Portray Your Story - Photography and Videography

Aim

To help me set up my own business: Portray Your Story. This is a photography/videography business that portrays family and business stories.

I have always loved finding out about other people and capturing their stories. That is why after my bachelor in Cultural Anthropology I decided to do a master in Documentary Filmmaking. So the step to now want to do a Lifestyle and Branding photography and videography business is not that big, as I have used my camera for the past 10 years to tell stories of women who have been trafficked, homelessness, the relational impact of illness and many other stories. However now having my child I know I want to tell two types of stories. Family stories and Branding Stories. And for the first time I actually want to start a proper business doing so called: Portray Your Story. I have done a Business Start-Up course with Successful Mums and I have learned so much about running a business, things I didn't know when I was doing my freelance work.

Why Family Photography and Film?

This picture is of me and my dad. It was our last Christmas together and he died not long after on February 21st. I was only 4 years old. I do not hold many memories of him as I was far too young for that. It is these pictures of him and our family that meant the world to me when I was growing up. And even today I have this picture of us hanging in my living room. I cannot imagine not having had these photographs of my father. They helped me grieve. They gave me something tangible and have been my only ‘memories’ of him. So, make sure you are in your family photographs and that you take photos. Don’t be shy to ask a stranger to snap a picture. Photos and films are your memories of a life lived and also a tangible piece for the next generations. They are the keepers of your family memories!

Another reason is that as a child I loved looking at our family albums. I notice with my own son, who is now three, that he enjoys seeing pictures of himself when he was little and of mommy and daddy before he was born (a thought that makes him very angry :D).

So, I truly believe that having your family pictures taken are important. It is also the reason why I do not want my style to be posed. I do not want you all looking into the camera. I want my pictures to show a true connection between your family, one that shows the love you have for each other.

Below you can see a Life Story Film. I will make these films to recount someones life story around a certain topic or time period. These films will be around 10-15min long and will be to keep and cherish for future generations. 



Why Branding Photography and Film?

I want to be a part of female empowerment. I want to give a face to what it means to be a powerful businesswoman and to help them tell their stories. Only 1 in 3 UK entrepreneurs is female: a gender gap equivalent of 1.1 million businesses (Rose Review of Female entrepreneurship, HM Treasury 2019).  I want to help these women become more visible and help them inspire other women to take that step into starting your own business. Women were 55% more likely than men to cite fear of going it alone as a primary reason for not starting a business (Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, HM Treasury 2019). When we see more women running a business, then I am sure that there will be more women who will dare to take that step too. I want my work to be of value to others and have a higher purpose. I want to use my skills and talents to help other women succeed!

Next to female empowerment I love to be part of other creative businesses, from jewelry makers to bakers. To show your passion and the creative process via photographs and film. To help creatives market their art-works and attract those clients, so that they can make their art work into a  viable business.

Business Objectives:

• Crowdfund £2000,- or more via Back Her Business (Natwest) in March-April 2020
• Have a functional website by May 2020.
• To build and email-list of at least 100 email addresses within the first year. 
• Have 2 customers a week in my second year of my business.
• Earn £35.000,- (or more) a year with my business. I want to reach this goal within the next 3 years. 

Why Crowdfunding?

I need your help to get this business of the ground. Starting a business often means a financial investment. Your investment will help me make my dream into a reality.

Your money will go towards the following:
- Insurance
- Website
- A family photography (business) training
- Editing software
- Film and photography equipment: sound, tripod, screen calibrator etc.

I appreciate all your help! And thank you in advance!!! 

You can see some of my filming work on vimeo: https://vimeo.com/saskiaalbersbello 

This project successfully funded on 15th April 2020