Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Chipman.
Hi Ryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I filmed my first wedding in 2015 after a trip to Ireland with some friends. After the trip, I made a little trip recap video from an old GoPro Hero 3. When I sent it to everyone, two of the members of the group asked, “Hey, we’re getting married in two months, could you do what you did for the Ireland trip for our wedding? We’ll pay you $100.”
At the time I was like, “Whoa, this couple wants to pay me $100 to film their wedding? That’s insane!” I filmed their wedding in July of 2015 and from there, I got my itch for filming weddings. I decided to go to school for Media Production at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. While in school, I was working a college job at H-E-B and slowly picking up a wedding here and there. My approach was very scrappy in the beginning, paying for new gear with my part-time job. After graduation, I had enough gear and enough weddings in my portfolio, I was able to go full-time and launch Ryan Chipman Stills & Motion.
The success of my business has truly come from slowly adding things to the crockpot. A few ingredients here, a little salt there, and slowly over time has become something bigger. Instead of just diving into everything head first, I made small improvements every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In December of 2019, I went full-time with my business. And then… COVID-19 hit, three months after I quit my full-time job.
At first, it was terrifying, and briefly, I thought about returning to my old job. But then I thought, “No, I’ve been working towards doing weddings full time for years, I can’t back down now.” I decided to keep with it and simply pivoted my business. Somehow during the summer of 2020, I had more work than I had ever had before. I filmed videos for local businesses, non-profits, and magazines, and started my MBA. In the middle of COVID, couples were still reaching out to me asking me to film their wedding. That was the assurance I needed. I took that as The Universe telling me “Hey, you’re in the right place. Keep moving forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a wedding videographer based in Northwest San Antonio. I make intentional and human wedding films. I am insanely proud of my business, it’s my baby. I think what sets my business apart is the focus on storytelling. I get to know my couples really well, often hanging out before the wedding day. By the time I get to the edit, I have a long list of notes about the couple and their story together which helps me craft a film that feels like them, and hopefully, is incredibly meaningful to their children years from now.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Deep down, I’m actually terrified of people. Growing up, I was always the quietest student in the classroom. People now comment on how extraverted I am and I’m always like, “If you only knew.” I just put on a brave face and force myself into uncomfortable situations.
Pricing:
- Pricing starts at $3,500.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ryanchipmanstillsandmotion.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanchipman.stillsandmotion/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY4NLm7QsIhNTiw3SzeGENA
Image Credits
Main pic: Kaitlin Rogers Photography @kaitlinrodgersphoto
