How long have you been shooting weddings?
I started officially shooting weddings in 2016. Between 2020 and 2023 I had to take a step back from the wedding industry. I was working full time in corporate tech, dancing in a company, doing independent video production outside of the day job, and in 2021 I co-founded a dance studio in NE Minneapolis. There was just no time to do everything. In mid-2023 I left my corporate job to fully dedicate myself fully to my two small businesses here in Minneapolis — which means I have the bandwidth to do wedding videography again!
What is your background in video?
If you really want to go back, you could look at all our home videos when I was a kid and probably 70% were shot by me, closing with "I'm Laura Sukowatey, thanks for watching." (I wanted to be a news anchor.) I studied photography in college while majoring in print and broadcast journalism, which led me into more video work.
I worked as a creative writer just after college, and my role evolved into video production and marketing starting in 2014. I have experience in both technical and artistic industries as a director, cinematographer, editor, and photographer. I am the co-founder of Hothouse, a dance space in Minneapolis for adults. There, I’ve developed our visual brand in photography, video, and design. I also run a small production studio in NE Minneapolis. Additionally, I’m the season dance photographer for Northrop Auditorium, and have recently taken on more work in live event production as a director.
Can we meet with you before booking?
Absolutely, I'd prefer we meet in person to get to know each other!
How soon should we book?
Most people book around 6-9 months in advance. However, I am only able to take on a limited number of weddings per season, so it's best to make a decision sooner rather than later to ensure I am available.
What's the payment process?
Payments are due in thirds. A deposit is due at the time of booking; this officially makes the date yours and is non-refundable in a cancellation. A second payment is due 1 week before the wedding, and final payment is due when you receive the final links to your film on Vimeo. Once I receive final payment, I'll perform a file transfer of all files for you to download and archive. Vimeo links will remain in perpetuity.
What gear do you use?
Primarily I shoot on a BlackMagic 6k Pocket Cinema and Canon C100 Markii, with a variety of lenses and stabilizing gear. For audio I have ZOOM field recorders with lavalier microphones.
Do you have travel fees?
I charge mileage for any travel outside of the main metro area, hotel the night of the wedding for 2+ hours, and hotel the night before and night of the wedding for anything over 2 hours.
Will you require a meal?
Having a vegetarian meal and a quick break at dinnertime is included in the contract.
How soon can we expect to see our video?
Normal turnaround time is 3-4 months. I do provide a short 60-second teaser a couple weeks after the wedding to tide you over until everything is finished. Editing is the most extensive part of the entire process and I do not like to rush the work. Also, because this is only a small subset of the video work I do, my turnaround time can be longer, but it also depends on where you wedding falls in the season.