Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcella Hoekstra.
Marcella, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I first went to Rhode Island School of Design, I had my heart set on Architecture. When it came time to pick a major, I found myself drawn to the Film Department. I had always been a writer and wanted to combine my love of “creating spaces” with storytelling, so filmmaking became the perfect outlet.
After college, I moved back to MA and began producing my first indie film. I was writer, producer, director, cinematographer, craft services person, editor, promoter and distributor. I also funded it all myself working four double shifts a week as a waitress while writing and then eventually doing preproduction for the film on my days off. I did it again a few years later with my second indie film. I showed in film festivals nationwide and locally including the Boston Independent Film Festival, the Woods Hold Film Festival and the Boston Underground Film Festival. It was an amazing time. One interesting note on my second film, it was almost entirely an all female cast and crew. We had two amazing male actors in the cast but everyone else was a woman. Same for the crew, one male crew member, the rest were women.
After two films and eight years, I made a shift. I knew I had an incredible skill set and, frankly, wanted to start making money off my talents. So, I decided to start my own production company. Before It had a name I hustled and found jobs anywhere I could to build my client base. I worked for non-profits, small businesses, other artists, recorded live performances, created music videos, edited other peoples films and did business and product profiles. I also was offered jobs covering memorials services, creating video slide shows for anniversaries and birthdays and then eventually I was offered a wedding.
Although I still do commercial work through my separate online media company called Tiny Screen Media, when I first named my company I chose Heirloom Pictures. I had realized that the work I did for families was what I found most enjoyable. Again, as a storyteller, I got a lot of satisfaction out of creating personal videos for families that told their stories. Thusly, Heirloom Pictures was started as a video production business specializing in films for family events, celebrations, and remembrances. But over time, wedding work came fast and steady and I dropped the other offerings. So, some things changed, but the name stayed. Heirloom Pictures Wedding Films was born.
In those first years, it was a one woman operation. One camera and tripod, one audio recorder and one light was my kit. Over a decade later I have a team of almost ten people covering client services, editing, social media promotion and shooting partners. Shooting with Heirloom sometimes involves up to 5 cameras like when we shoot ceremonies in the Boston Public Library courtyard, the Museum of Fine Arts and other large venues. Heirloom Pictures has grown into Heirloom Pictures – Boutique Wedding Films of Boston and I also started a second “little sister” business to Heirloom called LoveLocked Films, its the same team member as Heirloom Pictures providing alternative packages.
It’s been a long road, I am thankful for the team members who have come in and helped the business grow. I am very proud of everything I have accomplished, and side note, I am also a single mom. 😉
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Has it been a smooth road? I suppose that’s a matter of perspective. Looking back now I can see how much hard work I put into to every step of my journey to today. I don’t think I ever expected things to come easily.
There will always be a combination of people in your life, some will cheer you on and some will not. I might have had people who were discouraging, unsupportive or even downright insulting along my journey but seriously, who cares. The truth is nobody is stopping you, you have to make the choice to give up. So, bring people into your corner who believe in you and what you are doing. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you. Take the word “competition” out of your vocabulary and replace it with “inspiration”. Trust your gut and seek advice from more experienced people in your field that you admire. Never stop learning.
We’d love to hear more about Heirloom Pictures.
As a wedding videographer, I specialize in luxury wedding films for Boston area brides and beyond. I have found that my extensive films production background allows me to navigate even the highest production weddings with ease. I think being one of the very few women in this business is an advantage because when I shoot I can easily put myself in the mindset of the bride and also know what shots are most flattering to women! And as a mother, I can put myself in the mindset of the parents and capture moments that I can imagine wanting my child on their wedding day. My main support shooter for Heirloom Pictures, Jeremy Abraham, has been in the business for longer than I have and has a perfect calm and friendly personality for shooting with grooms (even the most nervous ones!). Also, as a father himself, he is keen to capture moments that celebrate the joining of two families through a marriage. We also have a dedicated Client Concierge, Megan Whithed, who, as a former event planner, knows all the ins and outs of weddings and takes care of the finest details along the way on behalf of our clients. So I feel like our whole team that deals with clients directly has the perfect set of skill, experience, and personalities to provide our couples with not only an amazing end product but a wonderful experience along the way. This year, we won Boston Magazines Best of Weddings 2018 award for Wedding Videography, we are so proud for the honor and to know we have been providing our clients with the level of service we strive for.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
As I said before, never stop learning. This means going to workshops, taking classes and always riding the wave of innovation in your industry. Become a member of groups online and connect with an organization in your field. By attending events either social or educational, you will no doubt meet likeminded people who will inspire and support you. Some of my best friends are in the same industry. Make time to get to know people and don’t just absorb information but also share what you know! The better your industry is as a whole, the better for all who are part of it.
Pricing:
- Heirloom Pictures – Starting package – $4950
- LoveLocked Films – Starting package – $2500
- Tiny Screen Media – Social Media Starter Package – $1000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heirloompictures.com
- Email: hello@heirloompictures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heirloom_pictures/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heirloompictures/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeirloomPicture?cn=Zm9sbG93ZXI%3D&refsrc=email
- Other: www.lovelockedfilms.com
Image Credit:
Video Stills courtesy of Heirloom Pictures LLC, Portrait by Mallory Parkington Photography
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