab a notepad, and dig into this week's episode all about booking $10k+ clients.

In today's episode John sits down with Carly Morris of Clicked by Carly. She has really leaned into Instagram and TikTok and grown her business to well over 6 figures. John and Carly spend a lot of time talking about getting videos to go viral, but more importantly how to get people to inquire with you.

Most Wedding Filmmakers are unintentionally messing up their Discovery Calls. Today, John is breaking down 10 mistakes he sees that wedding filmmakers constantly are making. If you are one who struggles on your sales calls, this episode is for you. John is digging deep into ways you can make improvements today on your calls.

Recently, Nick watch the movie 'Here' that stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. A big takeaway from the movie Nick had was that fear of the unknown can stop you from moving forward. In today's episode Nick shares a few ways that he is currently moving from 'here' and how to get to 'there' where he wants to go in his business.

In today's episode, John is breaking down 6 things you are getting wrong in your proposals. We know that selling weddings can be hard (especially in 2025). But John has seen his booking percentage go from 16% in 2024, to 36% in 2025. How is he doing this? Well, a lot of things are happening. But one of the main things is understanding how to send out proposals that will get you a ‘yes' from your dream client. So tune in this week to this brand new episode, and learn what you should be considering with your proposals.  Check out our outsourcing partners: https://howtofilmweddings.com/outsourcing  

It today's episode, John breaks down his 2025 instagram strategy that has recently booked him 15+ events, plus over $150k in bookings. Things have changed in the market, and if you're not using Instagram to build your brand, we strongly recommend you listen to this episode. John holds nothing back in this episode and digs deep into his actual strategy, his analytics, and his mindset for Instagram in 2025.

In today's episode, John interviews Kyle Hustis from Hustis Film Co about how he has taken big risks, and they have paid off in business and creatively. We dive into his story of how he went from working full-time as a nurse, to developing a brand that is now one of the top filmmakers in the Phoenix Arizona area. His vibe is fresh, his hair is even better. He slid into our DMs and it worked, he's now on the podcast. You don't want to miss this one, we promise.  Check out his work here: https://hustisfilmco.com/ Follow him on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/kylehustis/  Thanks to today's sponsors VidFlow: https://howtofilmweddings.com/vidflow MusicBed: https://howtofilmweddings.com/musicbed   

Applications are open for Mastermind: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  Mastermind 2025 is here. And it is ALL NEW. In this week's episode we dive into what we've learned in our first 4 years of doing mastermind, and how we are changing things up to serve our audience even better. We have completely changed the program, and can't wait to share with you what is new. We know that 2024 was a dumpster fire for so many of you, and think that Mastermind might be the perfect fit to get you out of any ruts you might be in. Check out our Mastermind program here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  

We open enrollment for Mastermind 2025 on January 27th. Join the waitlist to be notified when we go live: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  We just got back from our mastermind retreat and it was an incredible experience! If you'd like to see some highlights make sure you head to our instagram account (https://instagram.com/howtofilmweddings). One thing we did this year was have a panel discussion with our guest speakers to answer our student's questions. The panel included John, Nick, Matt Johnson, Films by Stanton, Multiply Sound, The Creative Cabana and Kennidy Nicole Films. We discuss working with clients, retirement, passion and how age doesn't matter. Enjoy this little glimpse into what it's like to be a part of mastermind. Nick's Arizona Ambience: https://youtu.be/PS0189ESsEU?si=8JJ12ZBI3jnpHh8W  

Join the Mastermind Waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind Creativity will often fill the space that you give it. When you don't have time for creativity you tend to be less creative. Your edits won't be as fulfilling. You'll often feel like the work you are creating is a little... blah. On the flip side, when you spend time focusing on being creative you'll end up being more fulfilled in what you do. In this week's episode John and Nick share how they've lately. made space for creativity and how it has impacted their lives and businesses. Nick's Ambient YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@theambientretreat  

Join the Mastermind Waitlist here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind In Today's You Asked Episode we answer the question, “Should you add content creation collections for your clients?” The wedding video landscape is changing, and content creators are popping up all over the place. So, should you add this service to your offerings? John shares his thoughts on the question and if he thinks adding content creation to your collections is the way to go. 

Join the Mastermind Waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind Happy New Year from us to you! Can you believe it is already 2025!? As HTFW enters into our 8th (has it really been 8!?) year of wedding video education we are so excited about what is on the horizon. The world has changed a lot over the past 5 years, and one of the things with that change is our mindest. In this week's episode John shares more about his mindset shift and how things are different for him going into 2025. Over the past 3 months he has grown his instagram following by hundreds, but more importantly it has lead him to real bookings. If you want to grow your business you have to treat something like instagram as your job. We hope this episode encourages you to take steps forward in your business as we settle into this 'new normal' for our industry.

Join our Mastermind Waitlist here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  If you haven't noticed, John has been going extra hard on rejuvenating the John Bunn Films brand, especially on Instagram. Within the last 100 days he has booked right at 6 figures of weddings for 2025. In today's episode, he's holding nothing back, and talking through everything from his mindset, to his actual strategy to getting more people to say YES in 2025. Are you struggling to book weddings in 2025? Are you trying to figure out how to get people to say YES? This episode is for you. We think that this live look in on one of our recent Mastermind calls will give you the momentum you need to propel forward in 2025

Join the Mastermind waitlist here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  In Today's You Asked Episode we answer the question, “Is the wedding industry dying?” After the year many of us have had in 2024 is something that you might be thinking - is our industry dying? John shares his thoughts on the question and if he think the wedding industry is going anywhere.

Join the Mastermind Waitlist here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  2024 was A LOT for many in the wedding industry. Less bookings. Down in revenue. Learning (the hard way) that things that used to work don't anymore. If you stand still... you might get left behind. In this honest and venerable episode Nick and John open up about what has been going on this year and how they are moving forward - both with their individual brands and with How To Film Weddings.

✅ Join our Mastermind wait list: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  In Today's You Asked Episode we answer the question, "What do I do if I hit the ceiling in my market?" Have you ever wondered what you should do if you feel like you can't charge any more in your specific market? John does a great job of breaking down what you should consider if this happens to you.

It is so easy to play the blame game when it comes to our business. I'm not booking because... 'the economy is bad' or 'I'm being under cut' or 'I can't edit like they do...' but what if we told you part of the problem is the fact that you're focusing on the negative rather than what you want? In this week's episode John sits down with Kennidy Nicole Films and talks through so much, but they really focus in on mindset and the power that can come from focusing on what you want in your business. Enjoy this episode on the power of thinking positive. Follow Kennidy: https://instagram.com/kennidynicolefilms Eleven 11 Club: https://instagram.com/eleven11club.co  

I was recently in Guatemala and recorded a short episode to update you on what I've been up to as I prepare for 2025. I have so much momentum and it's because I've changed everything. This short episode will let you in on how I've been able to go from feeling like I'd lost my mojo (Austin Powers anyone??), to feeling like I've got incredible momentum. I'm so excited about this journey I'm on, and hope this inspires you on yours. 

Check out our LUXE Lut pack powered by Gamut: https://howtofilmweddings.com/luts Welcome to "You Asked," our short from podcast where we answer your questions. Today, John responds to the question: "Should I Do Styled Shoots?"  Join our Mastermind waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind

Save $100 on your first Bride&Groom.video edit with promo HTFW100: https://howtofilmweddings.com/outsourcing  Let's be honest, outsourcing your films can be a huge risk. Nobody is ever going to think exactly like you do. So why even consider it? To be honest, some of you might not need to consider it. But for the majority of us (us included), we wouldn't be able to run a successful business without outsourcing our edits. So today we did something different. We brought in Serge from Bride&Groom.Video to talk about how they are different from most other companies. John asks some of the hard questions that need to be asked, and we walk through just what it takes to outsource your films.

Get a Free 14 Day Trial of Musicbed: https://howtofilmweddings.com/musicbed Welcome to "You Asked," our short from podcast where we answer your questions. Today, John answers the question: "Should I Ask My Couples for Reviews?"  Join our Mastermind waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind

Anyone else been there? You're living your life and running your business. One day you look up and things feel... off. I've been in a place like this for a little bit, and today I wanted to talk about it. Last week I went to Guatemala with John and Blake - while there we had a lot of discussions and this idea of complacency really stuck with me. So, in this week's podcast I share what's going on in my head.

Welcome to "You Asked," our short from podcast where we answer your questions. Today, John answers the question: "What Does Your Wedding Day Questionnaire Look Like?"  Join our Mastermind waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind

In this week's episode, John is breaking down how he went from an overdrafted account in August, to booking over $68,000 in new weddings in November. In the last 3 months, John has completely changed his mindset toward the wedding video industry, and gotten back to some of the basics on getting new bookings. If you are in need of some help in getting more bookings, you definitely want to check out this episode.  Check out our Mastermind Group here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind   

Welcome to "You Asked," our short from podcast where we answer your questions. Today, John tackles the question: "How Do You Create Custom Proposals?" submitted by Claudia Goodwin. Join our Mastermind waitlist: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind

Are you in alignment? Do you continue to set goals and fall short? In this week's episode, John interviews Stanton Giles (Films by Stanton) and Boomer Bate (Multiply Media, Multiply Sound) in a very relaxed conversation. We dig into being excited about what you are doing in life. Being led by the little crumbs on the trail of life that guide you toward your purpose. We dug deep. We talked about their Alignment Experience coming in January, and so much more. Grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy this week's episode. Pick up tickets to the Alignment Experience: https://choose-alignment.com

Subscribe to our Tutorial Channel Here for all the tips and tricks on business, shooting, editing: https://www.youtube.com/@howtofilmwed Over the past few months (and if we're real, a majority of 2024) John has been the primary driver of the How To Film Weddings Podcast. We did get a few comments (and if we're real, one) asking where Nick has been. Well, in today's podcast Nick is going solo to share what he has been up to in 2024 and a couple of things he's really excited about moving into 2025.

Things have changed completely in the wedding video industry since 2022. Are you adapting accordingly? Seriously… are you taking the steps you need in order to thrive next year? Or are you sitting back and waiting for things to get ‘back to normal.' We have some news for you, things are different, and we don't think they are going back to ‘normal.' So what do we do? We have to change our approach in 2025. In this week's episode, John breaks down his 2025 plan. What he is doing to get more bookings, how he added photography to his brand, and more. As a reminder, our Mastermind group also opens in January.  Waitlist for Mastermind: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind

2024 was a bit rough, but the trend in 2025 is that things are looking up! In today's episode, John walks through how he has built momentum in his brand with some major moves he's been making. From booking a $17,000+ wedding, to booking weddings in Atlanta, Tuscany, and OKC, and figuring out ways to get people to say yes, he has been working his tail off. Listen in as John shares what he has been doing to adapt, and change his mindset toward booking weddings. It has really paid off for him, and will for you too! Sign up for our Mastermind Waitlist here: https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind  

Today John interviews Brittany and Homley with Unleashed Vizuals. We peel back some of the creativity of how they have built their brand, how they produce the films they are putting out in the world, and how they have built a thriving brand through relationships and networking. These two are blowing up their brand (in a good way), and you can check out their work here: https://www.unleashedvizuals.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unleashedvizuals  

The How To Film Weddings Course is open for enrollment at the best price we have ever offered it: https://howtofilmweddings.com/thecourse We have been getting DMs from various people asking all sorts of questions about what to do in their business. So, John decided to do an open mentorship call to answer your questions. In this call, John helps answer questions about influencer inquiries, working with photographers, insurance, gimbals, bridal shows and so much more.

Luxury Wedding Photographers James and Schulze are on the How To Film Weddings Podcast this week, and if we are being honest, this might be one of the best episodes we have ever created. John interviewed these two about ‘going after the truly exceptional.' They really dig into the fact that what got you where you are won't get you where you want to go. These two have been in the industry for nearly 20 years, and they bring their knowledge to help you gain a new perspective for your business. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it. Website: https://www.jamesandschulze.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-luxury-weddings/id1720063702 Education: https://sagejourney.co/  

This episode started and a conversation about wedding videographer but turned into something much more. Eugene and Andrea Drake of The Drakes live in Houston, TX after coming to the US from Venezuela. In this episode John and The Drakes cover it all - their background, coming to the US, taking risks in your business and much of the conversation turns to mental health and how to live a fulfilled life. We hope you enjoy this conversation with Eugene and Andrea. follow The Drakes: https://instagram.com/wethedrakes

Over the past month, we have been digging into what the heck is happening in the wedding industry. So many of us are hurting, and I brought on my business coach, and sales guru Sam Jacobson from Ideaction Consulting to dive into what we can do to get results in 2025. This episode will show you what you can be doing right now in order to produce the results you need in 2025. We hope these episodes are encouraging you to look up and see that the storm is going to end sooner than later. We want you to be prepared for next year, and this episode will do just that. Sam's Website https://ideactionconsulting.com/ Sam's Podcast: https://www.ownyourbusinesspodcast.com/ Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ideactionconsulting/  

Over the last few weeks we have been digging deep into what 2025 looks like for wedding videographers, and to be honest, a lot of us are going through a pretty big storm. In today's episode, John is back to break down some simple ways we can change our mindset and some practical tips on how we can make more money in 2025. If you need to weather the storm, this is definitely the episode for you. Also a huge shoutout to our sponsors of this episode, Bride and Groom Video, and Musicbed. Looking for an outsourcing partner? Check out Bride&Groom.video. Use promo HTFW100 for $100 off your first project: https://bridengroom.video/htfw/ Start your 14 Day free trial with Musicbed: https://howtofilmweddings.com/musicbed  

In today's episode, John talks about how he has adapted his strategy for booking weddings over the last 6 months. Let's be honest, it kind of looks like a storm has knocked out a lot of wedding video business in the last 18 months. Are you going to just let the storm take you out? Are you going to lift your head and look at the market and where it is today and adapt? We sure hope you do. Take a few minutes to dig into this shorter episode and see if you need to make any changes Also, be sure to check out https://howtofilmweddings.com/mastermind to get on our waitlist for our Mastermind Group