2011 for Life Stage Films wouldn’t have been the success it was for us without the trust of our families to deliver something truly remarkable as a window into their wedding days. And we wouldn’t have the trust of our families without the support of our Life Stage Creative team. So grateful for this past year.

As you all know, I am excited every year to share a “recap” of the previous year in business. 2009 recap here. It is a sort of journaling, and instead of thought of as “tooting our horn”, it’s more of a reflection to see the journey we have made in the last year. Nothing worth doing is easy, we have had a lot of hard lessons this year as we grow the business. But it’s easy to forget the important and purposeful strides we ALL make in our business, our jobs, and our personal lives. Like we did last year, and every year before that, I’d like to share with you LIFE STAGE FILMS year in the rear view mirror so to speak. If you are a goal setter, (which those in my videography coaching programs know I am a fan of), this is a GREAT way to look back, as well as get inspiration and motivation for the coming year to make it an even more successful and PURPOSEFUL year. So thanks for letting us share these with you, and please, comment comment comment!!! What are your biggest accomplishments in 2011 that have shaped who you are or what your business is? What are your goals for 2012?

LIFE STAGE FILMS “2011 Greatest Hits”

• 600+ families contacting us based on 35% referrals!! Thank YOU!
• 57 total weddings/events. 15 Corporate/Non Profit video projects (Filmed in Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Italy)
• Most positive feedback, ever. Humbled to give the gift of unique and engaging wedding films to families that see value. Facebook comments. Wedding Wire. Raves.
• Moved into a new studio in the center of town in January of 2011. Share it with uber talented Jay Tatum! 
• We are constantly educating ourselves and innovating for our families. They deserve nothing less. What’s encouraging, is my amazing team buys into that same philosophy. While Amy got to grow and be inspired as a filmmaker in the Bahamas last year, Zach attended In[Focus} Video Event to hone his skills. So exciting!
• Expanded our editing team to two more editors in the office in addition to our main Lifestage editor, Kara. Chris and Nathalie are a HUGE asset to fine tuning our unique wedding films and then getting them back to families quicker than anyone else around!
• 3 interns this year! Thanks Ryan, Casey and Natalie!
• After 3 years, we FINALLY have a new and improved website! Love the work Nicole did on this to make our branding more in tune with the style of our wedding films.
• Produced a truly whacky, and we think hilarious, "RAP VIDEO" about us. Something that has never been done before. Very excited that we had help from Evan and his creative team as well as over a dozen local vendors that made this video come to fruition. Over a year in the works. Get to know us on a new level!  Check it out! 11,000+ views!
• Changed our "Demo Reel" to make it shorter, and more emotional so that brides can immediately see our work and imagine what they could have with Life Stage Films. Watch it here. (3 minutes)
• Was a part of a "true love" wedding story that all of us can learn from! Our work was featured on NBC's TODAY SHOW, CNN, Yahoo! & the AP Press!
• Filmed our first "International" destination wedding in Italy. Check out this beautiful wedding on the Amalfi Coast! Watch it here. 
• Featured speaker at the video conference In[Focus] Event in New Orleans, LA for the second year in a row. Looking forward to speaking again in Charleston, SC this year!
• Named one of the top 25 event filmmakers in the world by EventDV Magazine for the 2nd year in a row! What an honor. Check out the cover story they did on us last year that tells the story of our business, and our mission.
• Our educational side of the business for other wedding creative artists (Video Business Coaching (www.videobusinesscoaching.com) went International. :) Honored to speak in Melbourne Australia and train other event filmmakers not only in serving their families better, but also behind the camera too. Check out the recap video of our shenanigans here!
• Hired to do more work in South America for non-profit work. Check out the promo documentary here. Doing these types of videos will always be a cornerstone for Life Stage Films.
• Kept the lights on and paid the bills in an economy that no one is a fan of! That’s worth celebrating! We are constantly astonished at His provisions.
• Also loved that we were able to ramp up our giving. 10% of every wedding booked with us goes to something that makes an impact on this world. Excited to be a part of Triad Ladder of Hope, International Celebration Association, Well Spring Initiative, Hope 127, and an adoption. Thank YOU, brides and grooms, for helping be a part of something bigger!

PERSONAL “YEAR IN REAR-VIEW”

• My wife and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary together in Ireland. Check out our zanny 3 minute trip recap video here. 
• Our first daughter Penelope turned 3, and became a big sister to Adeline! 
• My brother Todd, asked me to be his best man in his wedding. Watch the wedding here. Also, my other brother proposed to Katie!
• Paid off all of our debt with the exception of our mortgage! Dave Ramsey rocks!
• Got to spend over a month of vacation, both traveling and visiting family for some much needed quality time, and never worked more than 40 hours a week! (HUGE for me!)
• I struggled and grew in my faith.

GOALS FOR 2012 (sadly I give myself a D- for 2011 personal goals achieved )

• Learn how to swim (properly & efficiently) so I can train for a triathlon
• Run a marathon in the Spring. Training starts NOW!
• Getting off the iPhone and iPad when I come home from work. My daughters are more important.
• Produce a short film for fun, and submit it to a Film Festival.
• Create a “non-seminar” workshop experience for event filmmakers. Hint. (Voyage)
• Get our new Photo/Video Booth business off the ground and running in Wilmington, NC.
• Create a website and NEW brand for non-profit video work.

Thanks for listening! And THANK you to all over our awesome clients and families for inviting us into your lives. Make 2012 your best year yet, and don’t forget to keep us posted on how you have been blessed and what you will make your 2012 look like.