Meet Anna Lord | Wedding, Editorial & Creative Brand Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Lord and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most vital factor was to create consistent and authentic work. It took a few years into my business for me to realize that I didn’t have to create work that was to be appreciated/enjoyed ‘by everyone.’ I was crippled by the the idea that I had to stick to certain trends such as editing style, color, or even how I presented my work to book clients. I realized my strengths weren’t creating cookie cutter wedding films or dramatic/epic wedding films and that was when the success of my brand really took off. After time dabbling in what didn’t seem natural to me, I really honed in on what I do best and found my niche. I became confident in my voice and seeing the difference really helped bring clarity in building my brand and kept me from burning out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My goal for anyone who watches my films is to feel a sense of wonder as they sink into a dream. I want to connect people to my work by evoking emotions of mystery, beauty, femininity, and nostalgia. The combination of my decisions in music selection, color-grading, and use of various mediums (digital, Super 8mm film, still photography, etc.) have all played a huge role in strengthening my voice within the industry. I began my business in 2014 as a wedding photographer and videographer while also capturing families. Over the past few years I’ve pivoted my business to (pretty much) videography-only and now capture weddings as well as, creative brands, fashion brands, and even tourism. In addition to this, I have stepped into offering mentorships for other small business owners, particularly videographers who are either dabbling with the medium or really want to take a big leap and elevate their business. It has not been easy getting to where I am today and there have been many seasons of loss, heartache, and frustration. Seasons where I was worried about client bookings or if my work was becoming obsolete/connecting to anyone. I’ve spent seasons comparing myself to the success of others, sulking in the opportunities that didn’t follow through, and questioning if I took the right path. I know I am not alone in this (especially with fellow artists of any medium), and the best way I’ve learned to get out of those seasons is to have a support system and to create work for YOURSELF. We can’t lose the passion to create art if it’s not for a client. I am very grateful for the challenges I’ve faced as they have allowed me to better connect with my clients & colleagues alike.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d definitely take a few drives up and down PCH to take in the sights and smells. We’d make a little stop in Huntington Beach (my hometown!) and we’d enjoy some Bear Flag Fish Co. Also on the agenda for food: Beachcomber Cafe (Newport Beach), Bavel (Arts District in LA), Kitakata Ramen ban Nai (Costa Mesa). For wanderings, we’d explore Arts District, Old Pasadena, and ROW DTLA.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, the person who truly deserves all of the recognition is my husband. He has supported my dreams from the start and has always been by my side to encourage me (even when I’m resistant of it!) From providing constructive criticism, to grabbing a snack I’m craving while in the middle of a creative roll, to taking care of our home and little one while I’m out of town for a few days or even weeks working on projects, the little or big things he has sacrificed for me has not gone unnoticed. I am greatly blessed by my dear friend Nicole Clarey who is a photographer in the wedding industry. We started shooting weddings around the same time and have gone through the many ups and downs of owning a creative business alongside one another. She too has always been the biggest encourager and I truly don’t know if I’d still be in the industry if it wasn’t for her friendship.

Website: www.annalord.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/annalord
Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/annalordstudio

Image Credits
Headshot by Nicole Clarey Photography All other images by Anna Lord Studio