The Say Less Podcast

021 - Motherhood & Content Creation (and all the things that come with it...) with Shelby Tuffentsamer

• Grace Cacho & Alex Taylor • Episode 21

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The Rise of Content Creators in Weddings with Shelby Tuffentsamer

In this lively episode hosted by just Alex for this one, Shelby Tuffentsamer joins us to debunk myths and share the truth about content creation in the wedding industry. Whether you're a bride, a vendor, or simply curious about the digital age’s impact on weddings, this conversation offers fresh insights into how content creators are shaping the future.In this episode, we discuss:

  • Who is a wedding content creator and what do they do?
  • The differences and overlaps between content creators, photographers, and videographers
  • Hot takes on whether content creators replace traditional vendors
  • How couples benefit from having behind-the-scenes content
  • The budget-friendly advantage of hiring a content creator
  • The importance of authentic, story-driven wedding content
  • How content creation supports vendor marketing and vendor-vendor collaborations
  • The impact of motherhood and social media shifts on Shelby’s career
  • Predictions for the future of wedding content creation and industry standards
  • Addressing misconceptions and stigma around content creators in the wedding world

Resources & Links:

This episode aims to elevate understanding, bust myths, and inspire vendors and brides to embrace the evolving landscape of wedding content. Whether you’re Team Photographer, Team Videographer, or Team Content Creator, there’s space for all at the table.

Send us burning questions, topic ideas, and things you’re loving about the podcast!

Connect with Alex & Grace:

Education:

Must-Have Systems

Arisa Haus Creative Marketing Agency

Grace & Andrew Cacho provide clarity to businesses and personal brands by means of Brand Message Clarity, Audits, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Photo & Video, Web Design, and Social Media Management.

SPEAKER_00

But I'll be honest, Alex, I've never told you this, but I've always admired your work. And like uh I used to play with cameras when I was in middle school and high school. I say play because like I mean I didn't know what I was doing at all. And like it was always a dream, like one day I'll do something creative like that. And then literally, this girl I was following on TikTok is like, hey, I just started my own wedding content creation company and I stalked her for weeks. I still check her account all the time. Like I've done a lot, she's inspired me a lot. I should maybe send her a DM or something to let her know. Like you should. But yeah, I discovered it in like October, September, and then I just like full force threw myself into it and had my first wedding in November.

SPEAKER_01

I wanted to start a podcast for creative entrepreneurs. So I asked Alex to join me, and I said, stay less. I'm in. Welcome to the Stay Less podcast, where we actually say a lot more about motherhood, creativity, photography, business ownership, and everything in between. We are your host, Alex and Grace, and this is a space for creative women building something meaningful. Whether you're raising babies, raising your rates, or just trying to figure out your next move. We talk about all the real stuff. What's working, what's not, what we're unlearning, what nobody tells you about building a business that has to fit inside a real life. The pivot, the pressure, the sustainability, and all of the seasons. If you've ever felt like you're creating in the margin of your time, your energy, or your confidence, you're not alone here. So stay less. Let's get into it. Hey guys, welcome back to our content creation episode. I've been really excited about this. I have my friend Shelby on the podcast today.

SPEAKER_02

Hello.

SPEAKER_01

Yay. She is admittedly, first of all, she's admittedly funnier than me. So prepare. Those of you that like send me comments saying I'm funny, she's way funnier than me. So prepare for that. And she's also better at social media than me, um, and just better at video making in general. I know most of our listeners are just listeners, but if you're watching a clip, you're gonna see how great she is on video versus how great I am. You're making me blush. I know, I know. And the people that are watching the video are gonna see it. So it is what it is. Um, I want to do just like a short intro to Shelby and kind of tell all of our listeners about kind of what you've got going on. And then um, for some of our listeners, I want to explain what content creation is, and then we can kind of dive into the topic, which has really been like a hot take in the industry right now. There's people that are loving and people that are hating. It's like not as dramatic as Summerhouse and all the things going on there, but there's still tea. So Okay, cool thing. Shelby, I want to start with our background because Shelby's my friend. She is my childhood. No, we have we have a cute story. Um Shelby and I met at summer camp when we were eight, 12 years old. Okay. Um no, no, it was before that. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

I just remember my mo my biggest memory of us is staying up in the bathroom till midnight when we turned 13.

SPEAKER_01

I know, I knew you were gonna say that. Yeah. So Shelby and I were summer camp campers together um at Alokan, Texas. And so we were there for summer after summer. I think we were like nine or 10 when we met. But the critical moment she's talking about is when I turned 13. Our counselor, who is the word most wonderful human, let us stay up and sit on the bathroom floor until midnight. And like right when I turned 13, it was like a huge celebration. That was like a camp core memory. Yes, I always go back to that one. I knew you were. I actually always forget about it until someone brings it up and I'm like, no, that was Suicy Great. Anyway, so we went to camp together and then we worked together as counselors for it, it was like part of one summer because I moved from the girls' camp to the teen camp, remember?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yes, I do.

SPEAKER_01

I was so sad about that. I know. I was like, that was kind of lame, like only because I liked some of the girls, but some of the girls like I didn't like, and so then I was excited to get I said tea. I said, oh, I'm not really not that I didn't like them. I know like whoever I'm referring to in my brain, um, subconsciously is not listening to this podcast, but still it was like the connection was lacking.

SPEAKER_00

Whereas you only get 20 girls together. I mean, it's just not always gonna be sunshine and rainbows.

SPEAKER_01

No, exactly. Like, especially in our like age group. At this point, Toby and I and the other counselors were 18, 19, 20 in that range. Um speaking of summer house drama, that was summer house drama. Like that literally was summer house drama. Anyways, so we were we were canters, then we were counselors, um, and now here we are, like circling back years later, both working in the wedding industry. I'm so excited. Okay, here's her intro. Y'all tune, tune in, listen up. I'm going to share about her, what she has going on, and also be sure to check out our show notes after you listen to the episode, during whenever. It's gonna be all the ways to reach out to her because after you hear her talk and get the tea. That's gonna be my line of the podcast. When you get Shelly's tea, you're gonna want to hire her for your wedding. Tell me how to say your last name.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, that knew that was gonna come up because tell me how to say it. It's scary. I don't want to say it Robin's tough and samer. Okay, that's not scary. What's that?

SPEAKER_01

The second tea is silent. I was gonna say, what's the tea in the middle up to? Speaking of tea.

SPEAKER_00

Just being a baddie, yeah. I bring the tea, you know. Yeah, bring the tea. Okay, but but silent tea. Yeah, but but like just don't say it.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, but it's okay, but it's silent. Okay, got it. She, just for those of you that are listening, obviously she's married, and so this is her married name, and I never knew how to say it out loud. Chevy Tuffensamer is a content creator who began sharing on TikTok in 2021 after long days teaching elementary school. What started as simple voiceovers and glimpses into her life as a teacher, and later on, her pregnancy grew into creating content for brands and managing social media accounts for businesses. Today, she's blending that experience with her passion for wedding content creation, capturing authentic behind-the-scenes moments that couples might otherwise miss. Shelley loves preserving the real emotions, the quiet interactions, the joyful energy of a wedding day through nostalgic, story-driven content. For her, weddings aren't just events to film moments of love and connection she feels honored to document. I love that. I love that. I like added a little bit to it because what you wrote was so great. Okay, so I want to go back to something really quick because you started in the TikTok world, right? So are you still utilizing TikTok or mainly just like Instagram?

SPEAKER_00

I go back and forth. I still post on TikTok, but like I'll be real, since I've had my baby, I lost thousands of followers. Like I was, yeah, like I had all the support when I was pregnant. And then like now that the baby's here, they're like, peace, bye. Wait, so when I was pregnant, I know when I was pregnant, I was like manifesting, praying, whatever it be, hoping I was gonna be able to be a full-time creator so that way I didn't have to return to teaching. But just like uh December, when I was pregnant, I made $2,000 on TikTok. That's it.

SPEAKER_01

That's really that's really weird. So do you think that most of your um audience, for I know I just mentioned this, but just a reminder, she was an elementary teacher. Do you think most of them like connected to that content and then left you when you were like mom content? I think so. They're just a bunch of haters because I'm living my happiest life now.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. So they're mine.

SPEAKER_01

Firing we don't need them, we don't need them. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. So I've got new followers are cool.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, and like you're going to gain a lot more because all the content creation stuff I've seen that you've done has been so dreamy and great. And this is like such a big thing. I recently have worked with a few content creators at weddings. And if you're new to the podcast, I have 10 years' experience shooting weddings specifically. And um, the last three, I guess now, I've had like a content creator kind of shadowing me and the videographer, or if there's no videographer, kind of taking the place of. But we're gonna get into that. So for those of you that are listening, a wedding content creator is someone that you're going to hire to capture kind of the behind-the-scenes moments, really all the moments, but behind the scenes moments, but shot primarily on iPhone, right? So focused on behind-the-scenes moments, making some reels, potentially TikToks, and kind of getting those candid, like in between in-between clips of the day. And I just want to clarify, and Shelby, correct me if I'm wrong, the role of the wedding content creator is not to replace the photographer or replace the videographer, right? Absolutely. It's an addition, not a replacement. Okay, so this is like this is the hot tag. This is the hot tag because I think I haven't spoken directly to any like videographers, so I don't know. But of course, you know how I'm always on social media, specifically TikTok, and kind of seeing what the trends are, what people are talking about. People are worried that content creators are going to replace videographers. And what is your take on that? And that's a hot that's a hot topic, only eight minutes in. I said just get right into it. I know I'm in the hot seat over here.

SPEAKER_00

Hold on, let me sip my drink for that one. Let her have a sip of her DPZ. I I to be frank with you, I don't know. I mean, in a a real way, the way I see my business expanding in the future is I would like to get into videography. So I'm hoping. I think they're I think they both have different different things to bring to the table. I don't think content creation creation will replace, but I can see it just becoming together more. Maybe more videographers doing both or something along those lines.

SPEAKER_01

So in my experience, when I have a videographer, they kind of shadow the photographer. So I'm kind of I don't know if this is true of like every photographer and every videographer team, but the videographer like does typically shadow the photographer, and I'm kind of like creating the moments of the day, and the videographer is kind of like capturing specifically that. But if I'm not taking photos, then the videographer he or she's not taking video. However, when I work with content creators, like they never quit, they just be taking videos all the time.

SPEAKER_00

We got transitions to do.

SPEAKER_01

We got cute little moments. Yeah. Yeah, like the B-roll in the middle. And kind of what I've noticed, and this is like a pro for a content creator in my mind, is you know, like if I'm not taking photos for a moment, whatever I'm doing, the content creator is continuing to kind of get the b-roll, getting some behind the scenes like a butterfly that landed on a flower and let me grab that. And it's stuff that, you know, a photographer and a videographer may not be paying attention to, but those smaller moments, whereas like I feel like the photographer and videographer are focused on like the huge moments of the day. And it's not always like the most important. I had, I had the funniest thought, and I was so I was getting ready to record this, and I know I um sent Shelby our script. I was working on the script, and I seriously had this like dream of like try, like if you try to explain what a content creator is to someone like in the Victorian era, I seriously like had this whole idea because I was like even explaining it to my mom, she was like, they do what? And you what? And I'm like, it's a it's a saying, it's a saying that people are doing, but it's blowing up because couples want instant gratification. I mean, they're like, let me have some content to post right now. Have you noticed that? Like, do you send immediately or how does your process work?

SPEAKER_00

So for me, as of right now, the way I have it set up is I give them all the raw footage within 24 hours of their special day.

SPEAKER_01

Crazy.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. So they can upload the stories, upload the gram, do whatever they want. Honestly, I've had some brats like make their own highlight video before I sent them my highlight video. Like they are on it. Wow. But then within a week, I send my edited content. Usually it's sooner than that because I hyper focus and I just get excited. Usually it's in like two to three days, you know. I just like can't sleep until I get it done. But I give myself seven to ten days, depending.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, cool. And so do you go through and like delete a bunch of stuff? Like, because I'm sure you take what hundreds of videos throughout a day.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, but the most I've uploaded is like 1200 pieces of things. But I was also doing my camp snap uh whatever it is, the digital yeah, yeah, yeah. I do that too. You have the one.

SPEAKER_02

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01

Two of them. Well, Grace is upset, but you don't have the camera one, right? That takes photos.

SPEAKER_00

No, I don't.

SPEAKER_01

And when you were saying you've been wanting it, I was like, you really need the video one. And like if I would have been a witch and seen into the future and known that it was gonna be you that won, I would have picked the video one for you. So I'm happy to hear that you have it. Grace loves her. It's so funny. Loves hers. I mean, like, wears that thing out. Okay, cool. So you're recording.

SPEAKER_00

And I offer that too.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so it's like part of it or like an add-on?

SPEAKER_00

My lowest package, no, but my like medium and high it's okay. That is and they can add it on to the low one.

SPEAKER_01

But like I I've been married a long time. I know you have too, but I'm like, I seriously would pay for all of this. I seriously pay for all this. So someone was saying that content creation, like, you know, there's a bunch of pros and cons, but that like if you're focused on social media, uh and I I don't mean just influencers, but like if you love posting your social media and you like all this stuff, like a content creator is amazing for you. But if you're not really a social media user, then it's like not maybe something you need to choose for your wedding day. But like I I use social media for the podcast page and for my business page, but like personally I don't really use it. I don't be on Facebook and I kind of I like to scroll and I love to I love to scroll. Hello, all I talk about on this literal whole podcast is how much I love to scroll. My thumb gets a cramp from all the scrolling I'd be doing. Like I'm gonna have arthritis. Like we're so gonna be in bad shape because I'd be scrolling, but I don't post that much. So I'm like trying to put myself in the bride's shoes of I'm not sure if I would choose to have a content creator, but the nostalgia video, like the cam snap, that would sell it for me. Like that would do it for me. I'm obsessed with it. And I do those like three to five minutes long videos. Okay. So what made you decide to like start a business behind doing like wedding content creation?

SPEAKER_00

Well, first of all, I'm just a baby in this industry. I have not been in it. I'm wiping the brush smoke off my own mouth because uh no, and she's amazing, y'all.

SPEAKER_01

And like this is mutually beneficial because she is pure joy and light. So I was happy to have her on the podcast, but she is new in the industry, okay? So, but I do reiterate all the time like we're not on this podcast speaking as super experienced professionals. We're just having conversations that people aren't having and that people want to hear. So I'm like, don't feel that way. Like, just because you're starting out, I still want to hear everything. Don't worry. So tell me how you got started, like with the business.

SPEAKER_00

So I was like I said, or in my intro, I was doing stuff for businesses and brands, and I enjoy that. That's fun. But I'll be honest, Alex, I've never told you this, but I've always admired your work. And like I used to play with cameras when I was in middle school and high school. I say play because like I mean I didn't know what I was doing at all. And like it was always a dream, like one day I'll do something creative like that. And then literally, this girl I was following on TikTok is like, hey, I just started my own wedding content creation company, and I stalked her for weeks. I still check her account all the time. Like, I've done a lot, she's inspired me a lot. I should maybe send her a DM or something to let her know. Like, you should. She inspired me, but yeah, I discovered it in like October, September, and then I just like full force threw myself into it and had my first wedding in November. That's so that's so great.

SPEAKER_01

That's how you have to start. You just like seriously decide, especially as like your creative entrepreneur, it's like this is something I want to do, and like let me just go forth and do. That's just how it has to be done. No, I love it.

SPEAKER_00

Did a bunch of free ones at first, you know, just to build experience, no pressure.

SPEAKER_01

I know you've been listening to the podcast. And if those of you that are listening now have also been listening, you know that I always talk about, I feel like in the wedding industry, you have to have kind of the right personality, the personality of bringing charisma. I almost said Riz, but I just heard that people don't say Riz anymore. Charism up. Okay, you said it. You said it, so I feel better about saying it. Um, you have to have you have to have like this charming, charismatic personality, but you also have to be able to like read the room because it is stressful, intense, and like maybe more so in your position as a content creator, because like as the photographer, they kind of know what I'm up to because I've already worked with the bride and the groom, and like I've made the whole timeline myself, or they've met me, worked with me before. I've done their engagements and their bridals and the boudoir session and all the things already. So they kind of know the T, what's up with me? But like from the content creator perspective, you're brand new to the group. Yeah, you're like the new character in the group. So you kind of have to, yeah. Hi, here I am. That's it.

SPEAKER_02

That's how it's like, hi, hi, you know, talking about or I also think of the who are you?

SPEAKER_00

I'm the owner of this house.

unknown

Literally.

SPEAKER_01

Literally, I'm using those for the background sounds of this for real. So I I can't believe how how quick you turn around your content. When I started in the industry, which I also talk about a lot on this podcast, I used to deliver a sneak gallery within 24 hours. So like I would finish working a wedding at like 11, midnight, whatever, go straight home, upload all the pictures, every single one, get them all into Lightroom, and then I would edit like a sample of images, usually like 75 to 100, and deliver them like the next morning. Girl, yes. Did you not sleep ever? No. No, and I didn't need it back then. And now I'm not sleeping anyways, but like I just pre-children times. That was like pre-baby time, but now I do it within five days. But I still and I feel like that's really fast. Like your wedding's on Saturday, like by Thursday, you have an email with from me with usually like a hundred plus photos edited of your wedding day, like beginning to end, like starting with details, ending with like your exit. That's a lot. But I still I still every once in a while, so before I kind of you know set the boundary of this is what I'm going to deliver, I would like get pushback still of like, oh, I just wish I had some photos now. And I'm like, I don't understand why you don't think that like that it could take me a minute. Like that's crazy. But from the content creator perspective, I think that like fills the gap. And that's kind of like exactly what I'm saying is like people are like, I want this now. I want to post the next morning. I'm in a hurry. I want this, give it to me. And like the content creator can if you know if you listen to this and you're a bride planning your wedding and you know that's you, hire a content creator, hire Shelby. She's available and she can do it because that's crazy. Because that's crazy to put that pressure like on your photographer, videographer. Anyways, off my soapbox, I want to go back a little bit to you talking about becoming a mom. And I want to hear like how I already know you kind of mentioned already about um you were a TikTok creator and you lost a lot of followers when you became a mom, which I just want to add a side note that I love your mom content. And prior to recording this, we were discussing our like breastfeeding um woes, and pros, roses and thorns of all the things, but you're killing it as a mom. I mean, your baby is beautiful and thriving. You should be so proud. I want to know how, first of all, brag on her if you want, but also I want to hear like kind of how you shifted your career goals and your desires for working and all of that since you became a mom.

SPEAKER_00

Well, first of all, I do have the most beautiful baby girl in the world. I'm obsessed with her. She's so beautiful. She just got her like all within a week and a half, she got her first tooth. She started crawling and sitting to crawling, like all at once. And I'm like, okay, baby girl, let's slow it down. Yeah, yeah. Push her over. Yeah, so I do it. I'm like, I'm gonna politely just knock you back down. Decline. We're not walking yet. We're not doing that. Yeah, that's it. And it's like the happiest I've ever been in my entire life, and sometimes a little bit the loneliest, because I don't have a lot of friends with kids.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

But yeah, the happiness outweighs that that loneliness. It's also why I love social media, like that connection, even if it's someone five states away, like I don't know, just connecting through comments and stuff like that helps with the loneliness.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Oh my gosh, that's great. Yeah. So do you feel so we've talked about this like a lot on the podcast too, but we have seen like a huge shift in our career since we became moms because it's hard when you love what you do in your job, which I think you obviously do love what you do as a content creator, right?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01

It's but then like, but then the motherhood is like the most important thing in the world, right? Yeah. So how are you how are you balancing the two?

SPEAKER_00

Well, so originally when I had um Jade, I was a teacher and I went on maternity leave and missed the beginning of the school year, and I was fully planning to go back to the classroom. But just thinking about being away from her all that time and being stressed, I I didn't feel like I could be the mom I wanted to be while also being a teacher. And I really was I sat down and I thought, like, what kind of mother do I want my daughter to have? And I wanted my daughter to see a mom who chased her dreams, who didn't give up, and you know, and I hope she sees that. And honestly, life has has been so much better since breaking out of the nine to five mold or mindset.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

SPEAKER_00

And, you know, God's got a plan for me. He's definitely been putting things in my path the way they're supposed to be. And uh I love that event content creation, wedding content creation is primarily on the weekends. So I get to be with her like all day around all the time. Yeah. Yeah. And it's the best.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. We were having this discussion, like in regards to, and I don't mean to keep bringing this back to photography, but obviously it's just how I can relate. But Grace kind of had a shift in her business, and she decided to stop taking on weddings just because of how long of a commitment it can be, like throughout the day. And she was kind of focused on like other styles of shoots and like motherhood sessions and um senior sessions, portrait sessions, stuff like that. And I was like, you just need to stick in weddings because taking one day and being gone for like 10 to 12 hours, but like I'm home Monday through Friday. And the emailing back and forth of like, well, when are you available for a shoot? And like, I'm available on Thursday, Thursday, and like that whole back and forth was so life sucking for me, like sucking the life out of me of like trying. But I'm like, a wedding's happening when it happens. You book me for your wedding. Yeah, it's that day no matter what. I'm gonna be there. Like, can make the plans around the day that doesn't change. If there's bad weather, sorry, it's your wedding day and like we're going forth. Rain is shine.

SPEAKER_00

We're gonna we're getting there.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Like we're still doing it no matter what. And like just being gone. I like to say one day a month, but like in April, I have three weddings. So it'll be three days this month, which is crazy. I know. April and like October, November are usually this year's September. September, October are like my biggest months. So busy at this time, but taking one day away is so nice. But it's crazy how it shifts because you loved being an elementary teacher, right?

SPEAKER_00

I mean that's what I my whole life I thought that's what I wanted to be.

SPEAKER_01

Well, who's to say you can't go back, right? Like in the future, you're not going to go back.

SPEAKER_02

I'm sorry, I should have said that on the podcast.

SPEAKER_00

Right. I may even one school my children. Who knows?

SPEAKER_01

No. Oh my gosh. We have to take that conversation off the pod. I don't need to know. Because like that's always so I just wasn't called to teach. I just wasn't called to teach. But then I'm like, I also feel that way of being like more time with my children. And yeah, okay, off the pod. Let's have this conversation because I'm really curious about it. I'm really curious about it. Okay, so are you still the system problem? Okay. That's bad news for me. That's bad news. That's bad news. Okay, I will say I do have a lot of friends that are in elementary education that have been giving really amazing advice and guidelines on certain schools, certain districts, certain things. Cause you know, we're like, say, newer to the DFW area. We've lived here for two years. Now with children, just changes everything, though. I mean, it literally changes everything. Crazy times. Seriously. Okay. Back on topic. I wanted to go back and ask you. Oh no, I'm like, I can't. This is it's just who we are and it's what we do, and it is what it is, seriously. Um, now that's my train of thought. I wanted to ask you about content creation. Are you still working with businesses or only weddings?

SPEAKER_00

Uh, I do a little bit of both. Okay. I have a couple businesses that I work with and I do like UGC. So I'll do stuff for brands and things like that.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, cool. I've always wanted to do UGC. So I'm like, that may have to be another episode. Okay, now it's time. If you're not already sweating, get ready because I want to read some of like the industry hot takes and perspectives from what people are saying. And I, on the script, I made a note just because I wanted Chelby to see these are not my opinions. These are opinions of people on social media that have things to say about content creators. And I want you to prepare a rebuttal. So before that though, I want to read some of the pros, which I know we have like discussed already, but I pulled these directly off of social media. Some of the pros of a content creator on your wedding day are instant content. So you have next day memories, you're on your honeymoon, you already have something to post. You have the clip of your most favorite moment of your wedding day, and it's ready to go. You have behind the scenes magic, you have those raw and emotional, and even like the chaotic moments that maybe your photographer, videographer didn't pull up. This takes the pressure off of your guests or like any of your friends of like, hey, can you record this for me? Like your bridesmaids and the bridal suite. Like, you have someone there that's like been paid to do it. So everyone gets to be present throughout the day. Absolutely. This is the vendor marketing boost. Like Shelby's able to capture the behind the scenes of the flowers and like the planner working. I saw the TikTok you made about that planner and it was so cute and it kind of popped off.

SPEAKER_00

I love it. Yeah, it did. I love doing, I want to do work with more vendors. I think it's so fun. Honestly, I'd love to follow you around for a wedding. I think I would be able to need you. A hilarious behind the scenes reel of you. I'm scared.

SPEAKER_01

I honestly, when Grace looked approached me about this podcast, I was like, things I should never do is have a microphone in front of my face. And like, let's just say I could never be a politician with all the things I've said and done. But that's a different story for another day. But no, Shelby just made a, I know I maybe I said on Instagram or TikTok or both, but she just made a video working with a planner and it kind of popped off. The planner was so cute. She was walking around and kind of reminding people to drink water and was like working her job, and Shelby got all this behind the scenes of her. She was able to use that for content as well. So the venues, the florals, the planners, the photographers, the people that are supporting the day for the bride and groom can also use the content from the content creator, which is great. Absolutely. It just feels more like real life and authentic. And especially like as the photographer, there's some parts of the day that are just more posed, even than I want them to be. At the end of the day, like some of it has to be posed, but the content creator is just like catching those lived in realistic moments and not all the posing. And that's why I love it. Did I touch on like do you feel like I touched on all like the pros, or did you want to add any more? I know we kind of like worked on this together, but I feel like I really got most of them.

SPEAKER_00

Um, I I guess one more pro, but I don't know. This might make people mad, but I don't know. Make them mad. Make them mad. I want to hear. I don't think content creation is replacing videography, but like there's a a bit of a budget difference. Okay. No, that's yes. So that is very important.

SPEAKER_01

That's accessible for some brides to get at least some sort of video that they wouldn't have otherwise, which is what I like. No, that's really interesting that you bring that up because no, it's it's obvious. Like hiring a videographer versus content creator is probably maybe even thousands of dollars difference, truthfully. And I I'm speaking candidly because I obviously don't know exactly what Shelby charges. And I've worked with videographers that are on a lot of different tiers, starting at a thousand, going up to five thousand in the DFW Metropolitics area, as far as a videographer. Um, and I'm assuming that you don't charge $5,000.

SPEAKER_00

I do not. My biggest package is $8,000.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, it's around to say $8,000.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, one. If someone wants to pay me $8,000, like I'll take it.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, that's what I'm saying. I'm like, I I want you to be making that, but that's not what you said. Okay, good. Okay, so no, that's that's really an important feature for sure. Of well, honestly, too. When Travis and I were planning our wedding, we were like, we feel like we had to make some cuts based on budget, and a videographer is what we were going to cut. However, I ended up kind of working with one that I knew, and I literally took their wedding pictures and they videoed mine, and we did like a sprawl.

SPEAKER_00

That's beautiful. I know because that's also one thing I love about this industry is like bartering. Like, yeah, let's barter. Let's barter. Down with capitalism. Let's barter more.

SPEAKER_01

Down. Pro small business, down with big business. Down. Yes. Literally, one of my like besties does like the banner painting. She's amazing. Like one of the most detailed artists. Like, I know a lot of people have that creativity, but she's amazing. And she's gonna do banners for my baby's birthdays, and I'm doing pictures for her kids. Hello, Swap. It's beautiful. Swap. I love it. Yes. Okay. So now that we've kind of highlighted some of the pros, and if you think of any more, just interrupt me. I want to go through some of the cons. And you can you can give me a little sneer, grimace if you're like, ooh, because like maybe it's true. But let me just go through them and then kind of give me some feedback based on what I'm gonna say. So some of the industry hot takes about a content creator, other than from like the boomer audience, that's like, what's a content creator? Beyond that, just kind of like overcrowding and maybe like being in the way of other vendors, like having a bunch of vendors already, and then the room's already packed and we have another one, which that could be said about any vendor, but that's just one of the hot takes. Some of the like blurred boundaries, which I think I touched on this a little bit, of like who's directing and kind of who's leading the moments of the day relates to the photographer, truthfully. Every once in a while I've had a planner kind of take over. I'm totally fine with that as long as we're staying on my timeline, my shot list that I've kind of agreed upon with my bride. I'm good with that. I don't even mind when the videographer like speaks up and like creates a moment, him or herself, because I'm like, go off and let me like photograph it. As a photographer, I wouldn't mind if the content creator had something to say either. But hot take, blurred boundaries, the quality expectations, which I think is another hot take because like the nostalgia and film aspect is really popular right now. And then the budget thing, which we talked about, and this can go both ways too. Like, should I add a content creator or should I upgrade my photo and video, maybe add an extra person to the team? And those are kind of the main ones. And the last one, which like I'm like, this is totally a hot take because I disagree. But the overconsumption of the moment, like, are we documenting too much instead of experiencing it? And I feel like that one is so wrong and easy to argue, argue it because are we documenting too much instead of experiencing it? That's my question to you.

SPEAKER_00

Sometimes maybe, but also for some people, they've been dreaming about this day their entire lives. So let's document it because our memory, we're not gonna remember every single moment. Yeah, like it's our one day, it's the bride's one day to be a total princess, and I'm here for it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah. And I'm like, the reason I disagree with that one, I saw this one on TikTok specifically because I was like, honestly, this it kind of like read like a Facebook comment because I was like, this is like something like grandparent would say, Yeah, like it just it it's aged of like, are we documenting too much? It's like the point of the content creator is to document it so that you don't have to. It's like, no, you're experiencing it, and Shelby's videoing it. Like you're experiencing it, and I'm taking Alex and taking the photos of it. I'm like, that's the point. But it does, it does make you think because I have shot days, like wedding days specifically, where yeah, I don't even know what I was gonna say, really. Like, I have shot days where I'm like, it's been really posed and like it's been nonstop content, nonstop video, nonstop photo. And I've been like, this just is too much. And like I feel like the bride and groom like aren't even having an experience. But then I've had the complete opposite where it's like they kind of act like I'm not there, which is fine with me too. Which is fine with me too. So, from your perspective, how do you work with photographers and videographers? And I know you're new in the industry, but what has been like your approach?

SPEAKER_00

Um, first of all, kind of circling back to what you said at the beginning, like having that right personality, you know. Like I I come in, I I'm trying to make they're my bestie for the day. The photographer, the videographer, like hey, like we're on the same team here. Um, but I definitely give the photographer like they are the boss. And I the my style of content creation, I do like to catch like footage of like the poses and stuff, because it is beautiful and romantic, but genuinely I like to capture like the essence of the day, the true feelings as they're happening. I don't like it to be too posed, but every now and then they'll be like, oh wait, can you kiss one more time? That was cute, you know? Like, but yeah, most of the time I'm letting the photographer do their thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. They I love that. I love that. And what do you think as far as if you're speaking to everyone? So I know you know because you've been listening to our podcast, but we're kind of speaking to creative entrepreneurs. So a lot of vendors in the wedding industry, but also just small business owners. We're talking to brides, we're talking to moms that are wanting to start their business. But what do you think that people misunderstand about your role as a content creator? I know. I seriously have been drilling you with some hot takes.

SPEAKER_00

I'm just like, I'm just determined to kind of like burn down the stigma in like a little bit like, I don't know, like I've had like you know, some patrons at weddings be like, oh, just go get the photographer, like I'll be capturing a moment, and they're like, oh, just go get the photographer. Like it doesn't matter what you're getting. And I'm like, well, even though it is iPhone footage, like it still does come out cute in those unstaged moments. I don't know if that makes any sense. Yeah, it does. Like, and it is still meaningful. Like sometimes I go back and rewatch and I'm like, that moment was like even cuter than I remember seeing it. You know what I mean? Yes. Just little memories to keep forever.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Where do you hope that this leads you? Like, do you have a certain goal with and you don't have to share specifically of like if you're wanting to make a certain amount of money or book a certain amount of weddings, or what's your goal with your business?

SPEAKER_00

I'd say my goal would be to make enough money to not necessarily have to do brands in UGC. If that could be my main and only way of content creating, that would be like my dream, I think. Oh my gosh, that's great. And y'all heard it here first. But brands and businesses, I still love working with you. Don't yes.

SPEAKER_01

But if you if you're a bland, if you're we're going if we're a bland, because Karen says if you're a blameless to love you, Shelby loves you, she wants a job. You hope to like get this to be like your main gig, right?

SPEAKER_00

Yes.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Yes. Um, I can personally advocate for Shelby. She is amazing and she will work her booty off for your wedding day. Everything I've ever seen you do, you have done with like the most bright and bubbly personality, perfect for weddings. So I was so happy to see you in this. Um I'm making this episode way too long. So I'm getting ready to close it out. Um, I had one more question for you. And then if you had anything else you wanted to add, go ahead and add it. And I already said this in the beginning, all of Shelby's information is in our show notes. So be sure to read the description. Um, we'll also be tagging her on our in on our Instagram. Um, be sure to follow us there in order to follow her. If you had to explain this, what a content creator is to someone in 1840, what would you say? How would you explain it?

SPEAKER_00

So I'm a nerd and I do go to the Renaissance Festival.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00

Of course, Renfair, Britain Fern. We do call it the magic box. I capture memories in the magic box. Deleting this.

SPEAKER_01

Like, I'm literally deleting this whole podcast because you said I'm not taking a lap after that one. Like, oh no, I love it. We've hired someone to film vertical videos on a glowing rectangular magic box. That's what a content creator is, Mom. If you're listening to this, that's what it is. Magic box. That is hilarious. I really got the gist of everything. I really hope that um brides that are listening to this connect with you. And I hope that this kind of like burns down the stigma of content creators trying to replace vendors, because I know you're saying it, and I do believe you and staying behind you that it is in support of for our brides that want that instant and shareable in public and even more intimate moments from their day. So, in my opinion, it's not good and it's not bad. It's just different. And if it feels like the right fit for you, or Shelby or content creator of your dreams. And if it's Yeah, yeah, I'll give her a call. But if it's not, then shut up. Get out of here. We don't care. I'm just kidding. Then don't. If it, if it's not your fit, then don't. We have like advocate advocated on behalf of brides on this podcast all the time. We just did our chartreuse in Burgundy. It's like, do what you want. If this sounds like a good fit for you, go with the content creator. But I'm tired of the negative stigma and we smashed it on this podcast.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it's out of here.

SPEAKER_01

Do you have anything else you want to add other than what I'm gonna put in the show notes and everything we touched on? Go feeling good about it.

SPEAKER_00

I feel good. This went by so fast. I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much for having me on. Like, you don't know how much it meant to me. I wrote about it in my diary. I told my mom about this, and she she told me she was like, Oh yeah, you know, I I dated her uncle once.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god. Don't even tell me which one. I'm like, everyone in this world has dated my uncle. And like, don't and actually I'm remembering like how cute and blonde your mom is, and I already know which uncle you're talking about. So don't say. I'm like, so don't say. I'm like, no, I have more I have more interesting family members than anyone else in the whole world. Okay, with that, that's a wrap on our content creator episode. We are getting ready to discuss in our next few episodes about community and collaboration in this field, which I think this was a great way to kind of like get that ball rolling. Like more vendors, the better. We want more community, we want the collaboration. We don't want the competition. There's room at the table for everybody. And thank y'all so much for tuning in. And mainly thank you, Shelby, for being on here and for the time. And you know I love you. I know the listeners are gonna love you.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, bye.