Beautiful shots matter. Story matters. But when shooting retreats, safety matters more than anything. As a filmmaker focused on capturing meaningful visual stories for brands and movements that want to make a difference, I’ve been filming highly emotional content in sacred spaces for 6 years. Here’s 5 things I do at every event that my clients love me for:

1 - I arrive early. I observe people walking in, watch body language, sense who’s open. I walk around, introduce myself, and am genuinely curious. No cameras yet.

2 - The secret is to make everyone feel comfortable with my presence before I ever press record. I share a personal story, my experience capturing and facilitating sacred spaces, how I’ll be moving throughout the event. By now, my camera should feel like a welcome addition to everyone, not a trigger or obstacle.

3 - Being vulnerable. The best way to connect deeper to the group and gain everyone’s trust is to be vulnerable just like everyone else. I’ll participate in one of the first exercises, share a vulnerable story, or just be open and playful, making eye contact throughout the space.

4 - This one took me years to master: letting my intuition guide me. I’ll feel pulled to a certain person without any visible signs of emotion, then the breakthrough happens right after. Repeatedly. It’s been feeling like a sort of dance lately. Sure, there’s a shot list. But the most authentic and emotional shots always happen when I’m moving intuitively.

5 - I know when I need to step back. I feel it. When people are moving through deeply vulnerable parts of themselves, their safety is non-negotiable. If that means not getting the shot, that’s fine. Clients understand I you didn’t get every shot. They’ll be less forgiving when I interrupt someone’s process.

Are you an event or retreat organizer and want to tell stories that touch the soul? Let's show your audience the depth of your work. Visit my portfolio, learn more & book a discovery call here.